Thought I'd join the forum, long time Fiat guy

[AndyS]

I probably know a few folks here. used to be active in the SF Bay Area Fiat club, and have owned a few really nice Fiats over the years. A couple of my cars were featured in that 90's 124 book by John Tipler. I sold my 68 years ago, and saw it for sale recently again in Europe for a lot of Euros. I still have my old 67 Euro Market 124 Spider, plus a couple of 600 based cars.

My 67 was fully restored back in 1990, and has been a great car for many years. Recently it has been sitting a lot as I have been busy with other projects and raising a family, and I decided I needed to start paying it more attention. Changed all the fluids, did a new tranny mount, and all new brakes recently, plus upgraded to a Bosch 65Amp Alternator. pressure washed the underbody and engine compartment as well. took it on a tour last week and it ran great.

[WYSpider]

Let's see pictures of your Fiat

[narfire]

I'd love to see the old spider. There is a 68 near me for sale. (needs shock towers but looks in fine shape otherwise) Any more spider projects on the horizon?
Chris

[AndyS]

Here are a few photos of my car below. Here is some history of the car. It is a 1967 car that was bought in Italy originally, as they did not officially import any 67's to the USA. The serial number is in only the 300's! Car was brought to California in 1971, and the original owner swapped in the Euro 1600 twin webers and factory 1600 Euro hood small bump hood (but without the badge like the US 1800 hoods) before he brought it over. At some point, he put some rally style bumpers on it because he was tired of expensive fender benders. i still have the original bumpers, and they will still bolt right back on the car.

After over 200,000 miles, the 1400 was worn out, and a brand new 1800 block was put in the car with 9.8:1 pistons. that was in the car when I got it back in 1989. I eventually put a euro spec 1800 ported and polished head on it with PBS intake and 1600 exhaust cams with adjustable pulleys. I found an original real Marreliplex distributor back then. Ran the car for years with the 40 IDF's, but eventually got sick of dealing with them. I ended up getting a 36mm DCD Weber single carb, and run that with the biggest chokes they make for it (28 primary, 29 secondary). I lost very little over the twin 40's, picked up 5 MPG, and never smell gas, have carbs going out of sync, flooded spark plugs, etc anymore. Have a Sprint header on the car and a Faza 2 inch exhaust. Car still makes 125 HP, only 5 less than when I had the 40's on there. great daily driver street set up. idles beautifully and requires no fiddling.

Suspension on the car was totally rebuilt. the early cars handle great, and come with front and rear factory sway bars. I run real Abarth rally springs with Boge turbo front shocks and some adjustable Italian rally shocks by a company called Arrison on the rear. too bad neither of those shocks are still available for these cars, as they blow away the stuff you can still get. Brakes are dimpled and slotted rotors from r1 concepts, with Stop Tech Street performance pads. these pads are the best I have ever used on a 124. Stop tech doesn't even have them listed in their catalog, but they do have them available.

Those are the original magnesium Abarth wheels. These first year 1967 cars did not have the long console in them like the other 124 Spiders, and used the Fiat Dino under dash heater controls.


I run a padded Autopower roll bar, and built a frame stiffener underneath the car out of rectangle tube stock that is welded along the bottom of the rockers. car still feels pretty solid for a 44 year old body with over 200,000 miles on it.

I have Cibie H4 headlights, and some cibie period yellow fogs. Those are Procar Rally seats.

[kmac33]

That is a beautiful early Spider!

[Exit98]

WOW!

[WYSpider]

Did Campy make those rims for Abarth? WOW is right!

[TX82FIAT]

Sweet ride. I really like the customization.

[AndyS]

Did Campy make those rims for Abarth? WOW is right!

Chromadora made those Abarth rally wheels. they are a magnesium alloy and weigh less than 10 pounds.