This week’s clash of the classics hopes to answer an age-old question asked by many classic car buyers. British or Italian? Sausage or salami? Tower bridge or the leaning tower of Pisa?
Looks:
The Fiat is a splendid looking car, simple, elegant and toned. Its wings and bonnet bulges are every bit as Italian as anything that came out of Maranello. Which is believable, considering the Spider was designed by Pininfarina. With the roof down jaw-dropping, and quite spacious…Which it needs, as the driving style is also typically Italian. Good for those with short legs and long arms.
MG’s BGT is the archetypal classic. It’s the go-to car, a wonderful reminder of why we love older vehicles. More importantly, it’s a memento for car stylists. It proves that a car can be imposing without the need for 20-inch alloy wheels or impossibly wide arches.
Performance:
The 1800cc engine in the BGT only has 84bhp. There’s a throaty burble on tickover that moves to a meaty mumble when revved and it’s this noise that will make you love it, and not necessarily the performance figures.
The Fiat is slightly more powerful, pushing out a useful 10bhp more than the MGB. If anything, it feels slightly more than 10 bhp up, as it’s two seconds quicker to 60mph.
Price:
Price could be the decider in this one. Good MGBs start at £5000. You’ll see a few for more, but there’s no need to pay these attention. There are always hundreds of them for sale, and bargains are definitely out there. The Fiat is entirely different. Scarcely available, if you’re really after one a seller can determine the price as it may be the only one for sale. Expect to pay upwards of £10,000, with good ones easily fetching £15,000.
Result?
Clash of the classics almost feels unbefitting of these two beauties. They compliment each other, rather than clash. The Fiat is something to pose in, something to enjoy for an afternoon. It’s a car you can put the roof down in, take in some sun while listening to that yelping twin cam. The MG’s more comfortable, maybe even more grown up. It can take you to the Peak District in comfort, then show you a jolly good time when you get there.