Second only to Tak Fujiwara's Trueno AE86 of Initial D fame, very few cars have transcended their anime origins and permeated pop culture much like Lupin the 3rd’s Mercedes-Benz SSK and Fiat 500. These two automobiles serve an interesting purpose in both the Lupin franchise and pop culture as a whole with their own innate personality and ability to set a mood for the scene they are in.

But before we get into that - a history lesson!

Boooo!

1928 saw the release of the Mercedes-Benz SSK. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche (yes, that Porsche), the SSK was the fastest car of its day with a top speed of 120 miles per hour. This speed came at the cost of handling that was so poor many SSKs were totaled in the races that they appeared in. The original luxury, scarcity, and ahead-of-its-time design has caused the SSK to become one of the most rare cars in the world with only 4~5 original models remaining.

Okay, okay. The history lesson is cool and all, but what does any of that have to do with Lupin?

I’m glad you asked!

I’d argue that the unruly nature and overall gautiness of the car perfectly encapsulates the iterations of Lupin that drove it. Both the original Green and Red Jacket runs portray Lupin with a crass arrogance that exceeds confidence. An arrogance that drives a $7.4 million car, and an arrogance that totals that car every other episode. Obviously the world’s greatest thief would need to use one of the most expensive cars in the world as an expendable getaway vehicle.

In a sense, the car speaks for a young and more inexperienced Lupin (both in the narrative sense, and real world sense as many of the runs that feature this car highlight his more unsavory characteristics). Interestingly enough, I don’t think I am the only one that feels this way either. A Woman Called Fujiko Mine has a great scene in its first episode in which Fujiko and Lupin meet for the first time. Fujiko reveals her knowledge of Lupin in a wonderfully animated flashback. In this scene, Lupin is depicted as borderline reckless as he drives away partially wearing the loot that he hopes to nab.

Can you guess what car is featured in this scene?

Alright, alright! I get it, but what about the Fiat?

Man, another great question!

Although Part 1 technically introduced the Fiat 500 to the series first, The Castle of Cagliostro cemented the car and its striking yellow paint thanks to the film’s famous chase. This small rear engine Italian street car acted as both a subtle nod to the series’ Italian fans, and a changing of the guard. The Lupin of old is no more. Instead, we have a more crafty, easy to love adventurer who travels the world in his seemingly mundane vehicle.

Is it worth noting that the original name of the Fiat 500 was the *Nuova*, meaning “new”?

This 500 is important to the series. Besides being more recognizable in pop culture, the humble Fiat allows for a clear cut indication of the type of Lupin we are getting. Again, in order to prove I am not making this up. I’d like to direct your attention to a scene from The Castle of Cagliostro. In one of the film’s most important scenes, a bed-ridden Lupin reveals his past with Clarice. This scene is great for a myriad of reasons but most importantly, it shows that Lupin has changed. He’s grown as a person in an effort to be something better than he once was. I believe Miyazaki chose to show a more “traditional” Lupin (i.e., reckless, greedy, women-obsessed) in this flashback in order to give a character known for his long standing faults, some growth.

And can you guess what car he is driving in this flashback?

“I was just starting my career. Ya know, a reckless kid still wet behind the ears.”

The Fiat 500 would go onto become the ideal vehicle to represent Lupin going forward. Even to this day, the 500 remains the Blue Jacket’s car of choice, with the SSK being reserved as a relic of Lupin’s past. A gaudier past. A past defined by character traits that would be frowned upon today. The Fiat now defines a more mature Lupin. One that is able to leave his past in the dust thanks to a tongue-and-cheek supercharged Italian street car originally designed to only go just under 100 miles per hour.

Alright, I think I made my point. In short, keep watching Lupin the 3rd and relating it to the art of storytelling and the world around you.

As always, “keep up the good work!”

Bonus round of other media that features automobiles from the Lupin franchise.

The Netflix show Lupin features a yellow Fiat 500 as a nod to the eventual grandson.
The popular racing game franchise Forza features the Mercedes-Benz SSK as part of downloadable content.
LEGO released a model of the Fiat 500 in an appropriately bright yellow. This set is always recommended to me when I purchase Lupin related media on Amazon. Interesting, isn't it?
Abarth partnered with the franchise around the release of The First in order to show off a bright yellow Abarth 500.
The upcoming Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning features a car chase with the famed Yellow Fiat 500.