The Fiat 500, was launched in Malta in the presence of thousands of football fans; he event taking place before the start of the Juventus versus Valletta City friendly football match at National Stadium.

Fiat’s award-winning baby, the 500, was launched in Malta on Wednesday 9 January in the presence of thousands of football fans. The event took place before the start of the Juventus versus Valletta City friendly football match at Ta’ Qali National Stadium. The famous Turin side was in Malta for a five-day training stint ahead of the Serie A season second half. 

The delightful, compact Fiat 500, winner of the Car of the Year 2008 award, was unveiled in the presence of Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was then taken for a brief ride as a passenger around the stadium track. The car used for the launch was a white example with stripes in the colours of the Italian flag. Other models from the current Fiat range were also paraded around the stadium.

Six examples of the first generation Fiat 500 were present for the ceremony, all lovingly restored and kept in top condition by their owners. Of special interest was a locally converted open top version of the old 500, owned by renowned local car enthusiast David Arrigo.

Many examples of the old Fiat 500 could be seen on Malta’s roads in its heyday, its extreme fuel economy and simplicity of engineering without doubt two of its attractions. Today it has practically disappeared from everyday use, but most of the remaining examples were quickly bought up by car enthusiasts for restoration and today are enjoying a new lease of life.

by John Visanich