Italian surprises

[mezzeta]

Guys,

I live over here in Italy, I moved from Boston a few years ago to chase a lifelong dream, it is heaven...except,

In the land of Alfa, Ferrari, Lambo etc the auto rules are truly bizzare. they make the USA and our silly EPA, DOT etc look like the very friendly wild west.

Do you know (because I didnt) that you CANNOT add any aftermarket products to any street car! I mean if you put on a different set of aftermarket wheels that are a different size than what was offered from the factory and included in the Homologation papers they can confiscate your car! That goes for seats, shocks, brakes, steering wheels, shift knobs...everything, if the items are not Homolgated they are banned. Forget engine performance options...they take your car away and whip you on the side of the road.....

This was a real eye opener for me, I am passed on the highways by supercars at over 200kph with lucky born wealthy guys at the wheel but the poor schmuck that wants to add some performance to his economy hatch can't.

Italy and most of Europe is still a very class structured country, if you've got the $ you can play fast on the roads, if you are a 'worker' just stay in the fields/factory and drive your econobox.

I spent years bitching about the bizarre, stupid and downright freedom limiting laws passed over the last 30 years in the USA with reference to cars and I still think that most could/should be removed but compared to here in Italy we still have so much more 'auto' freedom...Oh I forgot, I just filled up my Volvo wagon...it cost me 80 Euros!

Italy does however still allow competitive speed road rallies, with Police escorts no less, a country of contradictions.

The longer I live here in Europe the more it becomes very clear to me why the USA is simply the greatest country in the world, it comes down to the personal freedom to excel or to fail while trying and basic equality.
Lets not let the Washington freaks take away the freedom that made the States great and lets not even talk about France...

Sorry for the ramble, here are some nice GTA's

[mezzeta]

and some more.
Today is ferragosto, a major holiday where everything stops, I mean really stops and I have way to much time on my hands.

Hope everyone in NYC and the eastern US survived the dark...

[mezzeta]

and even more.

This GTA owned by an English friend is so perfect, so downright immaculate it defies description. It is also very, very fast and is always a top finisher in the Euro Historic Touring car championship.

[164QV]

Great pics! love the yellow GTA - why do they all have to be red?!

Now, to your ramblings - I am a bit confused - are you talking racecars og street legal cars? You mention the homologation, and that only applies to racecars - f.ex under FIA Appendix K rules. I agree that they are very strict indeed. You cannot make any modification that isnt mentioned in the original Homologation. That makes impossible to be competitive in some cars that would otherwise be fast with some minor tweaking. Of course it is done to keep historic racing historic - and not allowing turbocharging or other "modern" tuning. Thats the rules - and hey; they are the same for all. If you dont like it, you can choose to race your car in another class. Thing is most historic racing in Europe is in accordance to FIA App K - so I see the problem.

Now, if you mean no modification is allowed on streetcars - I can only say that those rules are different from on european country to another, but it certainly isnt anything like what you describe where I live. I live in Denmark, and dont know what the law in Italy is like - but here it is very strict. You can modify your car to a certain degree, and most modifications to the stuff you mention: seats, shocks, brakes, steering wheels, shift knobs... etc are legal. You can tune the engine as long as the power output is within 20% of the original specifications. Putting a big block V8 in a GTV wouldnt be allowed, fex....

[mezzeta]

I was only speaking of my experience in Italy not other EU countries. The UK is very liberal and the guidelines that you point out in Denmark seem reasonable.

I wanted to take a basic 66 or 67 Super, install a 2 liter, upgrade the suspention, install a roll bar, improve the brakes and install a set of 6x14" wheels etc and have a really nifty street car. I would be in violation of a hundred Italian laws and the car would be subject to confiscation. I could register it in the States and drive here with Mass. Plates but insurance is then a problem. Just not worth the trouble. It is my understanding that as a guideline the automakers submit what are similar to Homolgation papers to the Italian gov. of standard options and specifications, any deviation is not allowed by the autos owners.

As far as the FIA and those very strict historic Race Homologation rules, I am a very big fan, thats what historic/period racing is all about. My Ti Super is prepared to the 1965 FIA 'k' specs, it makes it somewhat less than competitive against GTA's and Lotus Cortinas, but so be it, I'll deal.

I would love to see a photo of your Vespa...I want one.

[164QV]

Hmmm, sounds unreasonable - but then again; you get to live with italian food, countryside, wine, girls...... driving a standard Giulia seems like a small offer!

Have you posted pics of that TI Super somewhere? I am looking for a 1965 or earlier 1600 TI to prepare for FIA App K racing - please let me know if you see one for sale in Italy!

My Vespa runs great, and is fast and great fun to drive - I can only recommend it. Mine really needs a repaint, but I will post some pictures soon though. They sholdn't be hard to find in Italy?

[mezzeta]

They seem to be available in Germany more often than here. I will keep my eyes open, do you want a stock to do yourself or a prepared car?

[164QV]

Yes, there seem to be quite a few in Germany, but they are also rather expensive! I was thinking that there would be an abandoned Giulia on every streetcorner in Italy, but I guess not?
At mobile.de there are lots of Giulias for sale - but no 1600s from 1965 or earlier.

Both a fully raceprepared and a standard Giulia would be interesting - as long as the price is right.

[ar1750gtv]

Mezetta,

You aren't going to la spiagia with everyone else? I love the atmosphere at the beach with entire families eating spaghetti from enormous pots.

And, don't ever get sick today, you will never find a doctor!

Ciao,

Garrett

[italcarguy]

those gta's are hottt! i like how the dude keeps his helmet in the roof, most gta owners would $hit a brick if they were to see that. also, the yellow car looks incredible, got more pics?

you are livin' it up there. i wish i was there celebrating ferragosto. we have a vacation house in sicily and this time of the year, i am usually there enjoying life to the fullest, but it just couldn't be this year. i spoke with my cousin a couple days ago and he said it was really hot down south. how is it where you are?

i'll add a gta to this thread although its not in italy...it's still a gta.

[mezzeta]

Yes, it's very, very hot this year...but Italy is the closest I have ever been to heaven.

[74spider]

Where exactly are you in Italy?

[mezzeta]

Umbria, on a mountain next to the Tiber river valley. Smack in the middle of the country.

[Sniady]

why are GTA's so nice? People have look-a-like GTA's, and they still don't look like a GTA.

[italcarguy]

i am one of those who tried and will continue to. i guess i won't be happy untill i have the real thing in my garage next to my fake one although, the fake one will beat the real one any day of the week. gta...where are you?