How many would be willing to shell out a high sum to be able to review the car of youth once again? That metal vehicle with a soul inside, which made millions of young people dream, and which cannot be forgotten.
If someone were to ask every Italian which is the car with which he is closest and with which he shares many memories of the past, most of them would point the finger on a Fiat car. Although decades have passed and many other models and other car manufacturers have passed, Italians still love Fiat.
Here are some of the most loved Italian cars by collectors. The past that returns at any cost, in order to relive and recall those moments of youth that will never come back.
The historic Fiat cars making a comeback: do you remember the Panda’s “mother”?
There is a car that has always been very similar to the legendary Fiat 500 but, inexplicably, over the decades it has not had the same success as the similar 500. This car is the Fiat 126, which, although vaguely resembling the shapes and dimensions of the Fiat 500, she failed to survive over time. What can be the causes? Surely there are many, for example it was almost never the first family car, and this has led many people to fade many memories of the past inherent in this car.
Another example, perhaps more important, is that the Fiat 126 was used very few times by driving schools, compared to the Fiat 500 which instead taught millions of young people to drive. Again memories play an essential role: there is a higher probability that someone will have more memories looking at a Fiat 500, rather than a Fiat 126.
However, remember aside, if an expert compared the two cars he would notice the many engineering improvements introduced in the Fiat 126 in 1972, that is when it was presented at the Turin Motor Show. Some of these improvements are navigation of the fuel tank under the rear bench, therefore in a better and much safer position; then there is the gearbox with synchronized ratios and the engine capacity which has been increased by around 100 cc with a power of 23 HP (the Fiat 500 instead had 18). Therefore the performance of the Fiat 126 has been significantly improved.
Currently buying a Fiat 126 could be a good way to start entering the world of collecting by spending less, since a 126 does not have the same value of a Fiat 500, but it is still an important piece of Italian automotive history. In fact, many young people today are starting to collect thanks to the purchase of a Fiat 126, which is cheaper and easier to maintain. However, it is fair to remember that the purchase of such a car for collectors is to be considered “good” only if the total investment does not exceed 5,000 euros.
