Was Fiat’s Samantha named after the Samantha of Ford fame?

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Cars named after girls are nothing new. Apart from marque names such as Monica and Lola, there have been plenty of model names too. Alfa Giulietta, Reliant Robin, Citroen Dyane, Lotus Elise, Lancia Aurelia, Skoda Felicia, Borgward Isabella, Morris Marina, Mazda Carol and no doubt many, many more (feel free to add to the list). Of some we know the actual lady who they are named after. Mercedes Jellinek of the Mercedes marque in the first place, but also Elise Artioli of Lotus fame, Monique Tastevin of Monica and Tina Marshall as in the TVR Tina spring to mind.

But how about the Fiat Samantha? We thought of it as one of these pretty 2+2 coupes came by on offer by MossGreen in Australia. The car was based on the boxy 125 but looked anything but dull after Vignale had put its hands on it. We would not be surprised if the Samantha was named after an existing lady, too. Was there ever a girl named Samantha Vignale? Or did the builders get the name from other inspirational sources? Back in 1967 one model was on every international fashion magazine’s cover: Samantha Jones.

Could she have been the inspiration? Fact is that a year later Jones was signed by the Ford Motor Company to even record a song for them with the Larry Page orchestra! This was used for promotion (as above) and published as a now rare single given to new Ford Capri owners. We quite like it! 

(Words editor, pictures Ford PR / MossGreen)

   

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