An old Spider owner but new here

[eddie124]

Hi all,

My name is Eduardo (Eddie) Relvas, and I've been a lifelong Fiat enthusiast. I'm not new to the online forums on this subject either, I was a frequent user of the Mirafiori forum a while back, and I've already seen a few familiar names from that time around here, plus a few others from the forums I currently take part in.

I've been through several Spiders and other 124 and Fiat models through the years, but currently my fleet consists only of my trusty 127 (in the family from new and now awaiting its turn to get a proper resto) and the 124 Spider which I fell in love with in 2006, a black pre-series car first registered in early March 1967.



This has been the object of my passion for the last years, and I'm slowly bringing it up to my desired spec. I bought it from its third owner in Italy and had it shipped to Portuguese shores, then driven home. It needed a serious mechanical overhaul after sitting in a garage for years, but apart from that it's thrown very little complaint since, despite frequent use and abuse. But she takes it all in her stride, as a 43-year old lady should.

I'll soon open a topic for her to let you know more about it.

Cheers, Eddie

[TulsaSpider]

Welcome! Great looking specimen! This is a great forum! So where do you call home?
Clark

[eddie124]

Hi Clark,

Thanks!

I did forget to mention that... I'm from a small countryside town in Portugal, called Portalegre. Close to the spanish border, it's a quiet and wonderful place, with lots of fantastic driving roads around. Here's the old gal on one of my favourite routes up in the hills:



I do most of my maintenance work, as I am an engineer (though my major is in Materials Engineering, not Mechanical) and I started learning from very young with a few books of my fathers' (who is a mechanical engineer) and the mechanic I used to take the 127 to when I first got it (it's mine since I was 14).

When I read Guy Croft's book back in '99 I got the bug for engine work, and have been playing with this for a while now. I'm currently rebuilding a 1438 TC for a friend's Spider that I resurrected back in 2004.

My own Spider's 1438 already sports a few modifications, nothing too drastic as I don't want to drift too far from its original presentation, but I do have a few other works planned for it that I'll be discussing here soon as I see there is quite a bunch of knowledgeable people around here.

Cheers, Eddie

[mdrburchette]

Beautiful car! Welcome to the forum, Eddie.

[Mick124]

Hi Eddie,

I am in the process of restoring a 1967 124 Spider AS model (black originally). I am keen to link up with you and obtain any photos so that I can work from. I am based in Australia.

Thanks,

Mick

[eddie124]

Hi Mick,

You're more than welcome, anything you need just drop me a line. I'll send you my e-mail address via PM.

Cheers, Eddie