Fiat is looking to take its classically styled 500 back in time with the new “1957 Edition,” which is built to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the 1957 Nuova Cinquecento and showcased on L.A. Auto Show.
The 1957 Edition Fiat 500, like a few of the VW Beetle’s retro editions, hearkens back to the earliest days of the model. In fact this one pays homage to the very first year the Fiat 500 went on sale in Europe 1957. This edition comes in either white, green or blue and wears body color retro wheels that recall old school painted steel wheels with hub caps. The interior consists of premium ‘Marrone’ leather with ‘Avorio’ accents to highlight the Cinquecento’s more than half-century of “contemporary Italian style”. Special wheel covers color-matched to the body. Fiat resisted the urge to throw vintage-style dog dishes on the 1957 Edition’s wheels, something VW couldn’t seem to pass up on its most recent round of retro bugs. The resulting rollers look more like something out of the 1980s, but we’re not complaining.
The car itself is fairly standard Fiat 500, with the same 1.4-liter MultiAir engine and “sport-tuned” suspension. But the 500 has always been about looks, so that is what the 1957 Edition changes.
Fiat 500 production was resumed in 2007, but the new car was vastly different from the original one. Its engine gained two cylinders and moved to the front of the car, while its footprint, though diminutive by American standards, positively dwarfs that of its predecessor.
It was also the car that announced the Italian brand’s return to the U.S., a market it had been forced to exit in the 1980s due to poor performance and reliability issues. Since its launch in 2010, the little car has been a huge hit, just like the latest -generation Mini.
Fiat has been kind enough to make the changes more than just cosmetic. A 276-watt, six speaker Fiat sound system and “sport-tuned” suspension come as standard. Sad news if you were expecting something more age appropriate, like a gramophone.
If you think this limited-edition package adds just the right amount of character to the 500, you’ll be able to pick one up in spring 2014. The car price hasn’t been announced at this point, but we’ll bring you any news from the floor of the Los Angeles auto show.
