1979 Fiat 124 aka Luigi

[profcucchi]

Hello all!

After four years of looking, I finally have a car. Being picky with no budget made me very selective.






I'll crop them later.

Basics:

1979 Fiat 124

Almost no rust on body or undercarriage; and for a Toronto car, that makes it a rarity!

What works: well, it runs.

What doesn't: brakes are really spongy. Almost frightfully so. And oil drips have begun...

Things to do: new carpets (they smell), seat covers (for now), locks (they just keep turning), painting of rims (from gold to dirty silver) and steering wheel (freshen up the original metal), and just paint (super shiny black). I've got a five year plan .

If there is anyone in the Toronto area with a mechanic recommendation, please send info.

And Luigi? For my father, of course!

Thanks,
Prof Cucchi
Toronto, Ontario

[Martin124]

Looking forward to seeing those pics!

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard!

[giuliot60]

Congrats! Yes, pictures.

[profcucchi]

Thanks for the welcome. I'll take some pics this afternoon and post them.

[Marmeister]

Welcome to a second Luigi in the family. My Luigi is a 1980 FI.
Great forum to join....Good Luck
Adham

[giuliot60]

Looks good. Pretty nice car for no budget.

I love the red/black color combo.

Seat covers why? Red piping? I hear you could dye them.

Gold wheels. Those wheels also look good in black.

[baltobernie]

Hello and Welcome! Several Toronto-area posters are on this forum.

You may want to check the age of those Semperit tires. They haven't been sold in North America for many years.

[giuliot60]

Agree with bernie. I had old tires with good thread on them, but they were dry. I put Falken 912 195/60/14s on them and it made a huge difference in the ride, plus peace of mind and for only $59 a tire installed with a promotion at Discount Tire. My only regret is that I didn't go with 205s

[profcucchi]

Looks good. Pretty nice car for no budget.

I love the red/black color combo.

Seat covers why? Red piping? I hear you could dye them.

Gold wheels. Those wheels also look good in black.

I know. I'm hesitant about painting until I can get a good stripper. You can get Aircraft stripper just about anywhere in the States, but up here, it's no where.

I may just draw up a sketch and see what looks best. Silver is pretty easy, but the black may give me the sleek style I want.

I just saw a black steering wheel and was pretty excited by how nice it was.

The quality of the piping is very good, the material is terrible. It sticks together and "riiips" when pulled apart.

And for the money, it's a great car.

[profcucchi]

Hello and Welcome! Several Toronto-area posters are on this forum.

You may want to check the age of those Semperit tires. They haven't been sold in North America for many years.

Absolutely. My mechanic told me to change them next spring. they are hard as rock despite good tread left. If I could get them painted and mounted for $70 a tire, I'd jump, but I don't think so...

[divace73]

I know. I'm hesitant about painting until I can get a good stripper . You can get Aircraft stripper just about anywhere in the States, but up here, it's no where. ahhhhh

for a second there, didn't know there were Aircraft Strippers......

Have to agree on old tyres, tyres much past 4 years can be dubious regardless of tread, they become that hard it like skating in the rain.

[azruss]

paint look pretty good. may just need to sand and repaint. be very careful with a stripper, you can open pandora's box and buy yourself years of unnecessary work.