In January this year, we had a week holiday in Milan and Turin. We had a excellent journey there by Eurostar and then French TGV train from Paris to Turin. Strongly recommended, much better than all the aggro nowadays of flying! Also cheaper than flying and much more relaxing.

On one afternoon we went to Officine Abarth in Corso Marche in Turin. Its in the original Abarth premises. When we got there they were closed for lunchtime but very kindly opened up to have a look around. There is lots of Abarth memorabilia and all sorts of clothing etc to buy. The virtual configurator was good fun, speccing up a Grande Punto Abarth will all the options. They had several cars in the showroom and some of the press demonstrators. We were left to browse and play with the cars. At the front is a kind of workshop where they can work on the cars and a delivery area for new cars. In broken English the salesman explained the sales were going extremely well and there was a long waiting list for a customer order.

If you are ever in Turin, well worth a visit. I guess it is even better now they have the GP Esse Esse and the 500 there too. It’s a few stops along the metro system in Turin and a few minutes walk from Corso Marche metro station.

Hi Unfortunatley we did not see the workshops... they were really 'closed' but opened up so we could take a look around. They even went to get the Lancia salesman from the showroom next door as he spoke English! A very warm welcome. I understand there is now Abarth HQ at the Mirafiori factory which is even better...perhaps next time!

Officine Abarth is the sales operation in central Turin, more of a showroom. It was the premises Carlo Abarth worked from. I imagine you went to Mirafiori.

Sounds like an excellent trip John, I wonder if they do factory visits for customers too, that would be really cool!

Where did all the Stradas go, they were very futuristic at the time? There is a good video of the original launch advert on You Tube somewhere. My first Fiat was an original 500, then a 127, a Panda, an Uno, a Panda 4x4, an Uno Turbo.... I shouldn't really be left in a car showroom on my own really!!!

When I was in Italy in July we managed to get a tour of the Pagani and Lambo factories.  Met Horatio Pagani himself.  Recommended if you ever get the chance to blag it.