What gives a Fiat/Lancia the smell

ctbob · Post by **ctbob** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:01 pm

Hi All, I got to ask this. I have owned many cars all makes. But what is it that gives a Fiat/Lancia that smell? I don't know if the new 500 has it I have not been near one, but every Fait/Lancia I ever had had that smell.

Kent124 · Post by **Kent124** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:04 pm

That would be the smell of hot metal and oil.

grittracing · Post by **grittracing** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:12 pm

pepperoni ?

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:20 pm

yes, that would be the unique combination of oil dripping on the exhaust manifold, motor oil coating the underside of the car, and exhaust wafting in from the back.

WarbirdAL · Post by **WarbirdAL** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:27 pm

Ahh yes, but what a smell! (said in my best Italian accent)

JammerX19 · Post by **JammerX19** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:41 pm

"Well-weathered leather, hot metal and oil...
the scented country air. Sunlight on chrome,
the blur of the landscape, every nerve aware."
-- Red Barchetta, Rush

dinosabella · Post by **dinosabella** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:05 am

Good observation, I remember the I got my Spider back in 1999, the 1st thing that I noticed is that it reminded me of the smell of my grandfathers old Fiat 127. I was tought how to drive manual in a well weathered 127 in the fields of Molise Italy. Relatives 1st gen Panda's and my uncles Fulvia also had the same smell.

Must be the way the carpets and seat foam absorb the gas and oil fumes mixed with the hot sun.

leftfield6 · Post by **leftfield6** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:42 am

JammerX19 wrote:"Well-weathered leather, hot metal and oil...
the scented country air. Sunlight on chrome,
the blur of the landscape, every nerve aware."
-- Red Barchetta, Rush

Perfecto!!!

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:46 am

it may help, it may not

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYKN3byp ... PA&lf=plcp

burlybryan · Post by **burlybryan** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:25 pm

My "Fiat Smell" is definitely moldy saturated carpet from a leaky top. One of the many smells and leaks inherited from the PO.

From my previous life in classic Saab 900's the signature smell there was degrading foam in the headliner.

ctbob · Post by **ctbob** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:30 pm

No this is a FIAT/Lancia smell. have yet to find another car make that smells the same. I have owned many Fiats and a few lancia's and they all had that same smell. Kind of funny my sons teacher came over last summer and my son wanted to show him the Fiat. As we looked at the car the teacher leaned over and took a deep breath, and said wow this is wild. Then went on to tells how when he was a kid his best friends dad had a fiat and would take them for rides. And he said the car had this great smell, just like my car. Bob

bigrontucson · Post by **bigrontucson** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:23 am

Ah the smell! I went 10 years between Spiders and it was instantly familiar

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:31 am

After careful research and asking a lot of Fiat/Lancia owners I believe what you are smelling is the blood,sweat & tears of the manufactures, owners & mechanics of the car throughout the years

124ADDHE · Post by **124ADDHE** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:56 am

I always thought it to be the wine and 70's tobacco that was spilled/dropped into our cars during the assembly?

DUCeditor · Post by **DUCeditor** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:07 am

It is unique, not just a matter of damp carpet or oil.

Back in the 50s, 60s and into the 70s many older cars had damp issues -- certainly GM cars did with their leaky windshield gaskets. And British sportscars with their drippy tops and side curtains did as well. Oil drips and spreading over the underside was as common as dirt back then -- ask any motorcyclist about the need to avoid the center of the lane at a stoplight!. But none of them smelled like a Fiat.

I just took mine out of storage a few weeks ago and once the top went down I moved it into the two-car garage in place of my Nissan daily driver. Now I look forward to going into the garage just for the smell. Not mold. Not burnt oil. Fiat. Pure Fiat!

Last year I was showing my car at a local cruise-in. It was the only Fiat there and was placed among the British cars. One person went over, leaned over the cabin, and took a deep, deep breath. Then he smiled and said to me. "I just love that smell! I used to own one of these myself. Smelling it brings back those days."

And indeed it does. Eau de Cologne.

Someone should bottle it.

-don

What gives a Fiat/Lancia the smell

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