A lifelong companion: the family Fiat that stood the test of time

Mark meets Giles on this episode of In My Garage, proud custodian of a stunning 1974 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe.

Often, the cars we drive become part of our favourite memories. But for Giles, the bright red Fiat parked in his garage has quite literally been by his side for his entire life. Originally purchased new by his father, the Fiat was the car that brought Giles home from hospital for the very first time. It was the car he learned to drive in, his wedding car, and later, the car he brought his own children home in.

More than half a century later, the Fiat remains remarkably original. Giles has taken meticulous care of the Sports Coupe, determined to keep it in the same condition as when his father first drove it out of the dealership all those years ago. Apart from the addition of window tint, a practical necessity under the West Australian sun, the car remains almost entirely untouched. Its bright red paintwork, chrome details and classic steel wheels evoke the romance of 1970s Italian motoring, looking equally at home beneath WA’s blue skies as it would winding through the Tuscan landscape.

At a time when Australian roads were dominated by big Holden and Ford sedans, the Fiat 124 Sports Coupe offered something distinctly European. Designed with sharp Italian styling, twin-cam engineering and a lightweight, agile driving feel, it brought a sense of sophistication and character that stood apart from many of the larger local cars of the era.

For Giles, however, the Fiat represents far more than a piece of automotive history. He speaks about the car less as an owner and more as a custodian, someone entrusted with preserving both the vehicle and the memories attached to it. Every drive is a connection to his father, and every carefully maintained detail helps keep a family legacy alive.

That lifelong connection to the Fiat sparked an even broader passion for Italian motoring. Alongside the Sports Coupe sits Giles’ personal project car: A Fiat 124 Spider. While still respectful of the car’s heritage, Giles has added a handful of subtle cosmetic and performance upgrades to enhance the driving experience. His passion even earned him an invitation to the Australian launch of the modern Fiat 124 Spider, where he proudly displayed his own classic car to help showcase the lineage and history behind the new model.

That passion extends well beyond the garage though. During a family trip to Italy, Giles had only one special request - a visit to Fiat’s historic Lingotto factory in Turin. Once one of the most famous car factories in the world, the building has since been transformed into a shopping centre, though its legendary rooftop test track remains.

Now, Giles hopes to pass that same passion onto the next generation. Together with his son, he is restoring another striking red Italian classic, a Lancia Beta. More importantly, he is teaching him the patience, mechanical skills and appreciation needed to care for these cars properly before one day handing over the keys to the family’s beloved Fiat 124 Sports Coupe.

Some cars are valuable because of their rarity. Others because of their performance or design. But occasionally, a car becomes priceless because of the life built around it.

For Giles, the little red Fiat is more than metal, chrome and rubber, it is a living piece of family history, carrying memories across generations and ensuring that both his father’s legacy and his love for Italian motoring continue long into the future.

Watch the full episode of In My Garage on the Horizons by RAC YouTube channel and learn more about Giles' story.