Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat and Isotta were amongst the Italian brands' that gathered in Araxá to participate in the latest edition of the Brazil Classics Fiat Show, the 18th edition of the "National Encounter of Old Automobiles". Fiat Automóveis is the biggest car manufacturer in Brazil, and as the event's sponsor, they presented their latest model, the Fiat Palio Weekend Locker which went on sale last month.

Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat and Isotta were amongst the evocative Italian brands' that gathered to participate in the latest edition of the Brazil Classics Fiat Show, the 18th edition of the "National Encounter of Old Automobiles" that took place this year between 21 and 24 May in the city of Araxá in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

By gathering together a hugely impressive 322 historic cars from the classic, rare and very valuable Brazilian automobile collections, the nationally famous event confirmed its unrivalled position of being the most sophisticated event for older automobiles in the country. During the occasion, lovers of historic automobiles could see and feel that the models that are a real part of the history of the automobile in Brazil, cars that have defined advances through the decades. The event was also outstanding for the many casual visitors who also attended.

Organised by Veteran Car Club of Minas Gerais, and sponsored by Fiat Automóveis and FPT Powertrain Technologies, the exhibition was held in the fabulous grounds of the 'Ouro Minas Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá'. This 18th edition of Brazil Classics Fiat Show was the fourth consecutive one to be held in the city, and was the fourth consecutive on that has seen Fiat acting as the title sponsor.

"Having the opportunity to participate in the Brazil Classics Fiat Show, an event that gathers the most important icons of the old car collections in the country, is no doubt an honour for Fiat, which values and gives prestige to the history and the memory of the automobile in Brazil," commented Mr. Marco Antônio Lage, the Director of Corporate Communication of Fiat Automóveis.

First held 24 years ago, the "National Encounter of Old Cars" continues to surprise visitors during each edition, and within the display of this year, forty stunning Italian automobiles were gathered in the special reserved "Spazio Itália". This space included models from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati amongst many others. Prominence within the very popular display went to half a dozen truly historic Italian masterpieces: an Iso Grifo (1965), Ferrari F40 (1987), Ferrari 225 S Barchetta Vignale (1952), Isotta Fraschini (1927), Isotta Fraschini (1928) and a Fiat 509 TO (1927).

Fiat Automóveis is the biggest automobile manufacturer in Brazil with a market share in excess of 25 percent; and as the Brazil Classics Fiat Show's main sponsor, it presented its latest production model, the Fiat Palio Weekend Locker, with its innovative front differential system. The facelifted Palio Weekend range, including the top-of-the-range Weekend Locker version, went on sale in Brazil last month.

by Claudio Perlini