AT THE HERITAGE HUB: “LA FIAT TOPOLINO VA AI 90”

• “La Topolino va ai 90” has just come to a close: an engaging four-day event organized by the “La Topolino Va ai 90” committee, an association involving the Topolino Autoclub Italia and the Club Topolino Fiat Torino, to celebrate the first 90 years of the Fiat 500 “Topolino”, the iconic car that paved the way for mass motorisation in Italy.
   
• The rally brought together more than 130 examples, which travelled through some of the most evocative locations in and around Turin: from the Sacra di San Michele to the Reggia di Venaria, and from the Basilica of Superga to the Castello di Rivoli.
   
• On Saturday 13, the convoy made a stop at the Heritage Hub Italy for an exclusive event reserved for members of the Topolino Clubs, who enjoyed a special guided tour and a gala dinner fully immersed in a unique automotive heritage collection.
   
• Developed by Dante Giacosa, the Fiat 500 “Topolino” was produced in three series and more than 376,000 units until 1955. A true protagonist of the post-war period, both as a family car and as a dependable work vehicle, this revolutionary model later passed the baton to the Fiat 600 and the Nuova 500.
   

TURIN, 15 June 2026 - In June 1936, the Fiat 500 made its debut and was affectionately nicknamed “Topolino”, forever changing the history of mobility across Italy and marking the beginning of the “democratisation” of the automobile, which until then had been the preserve of the wealthier classes. With the same approach, FIAT still creates accessible models today, tailored to customers’ real needs and embodying the originality and charm that have always distinguished the Turin-based Brand.

Ninety years after its launch, the Fiat 500 “Topolino” continues to bring together enthusiasts and collectors who keep alive a legacy that is an integral part of Italy’s industrial and cultural identity. To mark the occasion, Topolino Autoclub Italia and Club Topolino Fiat Torino established a committee called “La Topolino va ai 90,” which organized the event of the same name: a spectacular gathering that, from June 11 to 14, passed through some of the most evocative locations in and around Turin.
On Saturday, 13 June, as part of a rich and evocative itinerary, the crews made a stop at the Heritage Hub, located within the Mirafiori industrial complex, which once also hosted production of the legendary Topolino from 1947 onwards (before then, it had been built at the equally iconic Lingotto site). Against this evocative backdrop, an exclusive event reserved for participants in “La Topolino va ai 90” came to life, giving them the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition space and a gala dinner immersed in a unique automotive heritage collection.

Alongside two magnificent examples of the B and C versions, the display also featured reproductions of a number of posters and advertising sketches for the Fiat 500 Topolino, created by artists for the car’s launch. True works of art, the originals are preserved at the Centro Storico Fiat. Also on display is a Fiat 500 A chassis, kindly loaned by MAUTO, which received it as a gift from FIAT in 1937. It demonstrates just how ingenious Dante Giacosa’s design was, drawing in some respects on techniques derived from aeronautical engineering. After all, the young engineer began his career at Fiat Avio before moving to FIAT, where he went on to create some of the most iconic and innovative automobiles of his time.

The Heritage Hub once again proves to be an ideal venue for private and institutional events, combining the evocative atmosphere of the location with the appeal of a truly unique automotive collection. For further information and bookings, please contact heritagehub@stellantis.com. In addition, visits are available every day except Mondays, subject to the purchase of an online ticket via the following link, with the option to choose between a self-guided tour on weekdays and a guided tour at weekends.
 

The story of an icon
The Fiat 500 “Topolino” was born between the two World Wars with the aim of bringing mass motorisation to Italy through an affordable car. The project began with an ambitious idea by Technical Director Antonio Fessia, who envisioned a small “all-front” car, with front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive - a highly unusual architecture for the time. However, an issue during testing of the first prototype forced a rethink, and in 1934 the project was entrusted to the young Dante Giacosa, who until then had been working on aircraft engines.

The layout therefore became traditional, with a front engine and rear-wheel drive, but with one unusual solution: the 569 cc four-cylinder engine was positioned ahead of the front axle and even in front of the radiator. This obsessive pursuit of savings led to ingenious details: the radiator, mounted high behind the engine, did not require a water pump, as it relied on the thermosiphon principle, while its 13 hp power output enabled the car to reach 85 km/h. In addition, the 2-meter wheelbase provided good roominess for two people, while a small rear bench could accommodate a passenger only when the canvas roof - on the versions where it was fitted - could be opened.

It was precisely the low-mounted engine that allowed for a tapered bonnet, while the external headlights, positioned on the front fenders, recalled the ears of the famous Disney character - hence the nickname “Topolino”. Presented in June 1936 as the “new small great car for economy and work”, complete with an Istituto Luce film shot on the terrace of the Circolo della Stampa in Turin, the 500 cost 8,900 lire - well above the initial target of 5,000 lire - but was nevertheless a success, with around 20,000 units sold each year until the war.
After the war, production of the model resumed and the car continued to evolve. In 1948, the 500 B made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show: beneath an almost unchanged body, it featured a power increase of nearly 30%, enabling it to reach 95 km/h, along with upgraded brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers and a renewed electrical system. The Giardiniera Belvedere also made its debut with this model: the first four-seater “Topolino”, featuring wooden trim inspired by American station wagons. In 1949 came the 500 C, which introduced recessed headlights, a horizontal grille, an aluminium cylinder head and - a first for a series-production Fiat - cabin heating. Production came to an end in 1955 after more than 376,000 units. A true protagonist of the post-war years, both as a family car and as a dependable work vehicle, the small yet revolutionary vehicle continued to circulate until the 1960s, when it gradually passed the baton to the 600 and the Nuova 500, which would complete the mass motorisation of Italy that the “Topolino” had begun.

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For more information, please contact:
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