Fiat 500 "Spiaggina '58", the birthday gift for this iconic model's anniversary

That the Fiat 500 is a true icon of the automotive industry is no secret to anyone. Its fame came thanks to its simple design, which won the hearts of thousands of people around the world. Even today, it continues to enjoy wide success and recognition, with variants that bear little resemblance to the original Fiat 500. It also proves to be a vehicle with a good foundation for modifications and special editions, which are numerous and cater to all tastes.

Once again, we have to add a new special edition to the Fiat 500 collection, but this one is perhaps a little more special, as it commemorates two anniversaries: first, that of the 500 itself and, second, to celebrate 60 years since the birth of the Jolly or “Spiaggina” version, the name by which it was known among famous celebrities, who made the 500 Jolly a true cult object and a symbol of the Italian Dolce Vita era.

Shortly after turning one year old following the launch of the Fiat 500 on July 4, 1957, the Italian brand created what would be the first special edition of its small city car, thus giving birth to the 500 Jolly, built by Carrozzeria Ghia on the basis of the Fiat 500 and, later, also on the Giardiniera version. It was sold in Europe, the United States and South Africa from 1958 to 1965, equipped with the 22 CV two-cylinder engine that allowed it to reach 102 km/h. It became the icon of the celebrities of the era, and its price, twice that of the standard version, placed it within reach of only a few people.

Sixty years later, this icon of its time is reborn on today’s Fiat 500 as a birthday gift, under the name “Spiaggina ’58” and as a limited edition of 1958 units, as a tribute to the launch year of this first special version. It is based on the convertible version of the Fiat 500 and features a combination of fresh, summery colors, using Volare Blue as the main color for its bodywork, combined with beige for its soft top and a white-colored waistline. The exterior styling is completed with vintage 16-inch wheels, chrome mirror housings and specific logos.

The interior also uses the same color combination as the exterior, with Volare Blue for the dashboard and a two-tone gray and ivory finish for the seats, plus floor mats created for the occasion. But despite wanting to evoke that vintage look, the Fiat 500 “Spiaggina ’58” obviously comes with current technology, such as the Uconnect system with a 7-inch HD Live touchscreen, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a TomTom navigator and DAB digital radio. Also standard on this model are a 7-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors and height-adjustable seats with pockets on the backrest.

Mechanically, it will be offered only with the 1,200 cc gasoline engine, which produces a maximum power of 69 CV and a maximum torque of 102 Nm, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. With this engine it reaches a top speed of 160 km/h, along with a combined fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 115 g/km.

BONUS: Spiaggina by Garage Italia

At the same time, the Italian tuner Garage Italia has also wanted to join this celebration by creating its own special gift: a very fresh showcar that will go into production and can be ordered with all the personalization options available from Garage Italia, as well as being equipped with all the engines currently available for the Fiat 500.

This showcar is slightly more special than those we will see on the streets, because alongside the Blu Volare and Pearl White colors chosen for its bodywork, we see that, just like the original Spiaggina, the roof has been removed and, where the rear seats would be, there is now a space in which a shower has been incorporated, thanks to the modification carried out together with Pininfarina. The latter also helped design the rear rollover bar and the structural reinforcement, which give the chassis greater rigidity and safety.

Inside, the same exterior colors have been used in different proportions to create a pleasant contrast, and the front seats have been replaced by a bench seat upholstered in blue and white waterproof Foglizzo leather. It also features a reduced nautical windscreen, and chrome has been applied to the mirrors, the door handle trims and the covers of the exclusive vintage wheels.