AutoTrader Finds of the Week: Italian Olympics Special
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Today, Italy becomes the centre of the world once again with the opening ceremonies of the 25th Olympics Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. What does that have to do with cars, you ask? In an of itself, nothing. But, as we all know, the Italian automotive industry is one of the most spectacular on earth, so we took the opportunity to scour the pages of AutoTrader to find the finest examples that you could buy today to celebrate the Italian games.
2000 Fiat Panda Young
There are vehicles that impress by their numbers, while other seduce buyers with their history. This Fiat Panda Young from the year 2000 (!) that is being sold by in Vaughan, Ont., is clearly of the latter variety. Exceptionally maintained, this Panda features the “Young” trim package, a scheme thought up by the automaker to stretch out the broth, as it were, and keep this city car from the ‘80s running all the way up until 2003.
Under the hood, the little hatchback features a four-cylinder engine that displaces just 1.1 litres and delivers a whopping 54 horsepower through a five-speed gearbox. More than a simple runabout, this Panda Young is a veritable piece of Italian history. It speaks to an era when simplicity, reliability, and personality were what made a car.
2007 Fiat Panda 4x4
If the squared-off look of the above Panda doesn’t appeal to you, there’s this adorable Panda 4x4 Climbing edition. This one features raised suspension, a permanent four-wheel-drive powertrain, and everything you need for a twee adventure.
Under the hood, there’s a 1.2L four-cylinder engine that’s paired to a five-speed manual transmission. With just under 71,000 km on the odometer, this Panda 4x4 Climbing Edition is offered by the same seller as the earlier Panda. For those seeking a rare vehicle that can tackle the trail without also being an imposing SUV, this little Italian mountain goat might be perfect.
1972 De Tomaso Pantera
The natural followup to the above city cars from the Fiat empire is this small volume supercar that marries Italian style to American power. With a design from Modena and a V8 from Detroit, the Pantera’s reputation is expressed in decibels.
The automotive equivalent of a bobsled launched at full speed, the De Tomaso Pantera is brutal, spectacular, and impossible to ignore. It’s a machine that leaves no one indifferent and which demands respect to this day. This example from 1972 was the subject of a full restauration. The body was removed and now features GT5 fender flares, the suspension has been completely revised, and it has updated disc brakes. As for the rest of the vehicle, it has been modernized without robbing the car’s of old school charm.
2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
While we’re here, let’s talk about another V8-powered Italian design icon. The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione isn’t really designed to compete on its performance numbers. Rather, its mission was to demonstrate the beauty of Italy's front engine grand tourers.
Admittedly, the price that is being asked for this car ($399,900) is more commonly associated with high-performance supercars, but can be explained by the beauty and rarity of this coupe. Presented here in Rosso Competizione, this Alfa Romeo will be as lovely to behold in 50 years as it is now, such is the simple, pure beauty of its silhouette. Moreover, its odometer reads just 27,000 km, a small enough figure to make it a true collector’s item.
That’s not to say there’s nothing impressive about its powertrain. Under the hood, its next buyer will find a naturally-aspirated, 4.7L V8 that is the product of a joint development project between Ferrari and Maserati. Capable of churning out 450 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, it’s paired to an automated six-speed manual transmission.
2012 Maserati Quattroporte S
Singing a similar song in another register, this Maserati Quattroporte S plays on Italy’s tradition of luxury. This grande sporting sedan could never really match the brutal premiumness of its German rivals, but its approach wasn’t a perfect match for what the likes of Audi and BMW were hoping to achieve either. Here, comfort is secondary to driver engagement.
Under its stylish coachwork we find the same V8 engine that powered the Alfa Romeo 8C above. For interested buyers, it’s worth noting that this Maserati was maintained at a Ferrari dealership and, with 72,000 km on the clock, is likely at the bottom of its value valley, making it a possible bargain for its next owner. With that said, potential buyers should be aware that maintenance costs mean that there’s no such thing as a cheap Italian luxury car when all is said and done.
2024 Ferrari Purosangue
Much like the most recently added Olympic disciplines, the Ferrari Purosangue is a controversial proposition. A Ferrari SUV?! The very idea feels like sacrilege. And yet, now that the dust has settled, it’s hard to argue that Maranello didn’t achieve what it set out to.
Sure, there are the four doors and an elevated ride height, but the naturally aspirated V12 is a clear sign of the Ferrari DNA at the heart of the Purosangue’s design. The SUV doesn’t seek to please purists. Its only mission is to surpass every other SUV on the road. Off the road, this model doesn’t quite have what it takes to tackle the toughest obstacles, but when the switchbacks come in hot, the Purosangue delivers driving pleasure.
The only catch is its price, which is just under three-quarters of a million dollars. That’s a lot of money for a crossover, but it seems people will pay any amount for vehicle with a prancing horse on its hood.
1974 Fiat Jolly
There's no shortage of Fiat 500s available on AutoTrader, many of them more modern and featuring more impressive performance figures than this. Few can match this one for joy, though. This 1974 Fiat Jolly was designed to get you to the beach in style, so its doors and roof were removed to give you better access to the Mediterranean sun.
Elsewhere, this special Fiat 500 maintains its two cylinder, rear-mounted engine, and its manual transmission. This example was restored and its cabin seems to be in excellent shape. Its trim, its chrome, and its finishes are all returned to their original lustre.
2024 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
When Lamborghini lifted the veil on this special Huracan in 2023, the world’s richest off-roaders all raised their hands and with one voice said, “Yes, please!”
With its elevated ride height, its enlarged wheel arches, and everything that makes Huracan a Sterrato, this vehicle is without a doubt one of most “Lamborghini” vehicles of all time. Everything the brand does is designed to surprise, but this one shocks.
And if that wasn’t enough, this example even comes with a roof box that, you have to admit, adds to this V10-powered beast's rugged appeal. Admittedly, $399,900 is a lot of money, but you’re unlikely to lose money on this supercar (provided you don’t go crashing off a trail). Moreover, this example has travelled just 10,000 km since being delivered.
1995 Alfa Romeo Spider
Finally, we end with the elegance of the Alfa Romeo Spider. This timeless roadster features the (slightly less desirable) 2.0L, four cylinder engine that makes 150 hp, but that's plenty to get this model moving swiftly. While purists bemoaned the fact that the Spider sent its power to the front wheels, rather the rear ones, that doesn’t really matter now because this is now a classic Alfa Romeo with a manual transmission, so driving pleasure is assured.
For its asking price of $16,888, you could probably find a Mazda MX-5 for less, but then you wouldn’t be driving something as exclusive as this Spider. Never sold in North America, few have been imported to Canada.
And so, just as the Milan-Cortina Olympics will prove, so have we shown that there are a million facets to Italian performance.
