Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
0 comments 
Fiat Palio, The Classic Beloved by Brazilians, Was Bought New in 2006 by an Importer Hired by Shell to Analyze the Flex Engine Performance, an Innovative Technology at the Time in Brazil
How did the Fiat Palio venture by ship to Europe and win an automotive admirer? Check out this unusual story below. Produced in Betim, Minas Gerais, the Brazilian hatch was bought by a German importer in 2006 and ended up forgotten in a dealership until being discovered by a Brazilian.
The presence of the Fiat Palio in Germany, this typically Brazilian hatch, arouses curiosity. After all, how did it end up there? Keep reading and check out this unusual story!
How Did the Brazilian Hatch End Up in Germany?
Fiat Palio Brazilian Was for Sale at a Turkish Man’s Store
Lucas Toledo, at 32 years old, a native of Brasília (DF), lived most of his life in Brazil. In 2018, he moved to a small village near Nuremberg, Bavaria, in search of job opportunities. He married a German woman and was employed by DHL, a renowned delivery company.
-
A brand that has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1901 launches its first electric model, and the price shocked the world: $3,000, weighing only 124 kg and accelerating from 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds…
-
Omoda & Jaecoo revolutionizes the electrified segment with the launch of a plug-in hybrid SUV priced below R$ 200,000 and a range of 1,200 km.
-
Elon Musk buys his own 1,279 Cybertrucks to boost weak sales of the pickup in the US.
-
Xiaomi (sim, a mobile phone) received 200,000 orders in 3 minutes for its electric SUV that travels 835 km on a single charge and costs less than a Tesla…
In his search for a new “toy,” Lucas found an ad for a Brazilian Fiat Palio available in the area. Although Germany is full of exotic and coveted vehicles, the Minas Gerais hatch caught his attention, leading him to acquire it.
“The car was sitting in a dealership owned by a Turkish man. Locals barely noticed it, often confusing it with a European Fiat Panda,” he revealed. Lucas made a simple offer and bought the Latin American car for 2,300 euros (approximately R$ 12,400), facing some issues with the Fire engine.
This Classic Beloved by Brazilians Was Bought New in 2006 by an Importer Hired by Shell
With the Palio now in his garage, Lucas dedicated himself to tracing the car’s origin from the factory in Betim (MG). He discovered that the vehicle was bought new in 2006 by an importer hired by Shell at an Itavema dealership in São José dos Campos (SP). It seems that the goal of the German subsidiary was to analyze the performance of the flex engine, an innovative technology at the time in Brazil.
Shell employees received the small hatch in Hamburg. Along with the Palio, there was a Volkswagen Gol Total Flex for the same purpose. With the documentation regularized, the company began testing.
Fiat Palio Remained for Sale for Seven Years and Nearly Became Junk
The exact purpose of the tests is uncertain. After its use by Shell, the Palio was sold to a German woman who rarely used it. The car remained for sale for seven years until being purchased by Lucas in 2023, with only 27,300 km on the clock (it now has 30,000 km). “It was almost being discarded, which normally happens with imported national models here,” lamented the enthusiast.
Due to the rigorous testing and the long period of inactivity, the engine required several repairs. Lucas had to recondition the cylinder head and replace gaskets and belts. Fortunately, finding parts for the Fire engine in Europe is just as easy as in Brazil.
Other Brazilian Cars Also Succeed in Europe, Like the Volkswagen Gol in Poland, Fiat Uno in Spain, Hyundai HB20 in Austria
Driven by curiosity about other Brazilian cars in Europe, Lucas investigated government agencies and stores, discovering models like the Volkswagen Gol in Poland, Fiat Uno in Spain, Hyundai HB20 in Austria, and others. On the account @umpalionalemanha on Instagram, he shares discoveries about each car.
“There are peculiar stories. I heard of a Portuguese diplomat who was so enchanted by a Gol that he decided to take it to Europe. The importation of the Saveiro to the Netherlands was so costly that the buyer regretted it. Today, the pickup is abandoned in a store,” he reported.
On the list are:
- Chevrolet Celta | Netherlands: few Chevrolet models made it to Europe, where GM was represented by Opel;
- VW Gol | Poland: the best-selling hatch in Brazil is also common in Europe;
- Fiat Palio | Germany: a more modern version has also been seen;
- VW Gol | Germany: a German created a collection of the square model;
- Hyundai HB20 | Austria: often confused with the i20, a compact from Hyundai available in Europe;
- Chevrolet Corsa | Germany: the wagon, sold by Opel in Europe, now sports custom wheels.
Palio Was Finally Recognized at Nürburgring, One of the Sanctuaries of Motorsport, by a German Enthusiast of Exotic Cars
Brazilian cars are little noticed in Europe, especially in places where they were officially sold. For example, Ukraine received batches of the Brazilian Siena over two decades ago, and units of the Strada reached Belarus.
Lucas’s Palio was finally recognized at Nürburgring, one of the sanctuaries of motorsport, by a German enthusiast of exotic cars. Driving the Minas Gerais hatch on the iconic track was a welcome gift from Lucas to his new friend. “I prefer not to occupy the left lane, but I still took the opportunity to watch the various machines passing by,” commented the Brazilian.
A curious detail is that the Palio’s license plate features the combination FÜ-CK 66, a profanity in English. “The car was registered in Fürth, and the initial letters always identify the city. The choice of the last digits was mine,” he explained, laughing. For those wondering if the 2006 Palio is the only car owned by our protagonist, the answer is no. “I have a eighth-generation Golf. Before, I owned an Opel Mokka.”
I would love to know what you think of this story. Let us know in the comments section if you have ever had or have a Fiat Palio and your experience with the brand. Don’t forget to leave 5 stars and activate CPG notifications to keep up with all the news in the automotive world. Until next time!
Seja o primeiro a reagir!