(March 7, 2014) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Italian car and design fans looking for a taste of the historic Cinquecento won’t have to wait much longer. Today the Fiat brand opened orders for the 2014 Fiat 500 1957 Edition, arriving in Fiat studios nationwide in late spring. Pricing for this well-equipped limited-production model starts at $20,400, just $1,900 more than a base Fiat 500 Lounge.

"Combining iconic Italian design and vintage styling with modern European technology, the 2014 Fiat 500 1957 Edition is inspired by the spirit of the original 1957 Nuova 500 and offers customers the opportunity to own and drive a vehicle that celebrates Italian automotive history,” said Jason Stoicevich, head of Fiat brand for North America.



The Fiat 500 1957 Edition includes a sport-tuned suspension for improved handling, 16-inch forged aluminum wheels with a retro body color design, throwback “Fiat” badging and a premium Marrone (brown) and Avorio (ivory) leather interior.

The model is available in three classic exterior colors: Bianco (white), Verde Chiaro (light green) and exclusive Celeste (celestial blue). For a two-tone look, Verde Chiaro and Celeste exteriors are paired with a signature Bianco painted roof and mirror caps.
 
About the historic Fiat Nuova 500

The Nuova 500 was the fruit of a strategy designed to develop and revamp Fiat's product range, embarked upon by the company during World War II. While the city of Turin was still being targeted by Allied air raids, and the company's Mirafiori offices were occupied by German troops, Vittorio Valletta, Fiat Managing Director and later company chairman (after the death of Fiat's founder Giovanni Agnelli), asked Dante Giacosa to start thinking of new cars that could go into production after the war.

The result would be the Cinquecento, an automobile that delivered on its mission to provide efficient and affordable mobility during Italy's period of rebuilding and economic recovery.
 
The Fiat Nuova 500 was "the right car at the right time," and on July 4, 1957, the hatchback marked the rebirth of Fiat and its product range. Exactly 3,893,294 examples of the historic Cinquecento were built between 1957 and 1975, helping to provide an attainable car for Italians and numerous other Europeans.

After 18 years of production, the last Fiat Nuova 500 was built on Aug. 4, 1975, at the SicilFiat plant in Termini Imerese (Palermo, Sicily).