The Fiat 500 is exactly 60 years old today. And as befits the cutest motoring icon in all the world, it's got two birthday presents
Fiat's own (pic 7) is a tad naff – a Fiat 500C with some retro wheels fitted. We're far more taken with the collaboration between Garage Italia and Pininfarina
Look! Squee! Fiat 500 beach buggy! Sorry, we've had too much birthday tiramisu and ice-cream
Welcome to the Spiaggina by Garage Italia showcar. As you can see, it's based on a Fiat 500C, but thanks to hefty body strengthening work from Pininfarina, the 500's gone fully topless this time
One roll bar, no roof rails, and only two seats. A cuter car for summer we cannot think of
Of course, there's a historical angle to this. Four years into the original 500's life, there came the 500 Jolly, AKA the Spiaggina, or, beach buggy
Sold between 958 and 965, the 22bhp al-fresco-mobile didn't even have doors and cost twice as much as the standard car
However, it became a Swinging Sixties must-have. The original Spiaggina was snapped up by heads of state, actors and socialites for zipping around their vineyards or back to the harbor where the yacht was parked
Garage Italia and Pininfarina have simply brought that topless 500 concept bang up to date, albeit with doors attached
What took them so long? Inside, you'll find a blue-and-white bench seat in place of the normal 500's chairs, and a cabin that's waterproofed for beach bods
There's chrome trim everywhere, and the back seats have been junked and replaced by a loading bay covered in cork paneling
Yep, it's another luxury yacht reference. And you'll be able to order the Spiaggina with a low-cut windscreen to ape the look of a speedboat's front screen
Attention to detail is as high as the adorability factor. Yes indeed, we did say 'you can order'
This isn't just a showcar. Garage Italia and Pininfarina promise they are putting the Spiaggina into production, available with any engine in the current 500 range
Put us down for an Abarth version please, Fiat. Happy birthday 500!
fiat 500 spiaggina garage Italia LapoelkannBuy the best Fiat 500 spiaggina& Fiat 500 Ghia Jolly Classic Cars at Jollycar Italian Design. Fiat 500 spiaggina& Fiat 500 Ghia Jolly Classic Car is Designing by Ghia bodywork in lapoelkann garage Italia
Trả lờiXóa