Why I Crave a Fiat 2300

It is the mid-1980s, and the BBC is screening a not particularly distinguished 1966 Peter Sellers film titled After the Fox. Much of the film was shot on location in Italy, and for the final reel chase, the police favoured a handsome saloon with tailfins and quad headlamps. From that moment onwards, I craved a Fiat 2300.

The narrative commenced at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show when Fiat replaced their 1400/1900 family with the 1800 and 2100. The major talking points were the engines created by Aurelio Lampredi and the elegant styling. Two years later, the more powerful 1800B succeeded the 1800, and the 2300 took the place of the 2100.

In its homeland, the flagship Fiat saloon was the ideal car for a corporate lawyer with dreams of La Dolce Vita. In the UK, a 2300 was perfect for go-ahead architects with visions of a sun-drenched Autostrada rather than East Cheam in the rain. The Italian corporation, along with Renault, VW, and the Slough-built Citroëns, was also one of the few 'foreign marques' established with British motorists in the early 1960s.

Furthermore, Fiat GB was also the only car importer to offer a range of models as elaborate as Ford or Vauxhall. Any visitor to their friendly local dealer to place an order for a 500 would doubtlessly be mesmerised by the 2300 Saloon, not least for its elaborate array of standard equipment. There was an elaborate heating and ventilation system, complete with side and rear window demisters, separate reclining backrests for the bench front seat, a full array of instruments, augmented by ten warning lamps, and even a hand-throttle.

Unlike a large British car of that era, the Fiat's atmosphere was more of a modern office than a gentleman's club, which suited its customer base. There was no hide and timber, for the 2300's cabin was concerned with practical details, such as the rear map pockets and the foot control for the windscreen washer.

Meanwhile, press-on drivers greatly appreciated the all-disc brakes, especially given the 101 mph top speed. In 1965 Fiat GB naturally highlighted the 2300's class victory in the RAC Rally. Anyone reading of Peter Bolton's achievements in the "standard saloon cars over two litres" category would surely want to call ELGar 1951 to book a test drive.

As for the British automotive press, The Motor found the 2300's engine "the liveliest at present harnessed to an inexpensive family car". Autocar pointed out the Fiat was between the Wolseley 6/110 and the Vanden Plas Princess 3-Litre in terms of price. In their view, "any buyer in that price range who wishes for something rather different might well find the 2300 just his cup of cappuccino. Bill Boddy of Motor Sport positively raved about " a remarkable combination of compact, fully-equipped, high-performance luxury car at a very modest price".

An Estate and a Coupe augmented the Saloon, more of which in later blogs. Fiat discontinued the range in 1968, a year before the launch of the 130 Berlina. Survivors in the UK, are now in single figures. But when I encountered a 2300 in the metal around twenty years ago, it more than lived up to my youthful expectations.

Possibly the best way of summarising the 2300's appeal in this country is to observe that at £1,263 5s 5d in 1963, it was one of the closest rivals to the new Rover P6 and Triumph 2000. And anyone who opted for Turin rather than the West Midlands would not have been disappointed…