The Club's Characters

DANTE GIACOSA

He is the father of the Topolino and the “Nuova 500”. Back in July 1984 he wrote to our club thanking them for “the unusual and all the more commendable initiative to give a new breath of life and prestige to the dear Fiat 500”. Dante Giacosa has shown himself to be a great man and a great technician who has been able to move at ease in the vast world of the automobile. In the years of the economic boom, Giacosa designed the cars that motorized our country. For the “Nuova 500”, he received, in 1959, the Compasso d'Oro Award.

JOHN NASI

Engineer and vice president of Fiat in the 80s, Garlendase by adoption, as well as a supporting member of the club since the early years. He was one of the first people to whom the project of founding a Club dedicated to the 500 was presented. Engineer Nasi and his wife Marinella gave, with their presence, prestige and importance to the first timid gatherings among the few enthusiasts. Constant was his interest and his help for the ever-increasing spread of a club dedicated to the small great car that came out of Fiat.

PIERLUIGI NOBERASCO

Cavaliere del Lavoro and first sponsor of the Garlenda International Rally. During a working life, crowned with success not only in Italy but internationally, Noberasco, as an authentic Ligurian who loves simple, genuine and functional things, has always shown attention and availability for the Fiat 500, contributing to the affirmation of our association. The “500” and Pierluigi Noberasco have in common industriousness, the concept of design and life aimed at saving and maximizing performance, long life and a great deal of sympathy and humanity.

CRISTINA SILETTO

His connection with the 500 is represented by the affinity with the genius of Dante Giacosa, capable of creating innovative cars, pleasant in design and driving, which will leave an indelible mark in the history of Italian motoring. The choice of engineer Siletto has a double meaning: to confirm the collaborative relationship of our Club with FIAT and to reward the professionalism, passion and determination of this young man.

RENZO ARBORE

The 500 and Renzo Arbore represent the “Italian style” appreciated throughout the world. The award is a just recognition for those who have made the history of Italian Radio, Television and Song together with the car that symbolizes Italian ingenuity. The 500 contributed to the post-war economic recovery and to making motoring accessible to all and Renzo Arbore, an authoritative ambassador of Italian style throughout the world, will help to preserve and spread its myth.

ROBERTO GIOLITO

Following his work on the creation of the New 500, in 2008 he received the Premio dei Premi per l'Innovazione from the President of the Republic in the design section, and in 2011 the Fiat 500 received the prestigious Compasso d'Oro ADI award. Already in 2001, he was the first director of the new Advanced Design Center of the Fiat Group (where the concept car inspired by the icon of the historic 500, the Trepiùno, presented in Geneva in 2004, would take shape), and was appointed director of the Centro Stile Fiat & Abarth after the launch of the new Fiat 500 on 4 July 2007.
The New 500, also presented in Garlenda in 2007, is strongly inspired in its line and also in its concept of essentiality by the car to which our Club is dedicated.”

LUISELLA BERRINO

A 'historic' speaker for Radio Monte Carlo, she had presented the shows in the first two editions of the Garlenda Rally (1984 – 1985) and since then she has always followed and supported the initiatives of our association. Luisella received the award joyfully recalling her father Mario's (a well-known painter from Alassio) affection for the 500 and underlining the importance that the 500 has had and still has, in the families of all Italians.

FRANCESCA GRIMALDI

A well-known RAI journalist, responsible for Motors for Tg1, curator of the Tg1 Motors column and ASI advisor, she was awarded the “Dante Giacosa” recognition on 17 September 2016. NThroughout his career he has demonstrated great expertise in the world of motors and a great deal of attention for the historic 500, an Italian legend and our pride throughout the world. There are numerous occasions in which Grimaldi has expressed great esteem for this car both during its television broadcasts and in occasions of confrontation with the public of enthusiasts, such as, for example, during the most important automotive trade fairs. In many circumstances Grimaldi has met with the managers and partners to share the common love for the historic car that has helped Italians to grow.

HERCULES SWORD

Ercole Spada with his creativity, through his drawings and technical skills, has been able to give us splendid cars known and appreciated all over the world. His international career has seen him as a protagonist in prestigious Style Centers bringing high the value of Italian Design. Among the many cars, he created the Zanzara, a jaunty two-seater that enhances the enthusiasm of an exclusive creation on the economical and widespread mechanics of the Fiat 500 that we all know.
We are honored to have a member like Ercole Spada in the Fiat 500 Club Italia, the only one who designed and owns HIS own car.