The introduction of the Fiat Nuova 500 in 1957 marked the first market launch of a minimalist car. With a length of just 2.97 m, a width of 1.32 m and a weight of 500 kg, the car was extremely compact while still offering enough space inside for a family of four. The simplicity of the very small car was also reflected in its Spartan fixtures: it wasn’t possible to roll down the windows, the tachometer was small, the steering wheel was thin and the engine had just 13.5 HP.

Nevertheless, the Fiat Nuova 500 was a full-scale car that became very popular after some initial teething problems. One reason for its popularity was the body design, which was very well loved. Another was the low purchase price, which made the dream of owning your own car come true for a lot of people for the first time. In this example, simplicity resulted in a minimalist car with a small price tag and maximum popularity.