Car Lust Classic: The 2011 "FIAT FreakOut" in Nashville, Tennessee

Last week, we mentioned that FIAT was in trouble here in America. So for no reason other than to return to a happier day, here's a repeat of the 2011 "FIAT FreakOut" that was held in Nashville about five years ago:

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Loyal Car Lust readers may remember the 2010 Nashville British Car Club Show post from last October. Now it's July 23rd, 2011, and I'm back in the shadow of the Parthenon at Centennial Park here in Nashville. But this time it's the Italians who get center stage... presenting the 2011 "FIAT FreakOut," or "FFO" for short.

This was an all-weekend event, four days actually, and the first time Music City USA hosted these friendly folks. They had four days of sightseeing, scheduled driving tours, pool parties, and a car movie. But I don't have an Italian car, so I only wanted to see the car show. And what a show it was!

This was also an international event, as I saw Canadian license plates there. The local TV station said some folks came from England. And from nearby, Jeff Lane of the Lane Motor Museum here in Nashville also brought over a few prized Tuscan beauties.

Part of the reason for the FFO was to display the new FIAT 500, now available in FIAT dealer showrooms ...excuse me... studios, all across the USA. One can't sell a piece of art just anywhere, you know. And although only one basic body style is offered (The convertible is a coupe with a glorified sunroof), I was amazed at how many different-colored 500s were there... they even had two shades of green. Take that, Detroit! I did see a gray 500, but no Camry Beige ones were there.

But the main event here this day were all of the classic Italian cars, both new and older. This included many built by host FIAT, and others, including Alfa Romeo, Bertone, Ghia, Lancia, Moretti, and Pininfarina. I expected to see some red cars with yellow and black prancing horse emblems on them, but none showed up. Maybe their invitations got lost in the mail. It happens, you know.

Fa caldo!¹ The temperature was a blistering, humid 93 degrees, but it was still a great day to see these wondercars. Other than the mugginess, the only distracting element was that the cars were packed very closely together. Attenzione!² This made good camera angles all but impossible on some cars, especially the Ghia. Bumping into or scratching the cars was also something to constantly avoid.

And there was free cold water and delicious warm pizza for everybody. But hey, what else would you expect at an Italian car show, koos koos?

So, in no particular order:

FIAT/Pininfarina's 124 Spider series is a timeless classic.

 

The elegant interior of a 1981 FIAT Spider 2000

 

Most 124s were sold in America, and they are still here.

 

A stunning 1963 Ghia 1500 GT. Not quite Camry Beige, but getting close.

 

A 1949 Alfa Romeo C2500 SS Cabriolet. Mama mia, it's red.

 

Inside the '49 Alfa. Did I tell you it's red? 

 

1980 Moretti Minimax. No, Patti & Selma did not own this.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

1977 Lancia Scorpion. This was my favorite car at the show.

 

When the other cars cleared out, I was able to get a less-obstructed view.

 

A 1961 FIAT 1500 Cabriolet. Very much unlike a 1976 Chevrolet Vega Cabriolet.

 

1970 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.35. I still have a Corgi model

of this car from the late 1960s.

 

Professionalism dictates that we avoid any "rear end" jokes here.

 

 

Yes folks, that is an 8-Track tape player in the Fulvia.

 

A 1970 FIAT 850 Sport Coupe. Ground clutter option included.

 

The information sign just read: "1975 FIAT 850."

 

Hmmm, which cars shall we look at next? Hey, how about the X19s!

 

These FIAT X1/9 and Bertone X19 cars are in better shape now than when new.

 

I never saw this many X1/9s around when they were new!

 

 

And again, proudly presenting the new FIAT 500s.

Grazie molto!³ to all the folks who put this nice event together. I'm not sure where next year's event will be, but I'll keep an eye open for the next great car show here at the Parthenon as well.

By the way, I did get a chuckle as a local TV news station crew started taking video of the Miata; it was kind of funny to break it to the camera person that the car was Japanese, not Italian. I got an "Oh!," and she quickly walked off. Ciao bella!⁴

--That Car Guy (Chuck [Ho bisogno di fare pratica con il mio italiano!⁵])

Image Credits: I took all of these photos and still somehow didn't manage to fall off of the wobbly 4-tiered scaffolding.

Here's a few that I couldn't find a place for up there, but thought they belonged somewhere.

Di Italiano: 1: It's hot outside! 2: Watch out! 3: Thank you very much! 4: Farewell, my lovely. 5: I need to practice my Italian.

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