Photo: Fiat
After introducing the facelift for the 500X, Fiat is much obliged to announce the original 500 will be on public display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York this coming spring.
The model acquired by MoMA is a 500 F series (a.k.a. Berlina), manufactured between 1965 and 1973. It’s the most popular of the bunch, a commercial success with 18 horsepower from 500 cubic centimeters and 95 km/h (59 mph) on full song. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen; this is one of those cars where zero to 60 isn’t mentioned in the specifications list!
"500 is an icon of Italian style that never went out of fashion and that over the decades gained fans all around the world because of its key features and strong personality," explains Luca Napolitano, head of EMEA at Fiat and Abarth. "Since 1957, Fiat 500 has always brought colors and smiles to everyday lives on the roads of the world, becoming an ambassador of the Bel Paese and an icon of style and design.”
A total of more than 4 million examples of the breed were produced until 1975, including the D (a.k.a. Bambina), L (Lusso), R (Rinnovata), and Sport. The F, by comparison, was nothing more than an essential means of personal transportation in the burgeoning ‘50s. Despite its size, the 500 F can take in four people without too much of a struggle thanks to the revolutionary packaging of Italian automobile designer and engineer Dante Giacosa.
In addition to rear-wheel drive, the 500 F also came with a foldable fabric roof as standard, imbuing a sense of occasion to the economy car. Fast-forward to the present day, and the modern 500 is sold in more than 100 countries, including the United States.
So why did the Museum of Modern Art decide to display the 500 F from February 10th through May 27th, 2019? The timeless design and centrality to the story of mid-century Italy are two reasons, but at the same time, the 500 F embodies the principles of Bella Italia and mid-century modernism.
The Cinquecento from the modern era arrived on the scene in 2007, claiming a whole lot of prizes. Among the most important, we can relate to the ADI Golden Compass in 2011 and World Car Design of the Year in 2009.
"500 is an icon of Italian style that never went out of fashion and that over the decades gained fans all around the world because of its key features and strong personality," explains Luca Napolitano, head of EMEA at Fiat and Abarth. "Since 1957, Fiat 500 has always brought colors and smiles to everyday lives on the roads of the world, becoming an ambassador of the Bel Paese and an icon of style and design.”
A total of more than 4 million examples of the breed were produced until 1975, including the D (a.k.a. Bambina), L (Lusso), R (Rinnovata), and Sport. The F, by comparison, was nothing more than an essential means of personal transportation in the burgeoning ‘50s. Despite its size, the 500 F can take in four people without too much of a struggle thanks to the revolutionary packaging of Italian automobile designer and engineer Dante Giacosa.
In addition to rear-wheel drive, the 500 F also came with a foldable fabric roof as standard, imbuing a sense of occasion to the economy car. Fast-forward to the present day, and the modern 500 is sold in more than 100 countries, including the United States.
So why did the Museum of Modern Art decide to display the 500 F from February 10th through May 27th, 2019? The timeless design and centrality to the story of mid-century Italy are two reasons, but at the same time, the 500 F embodies the principles of Bella Italia and mid-century modernism.
The Cinquecento from the modern era arrived on the scene in 2007, claiming a whole lot of prizes. Among the most important, we can relate to the ADI Golden Compass in 2011 and World Car Design of the Year in 2009.
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