Decades ago, the simplest concept brought by Fiat, the 500, has emerged as one of the most well-known vehicles today. What’s the secret behind the Fiat 500’s fame?

The town streets of Italy are the most familiar venue for the 500. Turn your head around, and you’ll spot this cute car everywhere in the place. And I believe that the 500 is not only famous in Italy, but in some places in the around the world as well. Usually, the most seen type of the Fiat 500 is the vintage model, or the very first model that Fiat has made. It may be too old or rusty, but the Fiat 500 is well respected and loved by most of the Italians and some of the car lovers around the planet.

The Fiat 500 was designed by Dante Giacosa. The 500 was Fiat’s entry model along with the vaguely bigger 600 model. The 500 made a significant contribution to Italy when the country was so down after the Second World War. Through Fiat’s 500, the country was once again powered and was able to rise!

1975 was the when the 500’s production ended. Since the start of the production, Fiat has built 3.9 million units of the 500 until 1975. And in 1960, there were 32 vehicles per 1000 population in Italy. By 1970, that figure rose to 167. From then on, the Fiat 500 has taken over the country and the basic vehicle.

"The 500 is just as important now as it was 50 years ago. Back then it provided freedom for the masses at a very low cost; now it shows what can be achieved in vehicle packaging when a little bit of lateral thinking is applied. And I love it because it proves that driving can be fun with only 18 horsepower," shares Gordon Murray of F1 McLaren.

"I've got a 500R and a one-off Barchetta version I designed. The 500 is an old car but it doesn't behave like one. It starts every time; the brakes are good if you look after them. I like the simplicity, the democratic nature of the project. And when you drive it, everybody smiles," relates Peter Stevens, one of Europe's leading designers, who also worked on the F1.

"There was an orange one that had been Moray Callum's. Then some Germans rolled it. So I had it for parts. In 1997, I came back to Detroit and had to buy one older than 25 years so I didn't need to federalize it. There have been times when my other cars aren't working, and I've driven to work in the 500. And it's great for parking so if there's a festival downtown; I can park right out front of the building and people open the door for me. For the last couple years it's been in my living room, which is also my painting studio, sitting next to my Ferrari BB512i," Ford GT designer Camillo Pardo remembers.