Fashion-Focused Fiat 500 By Garage Italia Auctioned For Charity

Khodrocar - What happens when fashion meets the automotive world? Such things have occurred from time to time, sometimes with good results, others not so much. In the case of this dizzingly striped Fiat 500C, we’ll excuse ourselves from judgement because this particular car is a one-off that was recently auctioned for a very good cause – AIDS research.

The car earned its stripes at Garage Italia Customs, a noted shop in Milan, Italy that has something of a reputation for producing exquisite, bespoke creations for high-end customers. We’re not kidding about high-end either – the portfolio for Garage Italia Customs includes everything from motorcycles and cars to helicopters, yachts, and even aircraft.

In creating this special Fiat, the shop drew inspiration from fashion designer Angela Missoni, who serves as the creative director for the Italian fashion company with the same name, founded by her parents in Varese. Missoni is known for colorful designs and geometric patterns, which come through loud and clear on this custom 500C. To match the exterior finish, custom upholstery work on the seats, floor mats, and other interior bits was also performed, with Missoni directly supplying the materials for the project.

The finished product was presented at the ninth annual charity event organized by amfAR, held September 21st in Milan at the Palazzo della Permanente. In addition to her role in fashion, Missoni also served as the host for the gala, which has raised over $12 million for AIDS research since it began. The Fiat auction was the closing act for the event, with proceeds going to support the cause.

The final bid wasn’t disclosed, but Garage Italia Customs called it a "generous” figure. Whether you like or hate the design, supporting a worthy cause is something we can all celebrate. So to that, we simply say well done.