Fiat’s on-again, off-again relationship with the U.S. seems to be mostly in off-again mode. Having withdrawn the 500 mini, the 500L crossover, and the Miata-based 124 Spider from the North American market, Fiat is now poised to pull the plug on the 500X subcompact SUV, its only model remaining to lure shoppers to one of its 359 dealerships—although parent company Stellantis has promised to bring the all-electric 500e back to our shores in 2024.
Fiat’s most loyal fans have shrugged off the company’s waxing and waning fortunes before. In 1983, when the first national Fiat FreakOut was organized, it just happened to coincide with the carmaker’s wholesale departure from the U.S. market. The timing was beyond unfortunate, but organizer Fiat Lancia Unlimited, now called Fiat Club America, dug in for the long haul, with or without its favorite marque’s presence in the American market. When Fiat returned to the U.S. in 2010 with the 500, FCA was still here, waiting to put out the welcome mat. In fact, so tight has the relationship between fan base and manufacturer been that Fiat promised FCA members dibs on the first 500 examples to come to the States, known as the 500 Prima Edizione.
Best Of Show honors went to this beautiful and rare 1967 Fiat Moretti Sportiva, owned by Michael Sizemore of Springfield, Illinois. Production of the Fiat 850-based Sportiva totaled approximately 250, and just 25 are believed to still exist. Photo: David LaChance
Tradition continued this June with the 40th annual Fiat FreakOut, held in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The formula of FreakOut is simple: Drive, socialize, repeat. The organizers, from FCA’s Northern New England chapter, made sure that each of the event’s six days offered participants at least one driving event, including an ascent of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S. In what may have been a FreakOut first, members had a snowball fight at the 6,288-foot summit. Club members also took a ride on the Mount Washington Cog Railway, did parade and hot laps at the new Club Motorsports track, and drove to Granite State destinations like Dixville Notch, the resort town of Wolfeboro, and historic Portsmouth on the Atlantic coast.
Saturday morning was reserved for the car show, known at FreakOut as the Concorso. Held at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road, and open to the general public at no charge, the Concorso featured scores of Fiats, from the 1930s through the present day. The breadth of the models on display was breathtaking, from the oldest model on display, the 500 “Topolino,” to late-model 500Ls and 124 Spiders. There were vehicles from small carrozzeria based on Fiat components, models that were never sold new here, and hot performance variants wearing the Abarth scorpion. Together, they told the story of Fiat’s long identity as an automaker skilled at combining high style and sophisticated, race-bred engineering at a price within reach of an average family. No wonder the love runs so deep.
One Fiat roadster not sold in the U.S. was the Barchetta, powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder and produced between 1995 and 2005. The silver example in the foreground is a 1996 model owned by Peter Lombardo of Higganum, Connecticut, while the blue 1997 is owned by Brian L. Perkins of North Brookfield, Massachusetts.Photo: David LaChance
The turnout at the Concorso was especially impressive, given the morning’s steady rain. By noontime, the skies had unexpectedly cleared, prompting car owners to ditch their umbrellas, lower their windows, stow their convertible tops, and break out the chamois. According to the organizers, attendees represented 29 states, as well as Canada, Germany, Belgium, and Australia, and about 200 vehicles were registered.
After a post-Concorso drive, this one through Pinkham and Evans notches, club members ended the day with an awards banquet at the host Attitash Grand Summit Hotel. A highlight of the banquet is the announcement of the location of the next year’s FreakOut. Former FCA president John Montgomery revealed that FFO 41 will be held in Greenville, South Carolina, from June 18-23. For more information as it becomes available, visit fiatclubamerica.com.
A line of Lancias arrives. In the lead is a Scorpion, followed by a pair of Flavia coupes and a Zagato. All Italian vehicles are welcome at the show, as long as they’re owned by Fiat Club America members.Photo: David LaChance
One of the oldest cars on the field was this charming 1952 Fiat 500 “Topolino,” owned by Michael Louviere of Anamosa, Iowa. It’s a Transformable model, with a slide-back canvas roof.Photo: David LaChance
The Lancia Beta family included the Berlina, or sedan; the Zagato, a targa-topped convertible; the HPE, a three-door wagon; and the Coupe, represented here by this 1979 European-market example owned by John Himmelsbach of Waitsfield, Vermont. Photo: David LaChance
Luc Martin leaves the show field in his 1972 Autobianchi A112 supermini, which was imported from France in 2006. Autobianchi, created by Fiat, Bianchi, and Pirelli in 1955, was primarily used by Fiat to test innovative concepts for its production cars. The A112 used the 903cc OHV engine from the Fiat 850 to drive the front wheels.Photo: David LaChance
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