• One passionate South African fan, Tanya O’Connor changed her life after buying a Fiat 500
• Tanya and her blue Fiat 500 are a formidable and passionate representation of FIAT’s iconic success
• Founded in 1899, FIAT is one of the longest-operating automotive brands in the world, celebrating 125 years in style
• Fiat 500 is 67 years old this year, the iconic car selling over 7,5 million cars

MIDRAND, THURSDAY JULY 11, 2024 – As FIAT celebrates its 125th anniversary globally, one passionate South African fan is celebrating her own life – changed courtesy of a Fiat 500.

Tanya O’Connor loves cars. She worked in the automotive sector for 25 years and raced Opel vehicles that she had modified at some of South Africa’s most legendary racetracks, including Tarlton, Zwartkops and Kyalami – but nothing can beat her Fiat 500. 

It was love at first sight, not once but twice two years ago.

She bought her first white Fiat 500 and drove it for a couple of days until it was time to get it registered in her name. For the two days that it was out of her hands, the dealership, Rola FIAT in Somerset West, gave her a blue 500 Sport twin air cabriolet, so that she wouldn’t be inconvenienced.

O’Connor refused to give it back. Instead, she told the dealership to sort out the paperwork so she could buy it instead of the white one. And to celebrate her decision, she got herself a tattoo.

“They joke that it was still healing, when I went to pick her up,” O’Connor says of the FIAT name plate inked between her shoulder blades. It’s flanked by one of the 500 Sport in blue on her left shoulder with the word: Sprezzatura beneath it and the Abarth Scorpion on her other shoulder.

“Sprezzatura is Italian to go about effortlessly which is what my car allows me, while the Abarth Scorpion speaks to me being a Scorpio,” she explains.

Her passion doesn’t end there. Her nails on one hand are blue with the Italian flag on the other and her hair is dyed blue. She even drove all the way from her home in Gordon’s Bay to Oudtshoorn, a journey of just under 400kms to get a blue leather handbag from the South African home of the ostrich industry, to match her car. O’Connor literally is a walking, living advertisement for the brand and it comes totally naturally.

“She (The Fiat500) is just a total pleasure to drive: effortless, fast, light on petrol and full of fun.” So much fun in fact that O’Connor is effectively an unofficial salesperson for the local dealership.

“Every time someone shows interest in the car, I open her up and let them take a seat inside. I tell them about the ESC, the ABS, the car phone and show them how the roof comes off – and then I send them to Rola FIAT. I think they’ve sold three 500s that way so far,” she jokes.

Owning the 500 has changed her life in more ways than one. Perhaps the greatest is that it has taught her to scale down her life, simplify it and to live in the moment. 

“This is a car that spreads joy and happiness, she even dries my hair when the roof is off, and in this world we must use and enjoy all the fun we can get.”

For FIAT South Africa brand manager Karac Chitaka, O’Connor is not just a brand super fan, she’s a dream ambassador.

“What really impresses us about Tanya is her understanding of cars that allows our efforts with Fiat 500 to truly resonate with her,” says Chitaka. “I can’t wait to hear her reaction when she gets a chance to test the new 500e when we launch it later this year.”

July is also important for the iconic Fiat 500 as it celebrates its 67th birthday.  Designed by Dante Giacosa to be a compact, affordable vehicle for the masses, it swiftly became a cornerstone of Italy’s post-war economic recovery. Since its debut in 1957, more than 7.5 million Fiat 500s have been sold worldwide, solidifying its status as an iconic vehicle which is etched into the collective imagination of generations of drivers from diverse ages, tastes, and nationalities.  It has certainly captured the imagination – and passion – of Tanya O’Connor and her blue Fiat 500.