The “Fiat 500 entra al MoMA” (Fiat 500 enters the MoMA Collection) project has received a 2017 Corporate Art Award for “successfully transforming an icon of Italian creativity into a global work of modern art.” With that accolade under its belt, the 60-year old Fiat 500 has become the only vehicle to ever receive such honors. And the win is rather significant, as the 2017 edition of the Corporate Art Awards involved 80 companies from 18 countries.

“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award,” said Olivier Francois, Head of Fiat Brand and Chief Marketing Officer, FCA. “[It is] a tangible recognition that Fiat 500 is not just an industrial masterpiece with a 60-year history, but rather a real symbol of Italian creativity, which has won a place in the collective imagination. And its journey continues today, with ever-increasing vigour and awareness of its role as an ambassador for Italian excellence worldwide.”

The particular model acquired by MoMA is a 500 F series, which is the most popular 500 variant ever, with production running from 1965 to 1972. The success of the first-gen 500s cannot be understated, with the total production number being well over 4 million units. Since the Fiat 500 was reborn in 2007, it has been sold to about 2 million customers, and most would argue that its current success is all thanks to the timeless, now-globally accepted design.