Euro Trip!

[pintopower]

Hey guys! I am in Europe now visiting family here in Italy, BUT more importantly I have been looking at and driving what ever I can! I was in Frankfurt, Germany last week with a friend, Andreas. He is the owner of http://www.ritmo-world.com. He invited me to attend the yearly Ritmo meet in Bad Koenig this year (I own a Fiat Strada, which is the US version of the Ritmo). I drove his Ritmo S75 to the meet, while following him. We were on some amazing roads and stayed in a town that tourists never see! Many of the Ritmo guys spoke english and they were all great to meet! I also went to the Fiat Mirafiori Plant today! I got to see where Fiats come from! I also drove the New 500 and let me tell you, its a hell of a car! I saw the new Lancia Delta and the new Abarth Punto. I have been uploading pix daily so keep checking back. I have about 470 so far, from cars to Venice! Enjoy!
Alberto

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26161002@N ... 920690472/

[pope]

I was there a few years ago and its like revisiting it all over again. I know your having a great time. MOOOOOOOORE pics!
There is always a valley between two mountains!

[rlux4]

Thanks for the pictures. Looks like you're having an amazing time.
What's the deal over there, you can just walk into a dealership and buy a 500?
That's just not fair.
Ron

[pintopower]

Well, you can walk in and buy a new 500 BUT you will not get one for 7 months! Thats how long the waiting list is! The waiting list for the Abarth Version right now is 1 year and it's not even in production! The Abarth Punto is the same way! Don't be to jealous though, it is now official that Fiat will be in the USA in 2010. This just hit the news stands here! They are buying a plant to build the 500 in the USA. They are just looking for a dealer network to pair up with. Alfa has already signed a contract with BMW. In 2010, Alfas will be sold through BMW dealers. As for Fiat, the 500, Punto and Bravo (the last will be known as the Strada in the USA allegedly) will be the first ones here, along with Iveco selling heavy trucks and vans ever since the success of the Mercedes Sprinter. Start saving guys! Fiat/Alfa in 2010! Maybe Lancia will follow....

[Tappy]

If you really want a new 500 you can buy them from here

http://nl.autoscout24.be/List.aspx?vis= ... c=B&desc=1

starting from 11.000€ (+-16000 us$)

congrats on your eurotrip looks exciting , once i'll go visit that fiat facory maybe a sugestion to the new wife to go there for our 1 jear marriage aneversery

Cant you ask your german pall there if he doenst have ritmo 130 tc engine 2 much ? these would fit in a fiat 124 spider , and will break out a 130 hp standard , would be nice to work from there and have a genuine abarth block in your car ....

[Nick]

Awesome. I'm going to the UK next Thursday for a school trip sort of. Then after that I'm going with my family to the Mediterranean. I'll be looking out for all sorts of cars and definitely be taking some pictures of them. Those ones are really cool, there were a few in there that I particularly liked.

[pintopower]

Tappy,
He has a 125 Abarth engine but no 130's. I already asked about buying one but shipping is a joke. I know some of the people he knows have 130/125/105 engines but again, there is the "How do I get it home Issue"

Nick,
Sadly, there is nothing old on the roads in the Northern part of italy at ALL! I am in Rome now and have seen a couple 500's, a Citroen DS21, a couple 2CV's, a few Renault R4's, an R5 and my Favorite was an FSO Polonez that I spotted passing by. I was thinking that the streets would be crammed with 131's, 128's, 127's and 126's but alas, the year is 2008, not 1980. The europeans are getting cars off the road at an alarming rate (faster than California). So, if you see them, snap up those pix because they will all be gone soon. On that note, on the train we passed by a car demolisher and on top of the pile was a Fiat Dino coupe....getting crushed....see how much old cars are loved here?

[Tappy]

Hey Pinto

i guess transport wont be that great issue , i'm from Belgium , thats next to germany , If you hear him about a 130 tc pls give me a buzz

Many thx

[Nick]

Tappy,
Nick,
Sadly, there is nothing old on the roads in the Northern part of italy at ALL! I am in Rome now and have seen a couple 500's, a Citroen DS21, a couple 2CV's, a few Renault R4's, an R5 and my Favorite was an FSO Polonez that I spotted passing by. I was thinking that the streets would be crammed with 131's, 128's, 127's and 126's but alas, the year is 2008, not 1980. The europeans are getting cars off the road at an alarming rate (faster than California). So, if you see them, snap up those pix because they will all be gone soon. On that note, on the train we passed by a car demolisher and on top of the pile was a Fiat Dino coupe....getting crushed....see how much old cars are loved here?

Hopefully I'll see some classics. I'm still interested in newer cars too, just not as much. I think I would've jumped off the train and chased down the demolisher to get that Dino haha.

[pintopower]

I am back home now. I tried to get parts for mt friends while I was in Europe but after visiting about 20 salvage yards, I learned that there were no old cars left there either. So sad. On a plus side, my US Spec. Strada is not a Euro spec. car! Thanks to all the guys from http://www.ritmo-world.com!

Before:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26161002@N ... 560973624/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26161002@N ... 560973624/

After:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26161002@N ... 560973624/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26161002@N ... 560973624/

Great to be home!