CC5C 2014 Review

Benvenuti amici!

This has been a brilliant first year for the Cream City 500 Club, CC5C blog and CC5C Facebook page. In an effort to provide you a different experience than you may find elsewhere, we continue our focus on FIAT-related history and link that history to what is happening with/for FIATisti now. Because we want this blog to be as useful to you (the reader) as possible, we've added several blog 'gadgets'. Although most of these 'gadgets' may seem self-explanatory, it's a good idea to take a moment to clarify the intended purpose of each one. We begin at the top of the page.

1) This gadget is just what its title implies. It is a link to the CC5C Facebook page. We encourage you to be a part of our online social network. This is a Social Driving blog, after all. We want you to be a part of our extended 'famiglia' in any language you feel most comfortable communicating. Facebook  has a translation tool. Your fellow CC5Cers can read what you share.

2) This gadget is also just what its title implies. It is a subscription tool. Don't worry, the blog is still free. This is one of many subscription tools we've include, in order to make it as easy as possible to stay up-to-date with the latest CC5C blog entry. Add us to your list of favorite reads.

3) Are you curious about which blogs most visitors are reading? We are too. So, we've added the 'Popular Posts' gadget to list the most popular selections during the week of your visit.

4) The 'Translate' gadget is actually our first… and favorite… blog tool of all. It allows visitors to translate blog entries into the language they feel most comfortable reading. The translation tool isn't perfect, but it is an effort to help bridge the gap between author intent and reader understanding.

5) Gadget number five, at the top of the page, is the CC5C Search bar. Simply enter key word/s in the space provided and the tool will list all blog entries covering the topic and/or including the key word/s.

Scroll down to the bottom of CC5C entries as well as the CC5C blog page and you'll find some additional tools and/or gadgets at your disposal. 

6) At the bottom of every CC5C blog entry, you'll find 'Labels' added. These labels are there to act as key words for your searches on this blog as well as your independent searches on the internet. At the end of the day, the aim is to help you learn about FIAT-related subjects to encourage and feed your personal passion/enthusiasm.

7) The first two of this trio of gadgets are at the bottom of the page to help you receive email & Google Plus announcements of the latest CC5C blog entry. The third gadget is a tool you can use to share and/or recommend a specific blog entry to others.

As you can see, indicated by the gadgets added to the page, the intent is to keep your experience here as interactive as possible. Your activity is important to our local club, this blog, the Facebook page and the greater FIAT Social Driving community. The most important first reader activity, for the CC5C blog, is… of course… to read the entries. The second most important reader activity is share the CC5C blog entries with other aficionados. Third on the list of most important reader activity is to visit & 'Like' our Facebook page.

The Cream City Cinquecento Club Facebook page is an extension of this blog. As such, we announce every new blog entry on Facebook. We provide a hyperlink to make it easier for visitors to make their way to this page. These Facebook updates are also a perfect opportunity for you to communicate what you think of that particular blog entry. What you have to say matters and it will likely be reflected in future entries. If you think of an improvement and would like to share that too, please free to do so.

Although you are, no doubt, a Facebook expert, there are three primary areas we find most important to the life of the page.

1) Activity. Our Facebook page, like any other, allows us to track activity on the page. Whether it is to 'Like' an image shared on the page or to express your thoughts on FIAT and FIAT club/s related topics, your involvement in the developing of the Social Driving community is important.

2) Upcoming Events. Although the events listed are for local CC5C activity, we trust you'll find ideas for your own events on our page. The more fun we, as a community, make our events the more people will want to become involved in the Social Driving experience. More people involved in the Social Driving lifestyle can equate to fewer walls dividing us.

3) Posts To Page. Do you have something cool and/or fun to share with the rest of the CC5C Social Driving community? A message? An image? A video clip? Please… post away. People are interested in what you have to share. Each week we post our selection for 'Post of the Week' to the main timeline. We believe in rewarding your choice to reach out to your brothers & sisters in FIAT.

We have one final bit of business, before we close out our 2014 blogging season. Birthday celebrations are important. Not only do they provide the opportunity to… well… celebrate things past, they also provide us a chance to dream of things to come. Dreams came and continue to come true, for many of us, due to the brilliant machines rolling from the pens of equally brilliant Italian industrialists, engineers, designers and the blood, sweat & tears of various employees from the Land of the Boot & beyond. We thought it about time we share some FIAT-related birthdays. Are you ready to party?

FIAT | ABARTH

Abarth

Karl/Carlo: 15 November 1908

ABARTH & Co. founded; 31 May 1949

Agnelli

Giovanni: 13 August 1866

Edoardo: 2 January 1892

Giovanni/Gianni: 12 March 1921

Umberto: 1 November 1934

FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899

Elkann

John: 1 April 1976

Lapo: 7 October 1977
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Giacosa

Dante: 3 January 1905
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
Autobianchi founded; 11 January 1955

Giolito

Roberto: Unpublished 1962
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Magnanini
Marco: Unpublished 1976
ABARTH & Co. founded; 31 May 1949
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Marchionne

Sergio: 17 June 1952
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Marelli

Ercole: Unpublished

Magneti Marelli founded; 1919
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Notable FIAT | ABARTH Collaborators

Bertone

Giovanni: Unpublished 1884

Giuseppe/Nuccio: 4 July 1914

Carrozzeria founded; 1912

Bianchi

Edoardo: Unpublished 1864

Bicicli founded; 1885

Carrozzeria founded; 11 January 1955
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Boano
Felice Mario; Unpublished
Gian Paolo; Unpublished
Carrozzeria founded; 1954
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899

Castagna

Carlo: Unpublished

Carrozzeria founded; 1849
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Ceirano
Ceirano GB & C founded; 1898
Ceirano GB & C was purchased by Giovanni Agnelli
ITALA founded; 1904

Cosentino

Alfred: Unpublished 1929

FAZA founded; February 1963
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
ABARTH & Co. founded; 31 May 1949

Farina

Battista/Pinin: 2 November 1893

Emilio/Nino: 30 Ocober 1906

Sergio: 8 September 1926

Andrea: 26 June 1957

Paolo: 28 August 1958

Carrozzeria founded; 23 May 1930

Ferrari

Enzo: 18 February 1898

Alfredo/Dino: 19 January 1932

Piero: 22 May 1945

Scuderia founded; 1929

Carrozzeria founded; 1947
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014
Will be spun-off, but still majority owned by Angelli & Ferrari families

Ferraris

Romeo: Unpublished 1937

Carrozzeria founded; 6 May 1962
ABARTH & Co. founded; 31 May 1949
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Fioravanti
Leonardo; Unpublished 1938
Pininfarina founded; 23 May 1930
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899

Gandini
Marcello; 26 August 1938
Gruppo Bertone founded; 1912
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899

Ghia

Giacinto: 18 September 1887

Carrozzeria founded; 1915

Giannini
Attilio: Unpublished
Domenico: Unpublished
Carrozzeria founded; 1922

Giugiaro

Giorgetto: 7 August 1938

Carrozzeria founded; 13 February 1968

Lancia

Vincenzo: 24 August 1881

Giovanni/Gianni: 16 November 1924

Carrozzeria founded; 29 November 1906
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Maserati

Ernesto: 4 August 1875

Carlo: Unpublished 1881

Bindo: Unpublished 1883

Alfieri: 23 September 1887

Ettore: Unpublished 1894

Carrozzeria founded; 1 December 1914
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Romeo

Nicola: 28 April 1876

Carrozzeria founded; 24 June 1910
FIAT S.p.A. founded; 11 July 1899
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles founded; 12 October 2014

Zagato

Ugo: 25 June 1890

Carrozzeria founded; 1919

Happy Holidays to you & yours from the entire CC5C Famiglia! Thank you so much for deciding to be a part of the FIAT life experience. We are eternally grateful and honored to have found favor in your heart.

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

Jolly Club USA

Benvenuti amici!

Recently, the CC5C blog focus has been on some of my… our... favorite carrozzerias. With Castagna - Milano & Romeo Ferraris - Milano being two of the few remaining major independent dedicated coach builders, the death of the art form threatens fans of the very special creations they bring to market. Fortunately, many smaller carrozzerias and 'garagisti' are springing up to support their efforts… even in North America… with FIAT-related goodness of their own. That shows promise.

Photo courtesy of EUROCOMPULSION©

Here and on our FB page, we've featured the works of folks from 500 Madness, NGen Customs (formerly NGen FIAT) and Road Race MotorSports. Those works also show promise. This entry will focus on two groups that work individually and collectively. EUROCOMPULSION, a player in performance for over a decade, and H.P.S.I. Motorsports, devoted to automotive performance since 1982, are fan favorites on the tuner scene. They are independent companies that often collaborate. This collaboration is known to their customers as Jolly Club. The presence of Jolly Club in North America is a first… a first that definitely shows promise.

We've managed to catch up with the trio of fanatics responsible  for bringing the name back en vogue. So, take a moment to grab yourself a cup of coffee or pour yourself a cold Peroni, sit back and enjoy the read.

CC5C: Okay, gents. Let's get the formalities out of the way. As you know, Cream City Cinquecento Club a/k/a Città Crema Cinquecento Club is all about the greater FIAT life experience. Auto tuning is a part of that. So, featuring EUROCOMPULSION (EC) and H.P.S.I. Motorsports (HPSI) on this blog has always been of interest to me… and here you are.

Please introduce yourselves and your individual companies.

EC: Chris, from EUROCOMPULSION, a new generation FIAT and Alfa enthusiast a/k/a obssesionist (if that's a word).

CC5C: Oh, yeah, Chris. That is definitely a word… in fact, I think it's an art form… and I am well versed.

EUROCOMPULSION© Logo

HPSI | G: I am Greg from H.P.S.I. - I am a long time FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo enthusiast.

HPSI | T: I am Toby… also from H.P.S.I.

H.P.S.I. Motorsports© Logo

CC5C: 'Good to finally feature you on the blog, fellas. Thanks so much for taking the time out to answer my questions.

EC, HPSI | G and HPSI | T: Thank you, for doing this, Amado.

CC5C: The pleasure is all mine. So, let's get into it straightaway. What motivated/inspired you to start your respective companies?

EC: Simply put, I really fell in love with these little [FIAT 500T & ABARTH 500] cars. The subtle aggressive lines displayed throughout the bodywork, the maddening exhaust note and the fact it is a modern-but-Spartan drivers car. When I initially purchased the car, in May of 2012, I noticed a massive lack of performance parts for it. I quickly became frustrated with companies that didn’t produce and started with a basic intake that caught a lot of interest and started from there. We evolved into a company I am proud of... with innovative designs and, most importantly, designs that work and increase performance. [Those things] bring out the true essence and spirit of the car.  

It's a Euro Affair | EUROCOMPULSION©

I first caught the German [European] bug when bitten by a handful of Audis/VWs as well as a few Porsches. You can see the influence of that style in my personal cars. I love 'stanced' European cars... not necessarily for the function but for the form. I am completely absorbed by modern day FIATs and Alfas and cannot wait for the future cars to hit our shores. It's an exciting time. Working on and designing parts for these cars feels very natural… almost symbiotic.

HPSI | G: That's a little bit of a long story [for me]. When I was born I literally rode home from the hospital in a FIAT. My parents always had FIATs, and at one time my father owned Bob's House of FIAT... a small garage-based FIAT repair operation in Newbury Park CA. In high school, when everyone else was into American cars or aircooled VWs I had a 120hp FIAT 124 sedan. That may not seem like much [horsepower], but it was a lot - back then - in a 2000 pound car.  I was always impressed with FIAT's DOHC engine, 4 wheel disks and twin A-arm suspension. The car just seemed so much more advanced [to me] than other common cars, and my little boxy sedan would out drag most Z cars and Supras of the day.

A little later in life, I found more and more newer cars were able to outrun my beloved Alfa Romeo GTV6. I found performance parts for the car very expensive, and in most cases ineffective. I decided to supercharge the car, but no kit was available. I had to make one. About the same time I found it very difficult to get quality vacuum hoses, so I invested in silicone manufacturing, and that sort of took off. We [H.P.S.I.] now have the largest selection of silicone vacuum hose in the US.

HPSI | T: My involvement with H.P.S.I. started some years back as a result of spending a great deal of time with my father-in-law, Greg, and his father, Bob. My enthusiasm for all things automotive (classic/vintage, Motorsport, etc.) has always existed, and has always centered around European makes. However, a great love affair with Italian automobiles was started the day I first rode in and drove Greg/Bob's 1966 FIAT 600D, which had been converted from the 767cc motor to a hotter 903cc motor... complete with Jolly Club decals and all. I absolutely fell in love, and from there it was the Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, FIAT 850 Spider, and the list goes on. Both Greg and Bob essentially mentored me over time. I've had the honor of learning a great deal from both of them. They've not only become the family that I never had, but also (like most, if not all, relationships with the Italian car world) fostered a great connection and passion to Italian automobiles... old and new.

Fast forward to the present. I handle many odds and ends, here, at HPSI. My work primarily consists of product development, R&D, testing, handling our manufacturing processes. But it also involves secondary things like; website management, sales, emails, sorting orders, etc. Most all of us here have many jobs and titles all rolled into one, I suppose. 

Photo courtesy of EUROCOMPULSION©

CC5C: Fantastic! I always get a kick out of reading or hearing the early FIAT life experiences of other enthusiasts. By "get a kick" I mean grow terribly jealous. <Laughs>

So, do you feel a certain degree of responsibility to serve FIAT & ABARTH success in North America? If so, how do you cope with that pressure?

HPSI | G: Actually, I do feel a certain amount of responsibility here. Along with other FIAT enthusiasts, I have been carrying the torch - so to speak - ever since FIAT left in the '80s and Alfa in the '90s. I have been telling people, for years, how much fun these cars are and trying to explain the engineering that's in them. If they fail now, it would not only be damaging to my business, but it would be a huge let down for me -- personally. I have waited so long for these cars to come back. As for coping with pressure... I just try to make the best products I can, tell the truth about them and let the market decide. Sometimes it decides in favor of my products, but not always. When I have a failure I try and figure out why, then, either change the product or design something else.

HPSI | T: For us, it's more than just commercial motivation or sales. The pending success of the Italian market here, in the States, is a yearning that runs through our blood… it's what we live for and strive to achieve on a daily basis.

I'm grateful for all of the experiences I've had with the current FIAT community, and sometimes feel privileged to be thought of as a "man behind the curtain" -- so to speak. At the end of the day, I'm am just another enthusiast who absolutely loves these cars!

CC5C: Right. It seems you all have the history, passion, winning attitude and drive to help the brand as well as the greater FIAT enthusiast community enjoy the prouduct coming to market. That's important. If your heart's not it, there is no point. Right?

What specific activities (Road, Track and Off Road) has your company been involved in?

EC: I have focused on sponsoring grassroots events, such as; FIAT FreakOut! and FIAT on the DRAGON. I haven't had much time to dive back into Motorsport, but have plans for some Hill Climb events in the near future. I would, eventually, love to get into Rally Racing. Hill Climbs are a quintessential European Motorsport activity and I believe that Rally Racing blends the most intense scenarios together with a multitude of elevation changes, rapidly changing surface conditions as well as organic-based corners. It’s a very RAW form of Motorsport and I think that's what I enjoy most about it.

HPSI | G: A long time ago, I worked for Al Cosentino of FAZA fame. FAZA (FIAT ABARTH Zagato Allemano) was a very successful FIAT racing organization in the '60s. I was a kid working for them, in the early '80s. So, I can't claim any part of their earlier racing success. I did learn a lot there, though. Al, himself, learned form [Karl] Carlo Abarth… so, I also have that connection. 

[CC5C Note: If you are so inclined to search anything related to ABARTH racing, you are sure to immediately come across the name of don Al Cosentino and the FAZA FIAT ABARTH Racing Team. I encourage you to do just this, as it will give you a better grasp on why Greg, and H.P.S.I., is so passionate about the work he does with FIAT, ABARTH, Alfa Romeo and Lancia as well as non-Italian performance cars. The track record for FAZA is extraordinary. - @]

133/158 Wins | FAZA for Anything ABARTH

HPSI | G: We built the supercharger kit for Bill Sims' Alfa Romeo Milano race car. This autocross car dominated and won the very competitive SCCA street modified class in his region for several years before the car was totaled, due to a transaxle failure in 2010. Too much power Bill!

More recently, we contributed to Hans Bjurman's awesome supercharged Alfa [Romeo]. We provided some tech help as well as various parts for supercharging, but Hans made the kit himself. The car has won numerous races, an entire series and holds several lap records. He has since sold the car and it's, now, racing in Norway. It set a lap record for Alfa Romeos on its first day out at a new track and with a new driver!

Nobody at H.P.S.I. is a race driver. We do go to track days and 'drivers schools'.

HPSI | T: This is where Jolly Club comes into play.

CC5C: Wow! It seems we could write an entire entry based solely on your individual life experiences. Maybe we'll do just that some day. But Toby just provided the perfect segue to the title of this entry.

What is Jolly Club?

EC: Jolly Club, in the context of our two companies, is essentially the a cementing of the  relationship between H.P.S.I. and EUROCOMPULSION - based on Jolly Club History in Italy. I'll let Greg and Toby take it from here.

HPSI | G: Jolly club was originally an informal racing team. I mean really informal. Back in the glory days of FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo racing pretty much every Italian rally car... and quite a few tarmac cars... sported Jolly Club stickers. At one time, enthusiasts would put Jolly Club stickers on their street cars. I was one of those enthusiasts.

Today, H.P.S.I. owns the Jolly Club© trademark in the US. On our website you can find an old picture of my FIAT 600 with my daughter in it. She was a little girl, at the time, and now has two kids of her own. If you look closely at that picture, you can see it's flying the Jolly Roger. That car has been on the track, and was a fun car - back when I owned it.

HPSI | T: The idea of Jolly Club, in the present, is much like it was when it was first created. It is that - almost - invisible, binding/adhesive idea that strings together/connects everything about this platform and the enthusiasts that inhabit these cars to one goal and one passion. This is what gets us through the tough days and the struggles we face in dealing with business. For me, Jolly Club is that common thread that unites us all under the same goal, regardless of how it may benefit us individually.

Totip Sponsored Jolly Club© car

CC5C: That is very cool.

But how did you come to the decision to start Jolly Club?

HPSI | T: When we first began discussing the idea of bringing back Jolly Club it became clear to me that the same spirit in which it was created already existed. Here... between people like you, Greg, Chris, myself (and many others). What that spirit lacked was a symbol or banner that others could relate to and unite beneath.

CC5C: Man, Toby, thanks for the kind words. I'm honored to be seen in that light. And you put me in good company. I'm sold. Tell us more. Chris?

EC: We didn’t start it, per se. It is kind of an adaptation we thought fit. H.P.S.I. brought it back to life, in NA of all places, and it fits our companies in both goal and spirit. It just kind of happened and made sense for us merge together as we share similar aspirations... along with an overwhelming dedication & passion for these new generation Italian cars.

HPSI | G: [Right] I wouldn't say we started it. We didn't. However, nobody ever used the name in the US. H.P.S.I. owns the trademark, so I though it would be cool to use the name and symbol as a stamp of approval. It essentially means 'this is a Rally Racing quality part and we think it is the best on the market'. Just to be clear, to get Jolly Club approval a part does not need to be an HPSI product... quite a few are not. Anyone who has a Jolly Club rated part is free to run our trademark sticker. At least that's the way I see it. 

CC5C: So, H.P.S.I. and EUROCOMPULSION are the first to do this, for these Italian runabouts, in the US and on this scale. 'Got it. Name aside, is there any other connection to the original Jolly Club?

HPSI | T: To me, Jolly Club serves as the connection for all Italian automotive enthusiasts to one another, and binds us to the spirit of driving the best and the fastest that we can.

HPSI | G: We were the first to use the Jolly Club name in the US Italian car scene. We don't claim any direct connection to the original Jolly Club. I am not sure anyone really can, as it was such an informal arrangement. I have run the logo on my car for decades and own the trademark. That's about it, but that's more than anyone else in the US. It's possible Cosentino (who I worked for) was involved. After all, he did race in that era. Then again, I have no memory of him saying anything good about any clubs. I really can't see him being a member of a club. He just wasn't that type of guy.

Jolly Club© Brothers in Gas, Tires & Oil

CC5C: Can you expound on the Jolly Club part rating process a bit? What exactly does that mean?

HPSI | G: Sure, although it's really quite simple. The critera for performance parts are as follows:

1) The product must provide a meaningful increase in performance... not only above stock levels, but above other aftermarket parts. 

2) If the product can't be safely used in all weather, or a very dusty envoirnment like Rally Racing, it's disqualified. 

There is no pricing criteria. A good example of a Jolly Club rated product is the KW V3 coil over system. It's simply the best and, if you want to seriously race your car, it's probably what you want. But it's expensive. Chris [at EuroCompulsion] offers Jolly Club rated Cobalt Friction XR4 Carbon Cermaic Race Pads which, again, are expensive. But [it's] truly race quality. 

Another H.P.S.I.-related Jolly Club product is our V4 intake that provides a large gain in performance without exposing the engine to an increase risk of foreign object ingestion. That is, obviously, really important for rally type events. Our Stage 2 [tune] has the rating, but it's possible it will be superseded by the time anyone reads this. We have a new Jolly Club rated tune in the works.

Certain products are not directly related to performance. In those cases, the rating is more subjective. A good example is our skid plate. It doesn't make the car even slightly faster on the track. However, it does offer a lot of protection and makes servicing the car easier... faster. We would use it on a rally car. It gets the rating. Another example, that would be subjective, would be a shift knob. It sounds silly, but that's a part you interact with a lot during performance driving. A comfy knob that doesn't loosen up over time can be helpful. As of this moment there is no Jolly Club rated shift knob, but that's an example.

The rating process is simple. There are four of us that decide, and we each have veto power. I would like it to be about 10, but right now it's 4. If, for example, I say I think product-X should get this rating and someone else disagrees it doesn't get it. So it's somewhat subjective. But, yes, we do take it seriously.

HPSI | T: Applying this standard to our parts and designs is a way to hold the bar of expectation high for our customers and ourselves. We simply want to make the best... something worthy of Jolly Club, and we do not rest until that is achieved. My own personal goal is for the Italian car communities to thrive as a result of the innovation and spirit inspired by Jolly Club. That is what the Jolly Clubbers of old wanted, and that is what I want for the Jolly Clubbers of today.

CC5C: There was no mention of non-Turbo FIATs. Do you support those models as well?

HPSI | G: At H.P.S.I., specifcially, we simply haven't done much with the non-turbo cars. We have developed stuff for the ABARTH, 500T and 500L and we [are willing to] develop parts for normally aspirated FIATs. But we haven't done it yet. We plan to have products for the entire FIAT range, including the 500X and most Alfa Romeos. 

EuroCompulsion does carry products for the standard 500.

Photo courtesy of EUROCOMPULSION©

CC5C: I'm very excited about this. We've featured a few Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Lancia Motorsport heritage pieces before. One thing I've always maintained is I believe this could be a key piece to growing brand fervor and loyalty in North America. What do you think of that point-of-view? Would you agree a more focused involvement with Motorsport could or would be key to FIAT success here?

EC: I think so. A return to Motorsport, especially a dive into Hill Climb events or some national rally events, would elevate the brand quite a bit. I really think they should also focus on WRC. If they do not place a podium finish in the end it is still great coverage... elevating the cars, themselves, to competition - tried and tested. It worked fantastically for Subaru and I think FIAT and Alfa [Romeo] would benefit immensely. It attains worldwide coverage as opposed to being limited to the European or South American coverage we typically see.

HPSI | G: I absolutely agree that FIAT needs to be more involved in Motorsport and acknowledge their [racing] heritage. As I have pointed out before, FIAT/Lancia has won the WRC constructors championship 13 TIMES. They never mention this. Audi, on the other hand, won twice and they are still bringing it up in advertizing. 

FIAT could back up racers inexpensively. I don't think they need a full blown racing program. They could also link to their heritage more effectively in their showrooms [a/k/a Studios] and advertizing. I do think linking to Rally Racing and Jolly Club would be a great way to do that. We would like to market the Jolly Club brand in that direction.

If Mr. Kuniskis (or Mr. Stoicevich) calls me, I will certainly be happy to speak with him.

CC5C: Great stuff. I completely agree and would like to be in the room when you speak to the decision makers at FIAT.

Photo courtesy of EUROCOMPULSION©

CC5C: Okay, we have time for one more question, before we wrap this up, fellas.

What do you want most for your respective individual company, Jolly Club and/or the FIAT Famiglia brand?

HPSI | G: [For] FIAT, I would love to see modern interpretations of the 124 Spider and Coupe. I would like to see them involved in racing, on some level.  

I want H.P.S.I. to be thought of as the leader in underhood performance parts, for these cars. We are trying to make this happen, by constantly expanding and improving our product line. I would argue that we already have the best tuning solutions and intakes. But I want to improve our existing products and add more. 

I would like to see Jolly Club USA grow to what it was in Europe in the 1970s and beyond. I would like to see the Jolly Club logo on cars with the approved parts. 'See them on the racetracks and see them winning. More importantly, I would like to see the Jolly Club members helping one another... working together to get FIATs onto the podiums.

HPSI | T: I'd very much like to see FIAT not only expand in the states, by strengthening it's branding for a wider demographic. Like Greg said, get involved with racing at some level. 'Provide a helpful platform for those who want to use their vehicles to do it on an individual level.

I'd love to see EC and H.P.S.I. thriving in satisfying the performance and racing needs of those wanting to compete, as well as continuing to innovate for future models and improve our existing stuff. I want our companies to be synonymous with FIAT, Alfa or anything related. Now that I think about it, that's probably asking a lot. <Laughs>

CC5C: Not at all, Toby. I believe the ultimate goal of any & every aficionado is to, somehow, become one with the source of his/her passion. Go for broke, brother! I'm sorry… I lost myself for a second. Continue.

HPSI | T: As far as Jolly Club goes, I couldn't agree more with Greg. I want Jolly Club back on the podium, on street cars, and everywhere in between. It would be fantastic to see it grow back to what it was in the past. I truly hope that it will.

I want more than only our customers to be apart of this. [I want] all enthusiasts... old and new. And I want more than anything for our logos, stickers, T-shirts (and, of course, parts) to embody that raw, sometimes maddening passion we all feel for these cars... making all enthusiasts proud to represent it anywhere, anytime.

CC5C: Anything else, before we wrap this us, guys? Chris?

EC: On Behalf of myself and H.P.S.I., I want to thank the FIAT community for allowing us this opportunity. We have seen an overwhelming vote of confidence [in what we do] and it makes me so proud to see our parts on cars. 

This started out as a personal passion and is blossoming into something I never thought would [or could] happen. So, a very humble 'Thank You' is due to the folks out there for their support… without it this wouldn't exist! It's as much about the people behind the wheel of the car as it is the car itself.

We will continue to forge new paths for the cars and community. It's been a great ride… and it has only just begun!

CC5C: Now, that's what I call sending it off on a high note. Perfect, Chris! Thanks, again, for taking the time out to share your passionate projects with the community. We look forward to future news, regarding EUROCOMPULSION, H.P.S.I. and Jolly Club. Feel free to send any updates our way and we'll be happy to help get the word out. We wish you the very best in your present & future endeavors.

Until we meet on the street, at the track and/or off road...

Jolly Club© Jolly Roger Logo

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

Amici di Famiglia

Benvenuti amici!

A few entries past, I wrote about the ABARTH-Giannini rivalry (and my desire to see the modern 500T marketed as a Giannini 500TV). Those carrozzerias, or coach builders, enjoyed long and mutually beneficial relationships with FIAT S.p.A., while the runabout market took root & grew worldwide. In fact, one did so well the Agnellis bought the company and the 'Scorpio Rising' badge is inseparable from that of its parent company. 

FIAT | ABARTH: A Perfect Match

But there were other carrozzerias building MODern Art on Wheels for the Italo-global automotive legend. There was a time the notoriety of these brilliant houses of design genius rivaled the fame of the source of their commissions. That time seems to have all but passed. Matt DeLorenzo, former Road & Track Editor-in-Chief, speculated the end of the Carrozzeria Age in a 2012 piece published by AutoBlog. To his credit, several Italian design houses & coach builders no longer exist. But I would like to believe there is still a place for these kinds of exciting & innovative industrial art groups. 

Carrozzeria Piancenti | Italia

Gruppo Bertone, Carrozzeria Pietro Frua, Carrozzeria Ghia Torino, Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, Carrozzeria Pininfarina S.p.A. and Carrozzeria Zagato Srl Milano have designed and/or built many of the most breathtaking coaches of and for any brand from the moment they hit the auto show circuit, the street, the track or… in some cases… the beach. This entry will focus on those houses and some of the special models they brought to market. Read on.

Carrozzeria/Gruppo Bertone | Torino

Gruppo Bertone, most beloved by many FIATisti for their design and later work manufacturing the 1972 X1/9, was founded in 1912. But the first Bertone-designed FIAT was the 1921 501 Sport Siluro Corsa. This would be their first high performance sports car… the herald of what would scribe the family name on the hearts of Italian automobile aficionados. Some of the next major steps for the group were the FIAT 527S Ardita 2500, the FIAT 1500 Aerodinamica and the FIAT 1500 Torpedo. 

Following the WWII, the Bertones would continue their focus on performance cars. Sporty continues to be the calling card of Bertone design style. It is the single most distinguishing factor between the offerings of the design house and that of its carrozzeria comrades & competitors.

FIAT 500 | Barchetta

FIAT | ABARTH 1500 Biposto

FIAT 850 Spider

FIAT | ABARTH 1000 OT Spider

FIAT | Dino Coupé

FIAT X1/9

In 1965, the House of Bertone introduced the Seicento-based FIAT 850 Spider and the company found themselves reaching new levels of popularity as well as entering a new era in design & manufacturing. Gruppo Bertone continues today as a design house marque.

Carrozzeria Pietro Frua | Torino

Carrozzeria Ghia | Torino

These carozzerias are very easily mistaken for one another. This is mostly due to don Pietro Frua selling his thirteen years young carrozzeria to Ghia, in 1957, and being appointed their Design Chief. The earliest known example of Frua design is the 1946 FIAT 1100C Spider. Carrozzeria Ghia, with don Frua at the design helm, also produced several memorable concepts for FIAT… their hometown hero. The designs from Frua | Ghia are whimsical.

FIAT 500 Frua

FIAT 1500 GT Ghia

FIAT 500 + 600 Jolly Ghia

In 1973, Ghia was sadly reduced to a top trim level at Ford Motor Company. But the absurdly exclusive spirit of true Ghias lives on through surviving carrozzerias… such as Castagna Milano.

Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi

Gone long before its time, Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi was active from 1950 through their closing in 1973. Don Lombardi focused exclusively on luxury versions of already well-established production models. On his 'greatest hits' list are; the FIAT 1100, the FIAT 1400, the FIAT 1800 and the FIAT 2300 limousine… the world's first 'Popemobile'. Lombardi also focused on 4-dr versions of established FIATs. They (the 600, 850 and 127) carried the Lucciola monicker. But the most successful Lombardi design was the FIAT 500 'My Car'.

Carrozzeria Pininfarina S.p.A.

Perhaps the best known Italian design house, Pininfarina is named after its founder… Battista 'Pinin' Farina. Since 1930, the industrial art maestro has been consulting, designing and building for some of the top brands in Italy, France, the USA, China and Korea. The Farina family business sets the gold standard for industries beyond automotive and has influenced industrial design for decades. Don Battista broke away from his father's business, Stabilimenti Farina, and began the founding process of his own in 1928. The first known builder to use the unibody technique, don Farina hit the ground with all four wheels leaving dust in their wake. 

At the end of Italy's involvement in the WII, Pininfarina would introduce what would be credited with formally establishing the brand… the Cisitalia 202 Coupé… and the world of automobile design would never be the same. Even today, their performance models are always tempered with the Farina touch of undeniable elegance.

FIAT 1100TV GT

FIAT 1300/1500 

FIAT 2300 S Coupé

FIAT 124 Spider

FIAT | Dino Spider

FIAT | Dino Ginevra

The House of Farina has consistently created brand defining and industry inspiring designs. Their signature style can be easily identified in many disciplines. Visit the Pininfarina S.p.A. site & Facebook page to learn more.

Carrozzeria Zagato Srl | Milano

Two is company and three… according to Bertone & Pininfarina... is better company. In the opinion of this fan, no self-respecting FIATista would leave Zagato off their list of Top 5 design carrozzerias. Setting up his own automobile & aeronautical repair shop, don Ugo Zagato aimed to learn from both industries and combine them to create what he thought a motorized coach should be… light & fast. It comes as no surprise, then, that Zagato often teamed with don Karl 'Carlo' Abarth to create some of the fastest (and wildest looking) FIATs of their time.

FIAT 500B | Panoramica

FIAT | ABARTH 500 Coupé

FIAT | ABARTH 750 GT

FIAT | ABARTH 850 Record Monza

FIAT 500 Z-ECO 

FIAT 500 Coupé Zagato

In the present day, and likely into the future, Zagato Milano continues to offer designs that evoke the feeling of speed… even when parked curbside. I, for one, would not have it any other way.

The market has most certainly changed. As the, now, very much global business forces automakers to find more efficient & affordable ways to bring their investments in industrial design to showrooms. Ofttimes, localization is the most effective approach to achieving this. Carrozzerias have been purchased or left to close their doors in the process. But the burning heart of the Italian coach builder has not stopped beating. 

Romeo Ferraris Srl Milano is one of the most exciting things happening on the car culture scene. Their brilliantly outrageous takes on FIATs and ABARTHs rival those of their Bertone & Zagato ancestors. We can see the influence they are having on hot hatch style and performance. 

Exhibit A: The first modern 500 to take place in the Gumball 3000 Rally was a Ferraris work of industrial art. The ABARTH division of FIAT S.p.A. answered with the ABARTH 695 Biposto Official Car of Gumball 3000 2014. Need further proof of Romeo Ferraris level of awesome? Check out their website and Facebook page to learn more.

FIAT | ABARTH Cinquone

We can help these brave bastions of passion live on by continuing to support them in communicating our interest in the availability of their offerings. Their price tags may not fit into the budget of every fan, but their spirit keeps mainstream designers and 'garagisti' on their toes. And that's good for every petrol head on the planet.

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@