Luigi must go home! - A photographic road trip in a Fiat 500 through all of Italy down to Sicily
Luigi must go home!
When Martin Buschmann told us about his plan to go on a very special road trip with his Fiat 500 – from the Breisgau region (in the south-western part of Germany) to the southern tip of Italy – and to create a video/photo documentation of the trip as part of his work as a travel photographer, we from the Axel Gerstl team were immediately hooked. The Axel Gerstl company therefore gladly agreed to support the project as a parts sponsor and to help Martin Buschmann to bring his little Fiat 500 safely to its destination: Catania in Sicily, where the little Fiat 500 faithfully served the Buschmann family as a family car back then when Martin Buschmann was a child.
Italy, land of longing
Martin Buschmann still remembers that special weekend in his childhood very well: His father packed the whole family including parasol, air mattress and cooling box into the family-owned Fiat 500 "Luigi" and drove to the beach. He is still wondering today how all of them and the beach stuff found space in the small Fiat 500. After all, he was constantly failing to redo this years later with his Fiat 500. But in the next few weeks, an optimized space management will certainly be necessary because Martin Buschmann is planning a very special trip: a photographic road trip in his Fiat 500, supported by his parts sponsor Axel Gerstl, through all of Italy down to Sicily, where he was born and spent the first eight years of his life. It will be a journey back to the roots, to the homeland of 'Luigi', as Martin Buschmann calls his Fiat 500 (built in 1967).
Today, Martin Buschmann lives in Constance on Lake Constance and works as a travel photographer. He will be accompanied on the tour by a friend, the nature photographer Gereon Roemer. “So this will be a road movie by two gentlemen, both over 50, who like to go on an adventure trip once again,” as Martin Buschmann describes his plan. And this adventure is likely to be peppered with Italian stories and certainly also with a few mishaps, which the two of them will inevitably experience with ‘Luigi’. They plan to capture these as videos and photos just as much as the “legendary landscapes and the stories of people and culture.”
After the trip, the two photographers will create a live multivision show, i.e. a live report, in which they will present their experiences and impressions live on stage in front of an audience, accompanied by photographic material, film recordings with original sound and interviews.
Of course, they had to overcome some technical obstacles in the run-up to this large-scale project, because ‘Luigi’ had been standing more or less motionless in the garage for the last few years.
“If you are technically gifted, at least a bit, you can do a lot of the maintenance work on the Cinquecento yourself,” Martin Buschmann tells us. “However, I hadn't done any tinkering for years and I was missing the right tools.” Therefore, he decided to complete the first longer journey of 130 km from Constance to Freiburg with ‘Luigi’, where he completed a two and a half day internship at his trusted car repair shop.
But already on the morning of departure, there was a first problem: ‘Luigi’ would not start and only the friendly helpers from the ADAC automobile club made it run.
After 100 km, smoke rose from the hood and Martin Buschmann just escaped with his little Fiat 500 into a parking bay. A cable fire in the left tail light caused small flames to shoot out of the opening on which the now charred tail light glass had sat before.
After extinguishing the small fire, he called the ADAC again who carried ‘Luigi’ the last few kilometres to its destination. “Thus, it took me a full day to get from Constance to Freiburg, which is only 125 km away,” says Martin Buschmann and wonders: “What will happen when we finally drive throughout Italy?”
During the two and a half days of his internship at the workshop, Martin Buschmann watched more than he worked himself.
First the starter and the battery were replaced, then new spark plugs, a new V-belt, new wheel brake cylinders and a new tail light together with various rubber seals were fitted.
To gain additional storage space, ‘Luigi’ was also equipped with a luggage rack for the hood. After the repair work was finished, the electrics worked again, the carburettor was cleaned and the ignition was freshly adjusted, the little Fiat 500 was immediately sent to the TÜV inspection, which ‘Luigi’ passed with flying colours. The little Fiat also obtained an H-licence plate that allows the car to enter low-emission zones in the future.
‘Luigi’ was now basically ready for its grand entrance, only the optics still bothered Martin Buschmann. He wanted ‘Luigi’ to become something special. Since the current white paint in original colour was actually still okay, Martin Buschmann decided to apply a wrapping in the colours of the Italian tricolore: Green, white, red.
Buschmann names further advantages of the wrapping: “It can be removed at any time without leaving a trace. The guaranteed durability in daily use is 7-10 years according to the manufacturer's specification. It requires less effort than a full coat of paint.”
So now ‘Luigi’ is well prepared for the long journey back to its Italian homeland. But for Martin Buschmann and his companion Gereon Roemer, there are some questions left: Will Luigi really arrive safely in Sicily? Is the ADAC membership enough to survive a breakdown, or should they rather take their own toolbox with them? Will Gereon Roemer's height of 188 cm become a problem in the long run?
Test Trip to Lake Como: Big Disaster or Bella Figura?
In July 2020, a first test trip from Freiburg to Lake Como was scheduled. After all, the driver and his little Fiat first had to get a taste of each other in order to know what to expect on the long tour through all of Italy to Catania in Sicily. Accompanied by nature photographer Gereon Roemer, a friend of Martin Buschmann's, the first leg was from Freiburg via Konstanz, then via Chur, the Via Mala and the Splügen mountain pass to Domaso, and from there via the San Bernardino tunnel back to Germany.
But already on the Freiburg-Konstanz route, they had problems once again: ‘Luigi’ doesn't seem to like that route, as Martin Buschmann suspects after having had a similar experience on his drive from Konstanz to the car repair shop in Freiburg. After he and Gereon Roemer had warmed up the little Fiat 500, driving up the Höllental valley fully loaded, ‘Luigi’ suddenly began to stutter and the engine was hesitant.
They were just able to reach Konstanz in the pouring rain, where ‘Luigi’ was being taken care of and the Axel Gerstl maintenance kit was used. Unfortunately, replacing the spark plugs, the capacitor and the ignition cables did not solve the problem – which meant that Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer would lose two days of travel, as all garages were closed for the weekend.
So there was no other choice for the two travel-loving photographers than to spend that Saturday and the following Sunday in Konstanz and take ‘Luigi’ to the car repair shop on Monday morning: The culprit was apparently a clogged carburettor.
After ‘Luigi’ was back on the road, they went straight on to the destination of the next leg: the Via Mala.
Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer were especially looking forward to this part of their trip because they reckoned to come across many exciting sceneries to take photos of and therefore, they drove mainly on country roads. However, ‘Luigi’ would not be good again. Near the city of Chur, clattering and rattling noises could be heard from the engine compartment: An exhaust clamp was broken – right on time at the end of business hours at half past six in the evening!
However, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer were lucky enough to find a garage where the lights were still on. The owner willingly took the opportunity to escape the paperwork in his office and lent a hand.
When the clamp was finally welded, the two of them continued with ‘Luigi’ to a campsite on the Via Mala, where they arrived late in the evening.
The next day, another big challenge was on the agenda: Splügen Pass with its 2,055 m above sea level. If ‘Luigi’ mastered this challenge, he would make it all the way down to Sicily, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer were sure of. In order to cool down the little Fiat 500 during the strenuous ascent, the two removed the suitcase from the luggage rack and fixed an engine lid stay.
Martin Buschmann was delighted: “What can I say? Luigi not only managed the pass once, he even managed it three times. We had to drive up three times for our photo and film shoots. Luigi managed it brilliantly!”
Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer were quite confident that nothing could happen to them now, although Martin Buschmann on the other hand was a little bit worried before the descent down the valley to Lake Como. After all, ‘Luigi’ was fully loaded, the slope was 30% and thus, braking was not easy under these conditions. In addition, they had to pass various tunnels in which, according to Martin Buschmann, “even a Fiat Cinquecento should not be approached by oncoming vehicles because they are so narrow.”
Right after crossing the border to Italy, Martin Buschmann saw the first palm trees along the roadside, the weather got better and the temperatures rose. Even ‘Luigi’ seemed to have noticed that he was now back in his home country because “he seemed to breathe quite differently through his air filter”, as Martin Buschmann described it. ‘Luigi” even reached a speed of 100 km/h despite the heavy load he had to carry.
In Domaso on Lake Como, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer enjoyed not only the beautiful scenery, but also the admiring looks of the locals. ‘Luigi’ became a photo model and finally most everybody knew him by the day of departure.
In addition, Martin Buschmann took the opportunity to give his friend Gereon Roemer a crash course in windsurfing despite his “old age”.
When they headed back towards Germany – this time through the San Bernardino tunnel – ‘Luigi’ quickly started to grumble again: He stuttered at first, then he lost his exhaust clamp again – and again it was Saturday and no car repair shop was open.
The workaround solution using a wire structure did not last more than 30 kilometres. Then, the second clamp finally broke due to the strong vibrations. Without exhaust clamps and after the loss of the exhaust manifold screw, it was virtually no longer possible to continue the journey. ‘Luigi’ had to rely on the help of the ‘Gelber Engel’, the breakdown helper from the ADAC, the German motoring association, who, thanks to the ADAC-Plus membership of ‘Luigi’s owner, got the little Fiat 500 back on its feet, at least for a short time.
After the San Bernardino tunnel, however, the same happened again and, for a second time, the ADAC had to intervene so that 'Luigi' could make it back to Konstanz. “I won't forget the look of the customs officer when we crossed the border into Germany with Luigi, who by now sounded more like a tank,” said Martin Buschmann.
In Konstanz, they found that ‘Luigi's’ former owner had mounted the wrong exhaust brackets. “These didn't actually fit the exhaust, but they were somehow made to fit,” explained Martin Buschmann. Then, he was full of praise: “Thanks to the excellent advice we received from the Axel Gerstl team, we could now fit the right brackets and hopefully we can now drive through to Sicily with them.”
After a total of 1,010 kilometres covered in his Fiat 500, he summed up his experience: "I would have liked a little less trouble on our first leg, but at least in the photos, ‘Luigi’ really cuts 'Bella Figura' – which is very important in Italy as everybody knows."
Part 1 of the journey from Germany to Sicily - Via Milan and the ‘Cinque Terre’ to Tuscany
Despite some technical problems, however, there was also good reason to hope for a journey without any breakdowns because ‘Luigi’ had made ‘Bella Figura’, at least on the other side of the border, in his Italian homeland. “The climate and the Italian air that the little car took in through his air filter did him a lot of good,” said Martin Buschmann, emphasising rightly: “If you manage to climb the Splügen pass with its 2,055 m three times – loaded with two people and a further 100 kgs of photo equipment – you can also make it all the way down to Sicily.“
In order to provide ‘Luigi’ with additional relief and to remedy the rough running of the engine, an electronic ignition system was installed shortly before the start of the journey. In October 2020, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer finally set off in their little five-hundred from Lake Como for the first major leg via Milan and the Ligurian Cinque Terre to Tuscany. They were particularly looking forward to see Milan. “Milan Cathedral, the famous ‘La Scala’ opera house and of course fashion, that's what Milan is known for. Of course, we wanted to experience all of this with LUIGI,” said Martin Buschmann.
When arriving in Milan, Luigi’s mileometer showed 50,018 km, which meant that they had already covered more than 1,500 km since the start of the tour.
“After checking into the hotel – centrally located and reasonably priced – we went straight for the centre to the Milan Cathedral,” Martin Buschmann told us. “Having an Aperol Spritz there in the square is the first thing you should do after arriving in Milan.” While browsing through various postcard racks, Martin Buschmann had found a postcard showing three Fiat 500s parked on the cathedral square, which gave him an idea: Why not replicate this scene with ‘Luigi’ and take a photo of the little Fiat 500 there? „But how can we manage?“ he wondered. “The square is cordoned off and guarded by soldiers.” Even attending a performance at La Scala was not possible because of the Corona restrictions and the first evening in Milan was thus “quite disappointing,” as Martin Buschmann put it.
Back at the hotel, the first thing to do was to organise a parking bay for ‘Luigi’. Luigi’s overnight stay was almost as expensive as the hotel rooms of the two drivers. “But we were lucky,” Martin Buschmann told us. “Since we were hotel guests, we got a special rate of 25 Euros per night.” However, he was astonished when he learned that he was not allowed to park his car himself. “You hand your car and keys to the doorman at the front and then you can watch your vehicle disappear into the depths of the underground garage, or wherever it is taken to.”
Separated from his faithful Fiat 500, Martin Buschmann went through a restless night of poor sleep, for he “dreamt that evil Ferraris and other luxury cars were making fun of Luigi. To punish us for leaving him there, he would surely let us down with an engine failure the next day.” But when he and Gereon Roemer went to pick up ‘Luigi’ the next morning after a first cappuccino and cornetto, the doorman waved at them from afar. Only a few seconds later, they heard the "well-known, deep roar” of the sports exhaust “from the depths of the garage,” and Martin Buschmann was relieved: “Luigi had made it through the night unharmed!”
With the words “Che bella macchina!” the doorman handed over Luigi’s key, then it was time for Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer to “dive into the Italian traffic, literally let the horn run hot and see if we meet any other Fiat 500s.” Martin Buschmann’s impression of Milan: “Surprisingly enough, the traffic in Milan was not that bad. In Southern Italy and in Rome, I found it much more chaotic. After all, I passed my driving test down in Sicily when I was 18, I know what I’m talking about.” At a red light, there was a first encounter with a Ferrari whose driver immediately took ‘Luigi’ to his heart. When Gereon Roemer jumped out of the car to capture the scene in a photo, the traffic lights turned green and a cacophony of horns sounded from the cars waiting behind. Of course, Martin Buschmann wanted to honk back at them in the Italian tradition, but ‘Luigi’ remained silent. “This is a disaster that is tantamount to an engine failure,” said Martin Buschmann. “Imagine driving in Italy without a working horn!”
When Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer parked 'Luigi' on a street near a bar, there was quickly a gathering of several elderly gentlemen who had become curious about ’Luigi’ and eventually dragged one of their fellows out of a house driveway. This guy happened to be called ‘Luigi’ as well, had his picture taken with the little Fiat 500 and invited Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer for a coffee as a thank-you.
Later, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer revisited the idea of taking a photo of ‘Luigi’ on the cathedral square. Immediately, they devised a daring plan: “The idea was to go there early in the morning before sunrise, park Luigi on the square, quickly take the photo and leave immediately – hoping that Italian military would still be asleep at that time.” Soon, things started to materialize: “With the little car, it should be no problem to get through the barriers. And looking at Luigi, nobody can be angry.“
The next morning, it was time to try it. They took ‘Luigi’ from his night quarters before sunrise and the doorman got an extra tip for having got up so early.
But when they arrived at the cathedral square, good news and bad news awaited the two photographers: “The good news was that the barriers were completely pushed aside, so it would not have been a problem to drive onto the square. But – unfortunately – the Italian military does not seem to sleep. The square was guarded around the clock. ” But since Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer only had a time window of perhaps ten minutes – after all they wanted to stage ‘Luigi’ in the light of the sunrise in front of the cathedral – they moved ‘Luigi’ within sight and Martin Buschmann started negotiating with the soldiers. “Luigi is simply a heartbreaker,” Martin Buschmann recapitulated the conversations, “he makes even the hearts of heavily armed Italian elite fighters beat faster.” After a photo session where each of the soldiers had their picture taken, first alone with ‘Luigi’, then with Martin Buschmann, Gereon Roemer and ‘Luigi’, and again in various combinations with ‘Luigi’, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer could finally take their eagerly awaited photo. In the end, the two guys were “utterly happy” about their very personal “top shot” and Martin Buschmann summarized his satisfaction in one sentence: “Italians are simply GREAT.”
With Corona breathing down their necks and the fear that Liguria could soon be declared a risk area, they had to hurry and leave Milan for the Cinque Terre. “We will see how many photos and videos we can still take in the few days left until the shutdown in Liguria,” Martin Buschmann said.
Part 2 of the journey from Germany to Sicily - From Milan via the ‘Cinque Terre’ to Tuscany
Manarola and Riomaggiore
With the little Fiat 500, it took just under two and a half hours to drive from the capital of Lombardy to the Cinque Terre, the twelve-kilometre-long coastal strip of five small villages on Italy's west coast – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, a country famous for its so many popular tourist destinations.
Monterosso al mare
The five villages are called Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Along the coastline, they are aligned at almost equal distances like pearls on a string and gave the Cinque Terre (five villages) its name.
Vernazza
When Martin Buschmann remembered the fabulous sight, he quickly went into raptures: “Mountainous landscapes leading to villages located deep down the valley by the sea. We were fascinated by their unique location, highly exposed above the sea and leading right down to the water's edge. ‘Cinque Terre’ is a rugged landscape that has been shaped by centuries of wine/olive cultivation and fishing and, of course, by today’s tourism. Picturesque villages, built on steep slopes, characterise the landscape of the Cinque Terre. This is definitely not the place where you will find a quaint sandy beach.”
Corniglia
But these slopes were Martin Buschmann’s biggest concern with regard to ‘Luigi’. After all, driving up and down gradients of up to 25% was quite a challenge for the engine of the little 500, despite the “bella figura” it had shown when negotiating the Splügen mountain pass. This was even more threatening with the cold water lurking below. “These are the rides that Luigi and I don’t like at all,” Martin Buschmann said. But he did not lose courage and pepped himself and ‘Luigi’ up for the new challenge: “Both of us – each one over 50 years old – have to go through that now. Together we will manage!”
The local folks, however, showed little understanding when ‘Luigi’ and his drivers slowly fought their way up the roads of the Cinque Terre in second gear at 20 km/h. Horns were honked and “they signalled us clearly that we should finally buy a new car,” Martin Buschmann told us. “Given our German licence plate, there was even less understanding.” Martin Buschmann was almost able to read people’s minds: “Look at the crazy Germans, driving these roads with a Cinquecento... Silly Tedesci... non si fa... you just don’t do that!” But he was not going to be impressed by scowls, they rather encouraged him: “Despite everything – we go for it now! Why? Because Luigi can do it. Luigi is tough and I know he can do it!”
And indeed, ‘Luigi’ passed this test with success – even several times! Because Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer had to take photos and do film shootings. When doing so, they were not disturbed by swarms of tourists. Instead, the five villages of the Cinque Terre were deserted, which made Martin Buschmann very thoughtful: “We experienced the Cinque Terre in a very special period of time. It was autumn, the Covid pandemic was onmipresent – and it was not funny at all!” During their test trip to Lake Como, he and Gereon Roemer had already experienced how hard the Italians had to struggle against the pandemic: “There is hardly a family that has not suffered a death due to Covid-19. That should make everybody think. We experienced the same thing in the Cinque Terre. Desertion all over. No tourists, only the locals were there. They tried to prepare themselves for an upcoming tourist season that may or may not materialise next year. All in all, it was very depressing.”
As forecast by Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer, the Cinque Terre was declared a risk area because of the aggravating Covid situation in Liguria. “We hastily left Liguria and went for Tuscany, one day earlier than originally planned,” Martin Buschmann told us. Fortunately, the two photographers still managed to let their drone fly and capture some fine footage, which they duly celebrated over a farewell coffee with ‘Luigi’ who served them as a table. (Scan this QR code to watch a drone flight over the Cinque Terre!)
Part 3 of the journey from Germany to Sicily - From Milan via the ‘Cinque Terre’ to Tuscany
In October 2020, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer arrived in Tuscany shortly after their stay in Cinque Terre.“Due to the pandemic, everything on our journey so far had felt more like being on the run, but here in Tuscany, a sense of arrival set in,” as Martin Buschmann described it. “We had arrived in one of the most beautiful landscapes Italy has to offer.”
After an initial ride with ‘Luigi’ through the famous cypress groves of Tuscany, the two photographers found accommodation in the ‘Agriturismo Le Stringaie’, which was so favourably situated that they could easily reach all their destinations from there. On the same evening, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer toasted on their arrival with a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino, a famous local wine.
Meanwhile, ‘Luigi’ was waiting for them outside, freshly refuelled for the next day. “The little 500 took us to Tuscany without a breakdown,” praised Martin Buschmann.
The next morning, they set off again right after sunrise, because work called and Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer were eager to photograph the scenery in the morning mist. An impression that “completely overwhelmed Martin Buschmann's photographic senses,” as he described it.
In the run-up to the trip, he and Gereon Roemer had done a lot of research on the Val d’Orcia, which were said to offer “the absolute photographic highlights of Tuscany.” “The Val d'Orcia is a Unesco World Heritage Site,” Martin Buschmann told us. “The cities of Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza etc. are world famous. Tuscany is not only known for its cypress trees, but also for its olives, vineyards and the famous Pecorino cheese.” (Scan this QR code to watch a drone flight over the Tuscany)
But ‘Luigi’ was “not interested” in all this on that morning. “Somehow, the moisture from the morning mist must have worked its way into the inside of Luigi’s engine,” Martin Buschmann surmised. Because after the photos had been taken and it was time to set off for the next destination, ‘Luigi’ wouldn't start again – which almost drove Martin Buschmann to despair: “At that moment I was longing for a bar, with an excellent espresso and a warm, freshly baked brioche to go with it.”
But luckily he had a starter spray with him: “A quick squirt into the air filter and the little car's engine just has to start. It's a bit like the defibrillator we know for humans. If the spray doesn’t work, nothing will work at all!”
While Gereon Roemer used the starter spray, Martin Buschmann operated the starter and quickly, ‘Luigi’ got back up to speed and made it to Pienza without any further problems. There, the first Tuscan espresso was waiting for the thirsty photographers and ‘Luigi’ was parked in a narrow alley right next to the bar.
As in Milan, it didn't take long for the little Fiat 500 to be spotted by the owner of a namesake who asked for a group photo – a request that Martin Buschmann, of course, didn't want to turn down.
However, he was concerned about the geographical situation: “Anyone who drives a Fiat 500 with a standard engine knows there are those slight slopes that our little Cinquecentos don't like at all. It is annoying to switch back and forth between the 2nd and the 3rd gear all the time. This is even more a problem if the car is heavily loaded. And there are quite a few of these climbs in Tuscany. The bad road conditions with all the potholes also gave Luigi and his shock absorbers and steering knuckles a hard time. Especially, when we were driving through several of these potholes in the dark that we could hardly see with Luigi’s dim headlights. As we would probably need a few new parts when we get back to Germany, I quickly ordered them from my trusted dealer.”
In fact, ‘Luigi’ became the victim of an accident a little later, because Martin Buschmann had “a moment of inattention” and hit the car in front of him – fortunately without any major consequences for the latter's vehicle and the people involved. “I succeeded in appeasing the driver of the car in front by paying 30 euros for the damage,” said Martin Buschmann. ‘Luigi’, on the other hand, was not so lucky: “The whole front end, indicators, bumper – and worst of all – the wing, were completely dented. It was hardly possible to continue the journey. At every pothole, the wing would now drag on the tyre. Grande disaster!!!”
But help was just an emergency call to Dario away: Dario's team at Vintage Tours, a company that rents out its Fiat 500s for Martin Buschmann's photo workshops, could remedy the problem and quickly made ‘Luigi’ fit again. What a relief for his driver and owner: “One day later we were able to continue our journey. A big thank-you to Vintage Tours! Good job – Bel lavoro! Grazie.”
At the end of the leg through Tuscany, Martin Buschmann summarised:
“I must say that Italy is not a cheap country. The workshop prices are almost the same as in Germany. Without our two main sponsors Segafredo Germany (world's best coffee) and Axel Gerstl (THE Fiat spare parts dealer, even beyond the borders of Germany), we wouldn't have been able to afford the tour! A big thank-you again to our sponsors!”
Nevertheless, the autumn in Tuscany gave the two photographers and their little Fiat 500 some “wonderful days with a great atmosphere”: “The temperatures were pleasant and I guess ‘Luigi’ felt that, too, since there were no more breakdowns.”
After Tuscany, the 4th leg of the journey will be to Rome, although, according to Martin Buschmann, there will be a change of plans: “We realised that we cannot start every time from Germany for the next leg with ‘Luigi’. From now on, we will always load ‘Luigi’ onto a trailer and drive to the endpoint of the last leg, unload ‘Luigi’ there, drive the planned route with the little 500, and then transport our friend back to Germany on the trailer. Until the next leg is about to start.”
Part 4 of the journey from Germany to Sicily - Rome, the ‘Eternal City’
“Due to the pandemic, everything on our journey so far had felt more like being on the run, but here in Tuscany, a sense of arrival set in,” Martin Buschmann described their feelings when they had completed their third leg. “We had arrived in one of the most beautiful landscapes Italy has to offer.” Due to the uncertain situation, it then took several months again before the fourth part of the journey could be tackled and ‘Luigi’ was allowed to hold his own in the bustling traffic of Rome. “Let me say in advance: driving in Rome is not relaxed, it’s more of a fight,” Martin Buschmann summarised his impressions. Unlike in Milan, the little Fiat 500 could not benefit from any ‘cuteness bonus’ in Rome and suffered from the hectic pace of the locals, especially in the morning hours. But luckily enough, Martin Buschmann had got his driving licence in Italy and so he knew the “special rules of driving in Italy,” and especially the golden rule: “Always leave enough space on the right for the scooters. On the left, you must allow for the SUVs whose drivers meanwhile assume that they have the ‘right of way by design’. This meant that little Luigi and his two occupants simply had to take a low profile.”
When it came to parking, however, ‘Luigi’ was luckier: no gap was too small for him. Thus Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer enjoyed the luxury of finding a place for ‘Luigi’ right next to the restaurant in the trendy neighbourhood, even in the evening. But all in all, the Roman streets, especially in the inner city, proved to be a challenge for the five-hundred and Martin Buschmann was glad that he had ordered and installed new shock absorbers in time before the trip. “Cobblestones and potholes do not allow for a pleasant driving experience,” he added. “Especially when you can feel every spring in the seats that are more than 50 years old.”
Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer found more comfort in their accommodation, a centrally located hotel near the historic centre where ‘Luigi’ had a safe place to stay in the associated covered car park. “It was always very exciting when we handed over our car with the key in the evening and saw ‘Luigi’ disappear into the depths of the car park,” Martin Buschmann told us. “We had to wake up the car park attendant every morning. Since we were in Rome to take pictures, we had to get up early.” Only the early morning hours remained to set the scene for the little Fiat 500 in front of the sights of Rome without being disturbed by tourists and instagrammers.
Once the photos had been taken and the first city travellers were milling about in the squares, ‘Luigi’ once again proved to be an ‘eye-catcher’: “Many people took photos of us with Luigi,” Martin Buschmann told us with a grin. “The number of followers on our Instagram channel has grown tremendously!”
On the other hand, the morning rush-hour traffic jams – which, according to Martin Buschmann, the Romans are only too happy to put up with, as other means of transport are out of the question for them – proved to be problematic for the Buschmann/Roemer team: “First gear, second gear and then brake again – the next red light. This repeats endlessly. It’s the highest of feelings if you can shift into third gear! However, ‘Luigi’ didn’t like the constant clutch and shift operations at all and Martin Buschmann noticed that it became increasingly difficult to engage the gears although he used the double-declutching and heel-and-toe shifting techniques to reduce the wear: “We had a situation that was gradually deteriorating and would surely soon have caused a permanent problem.” Fortunately, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer found a repair shop that fixed cars right by the road, as is customary in Italy. The chief mechanic and his three assistants immediately took care of the little Fiat 500, jacked ‘Luigi’ up on one side and adjusted the clutch using the adjustment screw. “I was scared to death to see ‘Luigi’ standing on the road at such an angle,” said Martin Buschmann. “I was afraid he was about to topple over.” But after ‘Luigi’ was back in shape for the onward journey, the worries gave way to a feeling of sheer relief: “That’s just the way it is in Italy, you get help quickly and without any hassle. When I asked what I owed them, they waved me off. However, they told me that it was probably a broken release bearing.”
A final detour before the end of leg 4 took Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer to the Affari Sbullonati workshop whose owners David and Fabio dedicate their time to restoring Fiat 500s. It was a worthwhile detour that finally brought relief to Martin Buschmann, who was plagued by the springs in his seat: David and Fabio immediately fitted ‘Luigi’ with newly upholstered seats from their stock when they heard about the problem. On the return journey from Rome to Tuscany, Martin Buschmann felt like sitting on a sofa in his driver’s seat.
During the winter of 2021/2022, ‘Luigi’, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer will remain in Germany, where ‘Luigi’ will be at rest most of the time. Just for one occasion, Martin Buschmann will have to bring him out of hibernation shortly because the TÜV (mandatory general inspection) is due. But Martin Buschmann is not very worried about his little Fiat 500 despite the enormous strain during the Tuscany-Rome-Tuscany stage: “Ahmed Barbiche – my trusted mechanic – now knows every screw on ‘Luigi’ and will be glad to have ‘da little car’ back in his workshop soon.” With ‘Luigi’ having freshly passed the TÜV, the trio will then tackle the next stage: Rome-Naples-Rome. “We are looking forward to the trip and would love to continue our trip tomorrow,” says Martin Buschmann. “In the land of ‘dolce vita’ and ‘bella figura’!”
Part 5 of the Journey from Germany to Sicily - Pisa
Viareggio
After the challenges posed by Roman city traffic, they had planned to go to Naples, but Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer decided without further ado to catch up on a very personal challenge that they had to postpone during the Corona period: They wanted to place ‘Luigi’ in front of the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, maybe the most important photo motif of the entire trip, as Martin Buschmann put it. “We took that trip around Easter,” he told us. “As you can imagine, the Pisa region was very crowded at this time of the year.” But they were lucky: Some kilometres away from Pisa, Mating Buschmann, Gereon Roemer and ‘Luigi’ found a pitch near Viareggio on one of the many campsites close to the sea.
During an excursion, ‘Luigi’ was shown around the harbour and the Buschmann/Roemer photographer duo had the opportunity to toast the first beautiful motif shot of the little Fiat 500 with a cool Corona beer. “Let’s hope that Corona will not thwart our plans this time,” Martin Buschmann commented.
However, it turned out that (this) Corona was not the biggest problem, but a so-called ZTL - ZONA TRAFFICO LIMITADO (= traffic-calmed area) was an obstacle on the way to the perfect photo. Martin Buschmann was almost in despair: ‘Zona Traffico Limitado’ actually means: NO ENTRY! Definitely no entry! Everything was secured with cameras and bollards.”
In fact, entering was possible for the small Fiat 500, as with its slim dimensions, he would have easily gotten past the bollards. But Martin Buschmann was sure that the parking ticket would cost a lot of money. “We spent a whole day checking out all the access roads to the Leaning Tower to find a way in without getting a ticket,” he explained. “We had no chance, the ZTL had become a natural enemy. We were almost sure to get a ticket.” Or could they rely on a ‘Luigi’ cuteness bonus they had benefited from so often during their past stages?
Martin Buschmann had no intention of pushing his luck too far and prepared for the worst-case: “We will have to put on a brave face and accept a ticket. When we asked other people, rumour had it that the fine would be between €60 and €240. We decided: Okay, that’s worth it for this photo!” This was their plan of action:
- Driving through the ZTL – no matter whether they got a ticket or not
- Passing the bollards – 400 metres to the tower
- Parking ‘Luigi’ – and move off again as fast as possible.
The whole operation was to take place in the morning at 6 am, i.e. at sunrise, and when no one would be around yet. On the ground, the dreaded hordes of tourists did not disturb them, but the two photographers and their little 500 encountered the military, just like on Milan’s Cathedral Square. “In order to mitigate the whole thing a bit, we decided to push ‘Luigi’ from the bollards to the tower, with the engine off,” Martin Buschmann said. He hoped that the military might then put mercy before justice. However, it took not even one minute before a soldier stood in front of the ‘Luigi’/Buschmann/Roemer team and strictly asked them to leave the square. “I begged and pleaded, and finally the nice soldier took pity on us. He simply asked us to move ‘Luigi’ five metres further to the left, then everything would be okay,” told us Martin Buschmann. “In about two minutes the changing of the guard would take place, and they would have to go through here with their armoured vehicle. No sooner said than done. We moved ‘Luigi’ five metres to the left – you wouldn’t believe how happy we were! Thus, we had the license to take our photo!”
For Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer, the photo of ‘Luigi’ in front of the Leaning Tower was their “top shot of a lifetime”, as Martin Buschmann put it.
“Thanks to having ‘Luigi’ well prepared beforehand – including a new clutch assembly, new shock absorbers, a new electronic ignition – ‘Luigi’ was able to inhale Italian air through his air filter again. ‘Luigi’ took us a 50 times, as it seemed to us, from Viareggio to Pisa,” resumes Martin Buschmann. “A big thank you to our trusted dealer!” The next destination of the tour will finally be Naples: “We are looking forward to it and would love to continue our journey tomorrow – in the land of ‘dolce vita’ and ‘bella figura’!” While ‘Luigi’ is ready again, Gereon and I still need to relax a bit.”
Part 6 of the Journey from Germany to Sicily - Naples and the Amalfi coast
The further Martin Buschmann, born in Sicily, comes down South, the more he feels at home. “For me, this is where Italy really begins,” he says. “Feeling the warm sunlight on your skin, enjoying the Mediterranean cuisine on every corner! For me, Naples is the geographical transition to true Italy.”
But, as life goes when you are on the road with a classic car, technical issues played a dirty trick on the Buschmann / Roemer photographer team: “I had already suspected for some days that the right front wheel might cause trouble!” Martin Buschmann told us. “Somehow, it tilted out every time as soon as my partner Gereon took place in the passenger seat. When we left ‘Luigi’ standing on a car park for an hour or so, it was straight again. Once we got back into the car and drove some kilometres, the wheel tilted out again.” At first, Gereon Roemer could or would not share the concerns of his companion, his ambition being rather spurred when he saw the great scenery along the Amalfi coast that virtually called for taking a lot of great photos. He was not aware that climbing gradients of 20-30% with a mere 18 horsepowers and constant gear changing between first, second and third gear was quite stressful for Martin Buschmann and his ‘Luigi’. “With a maximum speed of 30 km per hour, we crept up the hills, always hoping to find a panoramic view worth a photo,” Martin Buschmann described the situation. “Hope is the last thing to die but ‘Luigi’ is also dying right now!”
Ultimately, Martin Buschmann had had enough and he refused flatly to drive up to the next photo spot. He was sure by now: “I must care for ‘Luigi’ immediately, otherwise, the front wheel’s had it!”
Like a miracle, suddenly a little yellow Fiat 500 emerged at the roadside – this was a sign of hope for Martin Buschmann: “Where there’s a Fiat 500, there’s a way!”
Indeed, they marvelled at a small repair shop in the middle of the mountains where somebody was still toiling “as if there was no tomorrow,” as Martin Buschmann put it. “The mechanic left the repair shop and lit a cigarette. I did the same. Thus we stood there, smoking, and then the mechanic asked me what my problem was.”Martin Buschmann showed him the front wheel, then ‘Luigi’ was moved into the workshop where the first diagnosis was made: The transverse links were defective, the accelerator pedal needed welding and the leaf spring and the right wheel bearing were to be replaced. “No surprise if you look at the streets and roads here,” Martin Buschmann thought to himself. “Naples had already finished us off. You won’t find worse streets anywhere in Italy.”
Luckily enough, the mechanic was optimistic, raising the travellers’ hopes: The spare parts would arrive the next day, and ‘Luigi’ would still be fit to make it safely down the mountain. “However, he warned me of the downhill and uphill roads and told me to be watchful in general – because of the traffic here in Italy,” said Martin Buschmann. “It would be best to leave the passenger at home, because such a heavy weight on the right was not exactly advantageous for the front wheel in its current state. His advice was well meant.”
With German punctuality, Martin Buschmann and ‘Luigi’ stood in front of the repair shop the next day at the agreed time, but Mario, the mechanic, was late. When he arrived, smoking a cigarette, he just shrugged his shoulders and said that he had taken a cappuccino with a friend, enjoying the wonderful weather and the sea view: “This is Dolce Vita!” Unfortunately, it turned out that the new transverse link would not fit, but this could not stop Mario: “If something doesn’t fit, I’ll make it fit!"
"Mario advised me not to dump the old transverse link. It had kept up for more than 50 years now and Mario was sure that the new one would last ten years at most. Considering that I want to keep ‘Luigi’ until the end of my life, this reasoning immediately made sense to me!”
Even though his way of working had seemed quite archaic before, the mechanic used state-of-the-art computer technology when doing the axle alignment with the newly fitted transverse links: “On the computer, it came down to fractions after the decimal point, while he aligned all four wheels by shaking and adjusting the screws. As for me, everything showed green on the display. Green should be OK, shouldn’t it? Hoping that the hourly rate up here in the mountains would not be excessive, I kept silent and let him carry on. No matter, it’s all about getting ‘Luigi’ still today.” Finally, Mario had finished his work: “A look at the display showed all values greener than green. All tires were fitted again. Off we go, the next pizza is waiting for us!”
However, Martin Buschmann had to suppress his upcoming hunger because the accelerator pedal had not been repaired yet. Mario was worried that welding might be difficult because of the carpet that might catch fire. “For me, this was the best photo of the evening!” said Martin Buschmann: “Mario with the fag in his mouth, lying in ‘Luigi’s’ footwell; the whole area was smoldering, stinking, and small flames were flickering up towards him again and again. From my own experience, I knew that the fuel line was routed somewhere near. After Mario had extinguished the flames in the footwell, he told me that everything was finished now. He had nevertheless avoided telling me that it was not the carpet that had worried him, but the fuel line routed there.He wanted to admit that only after successful completion of his work.
“I was glad I had survived my visit to his repair shop and passed him 100 Euros,” said Martin Buschmann. “’Luigi’ was lowered from the hoist, and I descended the mountain routes at high speed. Steering felt completely new now.” While enjoying the thrill of speed, he noticed, however, that ‘Luigi’ would need new brakes soon. “But for this, I will turn to my trusted spare parts dealer. In Italy, the horn is more important than the brakes anyway: He who brakes, loses! Our pizza is waiting for us.”
Part 7 of the Journey from Germany to Sicily - Luigi Must Go Home – But See a Mechanic First
“As almost before or after one of our tours, Luigi has to visit my trusted repair shop”, Martin Buschmann told us. “Any of you who owns a Cinquecento know this – there's always something to do. Yesterday everything was fine, but today it’s not.”Yet ‘Luigi’, Martin Buschmann’s little Fiat 500, has already come a long way on his extended journey in stages from Freiburg back to its home in Sicily, where he had already accompanied the Buschmann family as a family car in his childhood days: Via Lake Como, they went through Milan, Tuscany, Rome, Naples and along the Amalfi Coast before a slanted front wheel led to a forced stop in an Italian repair shop. There, a traverse link had to be straightened and the accelerator pedal be welded as a “first aid action” so that Martin Buschmann and his companion and fellow photographer Gereon Roemer could at least complete this section of the route as part of their very own road movie back to Martin Buschmann’s (Italian) origins. But Mario, the local mechanic, gave Martin Buschmann more “homework” for the next time back in Germany: The second traverse link, the brakes, the front right wheel bearing, the leaf spring, the shock absorbers and the front tyres would also have to be replaced – yet Mario had told him that he himself did not have the time to do these repairs. “With this terse statement he sent us back on the Italian roads then,” Martin Buschmann told us later.
So before starting the next stage through Calabria, it was now time to work through the list Mario had drawn up. Martin Buschmann said: “The required parts had to be ordered from my trusted dealer, and then fitted by the best ‘meccanico in world’”. “Now that our journey is slowly coming to an end, it's time to mention these two partners by name. Without the two of them, our road trip would not have been possible.
I have been interested in these little cars long before the turn of the millennium. It's my dearest hobby and I have always ordered the parts from the Axel Gerstl company. I liked the company and still do. The spare parts are always delivered very timely. The prices are market-oriented and fair. I don’t think we need to discuss the spare parts prices for our little cars, do we? It doesn’t get any cheaper than this! And I’m even more pleased that I succeeded to get the company’s support for the Luigi project. A big thank you to the Axel Gerstl team – without you, the project to bring Luigi home would not be possible!”
But the supply of spare parts is just one side of the coin, these parts also have to be fitted – this is especially important for a classic car that is on the road day in and day out. “This has been accomplished by Ahmed Barbiche since the first day of Luigi’s restoration,” says Martin Buschmann and describes him this way: “Ahmed is a master car mechanic. I’m not lying when I say: Ahmed now has more experience in fault analysis and repair of Fiat 500 cars than almost any other mechanic in Germany. So many of the “bambini” have passed through his hands. Ahmed knows every single one of Luigi's screws. I don’t know how many times I called him from the road: ‘Ahmed, there’s a problem with Luigi!’ He then tells me on the phone what to do to solve the problem. A few days before we start a new leg of our tour, he usually spends some time on Luigi to fit new parts, preparing us to the best possible to make sure that we reach our destination safely. It was the same this time around.”
Martin Buschmann and Ahmed Barbiche
It took just one hour in the workshop for Ahmed to professionally replace the leaf springs and shock absorbers, to check all fluids and to re-lubricate the dusty steering knuckles.
“Luigi was in good shape again. It was an unusual sight to see Luigi with so much space between the fender and the tires. Dear Gereon, you can safely take the passenger seat again!”
Equipped with new leaf springs and shock absorbers, ‘Luigi’, Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer started the next stage of their tour. But then, Martin Buschmann noticed that he had completely forgotten to tell Ahmed that the brakes and the wheel bearing should be repaired as well. “It didn’t matter – we all survived it,” Martin Buschmann remarked contentedly, even though he had to state: “We had hardly got back from this leg of the tour when the wheel bearing started making noise, right when we drove into Constance. Now it was high time to replace it. You can see that you never run out of work on the Cinquecento. I'm sure there will be another to-do list for our next tour!”
Part 8 of the Journey from Germany to Sicily - Luigi Must Go Home – But See the Mechanic Once Again
‘Luigi’, Martin Buschmann’s little Fiat 500, has already come a long way on his extensive staged journey from Freiburg back to its home in Sicily, where he had already accompanied the Buschmanns as a family car in his owner’s childhood days. Via Lake Como, they went through Milan, Tuscany, Rome, Naples and along the Amalfi Coast down to the southern tip of the Italian mainland. It is the last big step that now lies ahead of 'Luigi’.
“Now, we’re finally going all the way to Sicily via Apulia,” Martin Buschmann told us about his plan. “Luigi has bravely made it through all the stages so far. After completion of our tour, we will have covered more than 10,000 kilometres on Italian roads.” In order to bring 'Luigi' in shape for the grand final of his adventure, another date with the mechanic was inevitable: New brake shoes and brake drums were due, the thread of a carburettor screw needed repair and the front wheel bearings and wishbones had to be replaced. Moreover, the steering gear had too much play. “The spare parts list was growing longer and longer,” Martin Buschmann recalled. “No sooner said than done – the new parts were fitted, lubricated and greased – in short: a ‘wellness programme’ for the little car.”
The workshop visit had been arranged for the day before the planned departure, so failing to get everything done was no option. “The spare parts were delivered super fast,” Martin Buschmann said with emphasis.
But when Ahmed, his trusted mechanic, had unpacked the parts, he asked with a sad look in his eyes: “And where are the four new wheel cylinders?” “Holy crap” was Martin Buschmann's when he realized that he had forgotten to order them. He started to fear that the planned tour would end before it had even started, for Ahmed considered it indispensable to replace the wheel cylinders whenever servicing the brake system, as the rubber lips frequently tended to leak. This, in turn, would allow air into the brake system so that the required brake pedal pressure could not build up. “The worst case scenario is that you lose brake fluid, which means that the brake system would fail completely,” said Martin Buschmann. “It is obvious that this should not happen on the road!”
This immediately spurred a frantic search of Freiburg for suitable wheel cylinders, which cost them half a day. But then, Martin Buschmann thought he was lucky, getting two of the coveted wheel cylinders at a car dealership for EUR 30.00 per piece – a steep price compared to the EUR 6.90 he would have paid at the Axel Gerstl shop. And even worse: The problem was not solved 100%,” so he was quite disillusioned at that point. “As suspected, precisely Luigi’s ailing wheel cylinders caused me a headache. What could I do now? At this moment, I realized that the day was going to be a long one. We were missing two working wheel cylinders.”
Ahmed – according to Martin Buschmann, the best Fiat 500 mechanic and a man of action who is never short of a good idea – saved the day. Without further ado, he removed the required wheel cylinders from another Fiat 500 and fitted them to ‘Luigi’. Ahmed and Martin Buschmann worked late into the night on the little Fiat 500, first in Ahmed’s workshop, then in Martin Buschmann’s garage at home.
“My wife came down at 11 pm and asked if she should cancel our hotel rooms for the first night,” Martin Buschmann told us. “Nobody – except Ahmed! – believed at that moment that we could get on the road the next day.” However, at half past midnight, the job was finally done: “Two wheel cylinders removed and fitted to ‘Luigi’. Brakes bled. Pedal pressure was fine again, proving that we had successfully exchanged the entire brake system. New steering gear installed. Wheel bearing replaced. Steering knuckles re-lubricated. And finally, ‘Luigi’ was treated to two new spark plugs. YIPPEE!!!“
Now, 'Luigi' was ready for the last big leg of his tour of Italy, so there was no need to cancel the hotel rooms. The next morning, they could set off as planned. “A big thank you to my trusted spare parts supplier and to Ahmed for working tirelessly until late at night and finding a solution to every problem, whatever it may be! Without your help, we would have been bogged down at home.”
In the meantime, ‘Luigi’ and Martin Buschmann are safely back in Germany. “Luigi did well on the last leg and ‘survived’ the adventures.” He is now in well-deserved hibernation and can recover from all the hardships. In one of the next Axel Gerstl newsletters, Martin Buschmann will tell us what the little 500 experienced on the last leg of the tour. So stay tuned!
Part 9 of the Journey from Germany to Sicily - Arrival in Sicily
The journey took a long time, but now it has come to an end: “Luigi”, the little Fiat 500 F built in 1967, has returned to his former home in Sicily! On their long journey, “Luigi” and his human companions, the photographer duo Martin Buschmann and Gereon Roemer, went through a lot of adventures. However, the arrival on the southern Italian island was to top everything!
150 little Fiat 500s
Before this last stage, “Luigi’s” driver, Martin Buschmann, had a very special wish for the brave little Fiat 500: „It it would be great to go for a big tour in Sicily with other vintage Fiat 500s, honking our horns and cheerfully driving through the streets of Catania!” Unfortunately, Buschmann didn’t know anybody from the local Fiat 500 scene. “Thank goodness, there’s the Axel Gerstl team who can help,” he said. “This company has been my No 1 for ordering spare parts since the first day with “Luigi”. During one of the many order-related phone calls, I told them about our planned arrival in Sicily. At the other end of the line, I heard the enthusiasm about my wish to meet other Fiat 500 drivers in Catania.” Since the Axel Gerstl team has been friends with the Catania section of the Fiat 500 Club Italia for quite a while, it was no great problem to establish a contact. Martin Buschmann was happy: „What a lucky coincidence! It didn’t take long before I got Davide Cappadonna’s phone number. He runs the local Fiat 500 Club and writes the periodic reports on the little cars in the Axel Gerstl newsletter. It was obvious to me that this man was an expert! And, what is more, he’s a kind and friendly man, as I found out during the first phone call. He told me that, as always in Italy, all this would be no problem. We should simply get in touch upon our arrival in Sicily.” Being a German, Martin Buschmann would have liked to make an appointment right on the spot, but Davide refused to be pinned down on the phone. He said that a WhatsApp message a few hours before the arrival would be sufficient. “Since we were friends of his German friends, I trusted that our appointment would work out in the end,” Martin Buschmann said optimistically. “Many things on our journey had not worked out. Now it would be so nice if my wish for the last stage would come true!”
But when “Luigi” and the Buschmann/Roemer team got off the ferry to Sicily and Martin Buschmann tried to call Davide, nobody answered. “This is unusual for an Italian. Usually, the line is always busy,” Martin Buschmann wondered. He got worried because Italians normally would not go anywhere without their phone and the time slot for a meeting with the local Fiat 500 enthusiasts was very short. After all, visits to the Etna and to Martin Buschmann’s birthplace were planned and a photo with “Luigi” on the cathedral square also featured on the to-do list. “The only time left for our meeting was Sunday.” But when Martin Buschmann looked at his mobile phone to check the date, he calmed down: it was lunchtime. Davide finally called back at 4 p.m., when “Luigi” was just struggling with the steep roads of Taormina. “Constant heel-and-toe shifting due to the unsynchronised gearbox, and at the same time talking on the phone? No problem,” said Martin Buschmann with a hint of irony. “After all those kilometres on Italy’s roads, this was a piece of cake!” On the phone, Davide promised the “Luigi”/Buschmann/Roemer team a surprise, precisely on their ‘day off’. “Davide sent me the coordinates of the location where we would meet on Sunday at 7:30 a.m.,” Martin Buschmann told us. It was a petrol station near the port of Catania. But on that day, he suddenly changed the meeting point: “New location. A petrol station almost 10 km outside Catania. I found that very strange. Outside the city? After all, the plan had been to drive through the streets of Catania!” Martin Buschmann replied that it would probably take a little longer for him, Gereon and “Luigi” to arrive. Davide’s only reaction was a smiley face with an Italian flag, which Martin Buschmann interpreted as ‘no problem’! “We met him and his club members at the new location,” he told us. “It was a warm welcome. The club members were delighted that we had travelled all the way from Germany. Being just as proud of their little cars as we were of “Luigi”, they told us of their own adventures with their “Cinquinos”. Of course, each of us got a strong coffee – espresso doppio.”
Meeting at the petrol station
After an hour of shop talk at the petrol station, they were about to start, while Martin Buschmann was still unaware of the final destination. But Davide recommended filling up “Luigi” first because the distance would be 100 kilometres. “Davide immediately noticed my astonishment,” said Martin Buschmann. “Yes, this is the surprise!” He told us that we were going to drive to Comiso now where 150 other Cinquecenti were waiting for us on the big square. Together, we would then go on the big ‘raduno’. All clubs from Sicily would be present. Wow! “A trip with over 150 other small Fiats was beyond my wildest dreams and promised to be great fun!”Unfortunately, ‘Luigi’ was not feeling too well that morning at the start. Martin Buschmann suspected that the carburettor was drawing false air, affecting “Luigi’s” top speed. “Many of the Sicilians in the Catania club drive small racers equipped with tuned engines and wide tyres. Thus, top speeds of up to 160 km/h can be reached. I asked Davide to let us drive in convoy, as ‘Luigi’s’ top speed was between 80 and 90 km/h only.”But Davide reassured Martin Buschmann immediately: “In our club, nobody will be left behind!”He pointed to his 1964 Fiat 500 D, which was built in 1964, and assured Martin Buschmann that he would drive ahead and no faster than 80 km/h.
After “Luigi’s” tank had been filled up, the engines were started and finally, off they went. As announced, Davide drove first, with the others from the Catania club and “Luigi” following him. “Luigi” could even have overtaken Davide’s Fiat 500 despite the slight inclines. “His Fiat is even some years older than my Luigi,” Martin Buschmann stated. After about 30 km, Davide finally pulled over, just as “Luigi” had recovered from his performance slump. “We stopped in the middle of the clearway. Davide’s Fiat had broken down. No more power!”
Stop on the clearway
Martin Buschmann sent a big thank-you to Saint Agatha – Catania’s patron saint – that it was not “Luigi” who caused the problem that brought the entire convoy to a standstill. However, it was not an option that Davide’s Fiat would not reach the final destination. “Quickly, all drivers gathered around Davide’s car and everyone had their own ideas what the fault might be,” said Martin Buschmann and continued: “A first measure was to exchange the ignition capacitor. We started our engines, only to stop again after 5 km. This time, the entire carburettor was replaced. Of course, we had our spare parts aboard. After 10 more kilometres, we stopped again at a petrol station. First of all, everybody had a coffee. I thought by myself: In Comiso, 150 Fiats have been waiting for us for about an hour, and we haven't even covered half the distance yet!”
The first breakdown
The second breakdown
On the other hand, “Luigi” was in top form, always started well and responded quickly to the gas pedal. At 12 o’clock, the entire convoy finally reached Comiso. “Despite the breakdowns, we had covered the 100 km distance in only three and a half hours, which is quite a normal travel time for a Fiat Cinquecento,” said Martin Buschmann proudly.
Arrival in Comiso
He then described the following events: “We were greeted with loud engine noises and lots of honking. ‘Luigi’, Gereon and I were introduced by the Lady Mayor via microphone. After parking ‘Luigi’, I was immediately dragged out of the car for a selfie with the Lady Mayor. ‘Luigi’ and the lady are now best friends on Instagram.
Selfie with the Lady Mayor
And indeed, as we had expected, ‘Luigi’ is now an honorary member of the Fiat 500 Club Italia. Not only the one in Sicily! No, in the whole of Italy! A sign was attached to his bumper with cable ties, as a proof of his honorary membership and participation in today’s event.”Then, to the applause of the many spectators on the square, the big ride of the 150 little Fiats around the city of Comiso started, ending, as always, in a joint meal and celebrations.
Dinner after the ride
“We got pasta, pizza and so much amore from our Sicilian friends on that day”, said Martin Buschmann delightedly. Gereon Roemer captured the eventful day with a group photo taken by a drone.
Aerial group photo
Without a major breakdown, “Luigi” and the other Fiats from Davide’s group eventually returned to Catania at about midnight and the Buschmann/Roemer team fell happily into their beds. “What a gorgeous day, what an experience for ‘Luigi’, Gereon and me!” said Martin Buschmann, summarising his impressions of the grande finale of their long tour. “I can’t thank Davide Cappadonna and his friends enough! And also a big thank-you to the Axel Gerstl team, who made it all possible. And thanks to “Luigi”, who braved this wild ride with us again without any mishaps!“
