Long before the bewildering FWD Barchetta, Fiat was deep into the whole "RWD fun-to-drive roadster" thing. In the 1950s up until the fall of the small car in the 1980s, lightweight, simple, RWD could be had aplenty, even in the US. Companies like MG, Triumph and Jaguar had the little roadster game on lock. In 1966, a player arose. The makers of the itty-bitty-oh-so-adorable 500 minicar decided they wanted a peice of the small roadster pie. Unlike its closest competitor in size, and styling, the Triumph TR6, the Fiat 124 Spyder ended production well into the mid 1980s.
Like the cute lil TR that I posted yesterday evening, this little Fiat resides at Quality Coaches as well. I see it everyday, and I finally got the chance to shoot it with no other cars around blocking. As I got up close and personal with it, I realized what a beautiful little car it really is. While it does indeed look like a Triumph or MG to the casual observer, this Fiat is pure Italian goodness at its finest.
The exterior is quite nice; the deep blue is perfect for this car. Not flashy, and most definitely not obnoxious by any stretch, this hue fits the character of this little Fiat wonderfully. The lace wheels, in replacement of hubcaps, only add to the sporting vibe this little roadster gives off. Inside, the minimalist interior is accented with deep wood accents and leather, both of which seem a tad bit ironic given the idea of a minimalistic sporting car. Oh well, it's the Italians; they can get away with anything.
While I would love to shoot another one someday, I'm afraid mother nature has taken the rest with her. This is the cleanest example I've seen in a long while, and in the sea of Triumphs, MGs, and the occasional XK-Series Jag, I'm afraid seeing another gorgeous 124 is out of the question, unless one pops up at a car show.
No comments:
Post a Comment