NF500 / parigi

The orange Fiat 500 you see here has taken on quite a journey, after traveling through China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and finally Italy to appear at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show.

But that was just the return leg of an incredible adventure which saw the 1.3 multijet turbo diesel Fiat 500 cover over 16,000 km to reach Beijing in the first place, and the return leg was completed in less than a month! The Overland Challenge saw the Fiat 500 accompany a vintage 1907 Itala, recreating (in reverse) the 100th anniversary of its victory in the 1907 Beijing to Paris race. Then Rocco Errico and Beppe Tenti decided that wasn’t enough, and drove all the way back to Italy again.

You can read more about the big adventure on this very website, the Parigi-Pechino website and the official blog of the Fiat 500 team on the Fiat 500 website.

Fiat’s new 500 city car will accompany a vintage Itala on a 16,000 trip to mark the 100th anniversary of its victory in the 1907 Beijing to Paris race.

The 2007 tip will run in reverse order of the original and start from Paris on July 20, to finish on September 20 in the Chinese capital’s central Tiananmen Square.

The 500 will be part of a caravan accompanying the classic Itala which will also include the orange trucks of Italy s Overland World Truck Expedition.

Organizers the Italian Automobile Club (ACI) explained that Paris was chosen as the start rather than the finish because of the changes in the geopolitical situation over the past 100 years.  Whereas Paris in 1907 was one of the world’s great cultural capitals, in 2007 China has emerged as a major power thanks to its incredible economic expansion.

The original 7433cc 35/45hp Itala which won the 1907 race was driven by Count Scipione Borghese and journalist Luigi Barzini.

For further information and some terrific Historical footage and photography visit the Parigi-Pechino website.