Coupévertailu: Fiat, BMW ja Jaguar

Ostin divarista Classic Cars-lehden (december 1998). Siinä on vertailussa 70-luvun luksuscoupét: Fiat 130 3.2 Coupé, BMW 3.0 Csi ja Jaguar XJC 4,2. Hinnaltaan 130 Coupé oli ollut uutena Englannissa Jaguaria kalliimpi, mutta hieman BMW:tä edullisempi. Lehden ilmestymisen aikoihin eli v.1998 Fiatin hinnat olivat Englannissa Jaguarin kanssa samaa luokkaa, Bemarin ollessa edelleen hieman kalliimpi. Miten lie nykyinen hintataso? Vertailun autoista BMW:ssä oli manuaalivaihteisto, Fiatissa ja Jaguarissa automaattivaihteisto.
Näin lehti kirjoittaa Fiatista:
..."It was the Pininfarina styling that sold these cars, though only to 4500 well-heeled people discerning enough see beyond the badge. It's got that Ferrari 400 feel about it - they were built in the same factory - but the Fiat is the more pure of the two. Humph. Wonder what Enzo Ferrari would have made of that?"

THE FIAT 130 didn't use a Ferrari engine but was closely related to the Dino V6. Aurelio Lampredi designed both but where the Dino had four camshafts and chain drive the 130 had two cams and a toothed rubber belt. The first 130 saloons were 2.8 V6s. The 130 V6s found their way occasionally into the Stratos too.

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD owned a 130 Coupé with gold plated door handles. Naturally Fiat boss Agnelli drove a 130, although his saloon was armour plated with bulletproof glass and bandit-proof locks.
The Pope John Paul's had a stretched 130 saloon.

4500 130 COUPÉS were built between 1971 and 1977. Only 400 came to the UK.

And the winner is...?
"XJCs can be wonderful, the BMW is irresistible, but there's something about the 130 that sets it apart - its character is close to a Rolls-Royce"