Remember Fiats? From 1966 till 1985, these sleek little Italian roadsters turned heads and drew drivers concerned with fuel economy and in love with style.
When Fiat decided to reenter the US market in 2010, they were downright picky about who would get to sell their cars, giving preference to top-flight Chrysler dealers, requiring a selective application process and a dedicated showroom. In the Hudson Valley, Begnal Motors in Kingston made the cut a few months back.
“We’ve been pretty excited about getting the franchise for a Fiat studio,” says Begnal sales manager Kevin Crockett. “People looking for an earth-friendly car with an exotic feel tend to love them. We’ve got a few happy drivers on the road already.”
Crockett expects great things in 2017. Fiat is reintroducing its iconic Spider—and Begnal is completing over 30,000 feet of dedicated showroom space on Rt. 28 just past the traffic circle, built, Crockett says proudly, entirely by local labor. Look for a grand opening around May. Ltbegnalmotor.com
This article appears in December 2016.
