The 80th story of a full-length business novel.
Right here, another dark horse appeared.He is also a European like Peugeot, Jaguar and Porsche. But he is not a German. But he is an Italian.
And his name is
(Industrial Vehicle Corporation). Reputedly, it has been said that he is proficient in making trucks, tractors and buses. Characteristically, he has won the trophy in the Race of Death, Dakar Rally, many times. At his amazing talent, a Russian warlord from Ural Mountains, UralAZ (
), was impressed by saying that:
“Hum, it looks like the Final Art I have never seen before in my life.”
Then he approached him and has made a truck alliance with him. It was IVECOAMT.
Now, IVECO, like others, is to get his own share in the Korean peninsula. By the way, he is not a boss at all. His real boss is another Italian as if he were a Mafia boss. People say he is FIAT. Yes, his name is shortly called FIAT. But, his original name is Fabbrica Italiano Automobli Torino in dago. It is too lengthy and so difficult in understanding. Nobody knows it why the name is too long and complicated. For the reason, he is simply and shortly called FIAT. And it has become his nickname. The short nickname, FIAT, indirectly reveals the Final Art in English. In light of the nickname Final Art, FIAT must be one of the famous and ferocious warlords from Rome in Italy.
Under his command there are seven particular generals such as Lancia (
), Maserati (
) with a luxurious crown or a trident spear, Ferrari (
), α (Alfa) Romeo (
),
, Astra, and FIAT himself. Among them, Lancia was born in 1906, Alfa Romeo in 1910 and Maserati in 1914. So they are contemporaries as the pillar of FIAT legion. Later Ferrari was born in 1939 and
in 1946 and so on. IVECO joined in 1975. (Below is a customized image of the knights of the table. Source: emmajcreations.blogspot.com)
So, all of them have already vowed to follow him throughout by his fiat. Thus, in a sense, they look like the knights at the round table with King Arthur in the British legend as if FIAT were the very king. By the way, all of them are seven in number. The number of seven is deeply related with the origin of the ancient Roman Empire. According to the Roman history, the number of seven was derived from the City of Seven Hillsin Rome. Thus the ancient Rome rose from the seven hills and was developed into the Great Roman Empire with time. Now the seven particular generals have their own centurion named after their own commander. And they have got together to build up another Roman Empire under the leadership of FIAT as if they were Praetorian Guard(親衛隊) for FIAT with a sharp weapon as below:
In another sight, the seven-colored Praetorian Guard is redolent of the dignified ‘Charles’s Wain’encircled with the Seven Stars in the sky. Either way, they look like ‘art and part’as if they were the typical Italian Mafia family. And, like Mafia, the family of FIAT looks to be knitted in one united body. For such a reason, some say that:
“At a glance, FIAT looks like a car that is composed of many parts. But, it moves as one body like a car. In another sight, it seems to be the Mafia family.”
Their comments, in a sense, sound plausible and understandable.
But, the FIAT family has a quite different character in itself. For instance, so-called Mafia family pursues for private interest, that is, profit. However, FIAT seeks for public interest. It is to uphold patriotism and seek for the last Roman glory with its prowess. Characteristically, the proud Italian corps has already composed acrostic artsy-craftsy stanza. The stanza was used his acronym FIAT as his soldiers’ barrack-room ballad. Then it was written in romantic terms as below:
“Final victory is coming;
In front of our legions;
A whole world is in our hands;
Take note of the high way to Rome.
Future is ours;
In spite of any struggle upon us;
Automobile of ours is rolling down;
Towards the Rome of the world.
The florid and poetic passages have revealed their adamant will. It is to challenge worldwide gross stars. Indeed, FIAT, like the Roman legions in the past, is daringly undertaking an overseas campaign over the entire world.
In this relation, there was some intriguing episode. It was on the Neapolitan song, Funiculi, Funiculà. In 1907, there was an international Rally from Peking to Paris. At the Rally, the French muckamuck De Dion-Bouton, Motori Contal and Dutch Spyker joined with other European challengers. In the transnational Rally, all of them competed with each other to win the laureate crown. They did their best but did not win an Italian named Itala (
). Itala was the winner of the Rally. Reputedly it was said that he had a hidden weapon to win them. The weapon was no other than the vernacular ballad, Funiculi, Funiculà. According to the lyrics of the ballad,
“Let’s go, let’s go. Let’s go from here below to the top where a fire is burning. But I don’t care even if my head is now spinning with high speed. I’ll rise up like a whirlwind and be there at all costs. Let’s go, let’s go at a high speed. The target is over there, a step away. You see it that the flag is flying with a wink. Let’s go and let’s go. Funiculi, Funiculà.”
(Below was the Itala, driven by Count Scipione Borghese. Source: Wikipedia)
Heartened by the merry song, the Italian Itala won them and got the trophy. Then Itala came to be a most powerful figure in the European stage as a famous charioteer.
Shortly after the victory in the Rally, the Great European War happened. It was the First World War. The War exhausted Itala. Nonetheless, his fame survived like the song, Funiculi, Funiculà.
Copyright. Korea IT Times. All Copyright Reserved.
