Tom Tjaarda
Having a retro link to a classic design is usually a surefire way of selling a new car. But sometimes it’s the older car that reaps the most reward
Back in 1967, the Fiat 124 Spider was an immediate success, mostly because of its charming design. It was underpowered, not brilliant in handling but it sold very well, and Pininfarina had a difficult time satisfying the demand. A lot of owners modified them for racing. Pininfarina had entrusted me with the styling and Renato Sconfienza with the body engineering. Fiat really didn’t give top priority to this project, thinking it would be a limited niche market entry like the Fiat 1200 Spider produced before the 124. Renato and I were in our early twenties and we were given a relatively free hand in the development of this vehicle – a kind of test to see how two young designers managed a project.
These were different times and cars were much simpler. Because it was an immediate success Fiat then realised it had underestimated its potential, and got busy with the Abarth version that won numerous rallies. The 124 Spider stayed in production for almost 20 years and became a huge economic success for Pininfarina. Years went by in anticipation of a new one before a successor was launched in 2016.
Times change, and this new version is a collaboration with Mazda built on an MX-5 platform in its factory in Hiroshima. It’s a brilliant industrial programme between two important auto companies, but it doesn’t seem to have had the impact the original 124 had 60 years ago. That said, it’s a pleasant car to drive, and the Abarth version recalls rallying heritage.
Today we see super-sports cars using powerplants that put out more than 600bhp. Back in the Sixties the pretty little Fiat 124 Spider didn’t have that kind of intimidation, so these changing times put the new one into its proper perspective.
Last summer I was invited to the Concorso Italiano the Saturday before the Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance on Sunday where I was an honorary judge. The new Fiat 124 was to have its official presentation for the American market during Concorso Italiano. This is a great place to introduce a new car because so many important people are present for these three days of car events and auctions. But it turned out to be a disappointment. When I arrived at the Concorso at the Blackhawk Country Club in Northern California I had difficulty finding the Fiat stand – and when I did, there was nobody there from Fiat to greet me, and that’s the way it stayed all day.
So that was the setting and introduction of the new 124 Spider in the US. It was perplexing and I wondered why Fiat had given it such little importance.
Then the president of the Fiat 124 Spider register in Italy told me an interesting story. Fiat used a publicity photo in newspapers and car magazines showing a profile view of the old and new 124 Spider together. This publicity photo has been extensively used in the media for months now. So what happened? My friend in Modena has been bombarded by requests from people wanting to buy the old 124 Spider. Where can they get one?
This shouldn’t detract from the new Fiat Spider, and in time I believe it will achieve the success it deserves. It is a nice little sports car sold at an affordable price.