A Reward for My 40th Birthday

In the 1990s, any Italian car fan would surely have been captivated by the "Coupé Fiat" at least once. Unbelievably based on the hatchback "Tipo," its exceptionally chic and modern style was Fiat's last exemplary offering, a tradition of providing attractive sports models based on popular cars at affordable prices since the post-war era. Twenty-one years after its debut, there is an Italian gentleman who still deeply cherishes the Coupé Fiat. He is Alessandro Balestrini (60), a tax accountant living in the northern province of Como.

—You are one of the founders of the "Club del Coupé Fiat," aren't you?

My membership number is a single digit, number 7 (laughs)! I'm now the Lombardy branch manager.

—Let's start by hearing about your automotive journey.

When I was young, a 1975 Vespa was my daily ride. I used it to commute to the bank where I worked, and I'd take my wife out on dates on the back. I haven't ridden that 39-year-old Vespa in the last 10 years, but I still keep it covered in a corner of the garage.

My first four-wheeled car was a Citroën 2CV. Next, a Triumph Spitfire. It had a beautiful maroon body. Then I moved on to a Mini Clubman, a Volkswagen Golf, and a Volvo 480 Turbo.



—What prompted you to acquire the Coupé Fiat?

It was in 1993, the year it debuted. I was intrigued that, despite being a Fiat, it was built with a significant amount of handwork at Pininfarina's Grugliasco factory. One day, as the year was drawing to a close, I decided to order one as a birthday present for myself, as I would be turning 40 the following year.

I waited three months. I remember it well. The delivery was on March 1, 1994. My wife and I went to the Fiat dealership to pick up the green Coupé Fiat 16-valve at 6 PM after work.

For a while after that, I was so delighted that I drove it every weekend. I must have been too excited, because one time I was properly caught by an automatic speed camera. It's unthinkable today with our current privacy concerns, but back then, the police mailed the evidence photo to our home. I still have that "souvenir photo" displayed on my study desk (laughs).

No Other Car Is This Much Fun

—You were so smitten with the Coupé Fiat that you even started a club...

The year after I got it, in 1995, I founded the "Club del Coupé Fiat" with some friends. Currently, there are 200 active core members, and over 1,200 people have been involved in some capacity over the years.

—Aside from its style, what are the Coupé Fiat's charming points?

Above all, its practicality. When my two sons were young, we took them in the rear seats of the Coupé Fiat on every vacation, and we practically explored the entire country, from Puglia in the south to Sicily, as a family of four. It has the power and space that made family vacations completely comfortable.



—So, while exuding a "mini-Ferrari" vibe, it hasn't forgotten its roots as a practical Fiat underneath?

Exactly. That's why, even after ordering a Smart for my 50th birthday and another new car recently for my 60th, I've never parted with my Coupé Fiat, and it remains with me to this day. This June marks 20 years since I bought it. It has reached 160,000 kilometers, making it the longest-serving car in my active fleet.

Actually, on the day I took delivery of the Coupé Fiat, I confided in the salesman, "It's my first Italian car. I hope it's as reliable as my Golf or Volvo..." but it has certainly proven my doubts wrong.



With every drive, with every mile, the number of amici (friends) who love the Coupé Fiat grows. There's no other car that brings this much joy.