New guy located in Arkansas... yes hillbillies have Fiats!

[BigMikeMc]

recently joined the Fiat community when I traded for 2 and 1/2 spiders. One is a 1980 2000 FI, 5 speed manual, all the basics. The other one is also a 1980 2000 FI, but this time an automactic with factory a/c, triple black and only 24,000 miles on it. (checked it thru the DMV records and that seems to be true mileage) Both are in need of much love but that is part of the fun, right? The last 1/2 is another motor, 5 speed manual tranny, rear end, and all the suspension out of a parts car that was too far gone to saved, it was a 1979 so the engine is carbed. Anyway I have a decent amount of skills and a greater amount of friends with more skills, so I hope to have the 2 full cars back on the road and enjoying the twisty mountain roads up here that run right in front of my house. The greatest part is how easy it was to convince my wife we really NEEDED these 2 cars after she saw them! (She fell in love at first sight and has already claimed the 5 speed car!) Got extremely lucky with these 2, as I have found only a very small (dime sized) rust hole in one floor board, the rest of the body, shock towers, engine cradle, etc all seem to be fine, of course still gonna soda blast them down to bare metal and bring them back to life so I KNOW they are in good, reliable shape. After all my wife is gonna be driving one and I don't want the "I'm broke down in this crappy old car you talked me into" call. Well that should do it for now, hope to post pictures soon and document the journey down the restoration/rescue road. till the next time, have fun and see you in the twisties!

[dmwhiteoak]

Hello and welcome. Where bouts in Arkansas are you?

[BigMikeMc]

I am in Clarksville Ar. It is on the edge of the River Valley and the Ozark mountain range. Live on hwy 103 right outside town about 8 miles from the White Rock national forest, it is a beautiful mountain road and area that has great vistas and fall scenery (spring aint too bad either!) My wife's family is from Jasper so get to go up hwys 21, 16 and senic hwy 7, to vist family often, just a few more examples of some of the great driving and motorcycle riding roads the area has to offer. I have the luck of going back to college for my PhD in histroy specializing in Arkansas and Ozark Quachita mountains history and culture and have been shown and told of some great roads by old timers telling me about the old moonshiner and bootlegger byways. thanks for the welcome!!

[dmwhiteoak]

I have been up hwy 7 many times but the last was 15 years ago pulling a camper. That wasn't alot of fun but it is beautiful
country. I will have to plan a trip up in the Spider. The only problem is the wife does not know how to pack light and the Spider has limited cargo area but Im sure you already know that.

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard!

[PininF]

Hi and welcome , look forward to seeing your new babies

[FiatBen]

I have been up hwy 7 many times but the last was 15 years ago pulling a camper. That wasn't alot of fun but it is beautiful
country. I will have to plan a trip up in the Spider. The only problem is the wife does not know how to pack light and the Spider has limited cargo area but Im sure you already know that.

Dennis,
I once took a camping trip in a Spider. My uncle and I packed everything we needed, including a pup tent, stove, food, etc. in the back seat, trunk and luggage rack and went to Colorado for a week. Man, that was a FUN trip. I'll have to dig out the pictures sometime.

and welcome to another Ozark hillbilly!! There are more of us here with Fiat Spiders than we know.

[2ndwind]

Congrats. I've had an '82 5 speed and '82 auto at the same time. The auto wasn't as bad as I'd expected but the 5 spd is too fun. Ciao!

[BigMikeMc]

Thanks to all for the warm welcomes, and I have to say Thanks to those on here who have already lent me a helping hand or advice. I am gratefull for it, and glad to see there are still folks outthere who want to help their fellow man.