Way back in 1961, the great American urban planner and sociologist Lewis Mumford (1895-1990) wrote how good urban planning should make room for the automobile, and how the motor industry should produce cars that, due to their volume and power, do not slow down, instead of speeding up, city traffic. "The design and diffusion of small cars driven by electricity for normal movements within cities should be particularly promoted.... moderate speed,silence and ease of parking should be characteristic of a city car". (L.Mumford, the city in history, 1961.NY). 
About sixty years later, we are just designing the electric car. In Italy, in Turin in 1957, following the economic boom of the 1950s, FIAT launched the NUOVA FIAT 500, designed by Dante Giacosa, which immediately became very popular and reach of many. 

 

 

FIAT 500: THE "POCKET" SUPER UTILITY
Ing. Dante Giacosa

This little superutilitaria deserved the ADI Compasso d'Oro Award in 1959. It's wide diffusion favored the development of the production of mass- produced cars, with great cost savings. The production of this exceptional car reached 3.8 million pieces and ended only in 1975. The Piedmontese Ing. Giacosa was chief engineer of the Technical Offices and director of the Fiat Style Center (1958). He was also the father of the first 500, called Mickey Mouse, in 1936. Still some examples of these now rare cars are circulating in the city or at historical rallies, which are parked in some space. 
The vintage marked occasionally offers some models of the last years of production that should not be missed.

FIAT 500: THE "POCKET" SUPER UTILITY
FIAT 500: THE "POCKET" SUPER UTILITY