I am a three-time Fiat owner.
I almost said 'three-time loser", because that company's reputation was so bad after its various forays into North America, the last of which ended some time in the early 1980s.
But my 600 (my first car!), and subsequent 124 sedan (terrific car) and 128 sedan (not bad) were generally very respectable.
So I was among the happier people to learn that Fiat had inked the deal with Chrysler.
The marketing plan for which if any Fiats may come here hasn't been announced, but I have driven and been driven in several Fiats over the past few years in Europe, and they are outstanding.
The new 500 is a gem. A current on-line piece on Motor Trend's web site says it will be coming to the US but not to Canada due to some Transport Canada regulation on taillight lenses.
But my sources tell me that is hogwash; if it doesn't come here it will be because of a marketing decision, not a technical regulation.
Bring it on, sez I.
Reports from Chrysler's factories indicate that Fiat is already hard at work getting their production people up to speed on the Fiat way. Fiat was resurrected just a few years ago under the helm of Toronto-raised Sergio Marchionne, and if he can pull off at Chrysler what he did at Fiat, he'll be a genuine hero.
And just the other day, I spotted an old Fiat driving down Yonge Street in Willowdale. I think it was a 126, an early-'70s replacement for the beloved old Fiat 500.
If I had taken a photo of it you would have been all over me - and rightly so - for shooting while driving. So I have downloaded this from the 'Net.
The car looked to be in terrific shape, and had an Ontario plate, although this model was never to my knowledge imported here.
If anybody knows anything about this particular automobile, please let me know.
Meanwhile, check out this video of a drag race between a Fiat 126 versus a Porsche 911 turbo: Watch the video
OK, so maybe the Fiat wasn't completely stock.
Jim you need to campaign for the 500 to come here to Canada, Sergio must know who you are :) I would love to see these on our roads and would considering getting one for myself!!
Posted by: Emro | July 30, 2009 at 09:12 AM
If we could get the Fiat 500 here someday, hopefully the 500 Abarth could happen as well. Just saw the review on Top Gear. Now *that* would be fun.
For those who don't know, Abarth is to Fiat what AMG is to Mercedes.
Posted by: Brian | July 30, 2009 at 10:07 AM
I heard that autorepair shop Polmozbit in Brampton has one 126 registered in Ontario.
Posted by: Wladek | July 31, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Hi Emro:
I tried to get an interview with Sergio once but was unsuccessful. Maybe he DOES know me...
But consider the "Bring the 500 to Canada" campaign to have begun!
Jim Kenzie
Posted by: Jim Kenzie | July 31, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Amen to that, brother...
Jim Kenzie
Posted by: Jim Kenzie | July 31, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Hi Wladek:
I hope to hear from them!
Jim Kenzie
Posted by: Jim Kenzie | July 31, 2009 at 11:44 PM
There is a small cottage industry of people importing old 500s and other old cars (Lancia Deltas, Innocentis) from Italy, so I imagine the 126 got here by the same route. Once a car is no longer registered to anyone in Italy and is taken off the road, it cannot be put back 'into circulation', so they get snapped up and privately imported here.
Posted by: Larry | August 02, 2009 at 09:07 AM
I love Fiat!
Posted by: exhaust | November 18, 2009 at 10:20 PM