When you think of Italian cars, what often comes to mind is sleekly produced high-end sports cars. The Fiat 500 couldn't be more different than that image. Produced between 1957 and 1975 by the Italian car manufacturer Fiat, the Fiat 500 was designed to meet the need for a small inexpensive car to drive around town.

Designed by Dante Giacosa, the Fiat 500 was originally released as the Nuova 500 in 1957. It was a rear-engined vehicle, designed along the same lines as the Volkswagen Beetle. It was only 10 feet long, with a small two-cylinder engine that provided just enough power to give drivers a smooth ride.

During its production run, several models of the 500 were produced. The original Nuova model featured a roll-fabric roof and suicide doors. The creation of a sport model of the Nuova included a red stripe and a slightly more powerful 499.5 cc engine.

After the Nuova, Fiat introduced the D model in 1960. The D kept the powerful 499 cc engine as standard and redesigned the roof so that it only folded back halfway. At the same time, Fiat also produced an estate version and a base model known as the F. The estate model, the Giardiniera, unlike the D model, had the engine in the floor of the vehicle boot to make room for a covered storage space in the rear. The F model, also known by the name Berlina, featured front-hinge doors rather than the suicide door design and was sold primarily as a cheaper base model of the vehicle.

In 1968, Fiat produced the Lusso model, an updated version of the 500. The Lusso model included a new dashboard and modifications to the interior to create a more comfortable ride for driver and passengers both.

The final model was introduced in 1972. The Rinnovata increased the engine size once again to a 594 cc engine. It was meant to work as a stopgap measure between the 500 and the 126 and was produced until 1975. When the 126 was placed on the market though, sales of the Rinnovata fell sharply. Fiat continued to sell the Rinnovata for two years after releasing the 126 though, at which time Fiat retired the line completely.

In 2007, an updated version of the Fiat 500 was produced to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the production of the original. The new version of the car featured a retro look, with a price keeping in line with the original inexpensive 500, costing only 10,500 Euros.