FIAT 508L (1100)

Saloon.

Once Italy's standard taxi, this one's a six-light saloon on a longer, 9ft wheelbase, though handling's nearly as good as for the short cars. Nice touches on 1100s are hand throttles, and push-in ignition keys (beware careless parking attendants, as turning them switches on the lights); but remember that transmission handbrake. Avoid anything that looks as if it's taken a torpedo in the bows; exchange front suspensions haven't been available for years.