Topolino

Spotted this lovely Topolino in Brockenhurst and by good fortune had a chance to chat to the owner remarking that it's probably my favorite classic car of the era.

 

 

This one is not in fact Fiat but a French built version built by Simca presumably in the Nanterre factory north of Paris,where production ran from 1936 to 1948. The owner had traveled down to the Pyrenees to secure this one which has had a lot of remedial bodywork done underneath

 

The engine, a mighty 569cc four cylinder side valve was seized and required a lot of TLC and repair including if I recall correctly new cylinder head and pistons.

 

Not sure if the phrase built for comfort not speed really applies, the interior is basic but the latter top speed of circa 25 MPH makes for leisurely cruising and a certain amount of patience.

 There were some subtle modifications, like tiny LED indicators tucked under the door hinges, necessary as the old style mechanical trafficators are simply not noticed in modern traffic.  I forgot to ask the year but likely an early model closed-roof steel coupe made before the popular popular fabric-sunroof (découvrable) model 

Overall a fabulous car for tootling around the New Forest.