Some car collections come about as a result of professional success, an inheritance, or a late-blooming passion. Others tell a true love story. In Japan, a couple of car enthusiasts—nicknamed «the Tea Family» by their friends—have built up an astonishing collection of Italian cars over the years, including a 1974 Fiat 500, an Abarth 695 Biposto, two Fiat Barchettas, and even an Alfa Romeo 159. It’s a journey in which emotions, sacrifices, and cars are closely intertwined.
Their story, as told by the Japanese magazine ENGINE, shows just how certain cars can become much more than just a means of transportation.
First, an Abarth to win over his future wife
It all began even before their wedding. The husband, a car enthusiast, was planning to buy a Toyota MR2 AW11. But his future wife already owned a modern Fiat 500 and dreamed of an Abarth. He finally decided to abandon his original plan and buy an Abarth 500 instead. His goal was simple: to catch her eye with this little Italian sports car…
For her part, Madame says she fell in love with the Fiat 500 when she was a student. Raised in a family that favored German cars, she discovered that the little Italian car had a completely different personality.
In her view, the Fiat 500 wasn’t as precise or as solid as the German models. Its vibrations, mechanical noises, and sometimes fragile nature almost made it feel like a car that needed to be protected. That feeling immediately won her over and made her want to remain loyal to Italian cars.
«My parents were mostly fans of German cars, but the 500 didn’t have that very rigid feel. Its vibrations and noises gave it a certain fragility, as if it needed to be taken care of.»
The Abarth thus became the starting point not only for a romantic relationship but also for a shared passion.
Then, a vintage Fiat 500 as a wedding gift
After buying the Abarth in 2019, the couple began attending car shows and events dedicated to Italian cars. Very soon, one idea kept coming up: to one day own a classic Fiat 500. Fate intervened when they accompanied a friend to a garage where he wanted to see a Lotus. Once there, they discovered a 1974 Fiat 500R. It was love at first sight.
The couple then made a decision that surprised those around them: the money they had set aside for their wedding would ultimately be used to buy this historic Fiat 500. Because, yes, at that time, the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to hold a large ceremony. So the couple chose to invest in their shared passion rather than in a traditional wedding reception. The Fiat 500R thus became their true wedding gift.
«Since we were going to pay for the car together, we figured maybe it was time to get married. We used the money we’d set aside for the wedding to buy that Fiat 500R.»
The Fiat Barchetta, «little boat»
The Abarth 500 is used for everyday driving, while the Fiat 500R is reserved for outings and events. However, the latter has a non-power-assisted braking system and a non-synchronized transmission, which makes it more difficult to drive.
The woman then began looking for a car of her own. She remembered seeing a Fiat Barchetta on the street one day and being immediately captivated by its design. For a long time, however, she thought the Italian convertible was out of her reach, particularly because it was available only in left-hand-drive models with manual transmissions.
Then, at a car show, she saw a woman behind the wheel of a Barchetta. That encounter was a turning point. A few weeks later, a 1998 blue Mare Fiat Barchetta joined the collection. According to its owner, the car offers a very special driving experience. Its smooth, fluid handling perfectly matches her driving style. She explains that the name «Barchetta,» which means «little boat,» perfectly describes the feeling behind the wheel. The car isn’t particularly fast, but it offers exactly what she was looking for.
The Alfa Romeo 159… for now
The garage continued to grow. While keeping the Abarth 500, the Fiat 500R, and the Barchetta, the couple added a Alfa Romeo 159, simply because they had wanted to try out the model for a long time. This Alfa Romeo will eventually be replaced by a Porsche 944 Cabriolet, a sign that the couple’s interest in cars isn’t limited exclusively to Italian models. But Italy will quickly regain the upper hand!
The Abarth 695 Biposto
In 2024, the husband learns that a friend wants to sell a Abarth 695 Biposto meticulously maintained. Ever since he joined Abarth, he has considered the Biposto to be the brand’s ultimate model. This particularly rare version, of which only a few were produced in Japan, is equipped with the famous dog-clutch transmission and is one of the most extreme Abarths ever produced.
The problem is simple: the couple had just bought the Porsche 944, and their finances were tight. In the end, it was his wife who convinced him. In her own words, she couldn’t stand seeing him hesitate any longer. To come up with the necessary funds, the couple even decided to cancel their life insurance policies.
The Abarth 500 that had brought them together then left the garage, making way for the highly exclusive 695 Biposto. At first, its new owner found it particularly difficult to drive. The lack of air conditioning, the heavy-duty clutch, and the dog-clutch transmission made the car demanding. But over time, he learned to appreciate its mechanics and unique characteristics. A professional auto mechanic, he enjoys understanding how it works and says today that simply looking at it in his garage already brings him great satisfaction.
Two Fiat Barchettas are better than one
The story could end there, but it takes yet another unexpected turn. Influenced by his wife and other car owners he had met over the years, the husband eventually decided he wanted his own Fiat Barchetta as well.
The couple already owns a blue 1998 model, but they each have a different vision for how to customize it. She wants to maintain a classic look, while he dreams of a sportier style.
The solution is simple: buy a second Barchetta. A midnight blue 2000 model has now joined the garage. For the couple, seeing two Barchettas parked side by side at home is now a true source of daily joy.
A passion that shows no signs of slowing down
Today, these Japanese enthusiasts explain that one car is no longer enough. Each one has its own role, character, and emotional appeal. Some are meant for spirited drives, others for daily commutes, and still others simply for the joy of preserving a classic model.
She also explains that the Barchetta opened the door to a much broader world for her—that of automotive designers and the philosophy behind each model. And when there’s still so much left to discover, one car just isn’t enough.
Original text: Yuya Murayama (ENGINE Editorial Team) Photos: Satoshi Kamimura.
English 
French 
Italian 
Spanish 
German 
Japanese 
Dutch