Andy 60s Fiat 600 1964 Model Silver Strings Overload

#This story was featured on 9th November 2014 during Brian Richmond's 90.5fm radio show, Sundays With Brian during the Reminiscing with Andy segment. 

A Memory Trail:

We didn't know how but Audie, bass guitarist of the Silver Strings, owned a Fiat 600 in the 60s and the 5 or 6 of us squeezed into the tiny car with two doors.

We were entangled all over like a human octopus, limbs dangling, with probably three sitting in front and four seated behind, with at least 3 Fender guitars, a snare drum, and sticks. We knew how sardines felt after that. Compact travel. It was fun though as our driver went round before that picking everybody up. The cramping got worse as the numbers increased.

Wilfred, Danny Boy, Andy, Audie and David during one of the first few gigs at the old Kallang Airport Dance Hall.

If I remember correctly, the usual troupe was in the car, handsome Hainanese boy David Chan lead guitarist, Wilfred Chew rhythm, the rich young man from a bungalow house in Katong, 'Danny Boy' or Osman our drummer and our taxi-driver Audie Ng who owns the car, the band, and the bass. 

Somewhere in that mess, I was inside too. Five so far. Sometimes a fan would come in; he would help carry our guitars. You wouldn't believe it but the car can take in five people easily.

Audie still does it now, picking band members up and sending them way back home in the night from as far as Yishun and Pasir Panjang. I remember him driving home the band boys after our studio practices in November 2008. He drives a bigger car now. This particular car took us home during the racial riots (check postings) in 1964.

I bought one in the mid-60s too. Kiasu. Red in color; no choice. Second hand. The above illustration shows the two doors opening V-shaped, facing the engine. They were wide when opened, very wide indeed. It was easy to enter and exit the car because of the wide gaps the two doors made (image). 

Once I fooled a friend, telling him that the Fiat 600 didn't use any engine. He was shocked when I opened the front bonnet to prove it. The space for an engine was empty. If only I had shown him the boot, where the engine was. 😂
Good old Eddie is still around today. I'm just wondering if he knows...

My first car ever!

With Brian Richmond during the recording session at MediaCorp which was at Caldecott Hill. He is a DJ at Singapore's 90.5 FM Radio Station.

Image: Google and A Personal Collection.
This post has been rejuvenated from 1.1.2009.