When car fan Duncan Saunders tried out Fiat’s unique car configurator at an exhibition in London earlier this year, he didn’t know then that he would go on to win the model he designed.

Paramedic Duncan, 28, almost needed treatment himself when Fiat rang to tell him he had won the Fiat 500, created in a competition at the London Eye to celebrate the iconic supermini’s launch in the UK, and judged by London’s Design Museum.

“I just didn’t believe it when Fiat told me I had won the 500 – I was shocked,” says Duncan. “I‘m a car enthusiast and the 500 was particularly interesting as my Dad used to own an original one.

“It was the car that drew me over to the stand in London, and then I realised there was a competition. I had a go of the configurator, clicked a few buttons and thought: ‘that looks good’. A week later I received an email showing me my design, followed by another message telling me I had won. There’s nothing like a new car to perk you up.”

Duncan says he is going to keep the new car – a 1.3 MultiJet Pop version in his chosen Cha Cha Cha Azure with black and white chequered roof – after initial fears that he wouldn’t fit his six foot two inch frame in comfortably. But local dealer Desira Norwich, where Duncan collected his prize, offered to let him have a test drive to prove the 500 is more than capable of taking tall drivers.

“We were only too happy to let Duncan try the 500 before taking delivery of his prize car,” says Daryl Long, Fiat Sales Executive at Desira. “He was delighted with his test drive and I am sure he will stay delighted with his 500 for many years to come.”

More than 6,000 Fiat 500s have been sold in the UK since its launch this year. The car is a multi-award-winner, picking up, among others, Car of the Year 2008, CAR Magazine Car of the Year, EuroCarBody 2007 and Auto Europa 2008. Prices start at £8,100 for the entry-level 1.2 Pop version.