Being About The Legend

Benvenuti amici!

I am back with you following my semi-retirement from Car Culture Lifestyle blogging and my formal retirement from leading the local FIAT-ABARTH club I founded in 2013. The reason for my reprisal... unfortunately... is a very sad one.

Sergio Marchionne, the famed and (quite frankly) one of the greatest automaker CEOs of all-time fell ill last week. It was reported he underwent invasive surgery last month and his grave illness was connected to his body's reaction to it. I could go into further detail, but you have no doubt already read the multitude of reports that surfaced since last Thursday. He passed into the next today.

I am a creative realist. People like this man tend to become my life heroes.

The motivation behind what will be my final e-publication to this blog is simple... I want to honor the man responsible for saving the ABARTH, Chrysler, Dodge and FIAT brands. I want to honor the man who made Jeep & RAM brands more relevant than ever before. I want to honor the man responsible for relaunching Alfa Romeo in true Alfa style... "Italians know how to build great cars." I want to honor the man responsible for reviving Maserati from the doldrums to which the brand was stuck for some time. I want to honor the man who lit fire under the arse of Scuderia Ferrari... "A Ferrari that does not win is not a Ferrari." I want to honor the man who, only last month, announced FCA would report out completely debt-free profit by the end of this month... July 2018. I want to honor the man responsible for the livelihoods of over two hundred thousand people around the world. What have we done in the past 14 years? And I'm certain I'm only scratching the surface of his brilliant legacy.

Don Sergio Marchionne was much more than a "fix-it" man. He was fearless. He was creative. He was visionary. He was an apparent man of his word... He made public oaths to reopen plants around Italy as well as the rest of the countries in which FCA is active and he methodically worked hard toward making good on said oaths. He was a loving father.

Many news outlets falsely and ignorantly claimed FCA "replaced" Sr. Sergio with a new CEO. No one can take the place of Our Honorable Departed. I cannot say how FCA and Ferrari will look and/or operate without Don Marchionne in their respective orbits. But I can say... beyond a shadow of a doubt... the automobile industry will never look quite the same. So, please, rev your engines with purpose today. We all, FIATisti-ABARTHisti and all petrolheads alike, owe this great HUMAN BEING at least that much. 'A small way this great leader of the modern automobile industry + classic working class hero will LIVE FOREVER...

Vivere. Amare. Guidare.

FIAT, USA + Respect

Benvenuti amici!

One of the biggest issues facing FIAT USA these days is the number of stand alone studios that can afford to hold on to the brand, and the post-purchase experience a/k/a "Where to service FIATs purchased". I posted this message in a forum thread and I thought it would be a good idea to restructure & re-post it here.

The theme of this entry is an "elephant in the room" conversation for most enthusiasts. We want to see FIAT S.p.A. succeed in North America (NA), but we also want FIATs to be seen as 100% Italian automobiles. The same enthusiasts are bothered when someone foolishly assumes Chrysler bought the Italian automaker and not the other way around. Let's make this clear... once and for all... FIAT S.p.A. (under the guise of Exor S.p.A.) saved and wholly owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram (CDJR). It is that simple. Period.

It seems there is, or at least remains, a gap in market education about FIAT S.p.A. People still don't realize the company was founded years before the Ford Company. People still don't know the first purpose-built race car was a FIAT. People still don't recognize the cultural & automotive historical significance of the FIAT 500. With all the television money FCA pours into Dodge Brothers heritage, it is clear the organization understands history matters. But the only FIAT & ABARTH education I've seen is in the form of webisodes. FCA absolutely must create a more effective environment for North American market education of the parent marque as well the [ABARTH] performance marque. I've heard and/or read this point shrugged off many times. STOP SHRUGGING... for the sake of your most loyal supporters and refocus your energy. It can be done in an entertaining way... if funny "lifestyle" spots are the main marketing focus. But educating the public must be taken to task in order to truly honor the memory of don Giovanni Agnelli.

Bringing the USAmerican public up to speed isn't the only challenge FCA faces. Once people are sold on the marque and commit to purchasing, they need a place to to pick up their sexiest of runabouts. When FIAT first reentered our market they mandated stand alone studios be built with the "dangling carrot" of Alfa Romeo licenses as an exclusive reward for the best performing outlets. While that was a fresh approach... and one that a dyed in wool FIATisti and/or ABARTHisti cheered... it didn't leave any room for market killers (like a dearth of a varied product range to sell). Studios suffered and began closing all around the country -- placing 100% of the blame on FIAT.

What should a committed & savvy car dealer have done?

Think outside the box, stand together and make their collective voice heard is a better option than jumping from their sinking ship like rats. The stand alone setup has been evolving into a small studio on the same grounds as CDJR showrooms for some time. Wisconsin has three of them. They are the strongest movers of FIAT units in our state. That... along with helping isolated stand alone studios remain viable... is what Tim Kuniskis' new "fix it" plan most focuses upon. But it's more incentive based for existing business partners. It's a fiscal, albeit effective, triage of sorts. But existing CDJR dealers are already dialed into the system and an incentive deal isn't going to force them do anything positive for their benefactor. FCA must mandate FIAT support from those outfits. Sergio Marchionne has zero issue doing this within the organization the Agnellis trust him to run. There should be zero issue expanding that business culture to include the dealer network. The CDJR techs are aware/agree this should happen... I've heard it firsthand from a MoPar tech when I stopped at a CDJR dealer for a recent emissions test.

This FIATista-ABARTHista recommends FIAT USA create a miniature [FIAT & ABARTH] version of their stand alone studio setup for preexisting larger CDJR showrooms. It would be a large ornate kiosk on the CDJR showroom floor loaded with all the webisodes and clips created by FIAT S.p.A. and FCA. Visiting consumers would, of course, ask whether the studio now sells FIAT & ABARTH. That would be the time dealers join in on the reeducation process... and get serious about unifying the brand families. There are already Penstar logos all over the nooks'n'crannies of NA FIATs and ABARTHs. The Jeep Renegade is built in Italy. Larger CDJR dealers are making enough money to easily afford a stylish new FIAT kiosk setup and they need to give back to the marque that saved their asse(t)s. I also recommend smaller kiosks for the smaller CDJR dealers. Again... this is a must-do situation (for FIAT USA and these CDJR dealers). Make the critical to survival relationship clear to all. Chryslers, Dodges & Jeeps are powered by Maserati-Alfa Romeo-ABARTH technology. A healthy FIAT market benefits the iconic USAmerican counterparts.

So, education and post-purchase a/k/a service experience is covered. Is there anything I've forgotten to cram into this entry? Ah, yes. That's right. A local sales & service outlet in the Milwaukee Metro Area. We lost local FIAT dealer for the second time. Bergstrom moved their operation to Kaukauna/Fox Valley. Then, International Auto Group dropped FIAT from their portfolio without notice. They'll continue to sell FIATs, while they wait for another dealer to purchase their license, but they cease to service FIATs (despite having a certified tech on staff). We, Cream City enthusiasts, need your help.

Reina Int'l Auto, Vespa & Moto Guzzi has been pursuing a relationship with the new FCA for some time. They were a top supporter of the brand in the '70s and '80s and continue to service vintage FIATs as well as ABARTH, Autobianchi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Maserati brands. They would be a perfect match and CC5C is confident they are committed to a lifetime with the marque. But FIAT USA needs to hear/read that from us. They need us to tell them we want them to make this happen. Visit & Like the Reina brothers' Facebook page. When you get that out of the way, write or call FIAT USA Corporate and share your thoughts.

Here is the contact info you need:

Fiat USA
1000 Chrysler Dr
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Contact Fiat

Phone Number: (248) 576-5741
Fax Number: (248) 512-1762

Email Fiat USA

http://www.fiatusa.com/webselfservice/fiat/EmailPage.html

Two recurring themes in my blog publications and CC5Club Facebook page posts are UNITY and ACTION. Today, on behalf of our local members, and the greater FIAT community, we ask you to UNITE and ACT with us. Thank you!

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

Cars + Coffee 500 Club

Benvenuti amici!

We've published a few memorable stories in the three years of CC5C blog activity. We thought it would be a good idea to list our top picks. Pour yourself a strong cup of coffee, and reintroduce yourself to our blog with the change of our blogger address (http://cc5club.blogspot.com). Without further ado, here is a list of Mighty Mouse Militia Approved entries... Read Sexy!

La Famiglia is the abbreviated and illustrated story of how the modern FIAT 500 came to be. It's important to know from where you come.

La Macchina Migliore provides the proof FIAT is not only far from a one-trick-pony, but the company is responsible for the better portion of cars that put the European continent in 4-wheel motion.

FIAT Nippon is the entry that ties FIAT S.p.A. to the birth of the Japanese automobile industry. You won't believe your eyes.

Going Global proves the modern iteration of FIAT S.p.A. is the realization of a lifelong dream of the company founder.

La Lettera G includes some very important FIAT-related birthdays.

La Storia del Scorpione e Topolino is only one in what will be countless entries lauding Dante Giacosa & Karl "Carlo" Abarth as two of the most prolific automotive geniuses of all time.

Scorpio Rising… as if we could resist a focus on the man himself.

La 500T e Giannini begs the question: Did you really think Giacosa & Abarth democratized automobile racing without challengers? And it ties the birth of Giannini Automobili to a modern FIAT offering.

Prestigio. Purezza. Passione. is a glimpse into the world of Autobianchi.

Amici di Famiglia… because friends of the family help get it done.

Heralds of Heritage is a call from the restless spectre of the true Scorpion King. Read this entry and exact his will.

Return of the Spiders is the prequel to "Heralds of Heritage".

X Marks the Spot… because FIATisti would never forgive the lack of at least one entry about this model.

850% FIAT… no further explanation is necessary.

Una Breve Storia del Motorsport is the not-oft-told story of the FIAT S.p.A. heritage of speed. Did you know the first ever purpose-built race car was created by FIAT? No? Well, you definitely do not want to miss this entry.

Jolly Club USA is the e-nterview style story of the reincarnation of the original Italian performance pirates. This time it's an invasion on USAmerican soil brought to you by HPSI & Eurocompulsion.

Cos'è un FIAT 500 Club? is a story you may find inspires you to start your own club… or at least look into joining an existing one.

Mighty Mouse Militia… CC5C offers thanks to a global readership while heralding ABARTH and GIANNINI. Respect.

FIAT al Lavoro: Nella Città… Not only playing but working in the City.

FIATs. Fotos. Slovenia. Me. is an open invitation for you to join the missus & I in her homeland and my second dream retiring place (just after Puerto Rico).

That is my list of 20 Cars + Coffee 500 Club must reads. Feel free to explore the blog for more. Share your thoughts and suggestions via the CC5Club FB page. Make every read… and drive… a sexy adventure.

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

CC5C-M3 PSAs

Benvenuti amici!

The CC5C FB page recently hit a magic number… 500. It's a special benchmark for obvious reasons; the FIAT Cinquecento and the name of our club. We think that event warrants a dedicated blog entry.

From the launch of the CC5C blog and Facebook page,  one of the greatest focuses has been offering a broad look at the FIAT life experience. In example, despite the name of the local club, various models and vintages are featured on a regular basis. Two regularly covered topics, throughout the webiverse, are history a/k/a heritage and personal and/or professional FIAT-related anecdotes. CC5C takes some creative liberty with them. Drawing from varied art forms, including music & philosophy, we produce flyer-like messages. From found images/quotes and images/messages from our personal image library and creative writing bank, we fiendishly piece together subversive messages we playfully refer to as CC5C-M3 Public Service Announcements (PSAs).

Many of our earliest PSAs were playful invites to our monthly gatherings, with three simple calls-to-action… "Wash 'Em. Wax 'Em. Wake 'Em Up." (check out the image below). These messages often feature a FIAT 500 Topolino hotrod. The tale behind using them remains untold, but the visceral power coupled with the elegant simplicity of the "Little Mouse" captured in the images is nothing short of brilliant. We continue to post the "Wash 'Em. Wax 'Em. Wake 'Em Up." messages from time-to-time… and they still feel F-U-N!

Sometimes, the CC5C-M3 PSAs are meant to do nothing more than celebrate special events, like the aforementioned 500 Likes achievement or the day Sombrita (the Tiny Shadow) became lien-free -- captured in the first two images of this blog entry. Other times, our PSAs have a more serious tone… an example would be the great number of solidarity posts that spawned our "Passion. Purpose. Peace." campaign -- illustrated in the image below. The mission objective of all CC5C-M3 activities is to inspire relentless positivity in our regular readers/partners as well as casual Facebook & blog "visitors"... all FIATisti.

As is evidenced in the frequent use of "Passion. Purpose. Peace." and "Wash 'Em. Wax 'Em. Wake 'Em Up.", CC5C regularly employs catchy 3-4 word slogans in the posts to our social driving page. You can plan to wear your favorite 3-word combinations when we launch our Mighty Mouse Militia (M3) line of t-shirts. We have no definite details to share, but that's not what this blog entry is about…

Global celebrations of FIATs. Freedom. Fun. via Personal. Peaceful. Posts. ~ the greater FIAT life experience community has a good thing going. So, in that very spirit, we share this gallery of PSAs with you.

We trust you enjoyed perusing these CC5C-M3 PSAs. Feel free to share them to Facebook pages and/or forums you regularly visit. You can also "pin" them by visiting us here. We ask [when] you [do] to share them intact and in the spirit described here. Be inspired...

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

FIAT at Work: In The City

Benvenuti amici!

For some time, I've been asked if and/or when I intended to write about the FIAT S.p.A./EXOR business with less sex appeal than some better known mechanical creations introduced by the Italian automaker. To most, FIAT is Spiders, Sports Coupés… cool & unique runabouts, family wagons and Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPV). To some, FIAT is even Compact Utility Vehicles (CUV). But FIAT is also nautical, aviation, trains, agricultural and construction machinery. The month of March marks the end of 'seasonal death' & the renewal of life. Working people, from the sparsest rural areas to the densest cities, kick their labor into high gear. In some parts of the world, their work is done with machinery… machinery that also comes from our brand of choice.

Disclaimers: 

1) I am neither an expert nor am I a follower of this area of the Agnelli business. But I believe it is important to make some attempt to include it on this blog… to add some small record of this important part of the FIAT life experience. You may be a little surprised to learn FIAT is at all involved in the work we do at the business end of our commute. 

2) I have chosen to exclude military use vehicles, despite recognizing there were… no doubt… many innovations sponsored by the Axis & Allied sides of the world wars. The work vehicles, listed here, are only meant to give a small glimpse into the historical depth of FIAT activity in these transport segments.

With those declaimers out of the way, allow me to explain what you can expect to find in this entry. Two phases of activity & vehicles are represented here, as the third phase of FIAT Industrial life, CNH Industrial, is relatively new. That chapter has yet to be written.

So, sit back and prepare to (hopefully) learn a bit more about the incredible motorized journey of this Italian dynasty. Read on...

FIAT Veicoli Industriali (FVI) - Established 1903, Defunct 1974

The beginning of Agnelli activity in industry came near as quickly as they put their countrymen on the road (and track). The truck models, of course, were based upon the technological advancements made with their standard people movers. Each new model was purpose-designed and engineered. The first work vehicle produced by FIAT was based on a coach specifically multi-use designed. That's right, folks, shared platforms are not a new concept and the Italians have been creating vehicles on this engineering philosophy from the start.

FIAT 24hp: 1903

From 1903 to 1925, FIAT offered no fewer than sixteen different civil models; trucks & buses. Italy's undeniable place in the new industrial age was forever written set in stone, scribed on paper and etched in metal. There was still much to do. From the time FVI was founded until it was merged with Officine Meccanniche, Lancia Veicoli Speciali, Magirus (German) and Unic (French) to form IVECO, in 1975, FIAT introduced nearly seventy different civil models; tractors, trucks, buses & trolleys. Below are some of the earliest examples of  three of said segments.

FIAT 505F: 1923

FIAT 635R: 1931

FIAT 2472 Viberti: 1958

IVECO (Industriali Veicoli Corporation) - Established 1975

In order to gain market strength, by combining efforts/specialties, three FIAT-owned Italian brands merged with industrial companies from two foreign countries; one from France and one from Germany. The new Torino-based company would share platforms and technological innovations to prop up their respective national motorized industries. Their geographic locations made/make business in Western & Eastern Europe an easy operation. 

Today, IVECO is a brand under which various light, medium and heavy vehicles are sold, since 2012 it has been solely controlled by CNH Industrial (another FIAT S.p.A./EXOR holding). Here are some examples of current FIAT and IVECO industrial models. While parent company names, the styling and sizes have changed quite a bit, the goal remains true to the dream of FIAT S.p.A. founder, don Giovanni Agnelli.

FIAT Doblò a/k/a RAM ProMaster

IVECO Daily Van

IVECO Indicar Mago 2 Midibus

IVECO TurboCity-U 480 Bus

IVECO EuroCargo 

IVECO Stralis

IVECO EuroStar

IVECO Trakker 4x4 Rally Truck

IVECO Magirus Super Dragon X8

IVECO Autokran

Just as we saw FIAT do in personal transport vehicles they did in agriculture, construction and mass transit. The company has always sought the most efficient way to mobilize everyday people. Be it Africa, America, Asia, Europe or Oceania, FIAT is there... helping us get to work and helping us work more effectively. Now, get out there and enjoy your commute. Maybe, you can grab yourself a cappuccino along the way.

IVECO Massif

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

CC5C: La Collezione

Benvenuti amici!

I recently received my Mighty Mouse Militia grille badges, from Go Badges, and decided on a special midweek entry. We, now, have a small collection going. So, it seemed like a good time for a short tale of their design focus & why they came to be. Grille badges are nowhere close to being new to car culture. In May of 2014, I wrote an entry on the history of this earliest of customizations. All my designs start on a page, with pencil and/or pen, and later digitized by my very talented… and trusted…  friend, Alberto Rios.

CC5C Origins Badge

Simple | Clean | Elegant: The CC5C 'Origins' badge was, of course, initially introduced right here.

Elements: 1) The Italian colors. 2) The modified Laureto/Laurel wreath has been a symbol of triumph since Greek & Roman times. It is often found in Italian grille badge designs. 3) The quadruple 'C'… the first and third are adjoined to create a '5'. 4) The repeated round shapes, in the design, are meant to echo the Cinquecento styling approach.

CC5C Revival Badge

The CC5C 'Revival' badge was named by Edwin Barron. It was introduced to celebrate one year of the club & blog. 

Elements: 1) Silver outline. 2) Ferrari giallo/yellow background. More Italian automotive heritage in the club logo? Why not?!

FIAT 500 Owners Badge

The FIAT 500 Owners badge was inspired by the name of a forum I've frequented for some time. The name is simple and regionally non-specific. It's a nod to all Cinquecentisti and available in three slight variations that come down to outline (nero/black, bianco/white and grigio/grey).

Elements: 1) The outer rings & center circle are in Italian colors. 2) The inner symbol is an amalgamation of an F, a 5 and an O. Making a singular symbol from the letters and number is another nod to grille badge design history. It's a secret society kind of thing... one only members would immediately recognize.

Mighty Mouse Militia GANNINI Badge

The Mighty Mouse Militia badges were first introduced here. For this design, I sought the critical minds & support of well respected FIATisti. There are, and will only ever be, two variations. The first is the GIANNINI.

Elements: 1) The bolt is meant to pay homage to the late, great Atillio & Domenico Giannini. The brothers were one half of one of the most memorable rivalries within the FIAT organization. 2) The azzurro/blue used is the same as the traditional Giannini badge. It is meant to represent non-ABARTH FIATs… but especially the 500 Sport, 500TV, 590GT and 500 Sport Turbo.

Mighty Mouse Militia ABARTH Badge

The second Mighty Mouse Militia badge is meant to pay homage to the other party involved in the rivalry mentioned above... ABARTH.

Elements: 1) The Scorpio Rising pays homage to the updated ABARTH & Co. logo. The claws were modified (slightly pivoted downward) to help create the illusion of the scorpion chasing/fighting the bolt. 2) The giallo/yellow used is the same as the modern ABARTH badge.

Mighty Mouse Militia RECORD Badge

The third, and final, Mighty Mouse Militia badge is meant to pay homage to the various tracked record breaking FIAT/FIAT-based models appearing in 'Record Grey' paint.

Elements: 1) The Scorpio Rising pays homage to the updated ABARTH & Co. logo. The claws were modified (slightly pivoted downward) to help create the illusion of the scorpion chasing/fighting the bolt. 2) The grigio/grey used is similar to the color used on vintage & modern FIATs and ABARTHs.

I believe vintage & contemporary FIATs are worth celebrating. Whichever badge or badges you choose to display on your FIAT, know they were designed with the past of Italian motoring in the rear view mirror while driving furiously into its future. Who would want it any other way?

FIAT Club Badges can be found here

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@