A Fiat 1500 fan

Sir,

Knowing the impartial manner in which you present your Road Tests I was very impressed with your report on the Fiat 1500.

Some three months ago I bought a secondhand 1500 which has now done 55,000 miles, and, like Mr. David Griffiths, I find it an excellent vehicle. None of the irritating faults of the mass-produced British car are present and the performance lifts it way out of the bread-and-butter range of cars. It was obviously assembled with care, as for example, the engine and transmission is still completely clean and oil-tight.

In the past 12 years I have owned and driven a great number of cars but apart from a Citro°n Light 15 the Fiat is the only one which I consider to be value for money.

A visit to the Pirelli Stand at the Motor Show confirmed a “tip-off ” that they were producing a Cintura tyre for the Fiat, and this should eliminate the slight skittishness at low speed in the wet.

Whilst I am not “anti-British” I feel that I cannot afford to run a Home-produced car until such time as the legion of faults in manufacture and assembly are rectified. Needless to say I have no connections with Fiat other than as a very satisfied owner.

Kenneth Barton.
Lee.