Postcard from Malta....

[kev131]

This is a car that true Fiat twin cam lovers will already be aware of. It was on Pistonheads a few years ago at ?7000. It is a one owner car with 29000 miles showing although the engine bay looks quite dirty for a car with that sort of mileage.

Anyhow the owners were adamant about the mileage and had a few other cars in their ownership that had similarly low miles. It looked an honest and genuine car despite the wolfrace alloys, twin carbs and boot spoiler.   It started and seemed to run without any untoward noises. I didn't get a chance to drive it.

[kev131]

I found this Argenta particularly charming despite not being a twin cam...or even Fiat powered. It had had it's soul replaced by a product of the rising sun. It was in that least appealing colour of solid beige and with a vinyl interior. The roof lining looked like it had been replaced by discarded curtain material but the interior told me that this was someone's everyday car. As I circled it taking photos from every angle I was hailed from the beach by the owner and offered to open it to get a closer look. It was this incident among many others that illustrated to me what an open, trusting and friendly people the Maltese are. The owner colour matched the car impressively and I was offered the car to buy. I politely declined and no feelings were hurt I hope.  

[kev131]

[mirafioriman]

As some know I'm quite partial to an Argenta

I remember the low mileage one being advertised. It's a series 2 (rare and my favourite ) although the alloys and boot spoiler don't do it for me

I wonder if the owner kept the original trims, I'd like those

[c.a.c131]

This solid beige is not a good colour imagine someone picked this colour from all the good colours when it was new.

The sea air has got at this one

[kev131]

Here is the Fiat 600 with the 1800 TC engine shoe-horned in....

[kev131]

While strolling around Valetta (the capital of Malta) we enountered this Fiat 132 2000. It was gone a few days later so obviously not abandoned. A great colour but suffering from the sun.   

[kev131]

[Robert]

We used to call this color "Maltese" when we visited Malta - it's the color of most housings, dogs and cars - even two of our 3 rental cars

[Rob 131]

Both great finds. However, either is probably nothing you would consider seriously purchasing and shipping back to Ireland.

I never understood why people would choose a Beige Car. It is worse then that awful Brown that we debated a couple of weeks back on a S2 Super.

[mirafiori76]

I have some pictures from my visit to Malta a couple of years ago. Will place them here in a short while.

[kev131]

In the the tradition of keeping the best till last here are some 131 pics.

The first was bought new by a garage owner, later sold and regretted and only after 10 years of recurring attempts to buy it back did he succeed...so it has 3 keepers recorded but only two owners. It has 45000 miles showing and is very very solid. I could not find any corrosion - It had a few access holes here and there for some anti-rust treatment. The interior showed many signs of damp but with a vinyl interior doesn't mean much trouble to deal with.

[kev131]

The next is a genuine one owner from new car. very solid too although it would benefit from one new door. A very basic model but very honest and would be great fun to hack around in for cheap money.

[Rob 131]

Kev

Before your many  holidays, do you do your research prior to travel regarding locating 131's / 132's Argenta's etc.

Any of these cars even if they are lower spec models, multiple owners etc are a rare find.

Are there many left in Italy.   

[kev131]

Kev
Before your many  holidays, do you do your research prior to travel regarding locating 131's / 132's Argenta's etc.

Not really Rob but I had a sneaking hope that I'd find some treasure in Malta - I just got lucky making a good contact as I wouldn't have seen nearly as many as I did without local help...