Fiat faults

Sir,
I read with interest Mr. L. R. Blewett’s letter (Motor Sport, January 1972) as I have owned two Fiats, both of which have suffered from the same problem as his 125. The first car, a 1965 600D), went on the blink and this I repaired myself, more by good luck than any particular skill on my part. The second car, however, a 1967 850, proved more troublesome. I replaced the bulb and checked the fuses but to no avail.

As the car was overdue for a number of small but irritating faults to he rectified, I paid a visit to my local Fiat agents, Ivor Motors of Wallasey, who diagnosed faulty earthing. The bill I received amounted to £7.65 which also included carrying out a complete anti-freeze service, fitting two new wiper blades and adjusting the sweep of the n/s wiper and repairing a window regulator. The car was returned to me in a day and none of the faults have since recurred. The service provided by Ivor Motors on all previous occasions has proved absolutely satisfactory and of the highest standard in every respect. They know each client by name and his car by number, which cuts a great deal of ice with me in this computerised age.

Everyone I know who owns a Fiat swears by the service they receive from this small but highly efficient garage, but, despite their reputation, the Fiat agency was taken away from them as from January 1st. I quote from the printed letter that Ivor Motors distributed to their customers: “This, no doubt; is progress, but ruthless progress by the manufacturer without too much thought for the hundreds of customers who can be left out on a limb service-wise by the zoning of the country and the placing of responsibility for an area on main dealerships.”

Ruthless? yes. Progress? surely not! I trust their diagnosis of my car’s problem indicators will enable Mr. Blewett to gain satisfaction.

I hasten to add that I have no connection with Ivor Motors except as an extremely satisfied customer. Congratulations on producing an excellent magazine.

T. Archard.
Hoylake.