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"We are delighted to begin
delivering the highly-anticipated Fiat Cinquecento Prima
Edizione models to our cherished Fiat fans," said Laura Soave,
Head of Fiat Brand North America. "We value their unwavering
loyalty and are thrilled that we now can show our appreciation
by delivering the Prima Edizione models. The Prima Edizione
marks the exciting and long-awaited return of the Fiat brand and
true Italian automotive design to North America."
The Prima Edizione (First Edition)
model is meant for Fiat stalwarts like Shaun Folkerts, 38, who
has a barn full of Fiat vehicles, dating back to 1958 and in
various stages of restoration on his property in Douglassville,
Pa. He has 90 Fiat vehicles in his collection, about a third of
them housed in the barn, and the rest in a nearby warehouse.
Folkerts, a former environmental
consultant and now stay-at-home dad, drove today from his home
in southeastern Pennsylvania to take delivery of his Prima
Edizione at Fiat of Gaithersburg, a Fiat Studio in Maryland in
the metro Washington D.C. area.
"I've been waiting almost 28 years
for this model to arrive, so I would drive anywhere, anytime for
this Fiat 500," an elated Folkerts said.
Folkerts' first car as a teenager
was a Fiat Spider "and I've never looked back."
In July 2010, Fiat fans attending
the Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited annual convention in North
Carolina were given the opportunity to place reservations and
select their vehicle build number for the unique Prima Edizione
model.
Folkerts took delivery today of
Prima Edizione No. 11, produced in Toluca, Mexico. The model
appeals to a broad spectrum of customers, like the father and
son from Pennsylvania, each getting their own Prima Edizione
model, and the husband and wife team of Italian descent in
Philadelphia who will soon take delivery of a Rosso (Red) Prima
Edizione and a Bianco (White) model. Even a 16-year-old high
school sophomore soon will drive her Prima Edizione model home
in suburban Detroit.
"The fact that these cars are
reserved by a father and son, a husband and wife, and even a
high school girl illustrates the strong appeal of this model to
a broad array of customers who identify with Italian design,
modern technology, fuel efficiency and overall value," Soave
said.
Soave was ecstatic as she handed
the keys of the No. 11 Prima Edizione to Folkerts today at Fiat
of Gaithersburg. It also was a special moment for dealer Harry
Criswell.
"This is clearly one of the
highlights of my automobile career," Criswell says. "This is a
perfect car for the perfect time. The American public is ready
for this vehicle. I think this Fiat 500 will create an entirely
new market segment of vehicles."
The Fiat 500 Prima Edizione is
exclusively available in three colors: Bianco, Rosso and Grigio
(Gray). These limited-edition Fiat 500 models are equipped with
a manual transmission. Designed as a collector vehicle, each
Prima Edizione will feature a sequentially numbered vehicle
identification number (VIN) and unique numbered matching badge
on the instrument panel.
Photo: Fiat
(March 10, 2011)
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