Fiat 500 at 60: the best (and worst) special editions

Exclusive 500 for Ferrari - July 2008

Number made: 60 for the UK

This is rare. Only 60 for the UK, all used by the Ferrari dealer network as courtesy cars. Fitted with a 99bhp 1.4, a rortier exhaust, sports pedals, red calipers, red-stitched wheel and dashboard plaque to signify the above.

500 by Diesel - December 2008

Number made: 10,000 worldwide

Apparently an ‘Urban Survival Vehicle’, as devised by fashion brand Diesel and Fiat. Besides Diesel logo deployment, there’s black denim trim, a jeans-like pocket on the front seats, striking paint choices… and a diesel option.

Abarth - February 2009

Number made: 200 for the UK

Not strictly a limited edition, but the UK’s first 200 Abarth 500s were finished in white with red stripes and a scorpion jauntily arranged on the bonnet. They could be bought online, a first for Fiat.

500 Barbie - March 2009

Number made: 1

A chance to regress to childhood, the 500 Barbie celebrated 50 years of the eponymous doll with nail varnish paint, silver upholstery and a supply of lip gloss. A one-off, but two shades of pink 500 have appeared since. 

500 Barbie - March 2009

Number made: 1

A chance to regress to childhood, the 500 Barbie celebrated 50 years of the eponymous doll with nail varnish paint, silver upholstery and a supply of lip gloss. A one-off, but two shades of pink 500 have appeared since. 

500 Pink - January 2010

Number made: 500 for the UK

Based on a 1.2 Lounge, although this detail is likely to be overwhelmed by the impact of the vividly emphatic hue. You might think that the Pink’s colour would harm its residual value, but no.

500C Pink - March 2010

Number made: 300 for the UK

The same idea, but with an opening roof for those gloriously unabashed by their choice. As with the hatch, they could also enjoy a pink key fob, pink-edged drop-in mats and a very pink dashboard.

500 Blackjack - July 2010

Number made: 200 for the UK

Another online-only offering, this time in matt black, with Sport trim and 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engines. It also has red calipers (for the 1.4), special drop-in mats, metallic effect door handles, mirror caps and matt black alloys.

500C by Diesel - August 2010

Number made: unknown

The Urban Survival Vehicle as convertible (presumably a risky opening in the urban jungle), this Fiat/Diesel promo was available in a midnight blue inspired by stonewashed denim, as well as the unusual Diesel green. 

500 by Gucci - May 2011

Number made: as per demand

Customised by Gucci’s Frida Giannini, it had a striped beltline, Gucci badging, red and green striped upholstery, elaborately etched kickplates, a two-tone wheel and thinly spoked alloys. Finished in glittered black or white, and rare.

500C by Gucci - September 2011

Number made: 3000 worldwide

As the hatch, but with an unmissable green and red stripe rampaging down the centre line of the fabric roof. Other details included Gucci double ‘G’ badging for the gearknob and wheel centres, Gucci seatbelts and a velvet-effect radio panel. 

500 America - February 2012

Number made: 500

worldwide For number one of this 500-strong run, you could bid via Twitter using TwitBid. The other 499 sold more conventionally. Stars and stripes mirror covers, metallic blue paint and assorted stickers adorned this 1.2-litre 500.

500 Street - August 2012

Number made: as per demand

A five-colour range and available with all the engines save the 1.4, the Street provided more equipment for less money and some satin chrome body detailing. Not so special, unless you were chasing value.

500 Colour Therapy - August 2012

Number made: as per demand

No calming colours for these, all inspired by a 1970s fashion palette. Still, the names of these colours — New Age Cream, Countrypolitan Yellow, Pasodoble Red, Volare Blue, and Tech House Grey — sound suspiciously 21st century.

500 and 500C GQ - August 2013

Number made: as per demand

Developed with GQ magazine and available with every 500 powertrain. It came in two-tone metallic grey capped with black and had orange-stitched leather trim, GQ badging, a leather gearknob and alloy pedals.

500 and 500C Cult - March 2014

Number made: as per demand

A top-of-the-range limited series produced to mark the 2014-model-year 500. Finished in Lattementa green, a pale mint shade few other cars could carry off, it came with two-tone leather seats in black, ivory or red.

500 Ron Arad Edition - September 2014

Number made: 200 for the UK

Architect and artist Ron Arad customised the flanks of a black 500 with drawings of the classic 500. White-edged black leather seats and a Ron Arad signature completed this rare edition, which came with a 1:18 model, too. 

Vintage ’57 - February 2015

Number made: as per demand

A retro version of a retro car, featuring alloy wheels fashioned to resemble steels, cute hubcaps, an ivory dashboard, throwback two-tone seats, a white-faced speedo, pastel blue paint, a white roof and 1950s-style Fiat badging, all in homage to the 1957 original.

500 and 500C Riva - June 2016

Number made: as per demand

Exposing Fiats to water used to be hazardous, but no longer. It’s unlikely that a be-hooked classic 500 ever nudged a Riva yacht seawards, but who cares? There’s a beautiful mahogany dash and some fab detailing.

500C 60th - March 2017

Number made: as per demand

Celebrating the 500’s 60th anniversary, this Dolcevita two-tone edition includes a grey fabric roof, chrome mirror cappings, vintage Fiat logos, a textured vinyl dash, a white leather gearknob and ivory leather seats. On sale now.

500 and 500C Mirror - April 2017

Number made: as per demand

No, it’s not finished in highly reflective silver: it’s about mirror-linking smartphones and a new Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity option. Available with only the 1.2 petrol in five colours, it’s still on sale.

500 and 500C Anniversario - June 2017

Number made: as per demand

Two great 1960s colours, one 1.2 engine choice, those weirdly appealing steellook alloy wheels from the Vintage ’57, chrome highlights, utility striped cloth seats and a Beats sound system make for another tempting confection.