MORE random pics......

[Steve Carlton]

[}{arlequin]

i love fiat spyders... but same as w/ alfas, anything that vintage is just as bad w/ rust and maintenance as longhoods

[Doug&Julie]

...meanwhile, in the RANDOM picture thread...

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by }{arlequin
i love fiat spyders... but same as w/ alfas, anything that vintage is just as bad w/ rust and maintenance as longhoods

I bought a 1970 fiat 850 Sedan 5 years ago for $400. It had only 26000 kms, and drove beautifully. The PO had "restored" it with roadsigns, rivets and roofing tar underneath. Up top, he used cardboard (I kid you not) fiberglass and very, very thick paint. I drove it for a few months, but knew I'd never be able to get a valid safety inspection. I was renting a house without a garage at the time, so there was no way I could tackle fixing it. Sold it for $700, only time I EVER made money on a car.

Now that I have a garage I'd love to have it again. It was a fun car, and the only one I'd ever seen. All the meachanical bits were the same as an 850 spyder, so you could still get parts

This is not the one I had, but a reasonable facsimile:

[cashflyer]

notfarnow... Close. Moretti's were based on a Fiat platform, but they were only available as hard-tops and were powered by the standard Fiat 1.6L TC engine. z-man got it! It's a Fiat Dino Spider, and I believe it is a 1968 judging by the sidemarker position. Known by some as the "poor man's Ferrari" since it was jointly developed by the two companies, and since it featured the Ferrari V-6 powerplant.

Six pages of info, starting here:
http://www.ritzsite.net/Fiat_Dino/01_Fiat_Dino.htm
(I think this site features the same car that I posted)

D&J - Nice curves, and very racey looking with the checkers! I'm guessing manufactured around 1980-ish. Sure would like some "spirited" driving with that ride...

I currently own a 1975 Fiat 124 Spider, and }{arlequins comment about rust really strikes home. After I first bought the car, my first task was to remove the interior and have the floor pan sandblasted. I had to weld in new floor pans and seat rails, and had the floor coated with Rhino-Liner to prevent future rust. It's now solid and a lot of fun to drive (but not as much fun as the 911 ). Maintenance, though, I have had no trouble with. I've been driving it for approx 4 years and have had no breakdowns.

Some more Italians that I like:

This Fiat 500 just looks like a lot of (slow) fun!


A one-off prototype, producing 300hp @ 20k rpm? It must be a ___________.


Another concept car, it was the first car ever featuring scissor doors. It's a 1968 ____________.

[notfarnow]

That one I know... Alfa Carabo.

Ok... I'll let others play now... back to work.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by cashflyer
Some more Italians that I like:

[swbsam]

here's the site = http://www.amon.dsl.pipex.com/index.htm

[cashflyer]

The Italian answer to the VW-Bus, manufactured 1956-1969. I know the answer, but I'll let somebody else guess. (what year is the one you have pictured? They didn't change much from year to year...)

notfarnow is absolutely correct on the flat, green wedge. It is tha Alfa Romeo "Carabo" (Italian for Beetle). It was the first to use scissor hinged doors, and is believed to have inspired Lamborghini in the design of the Countach. It is known that he attended the 1968 Turin auto show and that he commented about the style and engineering of the car.

Still no guess on the red/white car? Wow.... what a redline!

[KobaltBlau]

is the green one the BMW M1 prototype, with the turbo four? Reminds me of the lancia stratos prototype, but that it definitely isn't. I know the red and white 20k rpm one and the "bus" but I'll let others think about it.

[}{arlequin]

cash... any chance you can post some pics of your 124?
(ever plan on selling it? )

I also like the 500's. They are really fun. Maybe even an Abarth clone will make it to my garage someday. Can't beat it for running around town.

[cashflyer]

The BMW-M1 was also a flat, angular design, but not nearly this flat.
Also, I think the BMW came along a few years later.

Anyway, I had gone back and edited my previous post to give credit to 'notfarnow'.
I must have been editing at the same time you were posting. sorry 'bout that.


Here is a good page with pics of the Lancia Stratos prototype, as well as several other flat cars. (guess I won't upload the stratos as a mystery car now!) 70's Supercars

[cashflyer]

}{arlequin:

Here it is during the stripdown process. You can see the rust in the floors, but you can't really tell from the photo exactly how bad it was. Lots of "questionable" metal was eventually cut out before new metal was welded in. Even the trailing link plates had to be reinforced.


During repainting


It did get reassembled, and an all new interior was installed. Unfortunately, the budget ran dry shortly after and I never finished it. I drive it a few days every week, but it currently has the center console out, a few dash panels missing, a cherry-bomb muffler attached with coat hanger wire, etc. I think now I am just waiting for 5th gear to finally go out, or the engine to die. These major items will give me the incentive to finally take it back off the road and finish it.

Sorry, no current pics. And if I do have pics, I probably would not show them due to the poor care I've taken these last few years. It's dirty, it has a nice parking-lot wack in the rt rear quarter, and it still has those fugly wheels on it! (without the plastic)

And no, I've got too much time in it to sell it. Besides, you can find really nice ones for the cheap in eBay!

[}{arlequin]

nice work... i'm too scared of the ebay ones... lots of unseen nooks and crannies that can bite me in the end... just like on 240Z's...

[notfarnow]

Cashflyer, I was considering an MGB a few years back, but several people tried to steer me towards a 124... far superior engine & suspension. Also supposed to be great cars once they're sorted, and a joy to work on. Care to validate?

[cashflyer]

Originally posted by notfarnow
Cashflyer, I was considering an MGB a few years back, but several peopel tried to steer me towards a 124... far superior engine & suspension. Also supposed to be great, cars once they're sorted, and a joy to work on. Care to validate?

I've heard similar statements before regarding the Fiat vs MGB vs Spitfire. I have never owned the Brit cars, but I have read old Car Craft reviews that tend to support the statement.

People like to joke about the unreliable Lucas electrical system, but honestly a Marelli system that's 30 years old is just as unreliable. Lots of stiff insulation and loose connectors with age.

This is my second 124 spider, and I love them. Any old car will need some care, but after you get that out of the way you will have a good car. The Fiat engine is a reliable high-revving twin cam engine that can be safely and reliably built to 200hp. Up to 300hp is acheivable for racing, but does not play well as a daily driver. 2 liter engines are still available NEW, as are the 5 speed transmissions. You can even still get 16 valve heads for them.

If this is a judgement of capability, NASA classes the Fiat higher than the MG and Triumph.

DO NOT buy an automatic.

PM me and I can bore you plenty more about the cars!

[CJFusco]

Originally posted by cashflyer

Another concept car, it was the first car ever featuring scissor doors. It's a 1968 ____________.

Didn't the Lamborghini Muira debut in 1967???

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by CJFusco
Didn't the Lamborghini Muira debut in 1967???

Bertone show car

[EdT82SC]

[EdT82SC]