At the beginning of 1930, Giovanni Agnelli, founder of FIAT, noticed the demand in the Italian market for a popular car, priced under 5,000 Lira.

FIAT only produced models of a certain elegance, and even the most affordable of them, the Balilla, was too expensive to be purchased by the average worker.

In 1933, the challenge of the new project was entrusted to the young engineer Dante Giacossa, who had developed the Balilla and used it as inspiration for the small car.

The first prototype was ready in February 1934, and in June 1936, the FIAT 500, which would become better known as Topolino (the name of the famous Mickey Mouse in Italian), was presented to the public.

From the various versions, this small van emerged.