131mirafiori forum

HI EVERYONE, just leaving knock airport, ireland on the way to the show in birmingham.Hope to see some nice fiats there.vroooooooom.....

I don't know what Fiats will be there but I am going to the show on Sunday (in the Mercedes  :-\  )

Did you go in the end Theo? Was it worth the trip? Were there any 'nice' FIATs on display?

Yes I did go and it was a good show. I saw the new Maserati Coupe "in the flesh" for the first time and spent quite a lot of time walking around it but I still don't like it  :-\ :'( I so much want to like that car as it's a Maserati by Pininfarina, the two Italian companies for whom I have the highest regard and liking but I just don't seem to be able to love this new car; maybe with time it will grow on me but a truly nice design shouldn't have to do so. I really liked the new Jaguar small saloon though (whatever it's called). But none of those are classics (yet) and this was meant to be a classic car show.

The Fiat Motor Club (GB) managed a last minute coup as they were offered one of the carpeted stands in the "posh" hall alongside the Bugattis, Maseratis, BMWs Mercedes and other high class marques. I understand that Clubs normally pay about ?1000 for these stands but the FMC got it for nothing.

The lovely 130 Coupe on the FMC stand was certainly classy and aristocratic enough to be amongst the posh cars and the two Stradas (105TC and 130TC) attracted a lot of attention and everyone wanted to have a look at their twin cams. One ignorant heathen commented "so Fiat used the Lancia Twin cam in these cars then"  >:(

A lovely Topolino and a Panda with a strange rear extension (which I was told was officially offered by Fiat Dealers) rounded up the FMC stand collection.

Here's some photos:

(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/NEC_2007/P1.JPG)
(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/NEC_2007/P2.JPG)
(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/NEC_2007/P3.JPG)
(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/NEC_2007/P4.JPG)
(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/NEC_2007/P5.JPG)
 

Nice photos Theo - I LOVVVVVE that 105TC - Reminds me of one around the corner 20+years ago owned by a guy who was the same age as me at the time (about 19) who was given a new Italian car every year by his Dad - They were an Italian family who owned chip shops and slot machines all over town.

He started with a Fiat 127 GT, then an Alfasud and then this 105TC. Came home from Kilkee (remember that from 3MA?) one Saturday and saw it upside down in the ditch. A week later he had an identical one - Same colour even. Lovely looking car - although the interior (especially the dash) is a bit basic.

Nice pics,its a pity that the fiat club could not display any 131.Two years ago they had a much larger display?Overall , its a fantastic show, so much to see in two days.