More than just a car, the tiny first generation Fiat 500 (1957-1975) was an important cultural icon. Like the Model T, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Mini, or the Citroen 2CV, the “Cinquecento” not only put its home country on wheels, it became the nation’s ambassador to the world.

The 500 was designed by Dante Giacosa to be an affordable car for post-war Europe. Resources were scarce, so the tiny car was sculpted to use a minimum of expensive steel in manufacture. The signature folding fabric roof was not a stylish option, but another measure to save on metal.