Tag Archives: Fiat

Fiat

1971 Fiat 850 Special

June 25, 2014 Graham

The 500 “Cinquecento” set in motion a roadmap for small cars from Fiat for the next several decades. From the 500, a larger 600 model was developed with a rear mounted four cylinder engine. The 600 begat the car you see here, the 850. Launched in 1964, it was available in a number of variants, including a coupe, roadster, station wagon and the two door sedan like we see here. This 850 is for sale in California, having recently been imported from the Netherlands, seemingly a hotbed for classic cars. The seller had issues registering the car in California, so is seeking to offload the vehicle to someone out of state, given that jurisdiction’s tough emissions laws.

Year: 1971
Model: 850 Special
Engine: 843cc inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 20,882 mi
Price: No reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1971 Fiat 850 Special

If you require the best for your collection, this award winning 1971 FIAT 850 Special may be for you. Only a handful have come to this country. I am selling this car only because California DMV will not register it. It came from the Netherlands last July (2013). Went through customs, no problem. USEPA exempt. I thought I registered it in California because the DMV issued me license plates but after 10 months California said no to the registration because of emissions. They have not tested the car and only looked at it at the DMV to check the VIN number. Due to the fact that I cannot register this car in California, it is being marketed to out of state buyers.

This FIAT won BEST FIAT at the French-Italian car show last November (2013) in Van Nuys, California out of over 50 FIATs. This a 4 cylinder, 843cc (51.9ci) 52hp water cooled engine with an 4 speed ALL syncro transmission. Disc brakes on front wheels. The speedometer is a little SLOW. Tires are Very Good. Very low original miles for a 43 year old car. Less than 21,000 miles. Beautiful colors. Yellow with brown seats and door panels. The paint is beautiful as is the interior. Very clean and comfortable. Always garaged, cared for and maintained to the highest standards. The engine is strong, tight and pulls very good and not a bit tired. The complete undercarriage, floors and trunk are all factory original metal and in excellent condition. Runs and drives strong on the road. I live near sea level and have gone over 8500 feet in the mountains and on the freeway in 110 degree heat, no problems. It will cruise at 75 MPH, no problems. The longest trip I have taken is 400 miles, still no problems. Condition is 9.9 out of 10. Extraordinary car.

2 Minuses: The temperature gauge does not work. I replaced the sensor, still not working. Turn signal lever does not return after left turn.

The new owner can enjoy this car from day one. VIN 100GB1618153

Thank you for your interest. Any questions please call Paul at (760) 360-7573 between 9am-9pm PDT

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS: https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A2GWZuqDGWCgU6

The 850 was one of those in between models for Fiat. Not quite as popular as the original Cinquecento or the front-wheel drive 124 that followed it, but it went on to be licensed by a number of other companies, including SEAT. These 850s are uncommon on these shores and given the level of originality with this one, it will surely command a premium amongst aficianados. With the reserve off, we'll see where this one goes...

-Paul

Abarth, Fiat

1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTR – REVISIT

June 2, 2014 Graham

Having made its way from Australia to New York following an impressive restoration, the 1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTR that I wrote up back in 2012 has once again popped up for sale, now on Ebay. The picture above and link below will take you to the current auction for the car, which is advertised nearly unchanged, except for location and price. Now at $98,000, it's a serious premium over the original asking price below - but does take into account the rarity, condition, and having imported the cars to the United States.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTR on eBay

The below post originally appeared on our site October 10, 2012:

For 63 years, Abarth has been the tuning arm of Fiat, turning out wins on the track and hot versions of ordinary Fiat passenger cars on the street. From the wicked 131 Rally to the modern day 500 Abarth, the Abarth range has been rather diverse over the years. Vintage Abarths are highly prized and often bring large sums at auction. One of my favorite vintage Abarths is the 1000 OTR, a car we featured in August. Based on the Fiat 850, these were handsome, well proportioned coupes that hid their diminutive stature well. Another OTR for sale has come to our attention via our reader Graeme, who is located in New South Wales, Australia and is selling his 1000 OTR.

1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTR

A genuine Fiat Abarth OTR 1000 coupe, fully restored, with only 9,800 miles and absolutely NO rust ever. With FIVA papers and easy re-import into the US, this highly desirable Group 4 factory racing car can lay claim to being the best of the nine known survivors.

Abarth & C. was formed in 1949. The company was very successful under Carlo Abarth’s leadership, receiving extensive support from FIAT. Abarth & C. was purchased by FIAT in 1971. On 9 September 1965, Abarth launched the OTR 1000, derived from FIAT’s new 850 coupé, with a special “radiale” engine where the combustion chamber was formed by two intersecting spherical domes, one containing the inlet valve and the other the exhaust. The intention was to achieve the efficiency of the Abarth twin camshaft cylinder head without the complexity. The OTR engine was based on an Abarth modified FIAT 850 block.

Unfortunately the SCCA thought the Radiale head too clever, and the OTR too modified and powerful for its class, and exercised its right to exclude from SCCA competition cars “not considered suitable”. This probably explains why Abarth made only a few OTRs and homologated the car in Group 4, not Group 3. This car was imported into the United States in 1967 by Abarth Sales Corp. It was raced from 1967 to 1970 by the first owner before he had an accident. The car was stored, eventually coming to Australia in 1993. It sat in a shed on the Central Coast of New South Wales until purchased by the current owner in April 2005 who spent 18 months restoring it.

The car was stripped to bare metal and all panels straightened with minimal use of filler and repainted. All the missing bits and pieces were sourced from around the world. The engine had new valve springs, the head was fitted with hardened exhaust valve seats and all seals were replaced. The car has since been featured in Australian Classic Cars magazine and has won awards at a number of car shows including the FIAT Club of NSW Concorso d’Eleganza Best of Show in 2007 and 2010, and Best of Show and 1st Street Modified at the FIAT Clubs of Australia National Meeting at Bathurst in 2008. The car has travelled only 4,800 miles since restoration and the total mileage is 9,800. It comes with a detailed history and the original owners manuals.

For more photos please click on the following link:
http://www4.snapfish.com.au/snapfishau/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=5248217018/
a=80400830_80400830/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/

Enquiries to gtowers@ozemail.com.au or call +61 2 9960 7876

Graeme is asking $63,000 USD for his OTR and can be reached via the contact information above. The OTR that was for sale in California was advertised at $85,000, so even though there are little comparables to go buy, I think our reader is being realistic in his asking price. It is estimated that around 35 of these OTRs were ever produced, so that figure represents a small price to pay for exclusivity that most Ferraris and Lamborghinis can not match.

-Paul

Classic, Fiat, Pininfarina

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

May 23, 2014 Graham

The large executive Coupe was something that was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s in America; but in Europe, the idea took a bit longer to catch on. Still, by the 1970s we saw increasing examples from manufacturers going through major growth - BMW and Mercedes joined the big coupe market, along with new examples from Ferrari and Lamborghini. But one that is seldom thought of in that company is the Fiat 130 Coupe; Pininfarina designed and with a Ferrari-designed V6 mated to a ZF 5-speed, it's the forgotten sleeper of the large executive coupe market in the 1970s:

Year: 1973
Model: 130 Coupe
Engine: 3.2 liter V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 67,000 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

Somehow it seems the words "luxury" and "Fiat" should never be used in the same sentence. For some unknown reason the folks at Fiat decided they wanted to compete in the high end with the likes of Mercedes and BMW ... and the 130 was born. As was expected of a luxury car it needed to be spacious and has a lot of user amenities.

The first time I saw a 130 I had to tell myself ... now that is as weird as they come ... and of course I loved it! The car has a very 70's look with a lot of glass. Remember that these were the days when BMW had the 2002 and Mercedes were boxes with tons of glass. Unfortunately the Fiat 130 was never imported into the USA therefore finding one on these shores is rare. This car was just imported in 2012 and spent all its life in Italy. Several things attracted me to this particular car:

I love the color combination as it is very 1970's. The blue exterior has a hint of purple and what is not to like of the mustard leather! What makes this Fiat 130 rather unique is that most had velour interior. This has the optional leather interior. The leather is original and in really nice condition. It really makes the car look quite elegant. The other big plus is that it has the optional 5-speed ZF gearbox which was also used on the 2.4 liter Fiat Dino. Only about 10% of the Fiat 140 had this gearbox, the rest were automatic.

So how is it to drive? Surprisingly the car feels a lot smaller on the road than it really is. The V6 engine was designed by Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi and is loosely based on the Dino V6 engine. The engine feels very peppy and likes to rev. The gearbox has very short throws and gives the car a sporty feel. It has ZF power steering which gives the car a very good handling. The independent rear suspension is identical to the Fiat Dino and is rather sophisticated.

Paint is quite nice and the interior speaks for itself. The body is in excellent condition. There are a few rust bubbles on the right fender which were this way when I bought the car and has not gotten worst. The undercarriage is straight and rust free. Chrome is nice as is the glass. There is a crack on the inner laminate of the rear glass. The crack does not extend to the outside of the glass and it is barely noticeable. Mechanically the car is very good with no smoke or major oil leaks. AC works as do the gauges, power windows, power steering etc.

The car was imported into the USA a couple of years ago from Modena, Italy. It falls under the 25 years exemption which permits cars to be imported and not be subject to the DOT and EPA regulations of that year. Therefore this car retains the beautiful European headlights which I am sure would have been modified had Fiat brought the car into the USA ... also it would have had much bigger (and uglier) bumpers.

Overall this is the type of car that shows that it has been loved all of its life. It is what I would call an honest car which has its expected faults as it is after all 41 years old.I have really enjoyed owning this Fiat 130 but it is time to move on as I need the garage space for other stuff.

Car comes with its original owner's manual plus a copy of the shop manual.

Feel free to call me if you have questions: 770-998-0923 Ivan

Terms of Sale

Buyer is responsible for shipping and insurance costs.

Please only serious bidders. I have described the above mentioned vehicle to the best of my ability. However, with all pre-owned automobiles, the condition is subjective, so I recommend that the potential buyer inspects as well as test drives the vehicle before finalizing purchase.

NO BIDDERS WITH ZERO OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH ME!

THIS VEHICLE IS BEING ADVERTISED ELSEWHERE AND COULD BE SOLD BEFORE THE AUCTION HAS COMPLETED. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE AUCTION AT ANY TIME.

I realize buying a car based on a few photos on an internet auction may carry some risks. I want to make sure the buyer feels comfortable with his/her purchase. I will promptly respond to e-mail questions.

- $1,000 deposit 24 hours after the end of the auction, Paypal is accepted for the deposit

- Balance to be paid via bank wire within 5 days of end of auction

- Seller reserves the right to end auction prior to its end.

- If the vehicle is not as represented upon personal inspection, I will promptly refund your deposit. No refund after final Bill of Sale is signed.

- I always strongly encourage a pre-purchase inspection before making final payment.

My intent is for you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase! Please check my eBay rating

The condition on this car is impressive, and the styling really stands out. Sure, it's not as much of a draw as some of the more exotic metal from the other Italian manufacturers and you could easily argue that the BMW 3.0CS is a better looking car. But really good examples of the 3.0 are heading up towards $100,000 these days and the same is true of any of the Lamborghini or Ferrari examples. So what you have here is a budget exotic; few will know what it is, but you'll have the driving experience that relies on ties to the more exotic siblings it is related to. At the end of the day, this car screams cool 1970s Italian and I'd love to be seen in it; slap your best suit on, pack the Campari, slick your hair back and head for Lake Como. But this car can be had for a fraction of the cost of anything else that would give you the feeling this package would.

-Carter

Fiat, Modern Classic, Pininfarina

1981 Fiat 2000 Spider Turbo

May 22, 2014 Graham

When talking about classic Italian cars associated with the words Pininfarina and Turbo, Ferrari comes immediately to mind with the legendary 288 GTO and F40; but there was an earlier mating of those two words with a third outlier; Fiat, in this case. Originally badged the 124 Spider, Fiat and Pininfarina renamed the spider the "2000" in 1979, and in 1981 Fiat and Legend Industries made around 700 turbocharged models for the U.S. market. A well proportioned car with classic roadster styling and impressive heritage, the 2000 Spider none-the-less remains one of the cheapest ways to get into a neat and classic Italian ride:

Year: 1981
Model: 2000 Spider Turbo
Engine: 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 26,400 mi
Price: $14,499

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1981 Fiat 2000 Spider Turbo

1981 FIAT SPIDER 2000 Turbo

If you would love to have a great little roadster for some top down, sun in your face, wind in your hair motoring then the Fiat Spider is an excellent choice! Produced almost exclusively for the North American market, although sold occasionally in some European Countries, the Fiat 124/Spider is becoming a very sought after roadster among car enthusiasts looking for an affordable collectible sports car that can be driven and enjoyed as well as make a great investment. Designed by Italian stylist and coachbuilder Pininfarina the Fiat 124/Spider rivaled the MGB and Alfa Spider as the world’s longest running sports car. Many collectors will tell you that the most desirable models are the fuel-injected models, which began in 1980.

'81 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo — Overview: These little cars were never very powerful, but with the exception of the truly exotic cars, handling capabilities were far superior to most other sports cars of their time.. Fiat began to consider pulling out of the US. In an attempt to try to save the Fiat brand in the US, the importer, Fiat USA, Inc., worked with Legend Industries to install turbo chargers on several late '81 and early '82 cars, after they reached the United States. Boost was limited to only 6 psi to avoid damaging the engine, which was not designed to be used with a turbo. Even at a modest 6 psi, the turbo really awakened the little two liter four cylinder engine. Rarity: Only approximately 700 Spider 2000 Turbo models were made. These turbo models proved to be somewhat unreliable, and many of these cars were “de-trubo-ed”, leaving them as normal “Fuel Injected” cars. With the turbo failures, and the normal number of mechanical failures and accidents associated with a car nearly three decades old, there are very few of these still running and in their original mechanical condition. Handling: Truly amazing.. Acceleration: Pretty good... by 1981 standards. It's not a Ferrari, but with the turbo it easily outruns “stock” spiders.

Not only does this fuel injected ‘81 Spider look great but also it drives and handles as good as it looks!!! Everything works. The gauges all operate. The 5 speed manual transmission shifts nicely through the gears. The clutch was changed when the motor was rebuilt. The engine was rebuilt about 3000 miles ago. The entire car was restored over the last few years. Everything has been disassembled and any worn parts have been replaced. Brakes are new. Brake lines have been replaced. Suspension was rebuilt and modified for better handling. Upper and lower control arms have been replaced with new.

The interior of the car is original. There are some very small cracks in the seats. (See pictures)The original turbo was replaced with a new unit as the turbos on these cars were susceptible to premature ware. To combat this, a post oiler was added to keep the bearings on the turbo cool when spinning down. Every effort was made to make this a drivable car you could take around town or a nice trip. The engine runs nice and smooth while the operating temperature stays nice and cool. It’s got plenty of pep. The brakes feel good and the steering is accurate and fun.

This car has power windows and a/c. both work well. The A/C was retrofitted to 134a Freon.

Tires: 195/65/14 tire have less than 2000 miles

All turbo hoses were replaced with new silicone hose.

Brakes are new and have an adjustable brake bias valve installed.

Pioneer sound system, am/fm/cassette/cd 6disk changer

Oil pan guard was installed. (See picture)

Few things needing attention…

A couple of small dings and paint blemishes could be easily repaired (see pictures)

The vinyl top has a slight cut in the welting and is barely noticeable. The rear window is clear.

The Pininfarina Hardtop comes with the car. These tops are VERY RARE!!!!!!

The top alone would go for about $3,000.00. These were used on the 124 rally cars and were designed by Pininfarina. This is not a knock off!

Pedigree: This car has won at concourse at the Fiat Lancia Unlimited national Fiat club meeting twice in class. It has trophied 3 times at Lime Rock Park concours d’Elegance. And has been invited 3 times and participated at the Greenwich CT. Concours D’elegance. It is a very presentable car.

Also included in the sale are extra motors and transmissions and all original parts and extra turbos/manifolds. Many of these parts can no longer be obtained.

Feel free to contact me to schedule a time to see it for yourself.

Worldwide Shipping at Buyers Expense Please, No con artists. I have seen this in the past and will not be negotiating with people I cannot speak to directly. Money talks…….

As a car with potential to show, this is a neat example of a car that you can afford to buy, work on yourself and enjoy some classic Italian lines and soundtrack. Condition is far above average with some room for improvement and pricing is compelling at under $15,000. I personally love the color combination, and the addition of the factory hard top is quite cool. It will never be the car that draws a large crowd or snaps your neck with acceleration, but this is a solid package with some great roots in classic Italian motoring!

-Carter

Fiat

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

May 20, 2014 Graham 3 Comments

The affordable Ferrari. A term thrown around a lot but how realistic of a concept is this? Well, if you don't necessarily need the Prancing Horse on your hood but desire the soul of the sports cars from Maranello, there's a curious beast that appeared in the 1960s that could sate your appetite. The Fiat Dino. Offered as a Coupe styled by Bertone or the Pininfarina penned Spider we see here, these ultimate Fiats helped Ferrari homologate the V6 engine for Formula 2 racing. This Dino Spider for sale in Texas was restored in the 1990s and is ready to be enjoyed.

Year: 1967
Model: Dino Spider
Engine: 2.0 V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 134,000 mi
Price: $76,500 Buy It Now

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1967 Fiat Dino Spider

In great condition with an extensive service history file. Restored in the mid 90's, that cost much more than the value of the car at that time - Full body, full mechanical rebuild (engine, transmission, clutch, brakes, suspension etc. etc.), knock off wheels, new soft top, interior retrimmed in tan leather. Needs nothing, drives perfectly. Purchased in California, it was originally White with Red cloth interior and was completely rebuilt at South Texas Auto Restoration (S.T.A.R). Beautiful example of an appreciating classic finished in dark green with tan leather. Drives like a dream. Hagerty Values it between $55,000 and $93,000. Asking $85,000 or best offer.

Auction prices have been through the roof. Contact me for more photos and an honest explanation of any needs. History: The Fiat Dino 2.0 was the result of a union between mainstream and exotic, producing a unique vehicle for Fiat. The heart of this sleek 2+2 spider is the race derived all-alloy Ferrari V6. A 5 speed gearbox, four wheel disc brakes, and a limited-slip differential show that this is clearly not just a mainstream vehicle with a high performance engine, but a capable sports car. Conceived as a standalone brand, separate to Ferrari for their smaller engine vehicles, the Dino race car was very successful in its class, and needed at least 500 production cars to meet the homologation requirements. Three road car models were produced; the 206GT, Coupe and Spider. An unsuccessful launch in the US led to Ferrari marketing the mid-engine GT, and Fiat the Coupe and Spider. Designed and built by Pininfarina, only 1133 2.0 Spiders were made. The value of this beautiful sports car is rising rapidly.

I'm envisioning this car in its original color and honestly think a white with red leather interior combo would look stunning on this dramatically styled drop top. The current color isn't offensive, but to bring top dollar, it would certainly benefit this car if it was resprayed and retrimmed it its original colors. While more affordable than their Ferrari counterparts, the Fiat Dinos aren't cheap classics. The Coupes tend to be a bit more affordable, as 75% of Dino production were the hard tops. The Spider commands a premium as such and this one is priced just about right when it comes to a good, if not perfect, example.

-Paul

Classic, Fiat

1958 Fiat 600 Multipla

May 17, 2014 Graham

A few years ago, Fiat smartly reimagined itself when it launched the new 500. Based upon the Panda's underpinnings but with new age retro-throwback styling, the 500 had boundless character and was an instant hit, both in stock form at hair salons and at the track with the revival of the Abarth nameplate. But then I heard there was going to be a bigger version of the 500, and I was skeptical. When I finally saw the finished product in person - the 500L - I think I had good right to be skeptical; it was horrible. A fussy design that looked overweight, top heavy and ridiculously styled with too small wheels, it just looked like they tried to mate a 500 with a Toyota FJ Cruiser (another throwback model) and failed. I'm not sure why they didn't look for more inspiration in their past, though - this wasn't the first time that Fiat took the 500 concept on to larger families. Today there's a reminder of that lesser-remembered bit of their past for sale on EBay - a 1958 Fiat 600 Multipla:

Year: 1958
Model: 600 Multipla
Engine: 0.9 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 22,860 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1958 Fiat 600 Multipla

1958 Fiat 600 Multipla
(Mini Bus)

This is a very rare U.S. version of one of the finest mini buses. This is a rare six seater paired up with the rare Lucas lenses and tin buckets separates this car from most other Fiat Multiplas.

A fresh 55 horsepower reverse rotation 903cc engine has been installed. To replace the original 28.5 horsepower 633cc engine. Although retaining the original appearance. Transmission fresh with original gear ratio.

We have stripped this car to bare metal and repainted with a professional base clear coat. All suspension parts have been powder coated and received all new bushing. Radiator has been recored, heater core reconditioned.

Brakes completely redone as well as all the hoses.
Tires are Coker Classics Bf Goodrich Silverton’s wide whites
560 600x12. For a slightly taller gear ratio. All the chrome has been triple plated and all aluminum professionally polished.

The interior, carpet and headliner done By Sergio.

This car has been professionally restored by
Mr. Bills Classics.

Questions call Bill at
Shop (928) 443-9004
Cell (928) 925-4398

I choose to end the last auction due to vin # verification.
To obtain clear Az Title which I now have.

We reserve the right to end auction early.

Bid with confidence!

I'm also surprised that Fiat - now at the helm of Chrysler as well - didn't take the opportunity to capitalize on another bit of marketing genius. In the 1980s, Lee Iacocca boldly went onto America television proclaiming that Chrysler was introducing the world to a new form of transportation - the "Minivan". While it was an instant sales success somewhat inexplicably, much like Al Gore's claim that he invented the internet Iacocca conveniently neglected to mention that both Volkswagen and Fiat had been producing these types of vehicles for 30 years. As these mini-buses would struggle to top 55 m.p.h. originally, the upgraded engine should prove to make this a much more enjoyable ride. It's also nice that the 600 has been thoroughly gone through aesthetically and it looks well done. While obviously you won't win any drag race or cornering competitions, the market on these boutique microcars from the 1950s and 1960s is still quite hot and you'd be sure to draw a crowd wherever you arrived in this car. The rarity and condition come with a price; as of writing bidding is nearly $40,000 - but compared to some of the most desirable Volkswagen buses that's still quite affordable. For that money, you'd have a unique way to show Fiat what they should have done again!

-Carter

Fiat

1974 Fiat 128

April 24, 2014 Graham 2 Comments

Just because it's Italian doesn't mean it has to break the bank, and for every Ferrari ever imagined, designed and sold, it was cars like the Fiat 128 that were paying the bills. Sure, they're not particularly glamorous and many have stories about their less than stellar reliability, but perhaps in large part because of the nature of the 128, few remain in great condition today - especially in the U.S. Today's 1974 bucks that tradition, though:

Year: 1974
Model: 128
Engine: 1.3 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 11,827 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1974 Fiat 128

THIS FIAT WAS PURCHASED ON EBAY FROM AN ESTATE SALE IN ARIZONA. THE ORIGINAL OWNER DROVE THE CAR FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAR WAS PUT INTO COVERED STORAGE FOR THE NEXT 28 YEARS UNTIL IT WAS PURCHASED. AS A RESULT THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ON IT. TOTALLY RUST FREE! TO SAY THAT ABOUT A VINTAGE FIAT IS REMARKABLE.

THE ONLY THINGS TO REALLY TAKE A BEATING FROM SUCH LONG STORAGE IN DRY DESERT AIR WAS THE INTERIOR....THE SEATING, CARPET, PANELING, AND SOME UNUSED COMPONENTS OF .THE ENGINE, SUCH AS THE CARBURETOR, DISTRIBUTOR, AND WIRING. FOR THIS REASON NUMEROUS ITEMS WERE REPLACED OR RENEWED.

THE LIST INCLUDES: NEW SEATS, NEW CARPETS, NEW PANELING, NEW EXTERIOR PAINT JOB, NEW CARBURETOR, NEW DISTRIBUTOR, NEW BATTERY, NEW ENGINE WIRING, NEW STARTER MOTOR, NEW FUEL PUMP, NEW BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, NEW BRAKE CALIPERS, NEW STEERING RACK, NEW AXLE BOOTS OUTER AND INNER, NEW ALIGNMENT, NEW HORNS, NEW SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, AIR FILTER, AND OIL FILTER TO MAKE FOR A NEAT PERFECT RESTORATION.

THIS CAR IS MEANT FOR THE SERIOUS FIAT 128 ENTHUSIAST ONLY. HAPPY BIDDING!

Certainly, this is the best condition 128 we've seen in some time; with a restoration it looks great and ready to roll. I love the color combination, and while certainly this isn't the most desirable Fiat it's admirable that it is in this condition. While the supercars get the headlines, I've found that often enthusiasts get excited to see a mint condition economy car from back in the day. This is an affordable way to get into classic Italian motoring, and I bet more people would love to see you roll up to a show in this than a Ferrari 348!

-Carter

Classic, Fiat, Pininfarina

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

April 12, 2014 Graham

About a month ago, I wrote up a beautiful 1967 Dino Coupe, one of the cars closest to being a Ferrari without having any hint of the traditional Ferrari price tag. In that post, I also talked about the more desirably Pininfarina-styled Spider version. While the Coupe and Spider shared underpinnings, outside they looked quite different; the Spider has a decidedly more Ferrari-esque look than the Coupe and flaunts some impressive curves. That makes sense, and Bertone is generally known for its boxier style, while Pininfarina - well, I'm sure you know them well. In an absolutely lovely shade of green comes this 1967 version of the Dino Spider:

Year: 1967
Model: Dino Spider
Engine: 2.0 liter V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 89,877 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1967 Fiat Dino Spider

1967 Fiat Dino Spider finished in Dark Green with Tan leather interior. This Pininfarina designed Dino was built by Fiat in order for the Ferrari 2.0 Liter V6 engine to be homologated for use in their Formula 2 race cars. These engines were identical to the ones used in the early Ferrari 206 Dinos. Make no mistake. This car is all Ferrari. With prices on all vintage Ferraris hitting the stratosphere, this four passenger Convertible with it's flowing curvaceous lines has to be one of the best buys available in a top down Ferrari on the planet. Only 1,133 2.0 Fiat Dino Spiders were ever made. Finding a rust free example like this one is extremely difficult. The engine was completely rebuild less than 1k miles ago. For detailed information and pricing, please call Mark Starr @ 914 217-4817.

From the photos, the condition of the car appears to be quite impressive. The engine rebuild - and expensive undertaking - has already been sorted for you. I really like the unusual green on this car that really makes it pop and stand out. With nearly 90,000 miles on the chassis, most probably wouldn't consider this a pristine Concours car but that makes it all the more appealing to me. It's been driven and used yet still appears great. Pricing for top level show cars is approaching $100,000 these days; this car is likely more in the second tier at around $70,000. It's a lot for a Fiat, but as with the Coupe is downright cheap for a Ferrari.

-Carter

Classic, Fiat

1972 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

April 10, 2014 Graham 2 Comments

There aren't too many cars where it's considerably more common to see the convertible than the coupe; but in the case of the Fiat 124, that's exactly the case. Most of the Fiat 124s imported to the U.S. were the very popular spider variant. However, the coupe was a great looking alternative that shared the Lampredi designed 4 cylinder. If general rarity wasn't enough, today's example has been kicked up a notch. From the second run of production, this 124 Sport Coupe is an ex-racer that's been returned to road use:

Year: 1974
Model: 124 Sport Coupe
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 100,000 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1974 Fiat 124

NO RESERVE

1974 Fiat 124 Sport

All bills from our time of ownership included.

- 2 liter engine (Completely rebuilt. Bottom end (crankshaft, conrods, pistons, etc.) balanced and blueprinted by JMS Racing Engines. All reciprocating masses balanced. Block deck checked for uniformity of surface. Crankshaft main bearing journals line bored. Professionally bored and honed (40 over). New pistons (stock compression ratio (40 over)). Basically the bottom end is a thoroughly checked out and then done well stock bottom end, if the factory decided to dynamically balance all the moving parts.

- Ishihara-Johnson crankshaft scraper custom fabricated. (Significantly reduces turbulence in the crankcase. Basically gives you a few percent free horsepower by not having to carry around excess oil on your crankshaft or deal with the hurricane force winds that are created in a crankcase without a crankscraper). Highly recommend IJ crank scrapers though be prepared to spend the time test fitting and filing to ensure proper clearances because we're talking thousandths of inches here and IJ builds in a margin.

- Forged aluminum crankshaft pulley, idler shaft pulley, and water pump pulley fabricated by Miller's Mule. Miller's Mule adjustable camshaft pulleys.

- 1800 head to bump up the compression ratio to about 10 to 1 (Completely rebuilt. BIG VALVES (intake and exhaust), intake and exhaust ports port matched to intake and header. Allison's Automotive torque cams. Allison's Automotive prepared the valve train).

- Miller's Mule 9.5 lb billet aluminum flywheel w/ racing clutch and pressure plate (clutch and pressure plate from Allison's Automotive). New throwout bearing.

- Allison's Automotive tuned length, stepper header system with a completely new (not Allison's) header back exhaust system (single Magnaflow muffler).

- Weber 44 IDF carburetors.

- Aluminum Pro Cool radiator with adjustable fan control and high capacity cooling fan (Allison's Automotive).

- KYB gas shocks. Front and REAR anti-sway bars.

- Gotti forged 2 piece racing wheels 15x7. New Nexen N300 195/45 ZR 15. Two piece wheel spacers that convert the 4 lug pattern to 5 lug (very expensive to fabricate).

- EBC Yellowstuff brake pads, Front and rear. New or rebuilt brake calipers. New front drilled brake rotors. New rear rotors. New braided steel brake lines (Allison's).

- External large capacity Oil Cooler mounted in the front grill. Custom braided steel oil lines with Aeroquip aerospace fittings fitted.

- Seats upholstered in gray perforated leather and gray alcantara type suede material. Door cards are upholstered in a gray alcantara.

- 4 point roll cage.

- Gas tank flushed and resealed.

- Computronix D.I.S. 4 (distributorless ignition system) to give her some spark. Something like a consistent 50,000 + volts for your plugs.

- All bumpers and bumperettes professionally straightened and rechromed.

More.

Hey there, these are links to the car running.

NOTE: THIS WAS A RACE CAR PRIOR TO OUR (my dad and I) REBUILDING THE CAR. THE TRANSMISSION SYNCHROS ARE WEAK. We can have Allison's Automotive rebuild the tranny synchros for a very fair price. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am currently an employee of the shop.

NOW, the paint sucks. I love the color. I wanted something very 70s to fit the era of the car so I got House of Kolor base coat, top coat, sparkles, and clear. Our painter and finishing body guy blew the deal, got arrested, etc. Car was halfway finished and with a few missing pieces (lower trunk trim piece which we never got back). Anyways, two new guys were called in to finish the paint. From certain angles it looks great. Others, no. That's OK as you probably hate the color anyways and want to change it as soon as you get it on your driveway.

Also, the car was owned and raced in SOLO by some guy that now has done some NASCAR stuff and I think his kid has raced a bit. I'll have to get his name and include it in a few. The previous owner is up in Oregon somewhere. I bought the car off of Allison's Automotive in Upland, the shop that this guy sold his car to. Being a race car, the driver side of the car has bondo, from the owner racer tagging some hay bails or something. A new quarter fender was added at some time and others had been hammered out and then smoothed over. The body is straight (now) and the frame is straight. This isn't a trailer queen and never will be. This is a USER's car.

While it's not perfect, this car tugs at my heart; I've done similar modifications to my Audi Coupe, and while it certainly compromises the quality of the car as a road car, it does make it more fun. I'd be a little concerned about the longevity of the engine turned up in this state, but the seller seems to honestly detail both the strengths and the weaknesses. I love the style, stance and coloring of this Fiat, and the fact that it's not a trailer queen makes me want it even a bit more. Hagerty places the value of these Coupes in this condition around $6,000. To me, it'd make a great alternative to the more commonly sought and much more expensive Alfa GTV. Certainly, you're not likely to see another like it soon, if ever!

-Carter

Fiat

1960 Fiat 1200 Cabriolet

April 8, 2014 Graham

To own an Italian two-seater convertible, you have to be rich, right? Not exactly. Look back to the classics and there are a wealth or drop top runabouts to choose from. One of my favorites happens to be based on Fiat's small family car, the 1200. With Pininfarina employed as the stylist, a tidy looking convertible emerged on the scene in 1959 and laid the groundwork for the classic Italian roadster look. More than a few future Fiats and Alfa Romeos took styling cues from this car. This particular 1200 Cabriolet for sale, which has been restored, comes to us from our reader Frank in Denmark.

Year: 1960
Model: 1200 Cabriolet
Engine: 1.2 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 7,000 km since restoration (~ 4,349 mi)
Price: £14,900 (~ $24,747 USD)

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1960 Fiat 1200 Cabriolet

This Fiat 1200 Spider have been totally restored in 1992, and since then it has only been driving 7,000 km. The engine have gone through a complete recondition with new piston and bearings, new bearings in gearbox, new radiator etc. The hood and all of the interior have been replaced with new. This car has only been outdoor driving in the summer, and always stored indoor in a garage. In general, this car is in outstanding condition!

The warmer months are about to begin here on the East Coast of the US and in continental Europe, so a sorted 1200 Cabriolet such as this would avert and down time and allow a prospective buyer to jump right in and cruise down to the coast.

-Paul