My 1975 Project Car

[JayJeep]

I'm bored so I decided I would start a build thread. Hopefully, I can use this thread to show off my progress as well as get tips and opinions from others on the board.

Background: I got a 75 Fiat Spider from my aunt last fall. The car is in pretty rough shape but it was "free" (my wife reminds me that no car is free). The car was parked in 94 after it broke down and never got fixed. For several years it was parked under my grandma's deck and maybe 10 years ago it got moved out into the woods with the top down.

I was told that when it was parked that it was having carb problems and couldn't shift into 2nd gear. My plan is to strip it down, repair rust and body panels. I'm going to modify the engine and add some personal/modern touches to the overall appearance.

Progress:

Since I received the car last fall I have pulled the seized engine and the transmission. I can now turn the engine over by hand but still plan on boring it and putting in larger high compression pistons. The engine work will wait until I get the body work all figured out. The engine bay is almost empty of all components and the interior of the car is out.

Next step is rust and panel repair. This will probably be the longest part of the process. I have never done serious body work before so I will learn as I go (have done body repair on the trail Jeep but nothing pretty).

Thanks for reading.

Jason

[fredguaz]

Good luck!
This is the best website for the fiat resto.
Got myself a mig welder and now patching holes in my floor. Never welded anything in my life!
Have fun. It is a hobby, money and ambition aside!

[SoFlaFiat]

Just remember Jason, have fun with it and enjoy the process! Make sure, before you get too deep into it, that you actually have enough of a car to work with. From the description, it sounds like you have your work cut out for you!
This forum is invaluable for motivation, instruction and of course, opinions!!
Good luck!!

[SoFlaFiat]

And Fred, I would still love to see pictures of the Bonneville!!

[crazymoose1990]

Bonneville!!!!!! What year? My first car was a 1962 Convertible, black with tri-colored interior and a 4spd 289 no power steering, but power breaks...

Yeah lets see pics!!!!!!

[SoFlaFiat]

Crazymoose, your Bonneville was a cool one but a totally different animal. Fred restored a Triumph 750 Bonneville. But let's see pictures of both!!

[crazymoose1990]

I wondered about that, I also thought maybe a Triumph Bonneville... I have an old picture of my Bonneville with my dad standing next to it on a football field. Yes it was his first new car, It was my first car ever. I'm old,before people had all there photos on phones and computers. I turned 16 in 1985 after all...