This Fiat 500 is a war machine! It can climb mountains, cut up the tarmac of the highways, shoot down slopes, and trundle through Tuscany or down the roads of Naples all the way to Bari. It’s a tank, I say! I, Francesco, hold this to be true. With a Fiat 500 you can do anything. There are some Italians who say that this car is just a banger; an old jalopy that can’t hack the big roads and wheezes up hills, and can’t do much besides. Many Italians think that the Fiat 500 is only meant to be driven in the alleyways of Florence and Naples. But I, Francesco, am a professional mechanic, and I for one am proud to own one. She’s my life, my beating heart, and my passion. I never travel anywhere in Italy without my Fiat 500. I never ride the train. Boats? Not a chance. For me, it’s the Fiat 500 or nothing, capisce?
My Fiat 500 is like a part of the family. I suppose my zeal deserves a little explanation. I’ve worked on hundreds of cars since I started my career as a mechanic. I’ve seen hundreds of German and French cars come through the workshop. Italians are always looking for the most powerful and cheapest car out there. Mercedes are too expensive, so why not a BMW? What about a fine Renault, you’ll probably tell me. But when there’s a problem or a part that needs replaced, it costs a ton, I can tell you. People say that in terms of value for money, your Fiat 500 is the most expensive and least powerful automobile you can buy. Nonsense, I tell you – you’ll find spare parts in every garage, and every mechanic’s workshop. How does one explain the Fiat 500’s popularity in Italy? It’s a mystery, I suppose. With American cars, you’re always thinking bigger and wider. But there are those who dream smaller, and those people dream of a Fiat 500. The Fiat 500 is an Italian car that’s exported all over the world. You can drive it on the Greek islands, on roads that cut between cliff and sea. You can drive it on a five-lane highway in the US. The Fiat 500 will always get you honked at. Hardly surprising, is it? When you drive it, anything’s possible. You can seduce sweet Italian maidens from Florence or Naples, or park it by the roadside to enjoy a pizza with some beautiful stranger. There’s always a Margherita on the menu somewhere! The philosophy behind the Fiat 500 can be hard to understand. But sometimes, even when they hear my side of the story, people still struggle to understand that the Fiat 500 is a spark of genius.
I dream of driving mine around the Colosseum in Rome, like a conquering Emperor. Can you imagine what it would be like to drive this car over the cobblestones around the Colosseum? What a rush that would be. It’s so light that you’d be able to feel every loose stone beneath its wheels. But she has power in her, and she’s such a pleasure to drive. One day, I’ll drive my Fiat 500 all the way over to France. I’ll drive by the Eiffel Tower in a Napoleon hat. There is greatness in excess, the French say. I say there is greatness in small things, and more power for it!
Alan Alfredo Geday