Pictures copyright Lorenzo Marchesini
Fiat Abarth
124 Rallye
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Padua, the famous setting for Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, is located between Verona (another of Shakespeare’s favorite Italian settings)and Venice (need we say this again?). Our interest is not quite so highbrow, however. Once a year, Padua hosts the Auto Moto d’Epoca, Italy’s second largest car show and swap meet (the largest is at Imola).Forget Shakespeare and lead us to the parts vendor building.
Oh, yes, a building, or a series of them in fact. No mud or rain. Padua stages the event at the La Fiera di Padova complex, a huge 75,000 square meter facility which provides separate areas for Clubs and Scuderias, Parts Vendors, Cars and Bikes for Sales, and Show cars. Not to mention a fine restaurant—a requirement of all Italian car events! The 2003 event took place on November 22-23.
Our editor at large took the opportunity to visit the event while on a recent trip to his hometown of Budrio. Teaming up with Maserati collector and longtime friend Alberto Alberoni, they decided to forgo the Ghiblis, Sebrings and 3500s in Alberoni’s garage, choosing instead his Cadillac Seville STS. This is a rare and enviable piece in Italy, very much at home on the autostrada. "In the process we raced (and infuriated) some Italians in terms of speed (Alfas were no match, bearing in mind the gasoline prices that slowed Italian heads of households and youngsters down),"said Marchesini.
The pair headed straight for the parts vendors. Marchesini needed some extra lenses for his Lancia Flavia. "I bought two taillight covers (NOS) for 45 Euro (about 55 US$). Alberoni bought a racing bicycle for the price of a good Flavia 1st series!".
Food is
just as important as cars at an Italian auto show.
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As in the rest of the world, swap shows are the places to meet people. "I met many people-- in particular the members of ASI a club of historic Italian competition automobiles. Alberoni was pointing out several well known collectors when we ran into Dr. Dino Bandini, the nephew of the late race car constructor Ilario Bandini." As readers will see, this fortunate meeting led to establishing a very interesting working relationship between Dr. Bandini and VeloceToday.
Moving on to the car display, Marchesini found a sizable portion of the Fiat and Lancia rally cars, mostly in Martini and Rossi colors. Too bad the
company no longer competes in the WRC—now much more famous due to SpeedChannel coverage of the events. Also in Martini and Rossi colors was an Alfa Romeo, now for sale by owners.
Abarths, too, seemed to be a highlight of the Padua show, with everything from the delicate but beautiful 1000 SP to a rare and strange prototype.
Marchesini thought that the best of the show was the displays offered by the various clubs, Abarth, Lancia and Alfa Romeo as well as ASI club. "The Alfa club featured the 40th anniversary of the Guilia, and the Lancia folks brought
out a Lancia Fulvia for every color made, and all were impeccable." But the parts vendors were also a feature attraction. "The Mercatino is very interesting where almost every part of any Italian car 60 and 70's can be bought or at least tracked down."
While many people from Germany, England and the Netherlands were there, Marchesini noted that "Prices for us Americans were on the high side due to the ever depreciating U.S. dollar."
Lancia Delta Safari Rally, driven by Recalde in 1993. Now owned by
Umberto Rossi di Montelera.
Classic Lancia Fulvia HF Rally as driven by Munari and Manucci.
Another classic Lancia rally classic, the Stratos, also ex-Munari/Manucci.
Not so fast--this in an Alfa built for the German DTM races, and driven by
Alessandro Nannini.
The Abarths were out in force--this the Fiat Abarth 1000SP. Ed Swart drove this for Veronica Racing Team.
Can any readers have identify this special Abarth?
Fiat Abarth Sport Racer
This spells Abarth to many US enthusiasts.
The lack of a double bubble roof indicates that this is a Record Monza.
Not an Abarth, but an AMS from the 1970s.
