By Alan Franklin / 3 May 2013
6 Comments

There’s no greater bargain the world of classic European roadsters than the Fiat 124 Spider. From its soulful and revvy Lampredi-designed twincam four, beautiful and timeless Pininfarina-penned bodywork, to its capable and entertaining chassis, there’s nothing else that touches it for historical significance, looks, and handling anywhere near the same price point. Though never all that reliable, even when new, they’re bone-simple in design and easy to wrench on, even for relative novices.

By Petrolicious Productions / 30 April 2013
3 Comments

In conjunction with our latest video featuring a yellow Fiat 500, and to share some more information about the happy little car's history, we've created a graphic that is full of all kinds of interesting tidbits about the car. As for some interesting things about the car that aren't mentioned in the graphic, did you know that starting the car was done by means of a pull-cable connected to a handle between the seats?

By Petrolicious Productions / 30 April 2013
12 Comments

The Fiat 500 has a long history spanning generations and spanning oceans. One particular Fiat, a Fiat 500D, has made its way over the last 49 years into the care of Annetta Calisi. After being attained in pieces, it was meticulously restored daily over a period of four months. Annetta and her Fiat, Luigi, could not be a better pair, and the lines between the past and the present fade as they both dress the part for every tiny journey they share.

By Petrolicious Productions / 24 April 2013
5 Comments

The Bill behind Mr. Bill’s Auto & Cycle in Prescott, Arizona, is something of an expert on rear-engined Fiats. Having owned many 500s, 600s, Autoianchis and Multiplas over the years, he’s been offering repair and restoration services for these wonderful old Italian oddities for many years now. As a side project, he’s recently finished a rotary-powered 600 he bought as a rough project. Click through to read our interview with Bill.

By Petrolicious Productions / 3 April 2013
29 Comments

From the early 1960s, the growing dominance of mid-engined designs, in almost every category of international racing, saw public demand for similar road machines rising. By 1970 the demand had reached a boiling point. Porsche’s 914 was the first affordable, mass-market, mid-engined sports car. Fiat followed two years later with the X1/9. Both cars relied on pre-existing mechanicals in order to keep costs low, but still managed to deliver the goods.

By Afshin Behnia / 1 April 2013
64 Comments

My friends don’t get it—they think I’m kidding, and when they realize I’m serious, they laugh. What do they know? I want a first-generation Fiat Panda. Yes, the boxy little thing from the ‘80s. I hear the 4X4 version is quite indestructible, too. I want that, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It's just too bad we can’t import them to the US.

Which unloved car do you secretly want?

By Petrolicious Productions / 7 February 2013

Valentine's Day is here again, and we have an idea that's sure to win you some points: Plan a Valentine's Daytrip. Perhaps you have a favorite daytrip destination, or maybe you want to go somewhere new, but either way, we've chosen some ingredients to make your Valentine's Day a great one. Grab your driving gloves, the keys to your classic car (or rent your favorite classic car), and pack a picnic and an overnight bag. Most importantly, pick up your Valentine!

By Afshin Behnia / 11 January 2013
4 Comments

There are a just over a handful of capable shops left in Southern California that know vintage Italian mechanicals well, and Santo’s Italian Car Service is one of the best.  You go to Santo for his unmatched expertise but stay for the company.  In fact, the first time I visited Santo, the experience reminded me of a classic barber shop scene, where gentlemen use a shave or a haircut as an excuse to get together and pass an entire afternoon shooting the breeze.

By Petrolicious Productions / 28 December 2012
2 Comments

In this garage profile we bring you to one of Mr. Roberto Vesco's private garages in an undisclosed location outside of Brescia, Italy. Anyone who participates in the Mille Miglia every year with a pre-war classic (and has won it on occasion to boot) is an interesting person in our book. Inside Mr. Vesco's private garage, there were plenty of automotive treasures to kick-start any enthusiast's Attention Deficit Disorder.

By Petrolicious Productions / 3 December 2012
1 Comment

On November 4th, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina was host to one of America's finest Concours d'Elegance.  This was the 11th year of the Hilton Head Concours, and over 500 jewel-like specimens were on display.  Our photographer Frazer Spowart was on site to capture some of the day's highlights. Click through to see his coverage of the event.

By Petrolicious Productions / 8 November 2012

This past Sunday we attended Best of France and Italy, an annual car show held in Van Nuys, California, on the first Sunday of every November. We look forward to this show every year, and we love that it's a casual event and attracts all kinds of driver cars. The cars being shown aren't only the super pristine, expensive cars, but there's a nice range of affordable cars as well.

By Petrolicious Productions / 1 November 2012

During Italy’s most devastating years of the second World War, there were strategists beyond Mussolini’s commanders and generals.  There were revolutionaries other than resistance fighters.  Plans were being made, in secret, to motorize an entire nation.

By Petrolicious Productions / 22 October 2012
6 Comments

It's hard to believe now, but there existed a simpler time when people smoked in restaurants and weren't immune to knocking back a cocktail in the office before lunch.  People were left to fend for themselves, think outside of the box, to dream big, and to create from those dreams. The coachbuilder was a saint amongst bishops in the automotive industry.

By Afshin Behnia / 15 October 2012
1 Comment

Scott King and Sandy Edelstein are not like the typical classic car collectors who are incurably obsessed with a single marque and whose missions in life are to hoard every variant produced by the beloved brand (and I’m including myself in this OCD group). On the contrary, Scott and Sandy have a refreshingly eclectic collection of vintage steel.