A few months ago, we bought a well worn Fiat 500 on Gumtree from a lovely lady called Liz, but it was clear this was no ordinary sale. The car belonged to her daughter Jess, who had sadly passed away suddenly at a young age. It was clear it was all very raw to Liz, and selling the car was a big step and she wasn’t the only one to cry that day. We promised to get the car back to its best, and also pledged that we would create a worthwhile challenge with the car to raise money for MIND the charity chosen by Jess's friends and family.

Sion Hudson and I are embarking on an Anglo-Italian food themed road trip on October 31st, 2025, commencing at Lingotto, an iconic former Fiat factory in Turin, Italy. This remarkable location is now a vibrant shopping and cultural center, renowned for its rooftop racetrack featured in "The Italian Job" and home to a Fiat museum that celebrates its rich history.

Our journey will be guided by the expertise of car designer and automotive journalist Matteo Licata, who will share with us a traditional Piedmontese recipe that will be the heart of our challenge along with our trusty Fiat 500 — purchased just a few hundred pounds and now back in fine health after a considerable amount of work —will have us dash around Turin gathering all the ingredients needed to create the perfect Italian dinner. After this culinary adventure, we will drive back overnight to Cambridge to host a sumptuous meal for members of the East Anglia car community.

In true Top Gear fashion, if we don’t make it back in time, we have a backup plan: a truly British meal of boiled cabbage and tinned Fray Bentos pie! This event is reminiscent of the beloved British TV dinner party program "Come Dine with Me" crossed with a thrilling "Top Gear" challenge.

We invite you to follow our journey on social media and Sion's YouTube channel "Morsels and Motors." Your generous donations will support Mind, an organization dedicated to mental health advocacy. Our target is £500 to help those in need. Together, let’s make a difference while enjoying this unique adventure!

Watch how we restored the little Fiat Here!