Fiat 500 My Car

Fiat 500 My Car wasn’t the only version of the Nuova 500 modified by Francis Lombardi, but it was the only one that achieved notable commercial success.

Offered in two variants—a fixed-roof model and a “trasformabile” version with a sunroof—it combined charm and practicality in a uniquely elegant way.

Incomplete Fiat 500s were shipped directly from the Fiat factory to Lombardi’s workshop in Vercelli, where they were finished with custom components designed specifically for the model.

This arrangement was quite common at the time; Abarth, for instance, had long been using a similar approach for its tuned 500s.

The Fiat 500 My Car stood out with several distinctive touches, some of which never appeared on later production models.

These included a sculpted dashboard trimmed in black plastic, a wooden steering wheel and gear knob, rear windows that could open, stainless steel door sills, a rounded front grille with a chrome-plated insert, and decorative wheel rings.

The most innovative feature, however, was the redesigned roof. Shaped with two transverse ribs and a small integrated spoiler, it gave the car a sportier, more refined appearance while also improving headroom inside. Buyers could even opt for metallic paint—a rare luxury for a city car of its time.

Although it was more expensive than the standard Fiat 500, the My Car still found success, with several thousand examples produced.

Its appeal lay not only in its stylish individuality but also in its practical advantages: shorter delivery times compared to the Fiat 500 F, and the improved interior space afforded by Lombardi’s clever roof design.