After the effort of post-war reconstruction, the economic "boom" of the second half of the 1950s brings its advantages.

In Italy, the population envisions a way to trade the famous "Scooter" for a small car.

In the search for a car affordable to the greatest number of people, its creator Dante Giacosa (Chief Engineer at FIAT) will design the smallest possible car.

For this, he will choose a rear-engine architecture, while the fuel tank, battery, and spare tire are placed at the front; it is also air-cooled, thus avoiding the installation of a radiator.

These technical choices, combined with rear-wheel drive, thereby eliminating the cumbersome transmission tunnel, aim at a considerable gain in space and weight.

The new 500 measures only 2.97 meters and weighs 500Kg.