Throughout 2016, fiatista around the globe have been commemorating the Golden Anniversary of the Fiat 124 Spider, which debuted at the Salon dell’ Automobile di Torino (Turin Auto Show) in Italy, back in November 1966. The collective celebrations presented a unique opportunity for Kiwi owners to also mark the occasion.
Joining the long list of international clusters (Ford Mustangs muster, Fiat Spiders cluster), the Euromarque Fiat 124 Spider 50⁰ Anniversario was unique in that it was the most Southern cluster of 124 Spiders in the world and the largest ever in New Zealand… to date.
A joint initiative between Euromarque, Canterbury’s only authorised Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati Concessionaire and the Canterbury Fiat-Lancia Club, the three day national convention was held in Christchurch over Canterbury’s provincial anniversary long-weekend, November 11-13th, as part of a greater campaign to launch the new 2016-17 Fiat/Abarth 124 Spider in New Zealand.
Participants attended from all over New Zealand: Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Kapiti Coast, New Plymouth, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika, Christchurch, Methven and Timaru.
Fifty participants, comprising 14 Spiders (of 16, as 2 were forced to abandon attendance, due to Cook Strait ferry cancellations between the North and South Islands) and 11 sister Sport Coupes clustered to enjoy two rallies, a transport museum visit, a commemorative display as part of the biennial Euromarque Belle Italiane all-Italian car display of over eighty classic and contemporary automobiles from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso, Lamborghini, Lancia & Maserati. and a gala Awards dinner.
Here are a few pics from the convention.
Pictured below are 10 Spiders of 14 (another 2 Spiders were unable to cross the Cook Strait due to ferry cancellations) and 9 of 11 sister Sport Coupe GTs.
Participants are planning to cluster again in the summer of 2018/19.
