In 1993 with about 3 months left in the Navy stationed in Florida, I bought a 1972 Fiat 124 Spider. It had some rust bubbles in various locations under the red paint (which was originally burgundy as could be seen in the engine compartment and other areas), the top was bad (but it was always down so it didn’t matter to me), the interior wasn’t great, cracked dash, etc. etc. I didn’t care, it was a fun car. I didn’t have any money for restoration, so I just enjoyed driving it the way it was.
I drove it to Missouri and worked on the car all summer while waiting to go to college in the fall. Being a computer geek/nerd, I knew nothing about cars, but I bought some repair manuals and found Bayless and International Auto Parts and set to it. I replaced the carburetor with a Weber (or something) from Bayless and never really got it running smooth (it wasn’t to begin with either which is why I started working on it
).I completely dismantled the engine and had the block/head cleaned (I don’t even remember what I had done…cylinders bored? etc. I still know next to nothing about cars) and installed new seals/gaskets etc. It was fun and I got to be a mechanic for a while (or so I thought at the time), though dealing with getting the engine out by myself was tough for me. I had parts laid out all over the garage (wish I had taken pictures back them) and it looked so daunting a task! Well, I got it all back together and got it running and adjusted the timing (points?) as best I could. It seemed to run pretty well, so I congratulated myself.
Over the next couple of years, I replaced the top, but couldn’t afford any interior work. The rust bubbles had begun to break through the paint, but I knew nothing about body work nor could I afford it (was still in college). Another problem cropped up…the differential started clunking. I tracked down one from a salvage yard and replaced it, and it was good for a time, but started again and worse. My poor Fiat was deteriorating beyond my finances at this point, so I bought a cheap Honda to drive to school and the Fiat sat in the driveway rusting away for a few more years (so sad, I know).
Well, I graduated, worked for a local company for a couple years, then got a job transfer to Michigan and decided I couldn’t get 2 cars up there from Missouri (especially one that didn’t drive), so in 1999 or 2000 I gave my Fiat to some charity organization who came and towed it away.
Over the next several years I would occasionally search online for a cheap Fiat, but never followed though on getting one. Well, a few months ago I saw an ebay listing for a 1972 Fiat Spider from Springfield, MO. I thought it was cool that someone was selling the same year Fiat as I had and selling it from the place I went to college. Lo and behold, it was my Fiat!!! There were dozens of pictures of it in the listing and I completely recognized my old car. It was in terrible shape (even worse than it was when I gave it up) and was going extremely cheap. I missed the end of the auction and didn’t see how much it went for, etc. Anyway, I thought it was cool seeing my old car on ebay after all this time. I just wish I had been more responsible (and had more money) back then and had restored it.
I’m in the process of trying to find a larger vehicle (minivan maybe, ugh) for my growing family (we have a Camry right now), but my wife has agreed to let me get a (cheap) Fiat once we get the family vehicle. She knows how much I love the Fiat and have been wanting to get another for a long time. I just need to find one that I won’t have to put a lot into restoring (or she’ll kill me), yet cheap enough (is that even possible?
).I have pictures somewhere from when I first got my Fiat back in 1993. Will have to get them scanned so I can share them. Wish I had saved the pics from that ebay listing.
I'm in the Kansas City area now, so I'll have to try to track down a Fiat club so I can see some beauties (Fiats, that is). Hoping to one day soon be a proud Fiat owner again.
Thanks for reading,
Ken
