Fiat Multipla travels westward...

Fiat Multipla travels westward... The Flu Americana Tour...

Three weeks from today, we will be leaving Knoxville, TN for the mother road, route 66. The plan is to travel along route 66 all of the way westward and deliver the 1999 Fiat Multipla to the west coast Fiat fans. I would like to meet up with as many of you guys as possible along the way and when we arrive on November 4-6ish. I will be driving the PCH to Santa Cruz to deliver the car to west coat friend and Fiat nut, Rudy Mortero.

Here is the press release we have prepared for the trip. We hope to generate lots of interest for FLU and Fiat. Watch for us. Contact me if you want to meet or be involved in this crazy trip.

Riding a wave of momentum from its most recent Fiat Freak Out event, Fiat Lancia Unlimited (FLU) is partnering with auto enthusiasts Brett Melancon and Larry Smith on the ultimate road trip – a two-week, 2,500-mile trek from Chicago to Los Angeles on historic Route 66. The pair will be driving the legendary “Mother Road” in its entirety, following the road’s original path as authentically as possible. The journey will be made in a 1999 Fiat Multipla, imported to the U.S. from Ireland by owner Jim Magill, who is selling the vehicle post-trip to Lane Motor Museum in Nashville.

Dubbed the “FLU Americana Cruise,” the event is slated to kick off in Chicago on October 24. Along with the requisite roadside attractions and mom-and-pop diners, Melancon and Smith will be focused on promoting FLU along this cross-section of the American landscape. Melancon is a long-time active member of FLU and planned this trip to coincide with Chrysler’s introduction of the new Fiat 500 to the U.S. market. Smith is a professional writer and will document the journey via real-time blog posts and video on a custom website as well as frequent updates on FaceBook and Twitter. The trip will conclude in early November at the official end of Route 66 in Santa Monica, CA.

The uniquely designed Multipla, an MPV never encountered by most Americans, will be graphically enhanced with an eye-catching wrap featuring FLU, the Fiat brand and details of the trip. Several strategic stops are planned along the drive, including community events and local auto clubs and shows, many of which to be arranged through Melancon’s affiliation with FLU. “The Multipla provides a penetrating glimpse of where Fiat has been and where the brand is going,” says Melancon. “This trip along Route 66 will build brand awareness and credibility for FLU, further ensuring that the alliance is recognized when Fiats are inevitably offered once again here in the United States.”

FLU is the largest and most active Fiat and Lancia enthusiast group in North America, with local chapters holding yearly events that draw attendees from around the world. FLU’s premier event is the annual Fiat Freak Out, which recently held its 26th gathering in August with over 150 vehicles featured and more than 500 in attendance.

Brett, I didn't know there were any Multiplas in the U.S. I travel to Torino, Italy occasionally on business and they're all over the road there (many as taxis). No disrespect, but until the Nissan Cube was introduced I always thought the Fiat Multipla held "ugliest car in the world" status (uglier than the Pontiac Aztec). But now with the Cube taking on the honors, maybe the Multipla should be the "funkiest car in the world." It certainly has character! I had some business to attend to in the Fiat Miafiore factory outside Torino last year. They've been building the Multipla there for around 10 years (along with the Fiat Punto, Alfa Romeo Mito and a Lancia model now). The Multipla was the only assembly line that wasn't automated with robotics. All the spot welding was being done manually with an army of Italian laborers. Rumor is that the line will soon be decommissioned at Mirafiore and all tooling sent to a third world country for continuation.

If it was this:

I'd be a little more interested.

In reply to KaptKaos: So would I. We only have two weeks to make the trip though.

We will be having fun in the ugly duck so be sure to check it out.

We will be wrapping the Multipla in graphics that will promote FLU and Fiat in general. My desire is to share this experience and the car with west coast folks as much as possible. If anyone has any ideas for the car, be sure to let me know. It will be spending some time in the bay area with Rudy Mortero and will be available if anyone would like to see it or take it for a spin. Rudy will be bringing it back east sometime this winter and from there, the Multipla will travel the north-south route of the US. This trip is all about having fun with a Fiat so please help me spread the word and share this with anyone who is interested.

We are open to any and all offers for meeting up and crashing (no pun intended) along the way. Email me and I will send my number so we can talk in detail. We have a website in the works and will be blogging and providing updates with photos and videos on Facebook and various other media. We are also keeping a journel and hope to have material for publication along the way. Stay tuned. Brett

Change in plans... We are working on a way to make it west in time for the France and Italy show. Stay tuned for more to follow. We will most likely try to arrive on Friday in time for the show. Can anyone set me up a meeting with Jay Leno? ;-) I also want to be in on the drive on sunday.

More to come later as things develop.

The Cube and the Aztec look positively macho in comparision... That is the most gay looking pile of crap I've ever seen. If you're gonna drive this thing anywhere west of Atlanta, ya better have bullet-proof glass, Dude... Does it come with factory purple paint and rainbow bumper stickers??? Better thee than me. Cheers, Scott

So...how do you REALLY feel? Come on, we are doing this for fun, not to prove how cool we are.

In reply to BrettM:

Leno is always at that show. I don't think I can remember him ever missing one.

Brett is cool. He has 2 Mustangs, so he's already twice as cool as I am. However, the Multipla negates at least one of the Mustangs, so his Man Card may be in jeapordy.

Here we go...Rt 66! Well, we have gotten our website up and the countdown has officially started. This website will be updated at least once daily (maybe more) while we are on our trip along Rt 66. Be sure to check back often and see where we are once the trip starts. I plan to have an interactive map of sorts and will update photos along the way.

The site is brand new so some areas are still under construction and the content is still a little light. that will change soon enough.

http://www.66inafiat.com

Check it out and let me know what you think. Brett

Well, our Route 66 trip has come to a conclusion. We had fun in a really strange car. check out the website for photos and a daily blog.

http://www.66inafiat.com