Hello from the USA/Netherlands

[FredF]

I'm a long time FIAT and ALFA lover from the USA (Key Largo - Florida) and summers in the Netherlands. Its during the summer months that I get to see some amazing FIATs that we in the USA never had access to. The Panda (1st series) is on my want list big time with a Barchetta just behind it. Over the years I've had a couple of 500s - An "L" from 71 and an Abarth Clone based on a 73 500. Currently I've got a 2014 Abarth, Fiat Dino Spider (68), Alfa 1600Z, and two Giulia Supers (66&73). I drive my 73 Super from Connecticut to Key Largo and Back 2x a year. (1500 miles/2400km). In NL I own a 1983 AlfaSud and miss it much when I'm back in the states.

I'll be looking for a Panda again this summer in NL and will be posting questions about them here.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Welcome Fred. What a wonderful collection of cars you have! Can't be very many Suds left now, they've pretty much all reverted to the brown crumbly stuff here in UK. The Dino looks scrumptious but I like the Zagatto on it's right even more!

Your road trips sound like fun. My sister lives near the Quabin Reservoir in Massachusetts and my daughter lived in Southern Maryland for 5 years. We visited a lot and I once did the drive up to my sister, I-95, for thanksgiving - I didn't do it again, it's a long way compared to journeys here in the UK especially when you're driving on the "wrong" side of the road..

Also loved seeing the Alfa saloons as they remind me of the happy years I spent supplying Firestone tyres (tires to you!) and trackside services for Autodelta and Filipinetti Fiat in the European Touring Car championships back in the early '70s. It wasn't actually these models, mostly the GTA Junior and Fiat 128. Happy memories.

You'll notice from my avatar picture that we had an early Panda - in fact we've had several - so I'm looking forward to seeing what you manage to find.
Kindest regards
Jock

 

[FredF]

Thanks for the welcome Jock.
See you are in "The North". My GFs mum recently moved up to Dufftown. A couple of years back we drove the Sud from the Netherlands to the northern tip of Scotland via the chunnel. It was a great drive. Photos from the trip

The Dino is pretty - but the Zagato is a real sports car. Fortunately I got these cars years ago when they were affordable. I could never buy them now!

The plan for the Panda is to bring it back to the States. I don't think there are more than just a couple here!