11990 cars......

i see that the indian vehicle giant has just brought out the nano (dwarf?) for about euro 1500 (in india) it immediately reminded me of (for those of you who are old enough to remember) those days in the uk,i guess it was fifties early sixties when there used to be bubble cars,meschersmitts,those strange 3 wheeled things (reliant?) and other oddities.
as,according to internet these indian "dwarfs" are going to be ontroduced in the uk shortly
(yes, and they do look as bad as they sound) (see noddy) my god the future isn't what it used to be.So maybe you people who organize polls all the time to see how many people on this forum would want to be seen dead in one (for example) or who would actually buy one....

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Circolo di Conversazione

[IMG]http://www.autoeminiauto.it/nuovo/imgd/_APE%20CLASSIC.jpg[/IMG]

Surely we all know these noisy little beasts - the 'APE' (bee)... but they are economical and come in a wide variety of models:

[B][URL="http://www.autoeminiauto.it/modelli-scheda.php?Id=89&IdMarca=14&NomeMarca=Piaggio&Nome=PIAGGIO%20APE%20TM%20A"]CLICK HERE> Piaggio PIAGGIO APE TM A - Concessionario Auto e Mini Auto senza patente, nuove ed usate, per Milano, Lombardia e tutta Italia[/URL][/B]

No, perhaps many would not be seen dead in them, but when needs must....

As for the old 'bubble cars' - I had a Heinkel 3 wheeler for two years before [I]progressing[/I] (?) to a 14 year old Standard 8. Some of the best motoring days of my life.
The other ones were the torpedo/cockpit shaped Messerschmidt and the other side by side two seater the BMW.

Unfortunately I think many people will be seen dead in one of these! I wouldn’t want to drive along the A14 in one with all the lorries!!

Might be OK for the London traffic where the average speed is I believe 7 MPH.

[ATTACH]2572[/ATTACH]

The Nano will be different when launched into Europe. [better kitted out, with a more powerful engine etc etc]

[url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/03/tata-motors-sho.html]Green Car Congress: Tata Motors Shows Nano Europa, Indica Vista EV at Geneva[/url]

The current model, which looks OK to me [but then I've always bought cars because of price rather than name], but is tightly focused on the Indian market where it will be the first step up for motorbike riders.

.

Why all the fuss?
The new Nano - as we understand it - will carry four people up to the heady speed of 65mph, acheive 50miles to the gallon in a three metre long shell that must have been designed by lego on a very hot day.
We are surrounded by 'stylish' cars that were designed in the forties - will carry four people at speeds of up to 59mph, achieve at least 50mpg in a less than three metre bodyframe.
Sixty years of progress? :nah:
Give us the original Fiat 500 any day of the week!

Moxie (and him)

My Dad used to drive me to school in a salmon pink Gogomobile, imagine how cring making that was for a teenager, have only just got over it:winki:
A

Anyone here remember the FIAT Topolino? My (then future) brother in law had one and it was [I]still[/I] going in the erly 70's...
[IMG]http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/fiat_topolino.jpg[/IMG]

There were rumours that FIAT were researching a relaunch of the name on a new 'baby green car' that would be a rear engine, 4 seater and just under 3m length. I wonder how far they've progressed?

I am afraid we are all showing our age here. Anyway, Carole, I do remember the "Topolino". Cute small car.

This is our ‘Florrie’ (As discovered) ,found in a field in Southern Marche. After entering into lengthy negotiations with the farmer both parties left that field extremely happy with the outcome. He, with his wad of euros and me with the perfect birthday pressie for my beloved. Has anybody else found a treasure like our Fiat 1100 Pickup? I think this is the big brother to Carole’s Topolino… ???
Moxie (and him)

Sorry. Here's the pic!

As we used to say in Lincolnshire - all the air is in the top of the tyres!

Looks a lot like the old Fiat Balilla - just the radiator cover is slightly different. That one must be about 1949/50 I should think.
But what a wonderful restoration project for you!

She does look like the Balilla doesn't she? However we suspect that Florrie is a 1950/51 1100 ELR like the one in the 1961 movie 'Don Camillo monsignore ma non troppo' what do you think Carole? - if so you are spot on with your date.
Florrie is currently tucked away in our bottom stalle waiting patiently for an improvement in the blessed exchange rate!

Moxie (and him)

[quote=Moxie;114774]She does look like the Balilla doesn't she? However we suspect that Florrie is a 1950/51 1100 ELR like the one in the 1961 movie 'Don Camillo monsignore ma non troppo' what do you think Carole? - if so you are spot on with your date.
Florrie is currently tucked away in our bottom stalle waiting patiently for an improvement in the blessed exchange rate!

Moxie (and him)[/quote]

I did guess a bit at the date - but when I first started coming over to Italy cars like the Balilla or the Topolino might only have been 12 years old... so there were still plenty of them running around. Added to which (yes I know it's sad - *sigh*). in those days I was a car model nut... I knew them all.

But of course cars in those days all had their own character and individuality. Not like today :nah: where, with a few exceptions 'if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all'!

[quote=juliancoll;114779]I'm very interested in finding out a little bit more about your "(and him)" Moxie. Does "(and him)" ever post - and if "(and him)" does - will he sign off with "(and her)" so we know which one of you it is? [/quote]

"And him" has not posted until now as he has been far too busy chopping down trees and generally obeying herself (Moxie's) instuctions on things of great importance that must of course be done immediately.
When I do get a chance I may bore you with some more info on "My Fiat"
Him (and Moxie)

This is a site which may help you in times to come, there is a forum where you can discuss Fiat restoration to your hearts content

[URL="http://www.fiatforum.com/"]The FIAT Forum - For Talk On All Things FIAT[/URL]

Please don't ask how I know about this site !!!