Review by Pete Vack
All photos from the book
David Beare’s most recent volume of Fiat history, Fiat, Twenty More Years Vol 3, 1980-1999, poignantly reminds those residing in the U.S. of the Italian automotive joys we have been denied. In 1983, Fiat exited the US market. Until the purchase of Chrysler followed by the introduction of the Fiat 500 to the U.S. in 2011, no new Fiats landed on these shores (the last Fiats sold here were the 124 Spiders and the X1/9, both by then imported and badged by others).
Yet in America, two generations had been treated to the delights (and problems) of Fiat’s postwar cars including the 1900, 1100, 1200, 1500, 2300, 600, 500, 850, Dino,124, 131, 128 and ultimately, the fatal Ritmo/Strada. These lucky enthusiasts experienced a truly different, and Italian way of motoring. No other manufacturer offered such a cornucopia of nicely styled, interesting, innovative and economical cars. Many of us came to know these cars well, some inside and out. [Read more…] about Fiat, 1980-1999: What We Have Missed