In the 1960s and 70s Fiat made some great little coupes; I know because my family owned many of them. This is the Fiat 128 Sport Coupe SL, a particular favourite of mine and the top picture is actually of one driven by the Bowlzee family in the early 1970s.
Unfortunately, pretty and fun as they were, they tended all too quickly to resemble the bottom picture; rusting away like a Steradent tablet left out in the rain. Which is why they are as rare as hen's teeth.
Hi, Do you know anything about Idsall House? I am looking for old photographs. Can you help please.
ReplyDeleteHello there,
DeleteYes, I do have old photographs of Idsall, I grew up there so have a few photographs and many, many happy memories.
Can I ask your interest?
Because it was my family home my pictures are mostly with Idsall in the background, however, it was also used by my uncle as a backdrop for photographs of cars he tested that then went on to be published in various magazines.
I can try and get a few together and scan or whatever to get them to you if you'd like?
All the very best,
Christopher
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteYes, I do have old photographs of Idsall, I grew up there so have a few photographs and many, many happy memories.
Can I ask your interest?
Because it was my family home my pictures are mostly with Idsall in the background, however, it was also used by my uncle as a backdrop for photographs of cars he tested that then went on to be published in various magazines.
I can try and get a few together and scan or whatever to get them to you if you'd like?
All the very best,
Christopher
Hi Bowlzee. Idsall House looks stunning - what a place to live. I grew up in the Black Country which is a very similar kind of place. NOT. Jealousy aside and re the 128 SL:I think there are 4 left in the UK and I have one of them. So, what happened to the remnants you've shown on the second photo? Mine's the same colour but in better condition... Marginally. I've owned it for about 30 years and never had so much fun in a car with my clothes on. It will scream again when I can cash in my company pension. Till then, it languishes in my garage... Great to see another one in the UK. Very best regards, Dontellimpike
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking the time and trouble to contact me; yes Idsall was a fine place to grow-up, I live in somewhat reduced circumstances now though :-(
The blue Fiat was our car and we had it from new, I think it was an N reg'?? Anyway we had it for two years and then it was replaced by a 128 3p. Our Fiats were always ex press cars and so I think ours was probably used as a test car for motoring journalists or in ads. It was a great fun car, I remember my mum saying. Even at the time they were pretty rare and since I've grown-up I have only ever seen one, in 1984 in Bournemouth. I was with a friend who just didn't get why I was mesmerised by this little rusty Fiat; never seen another one since though so can believe there are 4 in UK.
The rusty pic is one I found on the internet and I used as a kind of before/after pic. I have to say I think you are incredibly cool and very brave owning 128 Sports and I would love to see any pics of it; are they posted anywhere?
All the best,
Bowlzee :-)