TUCKED is the back of the showgrounds shed at the Shepparton Italian Festa, Wangaratta-Italian historian Leo Notarianni held a large exhibition of vintage Italian travel and food posters, real estate, vintage motoring advertising and literature, and classic Italian cars.
The calibre of vehicles on display was very high with an immaculate locally owned silver 1983 Ferrari 308GTBi, which won the best classic sports car. A grey Maserati Quattroporte won the best modern car. The car that stole the show was the 1948 Fiat 500 Topolino, in a beautiful shade of dark green with contrasting saddle trim.
Winning the best classic car, the Topolino, which translates to Little Mouse and colloquially “Mickey Mouse”, attracted a lot of attention at the festa.
Known as the people’s car of Italy, like the Austin 7 was in England and Volkswagen Beetle was to Germany, in many ways it had an unrivalled presence as it was continually the bestselling car in Italy for many years. 520,000 were made of the first affordable car for the average Italian wage earner.
“It provided a worthwhile addition to the hugely popular Italian Festa, with many onlookers happily browsing the carefully planned exhibition,” said Leo.
