[citation needed] In 1959, Dante Giacosa received a Compasso d'Oro industrial design prize for the Fiat 500.

Initially, it only had a 2-door coupé body with sun-roof, like before the war, which was later complemented by an Estate version, importantly offering some family-valued rear seating space.

Besides the two-door saloon, it was also available as the "Giardiniera" estate; this variant featured the standard engine laid on its side, the wheelbase lengthened by 10 cm (3.9 in) to provide a more convenient rear seat, a full-length sunroof and larger brakes from the Fiat 600.

The 126 was not as successful as its predecessor in Italy, but sold well in the Eastern Bloc countries, being assembled and manufactured in Poland as a Polski Fiat.

[8] In mid-1958 Fiat introduced the Nuova 500 Sport, featuring a more powerful engine and a two-tone livery—white with a red stripe along the flanks.

In New Zealand, where it was locally assembled by Torino Motors, the 500 D was sold as the "Fiat Bambina" (Italian for "baby"), a name that is still in use there to describe this car.

[2] This was the result of new safety regulations which required front-hinged doors on passenger cars - the Giardiniera was officially a commercial vehicle and was thus allowed to retain the original, rear-hinged design.

[14] Other model-specific exterior items were a new Fiat badge at the front, redesigned hubcaps, chrome plastic mouldings covering the roof drip rails, and bright trim around windscreen and rear window.

Inside the dashboard was entirely covered in black anti-glare plastic material instead of being bare painted metal, and was fitted with a new trapezoid instrument binnacle replacing the round one used on all other 500 models.

More storage space was provided in the form of a tray on the centre tunnel, which like the rest of the floor was covered in carpet rather than rubber mats.

Except for radial instead of bias ply tires, from a mechanical standpoint the 500 L was identical to the coeval 500 F.[14] The last incarnation of the Fiat 500 was the R model, or "Rinnovata" (Renovated).

Launched alongside the new Fiat 126 in November 1972, it had the same 594 cc engine of the 126, however, the power rating is the same as the L but at lower rpm (4000 instead of 4400) and with a bit more torque; a full synchromesh gearbox is still missing.

Some notable changes include the different tail lights, removal of the fresh air vents on the nose, and only 2 water drainage ports (downgraded from the 3 previous years had) along the bottom of the doors.

When compared to the production version of the 500, aesthetically the 695 was virtually identical except for the logo, badge on the radiator grille and the coat of arms on both sides of the car.

The 695 SS was the only version to feature flared arches and the need to raise the engine cover for extra stability and cooling.

The OHV 2 valves per cylinder inline-two engine, exhaust pipe, head and valve-springs were upgraded and specially designed pistons and camshaft fitted.

[18] Carrozzeria Ghia custom manufactured a "Jolly" variant of the 500, inspired by the limited edition Fiat 600 Jolly,[19][20] and featuring an open-air, doorless design with wicker seats and a removable fabric canopy roof — similar in concept to the Citroën Méhari, BMC Mini Moke and Volkswagen Type 181.

The new model features a distinctive retro style – following the pattern of the Volkswagen New Beetle and BMW MINI – as modern reinterpretation of Dante Giacosa's 1957 original rear-engined Fiat 500.