La Cinquecento Presented The Cutest Restomod You’ve ever seen
The Fiat 500 is one of the most successful modern reinterpretations of a classic car, but it is hard to beat the charm and tiny footprint of the original, which debuted in 1957.
British company La Cinquecento has now created a bespoke restomod based on the iconic city car, combining its unmistakable character with a more powerful engine and extensively reworked chassis.
The exterior was redesigned by Milan-based studio BorromeodeSilva, which has also worked on projects such as the Lamborghini Diablo-based Eccentrica and the Lancia Delta-based Automobili Atmos Futurista/Safarista.
The prototype retains the familiar shape of the original 500 but adds rally-inspired lights to the front bumper, wider fenders, deeper side skirts, and matte-finished disc wheels. The red exterior is complemented by cream and body-colored details inside, along with vintage carpets and saddle-colored leather on the bucket seats and door panels.
The donor car was built in the 1970s and had spent around 25 years in a barn before being acquired by La Cinquecento founder Max Kindersley.
Under the hood is a two-cylinder engine from the Fiat 126, equipped with twin-spark ignition. La Cinquecento has not disclosed its power output, but says the engine offers improved throttle response and torque.
The mechanical upgrades go much further, with the suspension, brakes, steering, cooling system, and electrical systems all extensively reworked to make the tiny Fiat more engaging to drive.
According to Kindersley, the goal was never to change what made the original 500 special. Instead, La Cinquecento wanted to preserve its simplicity, light weight, and character while making it faster, sharper, and better engineered.
The restomod made its public debut at the Tutto Bene hillclimb in Italy. La Cinquecento plans to produce a limited run of individually numbered cars and is already accepting expressions of interest. Pricing for the conversion has not yet been announced.
