Intruducing myself

[Kowalski]

Hi all,

My name's Andrea and I write from Italy. I've been lurking the forum for about 2 weeks now and I find it very informative and useful: I thought I could exchange a couple words with some chaps...

I really like the UK and I think the level of passion for cars there is unmatched. Little Fiats scene is even more active there than in Italy.

Why am I here? I used to drive a Personal4 126 in dark blue...which I wrote off one sad day (first and hopefully last roll of my life)
Now that I am 32, and a much more accomplished driver, I stumbled upon my girlfriend mum's little 126 in dreadful conditions and begging for some love. The quirky little car fueled the memories, the fun, and maybe some future project, so I thought I could introduce myself here.

I particularly found the "are we normal" thread akeen to my tastes, my attention being drawn by superminis...and big V12s with little love in between.

That's it for the moment,

a big hello to all the forum. [-/

Andre

[ChrisRLewis]

welcome to forum Andre  (-*

Are there many 126's still on the road in Italy?

[Kowalski]

No, not many.
It is amazing how many can be found in 70s and 80s Italian movies, it really was a popular little thing. I guess it fell victim of the so called "incentives" we had in Italy by our government: a bonus to scrap old cars and get new ones. I think the UK had something similar recently...
Bear in mind that 5 to 10 years ago, Fiat wansn't a very healthy venture and desperately needed to shift some new metal.

If I can remember correctly, some 2500 Maserati Bi turbos were scrapped during the period. I think they're not so bad as Clarkson says  (BMW 3series-ish).

As somebody from Eastern Europe here in the forum says (I apologise, can't recall his name), scrapyards are full of 126s.

It may sound strange, but Italy is not a particularly cultivated country when it comes to cars. The everyday rush to work here in Rome is very dull.

[roobeh]

i never thought the scrappage system would have a good effects on the retro car scene.

i'd love to go on a road trip around italy in an old panda 4x4 with me mates. can't imagine the locals would take to kindly to me playing bumper cars with them though. still, i can dream.. 

[Kowalski]

Thanks Chris and roobeh for the welcome.

Hey, I've been to Swansea, and it's lovely. Can you confirm? I have fond memories of my holiday there.

(and I met LED ZEP JOHN BONHAM's cousin there. She taught english, and she was beautiful...)

[Pete126]

Welcome Aboard **-

[roobeh]

Yep swansea's great, except for the weather . But when it's nice it's great.

I'm a bit desensitized now after moving up here from south london when i was eight. </3

oh yeah, i forgot to say welcome.

 :

[Chris Lakin]

Welcome to the forum Andrea! 

regards

Chris

[Kowalski]

First post in 2009...

...I have to be the longest running lurker around here.

That's why I feel I must reintroduce myself to the club, because in the meantime I got my White fix http://club126uk.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=8463.0

Cheers

Andre

[Seabee1978126]

Hey Kowalski, first welcome! There may not be many 126's on the boot,but, if you came down here to Sicily.. There everywhere!!!! I picked mine up here. The locals here think these are junk and I wasted my money. I dont think so, I love this little car!

[Amateb8]

Hello, and welcome to the Forum!! When I mentioned to friends and relations that I have a 126, they thought, why? That is, until they saw the car in the flesh. They have all converted and love the car to bits!

[Kowalski]

if you came down here to Sicily..

I'm there very often lately
to be honest it's more 127s and Regatas where I usually stay, but it's true, the landscape there is full of Fiats from the 80s, which is refreshing for me.

The locals here think these are junk and I wasted my money. I dont think so, I love this little car!

I agree with you, a well tuned and restored 126 is plenty of fun for the money...

[Kowalski]

They have all converted and love the car to bits!

Who doesn't after a ride? 
Thanks for the welcome,


Andre