Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600
Number 205 - English version dated 14.07.2022 - © Axel Gerstl
Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia
Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia

Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome
Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome

Follow-Up Report: Fiat 500 Pistoia and Roma Litorale Meetings

Dear customers, dear friends of the Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600,

Having attended the meeting of the Florence section of the Fiat 500 Club Italia (we reported about it in our Newsletter 203), Amsycora, our representative for Italy, continued his Tuscany tour and set off for the meeting of the neighbouring club section in Pistoia. On this trip, he happened to come across the design template of the Fiat 500, because the typical treat of Pistoia, called “Confetti”, obviously had inspired the designers when they defined the lines of the Cinquecento. A photographic proof and Amsycora’s report about the meeting can be found here.

Unfortunately, a bag of “confetti” was not the only thing Amsycora brought back home from his trip. Just a few days after his return, Amsycora’s Covid-19 test was positive, so our colleague Andreas had to stand in for him at the Fiat 500 Club Italia meeting of the Roma Litorale section at short notice. But luckily, spontaneity is one of Andreas’ main traits so he diligently took photos and videos of the get-together of the numerous Fiat 500 enthusiasts from the Rome environs. Click here to read how Andreas experienced the event.

And of course, we are also proud to present the "Fiat of the month July" along with some interesting current offers and news concerning the Fiat 500, Fiat 126 and Fiat 600.

We hope you enjoy reading this month's newsletter!

The Axel Gerstl team

Follow-Up Report: Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia in Pistoia on 14 and 15 May 2022
Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia
Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia
Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia
Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia

Fiat 500 Club Italia Meeting in Pistoia – a Report by Amsycora, our Representative for Italy

Friday 13 May, 8 pm at platform 11 of Munich Central Station. This means nothing to those who are neither from Munich nor Italians living in Munich. But for us, platform 11 is almost Italy, this is where the migrant workers arrived with their suitcases held together with hemp ropes when the boom of the 1960s in Germany lured people from Southern Italy (but not only from there) to the North. They were heading for an uncertain future – who of them spoke any German? Even speaking proper Italian, instead of their native dialect, was a problem for many of them. I arrived here in 1982, too, but for me, it was different, I’m German-Italian, not a migrant worker, I speak German, I’m an interpreter. Likewise, this was the place where the return trips for holidays or for bringing along the family started. Those who experienced this still can feel it.

Here I’m standing, waiting for the night train to Florence, from where I will continue to Pistoia, to attend a meeting of the members of the Fiat 500 Club Italia, Pistoia section. Massimo Lissa, the Club Italia responsible, promised to pick me up.

On 14 May, I’m standing at the neat little train station of Pistoia. A number of boy scouts are gathering in one corner. I’m delayed by more than one hour. It doesn't take long before Massimo Lissa arrives. “We need to unload decorations at the restaurant, the van is already there,” he says, and so I’m immediately on board, carrying flowers, gift bags and other odd things that are obviously needed. The owner of the restaurant jokingly greets me in German, as does the waitress. Well, what’s going on here? “I ran a pizzeria in Stuttgart for 17 years,” the owner explains. “That was a great time,” he adds. “Now, I’m dedicated to this here.” Massimo is showing me around in the city of Pistoia; he’s proud of it – rightly so, I think. Pistoia is somewhat overshadowed by the larger and better known Florence, which is only about 20 km away. It is indeed similar to Florence, but without the tourists. Massimo goes on explaining that his wife refuses to go for walks with him in the city because he stops too often, shaking hands and small-talking with other people. While I'm experiencing that too, right now, I can take a look at the city at my leisure. I’m introduced to half the city council, learning that the local election campaign is under way. They ask me whether I like Pistoia: “Yes I do, very much.” Then, Massimo shows me a spacious and shady playground, which was co-financed by the local Fiat 500 Club Italia section.

After a short break at the hotel, activities start again around noon: Registration of participants who had already arrived on Saturday. Just about 40 little cars with lots of nice people in them. Some people I know from Florence are among them. At 2:30 pm we all drive into town together and line up in the square of Piazza del Duomo. The noise of the inconspicuous-looking 500s is deafening, with horns blaring additionally as if the high-pitched engines weren’t loud enough. A 695 model sounds very self-confident. I wonder whether every exhaust here conforms to the rules? Italians love their 500s, everyone has memories of the times when they were young. So we’re allowed to do what we want. It’s surprising to see how many young people in their 20s and 30s have a “Cinquino” and lovingly care for it. The Cinquecento is a classic car – even loved by young people. (...)

Follow-Up Report: Roma Litorale Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on 02 June 2022
Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome
Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome
Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome
Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome

Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome

It was planned that Amsycora, soon after his return from the event in Pistoia, would also attend the Roma Litorale meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia at the coast of Rome, but a positive Covid-19 test threw a spanner in the works. Luckily, our friend and colleague Andreas had the time and was spontaneous enough to stand in for Amsycora.

Immediately after his arrival in Rome on 1 June, Andreas was warmly welcomed by Andrea Prudenzi, liaison man and organiser-in-chief of the Fiat 500 Club Italia in the Roman coastal region. The car ride to the place where they were due for dinner took longer than planned, even though they had already allowed for the notorious high traffic volume. Andreas attributed the, as he put it “incredible traffic" to the Italian National Holiday the next day, as the entire city seemed to be on their feet or at the wheel. As a compensation, he was treated to a delicious meal including a typical starter dish and a classic pizza with Andrea and his wife Simone as well as club members Antonio, Mauro, Leonardo and Irene. Later, he found that he shared his hotel with some other meeting participants who had parked their Fiat 500s on the big car park in front of the hotel.

The next day, he set off early at 7 am together with Andrea and the other hard-working helpers to drive to “Zoomarina” water park, one of the biggest aquatic zoos in Italy, only a few meters away from the seaside. “An interesting idea to hold the meeting at this water park,” Andreas resumed: A win-win situation for the organisers and for the operator of the zoo, who could present the many lovingly arranged Fiat 500s as an additional attraction to the thousands of visitors. In return, the club members only paid a reduced entrance fee.

Among the slightly more than one hundred Fiat 500s, Andreas discovered some oddities such as an artistic side-window design that looked as if a miniature Fiat 500 model had broken through the glass (see the photo at the left). He saw a lot of Fiat 500s in ever new variants “to express the love their drivers have for their little treasures,” as he described it. Those drivers were greeted personally by Andreas at the registration desk, where he handed over little gifts from Axel Gerstl.

Later on, Andreas and the other Fiat 500 lovers enjoyed a stage performance and exchanged stories, experiences and anecdotes from the Fiat 500 world. A special treat for Andreas was talking to Enzo who, during their conversation about number plates, suddenly switched from Italian to German. Besides that, Andreas offered his assistance whenever possible, helping the organisers and lending a hand not only when setting up the facilities in the morning, but also when dismantling them again in the evening. He was rewarded with a family dinner at Andrea’s place.

The next day, he had to return to Munich – not failing to come across another Fiat 500 shortly before leaving – this time, a promotion car in a retail shop (see the photo at the left). Back home, Andreas expressed his enthusiasm for the Fiat 500 Club Italia, Litorale Roma section. He called Andrea a true liaison man (fiduciario) everybody can turn to as a club member with all problems, even beyond the mechanical stuff!”

For more photos and videos from the Roma Litorale meeting, click here!

Meeting of the Fiat 500 Club Italia on the Coast of Rome
Photo Album: Fiat of the Month July
Fiat of the Month July 2022

Fiat of the Month July

The Fiat of the Month July has been elected! Many thanks to Mr. Jürg Knobel from Switzerland and all other participants!

If you want to present your Fiat 500, Fiat 126 or Fiat 600 to our readers, please send a photo to service. There’s no special motto, no limitation. And if you’re lucky, your Fiat will become Fiat of the month!

To all previous participants: Your photo is still active and can still become Fiat of the Month in the next months.

Click here to find the previous“Fiats of the month”.

New items in our online shop*
Engine suspension, rear Fiat 500 N/D/F/L

for example Engine suspension

  • Engine suspension, rear Fiat 500 N/D/F/L
  • item no.: 01212
  • Price: EUR 198.00*

Click here for the new articles!

Offers*
Door handle/lock, in pairs with cylinder and keys, A-Qual. Fiat 500 F/L/R

for example Door handle/lock

  • Door handle/lock, in pairs with cylinder and keys, A-Qual. Fiat 500 F/L/R
  • item no.: 13039/1
  • Discount: instead of total EUR 88.30 only EUR 71.50  (valid to 17.08.2022)*

Click here for the special offers!

Headlight H4 Fiat 126/127/128-CoupéS-CL-Spezial/Yugo

for example Headlight H4

  • Headlight H4 Fiat 126/127/128-CoupéS-CL-Spezial/Yugo
  • item no.: C17002
  • Discount: instead of total EUR 25.40 only EUR 20.60 (valid to 17.08.2022)*

Click here for the special offers!

Set of foot mats (black/red) with small Abarth logo Fiat 500 until '75 / Abarth / 126 / 600

for example Set of foot mats

  • Set of foot mats (black/red) with small Abarth logo Fiat 500 until '75 / Abarth / 126 / 600
  • item no.: 23073/1
  • Discount: instead of total EUR 50.90 only EUR 41.20 (valid to 17.08.2022)*

Click here for the special offers!

> Please note

Subject to change, errors excepted.
Offers only valid until stock lasts.
*Prices are valid for delivery to Germany (including 19 % VAT. Freight charges extra).

> Contact
Luftbild Firma Axel Gerstl - Fiat 500 126 600 Ersatzteile

Company Axel Gerstl
Münchner Straße 17
DE-82239 Alling/Biburg - Germany

Telephone: +49 - 8141/53 48 6-0
Telefax: +49 - 8141/53 48 6-10

E-Mail: service
Internet: webshop.fiat500126.com

Configuration

If you want to receive our newsletter regularly, please click here.
If you wish to cancel our newsletter, please click here.

If you wish to send us a message, do NOT reply to this email, but send your message to service.