Fiat 500

Fiat 500 advertisement, 1957

The Lingotto Building

The Lingotto building in 1928

The construction of the Lingotto building began in 1616, and opened in 1923. Designed by Matté Trucco in the Lingotto district of Torino, Italy, the five floored building housed the automobile factory of Fiat. Raw materials would enter on the ground floor, and as they progressed further up the floors of the building, they would get closer and closer to becoming cars; until they reached the rooftop, finished, and tested on the rooftop track. In its time, it was the largest car factory in the world; Le Corbusier gave it high praise, calling it 'one of the most impressive sights in industry' and 'a guideline for town planning'. Eighty different models of Fiat cars were made in the Lingotto building, until the 1970s when it was outmoded, and finally closed in 1982. Such an influential and avant-garde building could surely not have gone to ruin, and after an architectural competition was held, the winner, Renzo Piano, rebuilt the factory into a modern complex of concert halls, a theatre, convention centre, shopping arcades, and a hotel. The Automotive Engineering faculty of the Polytechnic University of Torino has its headquarters in the eastern part of the building. The remodelling was finished in 1989, and the track retained; used for events such as the Red Bull Lingotto, the 2006 Winter Olympics speed skating, and the filming of movies such as The Italian Job.

Red Bull Lingotto

Last year, Red Bull held a special race in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification, and the 65th anniversary of Vespa. The event had multiple stages and challenges including a timed tire change and riding up the spiralling ramps to the roof of the Lingotto building, an old Fiat factory in Torino, in exactly 90 seconds, no more, no less. Once on the rooftop track competitors raced two laps; with the winner being the one with the two closest times for each lap. The amazing rooftop track was built to test the original Fiat cars.

Fiat 500 Sofa

Lapo Elkann has designed the Fiat 500 Panorama sofa for Meritalia. Inspired by the original 1970's Fiat 500, the sofa is available in an assortment of colours. The pastel blue and pink are my favourites.

 

Fiat 500 Spot 1957

Fiat 500 advertisement spot on RAI in 1957

500 by Gucci

One of my all time favourite cars is one of the most well-designed small cars ever to be made, the Fiat 500. Last year, for the 150th anniversary of Italy and the 90th anniversary of the fashion house Gucci, Fiat collaborated with the fashion company to create an elegant edition of the Fiat 500, which was first brought onto the market in the 1950's. The design of '500 by Gucci' was inspired by monochromatic films, and will be available in white and black only; along with the green and red detailing of Gucci, the former features chrome plating and a white interior, while the latter will have satin elements and an interior of black and ivory. Creative director Frida Gianinni says of the collaboration, 'When the Fiat 500 first hit the road in the fifties it created a style revolution. Gucci's history has always been about travelling in style so when this collaboration came up, it struck me as the perfect opportunity to create a new modern travel statement.' With the popularity of the 500 by Gucci, the 500C by Gucci was created, a cabriolet version with a convertible soft-top.

 

Little Black Fiat

Umbria, Italia

Justin Guariglia

National Geographic Traveler November/December 2008