Fiat’s Abarth division has traveled to the Frankfurt Motor Show to launch the 595 50 Anniversario, a limited edition of 299 cars designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original 595 SS.   Much to our delight, the automaker displayed both cars side-by-side on its stand.

The 595 SS is based on the regular 500 city car, a trait that it shares with its modern counterpart.  It stands out from the city-dwelling 500 thanks to a white paint job with red graphics on both sides, a “Fiat Abarth 595” emblem on the bonnet and the deck lid and bespoke emblems on the quarter panels.  Inside, it features a three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel and a full instrument cluster consisting of four Jaeger gauges.

The 595 SS gets its name from the 595cc air-cooled two-cylinder lurking under the decklid.  It sends 27 horsepower and 31 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, enabling it to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a stop in a hair over 31 seconds and reach a top speed of 72 mph (116 km/h).

Fiat designers drew inspiration from the original 595 SS and the new model features a retro-styled livery and period-correct emblems inside and out.