A surprising marriage of key and car

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Mr Hugo Modderman from Monaco sent us an entertaining story. He mails:

"Your article about the Fiat Topolino Giardiniera ‘Woody’ inspired me to share my story with you. I own an identical car, restored some 40 year ago by Fiat for the former owner who was the well-known Belgian F1 driver and automobile journalist Paul Frère. When Paul turned 90, we organized a small gathering in the Automobile Club in Monaco. After lunch he took me aside and said to me: “I own a car which is dear to my heart. I know my life is ending soon and since you’re the only one around here with a sincere love for automobiles, I would like you to take care of it.” I still had no idea what it could be so imagine my surprise when I perceived this Topolino in some dark garage in Monaco. The car was complete, with exception of the car key. Never mind, a nail or some other Bosch key will do the job just as well. 

Paul Frère told me that the designer of the Topolino, Mr Dante Giacosa, explained to him how they came up with this car. It wasn’t their intention to copy American woodies. During the war they used to construct military pickups with a wooden body. After the war ended, they were left with a stockpile of wood, so then the Topolino came to mind. But it turned out to be such a success that after all wood was used they continued the model with a fake wooden look. The first owner of my Topolino was Mrs. Anna-Maria Guaineri from Brescia. She was the niece of count Aymo Maggi, a well-known driver and the co-founder of the Mille-Miglia. Paul Frère’s parents were friends of her parents and when she died, Paul took over the Topolino from the heirs. So I’m only the third owner! 

To complete this story, I once told my cousin, an engineer from Delft (the Netherlands) that the only thing missing was the original key. He later remembered that a former fellow student of his had a Topolino and asked him if he still had it. The former student answered: “That car is long gone, but I still have the key.” And by that lucky coincidence I now have a complete car!"

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