Dispatches Do Brasil: 56 Anos De 500
1957. Italy was having a ball. La dolce vita was in full swing and Italians were on the up and up. Along came the original Fiat 500, or Cincuecento, to enliven things that much more. It’s hard to understand nowadays how exciting it is to see a nation get motorized, but the 500 helped Italians along and get over the World War doldrums.
Now, you Americans will be able to get a taste of that fabled time in recent Italian history. Fiat has cooked up an even more retro 500, Called the 1957 Edition, which seems to be an American special.
If you get it, you’ll be able to enjoy Fiat’s Multiair 1.4 16v engine good for 105 ponies mated to a manual or an auto 6 speed. More important than that, this special edition features a brown leather interior with sand colored details. Exterior colors are very 50-ish too: baby blue, water light green and white. The wheels are a modern take on 50s hubcaps and are 16 inches. According to sources, the suspension is calibrated in a more sporting set up. Finally, Fiat logos are done in the style of the 50s.
To be even more perfect I’d have called it Edizione 1957 to complete the Italian-ness. Call me jealous.
More by Marcelo de Vasconcellos
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I bought a 2013 MB E350 BlueTec for my wife and it's a wonderful, comfortable car, excellent for long drives along the California coast (well, just about anyplace, lol). But it doesn't put a smile on my face like the one I sport while driving my '12 Abarth or my '81 X1/9, for that matter. Chevy Cruze? Better than a Cavalier. Chevy Sonic? Better than a Chevette. Different strokes for different folks.
Cost option donut or standard puncture repair kit? The Gucci was only in black or white - but I liked the concept. Does cabrio add to highway noise & vibration? Would take the powder blue. Is this sourced from the new polski place? There's an unlucky country in 1957. Much better to be Italy surrendered and half bombed to bits then live under communism or Spanish/Portuguese baby IKE hugged dictatorships. Couldn't see IKE or RMN together in this car.
Nice article Marcelo.
A baby blue original: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304868404579193991024131728