In the first week of June 2023, Germany's Fiat 600 friends met at the Boxenstop automobile and toy museum in Tübingen. The renowned museum run by Rainer and Ute Klink offers everything you could wish for at weddings, company events and club meetings. Especially if, like the Fiat 600 Club founded in 1993, you also have a 30th anniversary to celebrate.
Half of the members are traveling
Jörg Sporkert, the first chairman, was happy to provide information about the club with 85 members from Germany and Switzerland. Almost 40 vehicles had found their way to the Swabian region. Enthusiasts from Bremerhaven, Venlo and Bern met here for technical discussions and a friendly exchange of ideas.
Traveled on their own axles or transported on a trailer attached to a motorhome, the main thing is that the unique pieces arrive undamaged.
A real car
The club makes the distinction to its little brother, the Cinquecento, very clear. The Fiat 600 is simply a real car. With 4 water-cooled cylinders, it was the real answer to the VW Beetle from Italy. Partly also produced under license in Spain or Austria, but that's another topic.
The Fiat 600 first came onto the market in 1955. Initially, the 19 hp car still had the parking lights with indicators on the mudguards and the blinker switch was still on the dashboard. Neither handles nor switches were attached to the steering column.
At the beginning, the car still had sliding windows, the original hubcaps were soon replaced by others. These early models are particularly sought after by enthusiasts. One person got their driver's license in the car, another enjoys its cute looks, and still others praise its handling. There are many reasons to drive a Fiat 600.
The supply of spare parts is quite good, also because more and more companies are specializing in reproduction. The club's own stock of spare parts and the lively exchange of parts between members are also helpful. Speaking of helpful: anyone who has a door handle for the first model to give away should contact the club. There is currently a certain demand.
Problems solved pragmatically
One of the cars suffered clutch damage on the journey. This was repaired immediately in the workshop of the Pit Stop Museum. After all, the owner wanted to take part in the planned outing on Saturday. Togetherness is written in capital letters. The club is like a big family, said the board. Everyone can come as they like, as long as the car runs and they enjoy it.
Exotic cars
There were several Fiat 600 derivatives on display, such as the Jungla.
This is an off-road vehicle based on the chassis of the Fiat 600, which was built for the army. Folding roof versions or vehicles whose optimization Carlo Abarth had taken on were also on display.
Exotic models were also built. Pickup versions, for example, or the version built under license in Spain, which was almost 20 cm longer and sold under the name Seat 800.
It goes without saying that the prices for the unusual models were higher than for series models. But even for these, 5-digit prices in honest condition 2 are no exception.
A very special team
Hermann Herfurtner, the second chairman of the club and owner of no less diverse models, talked about his oldest vehicle. He "simply had to buy" the 1956 model he discovered at a trade fair in Padua. Brought to Germany by a dealer friend, he saw an Amphiporta in his yard. This was actually intended for a 600 beach trailer, but it had also sold well on its own. So all he had to do was buy the trailer, paint it the right color and mount it. The rare combination was ready.
Since the trailer is firmly connected to the towing vehicle via an auxiliary carrier under the bumper, a centrally mounted tire is sufficient, similar to some moped trailers.
The construction is considered a trailer, as part of the vehicle, and is therefore not a trailer. This means that, if the engine could handle it, you could even drive it at 130 km/h.
The fact that the "non-trailer" is called Amphiporta has to do with Amphicar. It is actually a floating trailer manufactured by the Stolz company in Berlin, but you have to get used to the handling of the trailer. The wheel of the trailer does not turn to the side, but virtually erases the road surface in bends. Serpentines are therefore not among the trailer's favorite routes.
A cautious driving style is advisable, as the trailer cannot be seen from the car. However, this does not detract from the fascination of this unique combination.
Rotation principle
The organization of the annual meeting is a rotating task. Thorsten Hauser, organizer in 2023, outlined the current event in a nutshell.
- Friday: Arrival of the vehicles, dinner together.
- Saturday: drive along small roads to the Engstingen Automobile Museum followed by a trip to Hohenstein. There, a guided tour of the local cheese dairy with a tasting of the buffalo mozzarella produced here, followed in the evening by the Annual General Meeting in the pit stop and a barbecue buffet.
- On Sunday, 40 members met for a punting trip on the Neckar, while those who had traveled further afield were already on their way home. With a program like this, there was never a dull moment. The weekend was perfect.
The connection to the Boxenstop Museum, where classic car trips and tours are also organized, seems to be very close. I say goodbye with the words "if you travel with Rainer, you can't go wrong".
Let's wish the members that the club continues to exist for another 30 years, that the good humor is never lost and that the Pit Stop Museum continues to have many enthusiastic visitors.
