Fiat Chrysler joins other automakers offering restored classic models
RETRO: No word yet on whether company will extend program to North American cars
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is launching a factory-backed restoration program to help better preserve its history, debuting this week a quintet of recently restored Alfa Romeos and Lancias at the Rétromobile exhibition in Paris.
The FCA Heritage-led program, which the company has named Reloaded by Creators, mirrors ones recently launched by premium marques such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin and Pagani. Its goals will be to buy, restore and then sell iconic classic cars from the company’s many brands, and to acquire particularly rare or important cars to add to the FCA corporate collection.
FCA seems for now more focused on preserving its Italianate heritage. The just-restored vehicles being debuted in Paris include a 1991 Alfa Spider former factory colour-testing car, a limited-edition 1973 Lancia Fulvia Coupé Montecarlo, a last-of-the-model 1981 Spidereuropa Pininfarina, a prototype 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ, and a Pininfarina-bodied 1959 Lancia Appia Coupé.
It seems uncertain but unlikely the company will launch an American arm of the European program, despite the fact some classic Chryslers, Dodges and Plymouths can just as easily as their Italian brethren net six- and sometimes seven-figure price tags.
Companies that recently launched an in-house restoration-type heritage preservation program include Lamborghini’s Polo Storico, Aston Martins Works’ Heritage Centre, Porsche’s Classic program, the Land Rover Experience Centre Heritage, and Pagani Rinascimento program.
Jaguar has begun building “continuation cars,” and Mazda has begun restoring and selling parts for vintage Miatas in Japan. In November 2017, Nissan’s Nismo began reproducing parts for R32 Skylines.