marianna Cattolica, 40 years old, was born and lives in Taranto. She graduated in Multimedia Communication with a thesis on video tutorials, she works as a graphic designer. The Fiat 500 was his parents’ car
and in 2007, with her first savings, she bought one from 1969, which immediately broke: hence the urge to read up and learn how to repair it on her own. Since 2019, Marianna has been sharing what she has learned on social networks: @women in 500 he has 21.7k followers on IG and 10,500 on YouTube. In addition to Nina, his first 500, he also has Ottavio, from 1965, which he is still restoring. When he can, he does pilates and walks in nature.
Marianna Cattolica on her vintage 500.
7 am
«I get up and have breakfast with Massimiliano. Coffee, milk and a slice of donut, which I make. Then, I start a washing machine, get ready and get on Nina to reach the office. I work in a company that deals with graphics and production: I’m a video maker, I do editing and I’m specialized in distance learning».
1 pm
«Quick lunch with colleagues based on vegetables, which I bring from home. Half an hour and I’m back to work.’
3 pm
«After the working day, I dedicate myself to my videos. I usually publish two a month, on Thursdays: on YouTube explanatory tutorials – for example, how to fix the window crank – or historical ones, in which I perhaps review all the handles of the different models of the 500, produced by Fiat from 1957 to 1975 On Instagram reel, videos not even a minute long. My goal is to persuade young people that it’s good, and possible, to get your hands dirty. And recovering, obtaining old parts suitable for a specific model. Avoiding waste also enhances the historicity of the car, which is reborn as it was originally. The videos where I work on the car are shot in my husband’s workshop, while when I show the parts I restore, I “shoot” in a room at home, equipped for filming. With video camera and professional lights».
5 pm
«If I’m tired or stressed, I go down to the garage. It’s my nest. Restoring the car for me is like going to the hairdresser: it relaxes me. The women who follow me are about 20 percent, the vintage car is still a male world. True 500 enthusiasts appreciate the explanations I offer. But there are also many men who criticize what I do. Some even accuse me of being an “extra”, manipulated by someone else! As if it were impossible for a woman to know and know how to repair vintage cars. Luckily I also have followers who appreciate my work and come to see me, or write to me and ask me for advice».
Marianna on her first 500, Nina, now turquoise blue
19.00
«I set aside time for the house, for shopping and for dinner. Massimiliano comes back late, but when he has time he loves to cook. The linguine di lui with scampi or prawns are delicious. As good Apulians, we also love orecchiette with turnip greens and stewed turnips with anchovies and chilli pepper ».
21.00
«We have dinner chatting about the day spent, then we watch a TV series together. Right now we like it Selling Sunset, to dream in front of the stratospheric American houses that are shown. We almost never go out during the week: we meet friends preferably on the weekends».
Protagonists of the favorite series Selling sunset, a team of real estate agents from Los Angeles. (photo: ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection)
24 hours
“We’re at the limit of our energies by now. Before turning off the light, we send a good night message to the families and then to bed.
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