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The Fiat 500 Riva is a land-based tender with a lot to live up to

Fiat and Riva – two icons of Italian design that have joined forces to create this, the 500 Riva. But does the adorable hatchback live up to the illustrious heritage of either brand? We’ll leave you to decide…

Big shoes to fill

You could argue that a small car originally designed to bring motoring to the masses is the antithesis of an ultra-luxury wooden yacht. But the Fiat 500 was different. It epitomised the spirit of the Italian Dolce Vita era, and became just as stylish in its own right as the timeless Riva Aquarama – indeed, both were the darlings of the Jet Set. The new Fiat 500 Riva is, as you’d expect, not quite as beguiling as either the original car or the yacht, but there are some nice touches. These include the ‘Blue Sera’ paint, the hand-painted mahogany dashboard, and the exclusive ivory leather created by Poltrona Frau. Available in hatchback and convertible guises, the Fiat 500 Riva might well be the perfect land-based tender for your yacht – who needs a Lamborghini to nip around a port anyway? 

Photos: Fiat

You can find both classic Fiat 500s and vintage wooden Rivas listed for sale in the Classic Driver Market.