Fiat Scoiattolo

The Fiat Scoiattolo, a custom-built vehicle based on the Fiat 500 F, was crafted by CAP (Carrozzeria Arrigo Perini) between 1968 and 1973. Produced in Arco, a town in the province of Trento, Italy, the Scoiattolo featured a distinctive squared body and a removable canvas roof, setting it apart from the traditional Fiat 500 models. Its playful and utilitarian design made it an appealing and affordable alternative to the more expensive Fiat 500 Jolly, a popular but costly variant at the time. Despite its charm and practicality, only around 200 Fiat Scoiattolo units were ever produced. The car achieved a level of success due to its affordability and cheerful design, which resonated with buyers looking for a fun, economical vehicle that still offered a sense of individuality. However, today, very few examples of this quirky car have survived, making it a rare and coveted collector’s item. The Scoiattolo, which translates to “squirrel” in Italian, embodies the ingenuity of small Italian coachbuilders like CAP, who creatively modified existing Fiat models to cater to niche markets. Its mechanical simplicity, based on the widely popular Fiat 500 F, coupled with its unique styling, has ensured the Scoiattolo a special place in the history of Italian automotive design. As a limited-production model, it remains a symbol of 1960s and early 1970s Italian craftsmanship and continues to capture the interest of vintage car enthusiasts today.