It is always a pleasure to see the efforts made by collectors to bring cars destined for certain “death” back on the road. Today’s story follow the trail of Fabrizio Ferrara, a thirty-year-old from Nocera Inferiore (SA) and his hunt for a Fiat 130.
The last Fiat executive car
A car with a paradoxical destiny. The Fiat 130 was the last truly top-of-the-range sedan made by Fiat. Powered by the 6-cylinder engine built by Aurelio Lampredi first with a cubic capacity of 2800cc (later increased to 3200cc from the 1971), the 130 sedan has an austere and important line, which clashed on the terrain of exclusivity with the main European executive cars.
A losing battle, especially in terms of performance, with a heavy car body in relation to the power supplied by the 6-cylinder made in Fiat. The sedan’s reassuring behavior wasn’t enough to convince an audience that already had to place its trust in a brand, Fiat, which certainly doesn’t have a prominent image in the world of representative sedans.
Produced in two versions and 15,000 units, it remains the last real attempt by the Turin’s brand to enter the high-class car market.
The hunt: a trip through Italy
The search for a Fiat 130 for Fabrizio was not easy. There are few cars in fair condition on the market, for a model that has had such a troubled history.
After viewing some cars on a journey that took him from south Italy to Milan, he receives a call on the return train about a car that has been sitting in a garage for some time.
The Fiat 130 is in Rome and it is one of those negotiations where time is an important factor. In fact the car is in fair condition despite the long stop and dust covering it.
A few chats and an agreement is reached. The car is ready to reach the new owner.
The rescue: Fiat 130 regain the sun
The recover video is just exiting
With an atmosphere of archaeological recovery, the Fiat flagship is taken out of the garage in which it was buried, amidst the enthusiasm of the new owner, only slightly veiled by the impact of the car along the outer edge of the ramp. Any damage can mean expensive restoration work.
The Fiat 130 today
The long restoration work on the Fiat flagship has already begun.
Fabrizio has promised to keep us updated on the evolution of the project. We thank him for this and for saving the 130 from oblivion.