Fiats & Friends at the British Motor Museum

Story and photos by Gary Axon

First held in 2024 by the Fiat Motor Club (GB) to celebrate Fiat’s 125th anniversary, this year’s edition of the now annual ‘Fiats & Friends’ event was once again held at the popular British Motor Museum at Gaydon in central England on August 1st. As its name suggests, Fiats & Friends caters for all Italian vehicles, whether made by Fiat or one of its many associated brands (Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, etc.), as well as other non-Fiat/Stellantis marques.

A healthy turn out of Fiat models from all eras and varieties made the trip to Gaydon for the day, along with a good spread of Alfa Romeos, Lancias, Abarths and Autobianchis, plus a few more exotic Ferraris, Maseratis and a sole De Tomaso.

Modern Fiats such as the new 500, Panda, 600 and Tipo made up the majority of cars in attendance, supported by a wide and strong cross section of older models, with the 1957-75 Nuova 500 being the most prolific, including rare derivatives such as a Vignale Gamine, Abarth 595 SS, Autobianchi Giardinera and beach-ready Ghia Jolly. A couple of the 500’s pre-War Topolino predecessors were also present, as were a few of its 126 successors.

Pristine examples of other rear-engined Fiat Berlinas (600 and 850) also proved popular, as did the many sporting X1/9s, 124 Spiders, Coupes and Barchettas.

A wide selection of 1990s’ Fiat Cinquecentos and Seicentos hatchbacks, plus many early Puntos, were joined by an unusual 850 Amica motorhome, an elegant Dino Coupe, 128 3P coupe, plus Tipo 138 Strada/Ritmo and 131 Mirafiori performance models. Considering how many Fiat 127 and Uno hatches were sold in period, a meagre showing of these significant best-sellers at Gaydon was a surprise.

Fiat’s more sporting Abarth cousin was very well represented by modern 500, Punto and 124 Spider derivatives, but the star Abarth had to be a delightful and scarce 1957 Zagato-bodied 750 GT.

Other Fiat relatives included a fine assortment of Alfa Romeos and Lancias, with a number of nice 105 Series Bertone GT Junior and GTV coupes out in force, supplemented by Alfasuds, 164s, 75s (Milanos), Montreals and 4Cs. From the Lancia stable, a trio of rally prepared Fulvia coupes caught the eye, as did an ultra rare third series Beta berlina (one of only two remaining in the UK), plus a Beta Coupe, Monte Carlos, graceful Gamma Coupe, various Deltas, Fulvia and Dedra sedans, plus a Y10 Turbo and later Ys (sold in RHD UK, Ireland and Japan with Chrysler badges; examples of which were present!)

Italian exotica appeared in the form of various modern Maseratis – plus a related Citroen SM with its V6 Maserati power – as well as a De Tomaso Pantera and a handful of Ferrari 308s and 348s.

Once visitors had tired of talking Fiats and kicking Italian tires outside in the strong sunshine, the fascinating ex-British Leyland/Rover Group British Motor Museum made for a tempting air conditioned oasis of the history of the UK’s auto industry with captivating displays of pristine models by MG, Jaguar, Triumph, Rolls-Royce and countless other British marques.

For lovers of Italian car styling, unique prototypes by Michelotti and Pininfarina for BMC/British Leyland made for ‘must see’ viewing. Notable highlights included the charming Pininfarina-styled 1960s’ MG Mini ADO34 convertible concept, plus Michelotti’s later one-off ADO70 Mini Clubman coupe. The famous still-born gearless Mini 9X hatch prototype by Pininfarina, plus its appealing mid-60s ‘new’ MGB proposal, were good to see, as was Michelotti’s curious 1972 Mini-based Compton-Morrison electric city car concept.