Sensational New Italians to Highlight Classic Show in Monterey

Filed in archive Italian Cars on July 22, 2010

All those lucky people who attend the Concorso Italiano are in for a double surprise this year. In addition to the hundreds of magnificent Italian cars, mostly from years past but some representative of the present, two new stars will be unveiled, one a limited production sports coupe, the other a modern representation of Fiat's much revered "peoples car," the 500.

In the photo above you're looking at the spectacular Perana Z-1 coupe designed by Zagato. Originally intended for sale only in the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates, the car will now be available in the United States following a strong response from this market. It was first shown as a concept at the 2009 Geneva Show, then wowed the audience at the Villa d'Este Concours on the shores of Lake Como.

Hidden under that gorgeous body is a powerful Corvette V-8 engine matched to a specially built chassis, a reminder that Italy has a long tradition of high-torque American engines powering sophisticated Italian chassis clothed in voluptuous bodies. The Perana Z-1 will be marketed here by Superformance Distribution, whose representatives will be on hand along with Zagato's own marketing manager.



At the very opposite end of the exotic class is the Fiat 500, a simple, sturdy, and fun-to-drive car that helped millions of Italians graduate from two wheels to four following WW2. A surprising number of 500s reside in North America, and Concorso Italiano has invited their owners to display them, regardless of condition (as long as they're still driveable).

That's a 500 at the left end of the Fiat group above, seen at last year's Concorso. Now imagine dozens of 500s (or maybe more) of these baby beauties lined up on the grass of the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch on August 13th. But why would the organisers want to attract cars that, compared to the exotica usually assembled at this event, are humble to say the least? Because, my friends, this will be the first American unveiling of the all-new Fiat 500, a totally modern rendition that invokes memories of the past while providing the best of contemporary design and engineering.



I confess that I won't be attending the Monterey/Pebble Beach classic car week (Concorso is part of that celebration) for the same reason I've missed every year since 2006. Accommodation during that period is just too darned expensive. But if I could squeeze the room rate out of my slim wallet (actually it's in a losing contest with a long hoped-for cruise) the Fiat 500 would be a good enough reason.