MEET THE OWNER – STEPHEN DAWES AND HIS ONE FAMILY FROM NEW FIAT 124

Sometimes, when writing about classic cars, you come across a vehicle that is incredibly rare – so rare, in fact, that you cannot remember seeing one on the road in the past three decades. Stephen Dawes’s 124 is not only one of the very few examples left; it is also a one-family-from new Fiat.

The 124 debuted in 1966 and became Car of The Year for 1967. In Italy, the 131 Miafiori replaced it in 1974. By that time, it had been made in Spain by SEAT, South Korea by Asia Motors, Bulgaria by Pirin-Fiat and Turkey by Tofaş of Istanbul. By 1985 Premier Automobiles of Mumbai built the 118NE but the most famous overseas variant hailed from the former Soviet Union. In 1965 Fiat signed an agreement with AutoVAZ, the former USSR, with a new factory to build a heavily modified 124, and the resulting VAZ-2101 made its bow in 1970. It was widely exported as the Lada.

And production ended as recently as 2012.

However, the original Fiat was already en route to near extinction in the UK. When new, it impressed Britain’s motoring journalists, and this quote from Bill Boddy of Motor Sport deserves repeating in full:

This Tipo 124 Fiat is only a family conveyance; it has been described as an Italian Cortina. Wrong, in my view! It has the life, the light controls, the handling precision of a sporting car and, greatly as I admire the Ford Cortina, enjoy driving it, and swear by not at, the GT version, I would not profess to compare this product of Dagenham with Fiat’s latest—which anyway is in the 1100cc, not 1 1/2-litre category. Whereas the Fiat makes me want to drive along the Autostrada del Sol to Florence and Naples, the Cortina 1200 I associate with seaside excursions to Southend in a drizzle. . .

Essex seaside resorts aside, in the 1960s, Fiat GB was the only car importer with a range as elaborate as Ford or Vauxhall. The 124 was a familiar sight throughout the 1970s – just look at the background scenes of The Sweeney – but now they are less common than a Mercedes-Benz 300SL’Gullwing’. This makes the Dawes Fiat a very desirable machine, and as Stephen recalls:

My late father bought his RHD 124 saloon new in June 1968 when serving with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany. He re-registered it on being posted back to the UK - hence the later plate. As a child, I can remember us having some great outings in the car. He really looked after it and must have been fond of it as he’d kept it until the dire end. He enjoyed all his cars, and believe me, he’d owned many, but none meant as much to him as his cherished 124. And it was the first and last car that he’d ever bought brand new!

FFR 585 J retired to a garage in 1984, where it has remained ever since. Stephen is now keen for the Fiat to find a new home with someone who will return it to its former glory. We will keep you posted…

With Thanks To: Stephen Dawes

Are you an avid fan of classic Fiat models?

Lancaster Insurance are currently in a Great Classic Trade-Up Challenge with Classics World to see who can arrive at the Classic Motorshow in November with the most value.

Classics World have already sold their first vehicle while we’re still looking for a buyer of our Fiat 127.

Produced between 1971 and 1983, the model being sold to one lucky buyer is one of the later models from a very short production line - a rare find indeed.

The DVLA believe there are only 128 Fiat 127's on British roads, and only two of them are the Fiat 127 Super - the model we are selling - with a 5-speed gearbox, unlike the earlier models.

This nimble car has only done 27,000 miles in its 39-year existence. We’re selling for £6,000 ONO

Those interested in purchasing this fine car should email restochallenge@lancasterinsurance.co.uk