The classic/fave car thread

[Macca37]

I've just read the posts in this thread and my wife and I got to thinking about one of the first cars we owned.

Back in the early '60s I bought a one owner 1951 Fiat Topolino 500.  It had a 4 cylinder,  550 cc water cooled motor mounted in the front and driving the back wheels. From memory it developed about 15 bhp.  With a strong tailwind and going down hill it  could reach about 50 mph.  It had a 4-speed gear box with synchro on third and fourth. The fuel tank was in the front in a similar position to the VW Beetle.  It had a long gear lever which screwed into an aluminium housing on top of the gearbox.  By the time I bought the car the thread had stripped and gravity was relied upon to keep the lever in the housing.

Being young and foolish we used it to go for a holiday in Surfers.  We went via the Newell Highway and I remember it took us 24 hours to reach Dubbo.  I've never had a car since that has attracted so much attention.  Along the way no one had ever seen this model Fiat.  Petrol attendants (they had them in those days) just used to look at it and shake their heads.

By the time we got back we were in need of another holiday.  That was the most exhausting trip we have made.