RobiNZ Personal Blog

Austin Maxi Vs Fiat 128, no contest

Love this driventowrite.com series comparing the design and life of the Austin Maxi and Fiat 128. Although they were not direct competitors (the 128 is more 1100 sized) the similarities, of both cars and design history, are remarkable. 128 v. Maxi Part 1 : Last Tango of the Titans 128 vs Maxi Part 2 : Function over Form 128 vs Maxi Part 3 : Spring Song 128 vs Maxi Part 4: The Racehorse and the Donkey Continuing our meditation on the Austin Maxi and Fiat 128 Every Day Is Judgement Day. If you drive a front wheel drive car today... Read more →

Jalopnik Engine Of The Day: Fiat SOHC

I’ve driven countless kilometres pedalling one of these in a Fiat 128 Bello. The un-bustable 128 engine was one feature that made an old design (‘60s tech that was in production till the late 70s) a pleasure to drive. While there was which was dated by the end of the 128’s long life – with little real development - the engine was still a strength. It outlived the 128 with production in to the current century. Some might have called it noisy but it was a sound I liked. It was willing to rev and rewarded you doing that with... Read more →

Fiat 128 - Celebrating Forty Years of Front Wheel Drive Fiats

Autoblog.it have a tribute to the Fiat 128 celebrating it's launch, forty years ago, in May 1969: Fiat 128: quarant'anni di trazione anteriore - English Translation Nel lontano maggio del 1969 debuttò la Fiat 128, la prima vettura a trazione anteriore sviluppata dalla Casa torinese... This outwardly mundane 3 box saloon was not the first front wheel drive car, by a long way, but was the first to combine all the attributes of a modern FWD car. Before you mention the Mini, I refer you to this L J K Setright tribute to the Fiat 128. I found it several... Read more →

Finally...

My Niece’s response to me getting a new(er) , than a 1992 Uno, car: FINALLY! I've started a " My Cars " collection on Flickr for images which, in any way, feature the Fiats of my life. I’ve neve... Read more →

2007 Blogging Highlights

It’s time to do a Blog related review of the year so here goes… Best Blog Discovery: I use this heading every year but it isn’t really appropriate for this years selection. Simon’s Web Journa... Read more →

Fiat 500 - 2008 European Car of the Year

Fiat’s brilliant little ‘un takes the Euro COTY. It’s no guarantee that it’s a great car when you consider some of the previous title holders . It must have been a lean year that saw the Renault 9, 86... Read more →

The Fiat Ritmo returns to Fiat New Zealand

It appears we’ll be getting the Aussie “Ritmo” name for the New Fiat Bravo. Fiat can’t use Bravo in Australia due to existing use by Mazda (for a Ute!). Until recently the Fiat NZ website used “ Bravo... Read more →

Grande Punto, the big little car gets Fiat back on track

Yet again it’s the little cars that Fiat falls back too when the going gets tough. The Grande Punto, and new Panda, joins the Topolino, Nuovo 500, 128, 127, Uno, Punto and other great little Fiats whi... Read more →

2006 Blogging Highlights

Seems like the time of year to do a Blog related review of the year so here goes... Read more →

The Classic Fiat X1/9

This article is about one of my favourite cars. The tiny X1/9 was Bertone design at it’s best (seen here) before later versions were ruined by US spec bumpers. The X1/9 was often termed the baby Fe... Read more →