It has now become a true tradition. My comrade Salvatore Tundo, together with his wife Sjoeka and his Italian family, celebrates annual holidays in the south of Italy, in the area where he was born. And he has been developing a nice habit of it for some time now. Every year he spots a few beautiful Italian classics. This year he surprised me with a Fiat 1500, and for dessert he added a few photos of a Topolino. Wonderful pictures, accompanied by history. And proud.
On Saturday, July 13, I received a beautiful series of images from southern Italy early in the morning. The miracle of technology, almost 2500 kilometers of distance is bridged in a few seconds. We are all used to it. And it remains special that within a few seconds you are taken to the visible and tangible atmosphere that is physically so far away from you. That was unthinkable at the time when the Fiat 1500 shown was still being built. And I am presented with this almost ninety year old car on a silver platter my companion, Italian with Leeuwarden blood, Leeuwarden with Italian blood.
“This Fiat dates from 1935 and has a very early six-cylinder engine on board,” says Salvatore. And with that my comrade has a very early 1500, because the mentioned year of manufacture was also the debut year of the Fiat, which as a novelty had the six-cylinder in-line engine with 45 hp and a capacity of 1493 cc on board. The technology and these values enabled the Fiat to reach a top speed of 115-120 kilometers per hour. Furthermore, the independent front suspension was certainly not commonplace during the period when this luxurious Fiat saw the light of day.
The streamline of the 1500 was also partly determined by the use of wind tunnel technology. It was remarkable that there was no trunk lid under the split rear window (what do you mean, a Glass Beetle is unique?). The loading space was reached via the rear doors, which were hinged in the C-pillar (suicide doors). Then you folded the backseat seat forward, and then you could store all the luggage. The Fiat 1500 was modified several times during its career and built in five series, the last two series rolled off the production line after the Second World War. Fiat released the car as a closed four-door and as a two-door convertible. In addition, the Italian superpower also made a rolling chassis available to manufacturers who wanted to make their own creation based on the Fiat 1500, which was also built in Poland.
It's actually unbelievable that you can still find such a beautiful piece of tradition in your home country. There, where it belongs. And blessed with a local and historically responsible license plate. The letters LE make everything clear, the owner lives in the region (or in the city) of Lecce. The Fiat looks great, the black is subdued, and the lines are very dynamic, especially for a car from this era. At the same time, the pre-war atmosphere of the Italian middle class oozes, you can see it in the decoration, and the modern Fiat is also a child of its time in terms of detailing. Nice detail: the Fiat 1500 still has a sticker on the windshield. The work dates from 1957, proving that the tax for the car had been paid. Beautiful, and also 67 years ago. Small details sometimes make history great.
Great: you see a crowd forming when several Italians spot the Fiat. Gesticulating, surprised, excited, affable laughing: everything comes together, here a hidden pride in the automotive history is visible. Look, we made this, we were able to do this and we are proud of this. In everything you see the experience that such a beautifully stylized Italian heritage creates. In a way that you only find in Italy. And it is Salvatore, who shares a beautiful insight every year. In his own, faithful way.
Grazie amico e compagno, grazie mille!
Belisimo!