The first edition took place on July 15, 1984 and, although it attracted only thirty participants, it gave the go-ahead to a virtuous process that continues to this day. Engineer Dante Giacosa took part in it and was very impressed from the "unusual and all the more commendable initiative to give a new breath of life and prestige to the Fiat 500”; the great designer remained in contact with the Club with affection and esteem until his death in 1996.
Among the first Cinquecento members there was also the future president John Paul DeCaptains of Alassio and Mario Ferrando of Genoa, who later became one of the pillars of the association. Learning from two Dutch tourists, Ronald e Annelies Hoeven, of the existence in the Netherlands of a Club dedicated to the 500 founded in 1980, pushed the then mayor of Garlenda Domenico Romano and friend Joseph Nespolo to leave for Holland. That trip will mark the birth of the "Friends of the 500", the first nucleus of the current Club.
Celebrities from the entertainment world such as Gianfranco Funari, Sandra Millo and young people Piero Chiambretti e Simona Ventura (Miss Muretto of that year), but also the vice president of Fiat John Nasi with the wife Marinella.
About a hundred cars leave from Geleen (NL) for a convoy trip to Garlenda. At the arrival there were many journalists from national newspapers, radio.
The same year the first volume on the 500 was published, edited by Roman Strizioli with the cover of Walter Molino, presented on the RAI television programme "Uno su cento", hosted by Pippo Baudo. It was the beginning of an important and growing media exposure for the association which would quickly take on an international character.
In 1989 the social magazine was born "4smallwheels". The “newspaper” has always been a fundamental means of keeping in touch with members and above all of bringing their voice within the association.
It was time for the "Friends of the 500" to give themselves a more structured and official organisation: that's how the 13 March 1990 was born on Fiat 500 Club Italia. The founder Domenico Romano became honorary president, while John Paul DeCaptains assumed the presidency. Article 2 of the Statute states: "The Association aims to: spread and keep alive the interest in the Fiat 500 in its value as a social and customary phenomenon; foster in the common love for the Fiat 500 friendship and solidarity between people, without any distinction of age, social background, wealth, nationality or race; create and promote opportunities for meeting and discussion between Fiat 500 enthusiasts; promote and implement initiatives aimed at preserving the circulation capacity and functionality on the road of Fiat 500 cars".
During 1991 the Club reached the quota of 1.000 members; the relationships with foreign enthusiasts intensified and local events developed in various corners of the Peninsula, thanks to the figure of the area trustees
The first " took place in JanuaryEpiphany at Gaslini" in Genoa: since then, every year on the day of the Epiphany, a delegation of the Club, of the Commonand Pro Loco and White Cross of Garlenda goes to the Gaslini Pediatric Medical Institute in Genoa to deliver gifts to the little patients. This is not the only charity initiative in which the Fiat 500 Club Italia is involved, which often collaborates with volunteer associations involved in the most varied fields in its events.
In 2000 The Club is federated with the Automotoclub Storico Italiano.
Gian Paolo De Capitani with constancy, elegance and enthusiasm, gave a notable boost to the life of the Club; the social headquarters in Via Roma 90 was named in his memory.
The Club establishes the Historic Model Register, aimed at cataloguing the historic 500s still in circulation and not, recommending the correct restoration of the car depending on the type and year of construction.
The attention of the media and the advertising world on the “500 phenomenon” is increasing.
As many as 622 cars arrive from all over the world.
The Dutch medal-winning athletes are brought to the celebrations in a 500. The evocative closing ceremony sees a 500 parade through the Olympic stadium while at the Paralympics the cars of the Saluzzo Coordination stand out. At the Garlenda Meeting there are 754 participants, which not only allow the writing "500" to be created at the Villanova d'Albenga Hippodrome (the aerial photo will go around the world), but also to win the Guinness World Record for the very long parade that winds between Villanova and Garlenda. A delegation takes part in the celebrations for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Dutch association, where, in the presence of representatives of the European Clubs, the foundations are laid for the XXIV Fiat 500 Meeting with a new edition of the Tour Europa.
The whole world pays homage to the "small, great car that helped Italians grow". Fiat also presents its new car that bears the same name and whose lines are inspired by the famous "grandmother". The "granddaughter" is thus christened by the veteran, during a spectacular event in Turin that, on 4 and 5 July, sees a preview of the Garlenda Meeting. On 6 July, the Cinquecento enthusiasts present in the Piedmontese capital move to the Riviera and join those who have already gathered or are gathering in the "Capital of the 500". And Garlenda truly becomes the "caput mundi" of the legendary utility vehicle: not only is the "Dante Giacosa 500 Multimedia Museum, documentation center for road safety education”, but there will be 1.438 crews from over 20 nations parading at the Villanova d'Albenga Hippodrome for an Olympic-style ceremony that excites and moves. The book "Fiat 500 - History of a Passion", written by the founder Domenico Romano and the press officer Stefania Ponzone, which collects the fundamental passages of the life of the association, many anecdotes and reflections and a rich photographic documentation.
The Garlenda Meeting, thanks to the direction of Alessandro Scarpa, is enriched year after year with ever new and more engaging events: excursions, exhibitions, concerts, conferences and a spectacular "choreography" of cars: in the 2008 The Meeting celebrates the successes of the association with a gigantic "Mobile Rainbow".
Very important stage in the 2010, when the Club is named UNICEF Testimonials and debuts with its own publishing brand "500 Club Italia Editions" with the book for charity "The tale of the Cinquino".
The first road safety education day takes place at the Museum, involving over 200 children. The initiative has now become an important annual event and has seen the establishment of the “Crescere Sicuri” award, given to people or organizations that have distinguished themselves in the important task of raising public awareness of road safety.
21.000 registered members
During the XXIX International Fiat 500 Meeting in Garlenda, the first video footage broadcast live on our website allows enthusiasts from all over the world to follow the most important event of the year. Gatherings throughout Italy are intensifying and aiming for quality, often enhancing the tourist aspects of Italian excellence.
Domenico Romano, Mara Depini, Marinella Pifferi and Stefania Ponzone write the manifesto the slow movement that says “no” to highways in favor of the rediscovery of a conscious tourism, between villages and panoramic roads.
The commitment to the important issue of road safety takes on even greater importance thanks to the extension to a week of the annual event created in favor of youth education; 700 students of all grades from all over Liguria participated in this "Crescere Sicuri" event created in collaboration with the Highway Police. The "Crescere Sicuri" award was assigned in this edition to"Lorenzo Guarnieri" association.
The book will be presented in Rome, at the Chamber of Deputies, in June "An Italian Myth", written by Stefania Ponzone and Francesca Caneri, with editorial planning by Domenico Romano and a preface by Renzo Arbore, which illustrates in detail how the 500 became a social and lifestyle phenomenon.
Il Museum is being expanded with a new large room, which allows for the display of four more cars, as well as various display cases and a panel with around 150 “sketches” which summarise the basic models and all the derivatives, designed and created by the great coachbuilders of the time.
The pandemic does not completely stop the Club and the Garlenda Meeting: despite the cancellation of the edition 2020, in 2021 it is realized World Wide Meeting, with many small gatherings taking place simultaneously in a hundred locations in Italy and abroad and a long live TV broadcast. The activity on the Club's website and social pages intensifies precisely in this period, with a great effort to stay in touch with all members in the name of "Still but not immobile" launched from the pages of 4PiccoleRuote.
Once the delicate phase has been overcome and the restrictions on events have gradually lapsed, the gathering activity, participation in trade fairs and solidarity initiatives resume with ever greater vigor, mobilizing the trustees to the maximum and underlining the centrality of the figure of the member.
In July the great is celebrated “Return to Garlenda” with a gathering celebrating the friendship between people united by their passion for the legendary Fiat 500. A strong presence of foreign Cinquecentisti was recorded.
The fortieth edition is celebrated with smiles thanks to the colorful drawings and performances of the cosplayers who tell the story of the 500 in comics and cartoons, under the guidance of the new director of the Meeting, Alessandro Vinotti.
With the slogan "We are forty", the Club is projected towards the future, with the desire to make itself known to those who, although passionate about the 500, are not yet part of what, for those who experience it every day, is a large - indeed, the largest - family of Cinquecento enthusiasts in the world.
