carsales Drive-Thru car chats with Vincent Fantauzzo

Regaling in tales of growing up in and around Glenroy and Broadmeadows in Melbourne's north, Fantauzzo said if you did have a house you would likely have five cars that were half stripped-back in the front yard.

"Now all of those cars would be worth a fortune. It’s funny looking back, there were all these beautiful Fords and Holdens - I wish I could go back. I guess we didn’t appreciate what we had right in front of us." says Fantauzzo, one of the most interesting and inspiring humans I’ve had the privilege of interviewing.

The Alfa Romeo ambassador chats to carsales for our drive-thru series.

"My first memories of cars are how terrible our cars were! I would love to have the old Datsun or Celica, something that my Mum drove. I do recall my mum using a screwdriver to change the gears because there was no leaver. You could see the ground through a hole in the middle of the car - we had terrible cars. And I also remember the Celica that she had - we had to park it on a hill to push start the car to get to school. I had to tap a hammer on the starter motor while my mum turned the key to get it started. It’s very different now."

"My first car which I would love to have again was a Valiant Pacer, 1971.  It was incredible. I rebuilt that whole car – the engine, gearbox, brakes. I’d guess it probably fell apart afterwards.

"I went through a rotary stage. So I’ve had a few RX7s and RX3s and RX2. I used to take them out rally driving. I would go every weekend rally driving.  I had Datsun 1600s as well, they were great little rally cars.

"There was something about the Valiant 245 Pacer though - it was a three-speed manual and there weren’t many around - it was such a cool car. They still look so cool."

"I’ve had a lot of great cars over the years. It had been a while since I had a car I felt emotionally attached to. I drove Alfas when I was younger.

"I get stopped at petrol stations, at school and questioned about the car. It makes you feel proud of what you’re driving. There was once a Lambo that pulled up next to me and he puts the window down and they’re excited – asking what’s it like to drive? I feel that passion again and it makes me feel good to get inside.”

"I do get parking fines! Because, what happens… it’s this dyslexia! I do things like I buy a parking ticket and then I put it in my pocket. And I get back to the car and find a [parking] ticket!”

"According to my rims it’s probably about seven. I think my parking skills are not too bad. I can’t use the camera. The car has everything you can imagine, but those [parking] lines…. I don’t trust that new technology. I can’t get my head around a camera so I still tilt the mirror and sometimes stick my head out the window. Old school."

"You know, I purposely kept the same driver’s licence photo for the last ten years. You know how you can use your old photo. [I did not!] So my photo probably was a five originally but I’ve aged ten years and my photo has gone up to like an eight."

"About two. It’s my absolute flaw when driving. When I moved house I had to use navigation for about three months to find my way home. I’m so bad with directions. …I’d definitely get lost on a race track. No idea."

"Ooh - I love a good car chase. I don’t know if this is the best, but the one I watched recently was the original Herbie and it just made me laugh. There’s no tech and the funny screens in the background. It just made me think about what got me passionate and I loved about cars as a kid was  - it was [movies like] Cannonball Run, Herbie. All these original movies - I tried to watch it with my kids and they’re like ‘Dad, this is ridiculous’."

"I have high morals on the road when it comes to letting people in and being courteous. Me trying to switch lanes is like when I try to gamble. I lose every time. I just stay in one lane and hope it works. Whenever I switch, the other lane moves."

"My worst was when I drove one of my Archibald paintings to Sydney. I hired a van. The thing was vibrating the whole time, wind coming through. I was alone with my own thoughts from Melbourne to Sydney – that was damaging. Took weeks of counseling…."

"I do love bikes. My daily bike is the Ducati Scrambler. But I also have a few other bikes - a couple of Ducatis and a Royal Enfield which I rode all through India. I rode through Vietnam…  I rode through Italy on a Ducati. I’m passionate about the Ducati sound… it’s kinda like getting in the Stelvio and putting it in race mode. Apparently Alfa’s insurance doesn’t cover that!"

"I did about four weeks through India with Baz Luhrman on my Royal Enfield and that was amazing. But if I was going on a road trip I’d definitely take [chef] Matt Moran – one of my best mates. I know we’d just have so much fun. We might not ever come back. He loves car as well."

"A coffee…. and that makes me drive carefully as well. I never want to spill it in my Alfa. How many times have I said ‘Alfa’ - just checking… *laughs*. I always have a ball or something in car, for the kids, in case we stop somewhere."

"Yes. It sounds a little wrong but when we had the farm I taught my ten year old to drive the ute at the farm. I also taught them to drive the little electric go-kart we had. I’m just so passionate about driving. I hope they inherit the same passion so I can do it with them. I wanna find an old car to restore with the kids to give them that same love I have for driving.  I might pull the Stelvio apart…  we’ll modify it! I’m sure the contract I’ve signed says ‘will not modify’."

"I think when the time comes I will [get one] and I think we should all really embrace electric. I think the nostalgia and the history, the memories and sound, it’s so beautiful what goes with the old cars. But then I think about the environment. When the time comes I’ll be happy to let go.  And maybe I’ll just have one [internal combustion engine] in my garage to fire up every now and then. But I think it’s exciting to see the new technology and what it will bring.  It’s like a camera changing from film to digital. You find a new way to get creative."

"Driving is definitely an escape for me. It’s a time when I’m not allowed to pick my phone up. I’ve gotta get somewhere (which takes me a long time because I can’t navigate) and I just switch off and concentrate on the road.

"When I’m out in the country and I see the big old properties and I’m always looking to see if they have some old car. I’m waiting for that pot of gold [the barn find]! I hear about them but I’ve not had any luck. But I will!"

"I appreciate Alfa supporting me.

"I hope to break new ground and maybe open the door for other artists to see that you can have a commercial partnership and it actually enhances your art. It’s a great way to break down the boundaries and set a new precedent.

"I’m sure I’ll be getting something really fast in the future!"

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