RobiNZ Personal Blog

The best GBU mention ever!

Last night I posted this comment (without the image) on a 'The Intercooler' article by Mel Nichols about the history of the iconic Car Magazine Good, Bad, Ugly (GBU) pages: My favourite* GBU line was the 1983 (still have the August issue) 'Sum up' for a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance: "As flash as a rat with a gold tooth". I loved the GBU, kept a few key Car issues over the years including my first purchased, for a pocket money killing $1.20! The Feb 79 issue had a Fiat 131 Sport on the cover, alongside a RS2000 Escort but who... Read more →

The Lancia Delta, Big Car YouTube and me!

Big Car recently released his comprehensive video on the history of the Lancia Delta and I was happy to give a small hand to the production. As a Patreon supporter, I saw an early cut of it and recognised some concept design images he'd used. Back in the 80s, when I was studying Product Design (at what is now Unitec) I used to cycle around the car dealers in Great North Rd and Newmarket to see the new cars (and still do!). When the Delta arrived in their showroom Continental Cars had some books (more than a brochure) about the... Read more →

A Fiat 132!

The first Fiat I drove, back in the late 70s, was a 132. A very rare sight now in New Zealand, anywhere, so had to snap this when I saw one (the white saloon in the background) this morning when I stopped at the pharmacy on the way to work. It was a newer model, but there is no way I'd ever see our family 132 on the road again... Read more →

Cycling to look at the new electric and hybrid Italians

The Fiat 500e, but not yet the Abarth 500e, is just being launched in NZ. I got an email invite from Andrew Sims who had the 500e press preview car for test drives today (Sat Feb 11) & tomorrow prior to the Autumn public release. Decided not to waste their (limited) time booking one—as I won't be buying—but was curious to see the 500e in the metal. I typically go for a bike ride on Sunday but with Cyclone Gabrielle approaching, forecast arrival Sunday evening through to Tuesday, Saturday was a better bet. The morning was dedicated to my usual... Read more →

The Bravo Brochure meets a Bravo

I have a weekly search running on TradeMe (NZ's local on-line trading site) for "Bravo HGT". Because they are rare here, anywhere, it usually returns only parts common to other Fiat models. Recently something different popped up: Fiat Bravo Brochure 1996 40 pages + gatefolds, superbly illustrated. Covers full range including HGT. Mint condition. I bid, won (of one), and it arrived on Friday. It was as good as described, a nice accessory for the car which it was selling. Read more →

A history of the first Fiat I drove: The 132

Cool to read the history of the Fiat 132; our family car when I was a kid and the first Fiat I ever drove. Under the Knife – Don’t mention the War | Driventowrite.com During its thirteen-year lifespan, Fiat’s D-segment saloon went under the knife on four different occasions, with varying degrees of success. The Fiat 132 was launched in 1972 to replace the 125 Berlina... [the article uses the acronym 'DLO' which is car design speak for 'Day Light Opening', or windows...) Although not the purest Fiat experience, thanks to soft suspension and slightly 'woolly' steering, the 1973 Fiat... Read more →

Ridelabelz laundering instructions for an Abarth

When AHBART was detailed by Final Touch it included ceramic paint protection. That came with very specific hand wash instructions so, although I never use car washes, when I saw this amusing accessory on an Abarth Group had to get one. Seems appropriate for the car and summarises those car care instructions :) I ordered it a couple of months ago and had almost forgotten when, thanks to COVID-19 mail timelines, it arrived last Friday. It is printed on heavy duty vinyl and Velcro attached; take a look at ridelabelz.nl for details. Read more →

The evolution of the Fiat 500

While Frank Stephenson did design the production new generation Fiat 500 it is a pity he did not mention, credit, Roberto Giollito and his Fiat Trepiùno concept car (below) which served as the inspiration. It was named for a unique 1+2 seat configuration where the front passenger seat could be slid forward, under a recessed dashboard, to create two full size passenger spaces beside the driver. Pity that didn't make production! Still getting a concept to production largely intact, past the bean counter cuts and real-world requirements, is no mean feat. Love watching him draw too. I wondered if he'd... Read more →

My Fiat Bravo 155 HGT the HubNut star!

Back in mid-January 2020 Ian (HubNut) Seabrook took my 2001 Fiat Bravo 155HGT for a drive. I'm glad to see the verdict was favourable, even though his drive was hampered by an intermittent sensor problem causing it to feel flat on acceleration. Ian must be stronger than me. He pulled the bonnet release lever out of its pivot, never seen do that before, but clipped back in now! Since this was filmed the air conditioning condenser has been repaired so it's even cooler now. The wobbly throttle sensor was being sorted when the COVID-19 virus lock down closed NZ. I... Read more →

155, 255 still alive

My Bravo 155 HGT ticked up 255,000km on the way home from work. Read more →