Five hundred lucky, patient Fiat 500 enthusiasts will get a special delivery this week: the first Fiats to be sold in the U.S. since 1984, in the form of the Prima Edizione. Fiat enthusiasts were offered the chance to buy the cars as a reward for their loyalty in the brand's absence.

Each Prima Edizione (first edition) Fiat 500 gets a unique numbered plaque, and will be painted in one of three exclusive colors: Rosso, Grigio, and Bianco (red, gray, and white). All Prima Ediziones will come with a manual transmission.

The Prima Edizione was announced last summer at a gathering of the Club Fiat-Lancia in Asheville, North Carolina.

"We value their unwavering loyalty and are thrilled that we now can show our appreciation by delivering the Prima Edizione models," said Laura Soave, Fiat brand's North American chief.

Deliveries of the first 500 cars will begin this week. Later this year, the standard 500 and 500C convertible will begin arriving. For more on the 2012 Fiat 500, don't miss TheCarConnection's review.