1975 Fiat Other

Convertible

1800cc

Manual

Clear

Gasoline

I hate to part with this sweetheart, but it's gotta go. Too many projects, not enough time. I'm hopeful that it sells somewhere very far away.... because I don't think I can bear the thought of ever seeing somebody else driving it down the road. :-( 1975 Fiat Spider, 1800cc. less than 70k original miles, but that really doesn't tell the story. This is not your average "sunny-day convertible".... unless your sunny days are spent getting track-time. This car needs to be driven. Just over two years ago, a mechanical rebuild was performed on the car, including the Motor, the Trans, the rear / diff, shocks, brakes, etc etc. Shortly thereafter an interior "remodel" was done to the passenger compartment. The results are fun, and I frequently hear on-lookers use the word "awesome". The Mechanical Stuff: Stock 1800 block was align-honed and then hot-tanked. standard-bore pistons with a 7.8mm dome were combined with a steel .080 head gasket and std head for a 9.65:1 compression ratio Piston and Rod assemblies were match-balancedMiller's Mule lightened flywheel and crank pulleys were used.Entire assembly was dynamically-balancedCams are a custom grind with .425" (10.8mm) lift and LOTS of duration on the intake and only slightly smaller on the exhaustThe head is the standard 1800 Unit with mild port-work done just to smooth the short-side radii, and fitted bigger valves (43mm) Miller's Mule adjustable cam-pulleys were incorporated and the cams were meticulously dialed. (Intake is currently run 3d advanced, to raise the ceiling of the power-band) ISKY springs keep the valves where they need to be.A knockoff of the PBR intake manifold was extensively ported to work with this applicationtwin Weber 44IDF's were fitted with a Holley fuel regulator. Providing spark is a distributor-less system from Allison's Automotive in Upland, CA. Exhaust is through a beautiful stainless steel header, also from Allison's Automotive, and then pro-wrapped in thermal header-wrap. A 2-1/2" stainless system with a resonator and muffler finish it off.Radiator was professionally flushed & roddedA new 95amp alternator was installed with an Optima Battery The trans was sent off to a local builder here who I've used for years, where new bearings and seals were fitted throughout. A new "Performance Clutch" from Allison's Automotive was installedNew Brake Rotors were coupled with rebuilt calipers, EBC brake pads and braided brake lines. The wheels are Koenigs.KYB GR-2 Shocks The Interior:the interior was completely guttedIn keeping with the theme of the car, only those items which would've been used in the 70's Abarth race-cars were re-installed. Important: there is no radio, no cigar lighter, no heater, no A/C, no cup-holders, no change-holder, no phone-charger, no hands-free anything. This is a RAW and EXCITING car. The windshield wipers are not installed, but the motors are and they work (I needed them for Safety Inspection) Entire pan was lined with a thermal & sound-deadening layer before the boat-carpet was custom-cut, formed and installed. Custom Vintage-style buckets were added, but a concession was made to comfort when the adjustable / sliding hardware was added with them. The seat-belts are vintage race-car latch-type beltsthe Horn-Button activates TWO VERY LOUD twin airhorns (yes, that's a total of 4 horns)A custom aluminum dash holds the factory gauges (which were cleaned and reassembled)A Push-button start was installed, with an aircraft-style flip-switch activating the coil and fuel pump. Perhaps the only truly "non-theme-correct" item is the HID headlights. They were so bright and nice to drive with that I left them in this build. also not "theme-correct" is the hidden electric trunk-lid-actuator. These are the highlights. The lists could go on and on and on..... and on and on. As you can see, I will NEVER recoup the investment I've made into this car. But I am hopeful that whoever buys it will love it the same as I have. So, now to the Body: There's damage to the right-rear 1/4 where I backed it into my wife's car. (yikes) It's good that it was me... if anyone else had hurt my car, it would've gone badly. :-) There's rust: In front of the driver's rear wheel it is bubbling, but it's elsewhere on the car as well, and it'll need to be addressed someday. The right-side backup light lens is broken. I have the grill-insert, but I haven't installed it. How does it drive? one word: WICKED. Truly. Every time I drive it, it tries to get me arrested. It's loud. The carbs are probably louder than the exhaust, but between them it's a marvelous racket. The longest drive I've taken it on was about 3 hours, and I was very glad I had my ear-plugs. It Stinks. Like an old, vintage hot-rod or race-car should. It doesn't like to be driven sedately. It's a little rich at this altitude (4000'), but when you get it into the main-jet of the carbs, it SCREAMS. (see the video)Fast. Not like a rocket-ship... more like a nasty go-kart. Spins the wheels in 2 gears if you want it to. REVVY. If there were one word to describe this car, that's it. It LOVES to rev. All of the old superbike tricks were done in assembling this motor (chamfering, drilling, polishing, etc). Again, see the video. Here's the video. If you are the PoPo; I don't know who was driving or where this was. Here's the VIDEO Again; if you are looking for a perfect car, this ain't it. If you're looking for a sedate convertible for you and the gal to go to church in on Sunday, this ain't it. But if what you're looking for is a car to bring smiles to your face every time you fire it up; this is the car to do it. If you are looking for something vintage to take racing, this is it. I highly recommend you see the car in person. There will be no after-the-auction-ends negotiations. I am happy to work with your shipper, but those expenses will be yours. A $500 deposit will be required within 48 hrs of auction close. I'm probably not interested in trading for anything. But if you have something really interesting, you're welcome to try to pique my interest. :-) On May-26-14 at 09:34:38 PDT, seller added the following information: I'm sure I'll continue to remember things I should've put in the listing. While it seems obvious, I should still point-out that the hood and deck-lid are NOT carbon fiber; they are steel, but wrapped with DiNoc, a 3m product that has the texture and look of carbon fiber. The tires are like new, with only about 2k miles on them.On May-29-14 at 15:32:43 PDT, seller added the following information: I've been asked about the drive-ability. As I said, it's a "wicked" driver. I love it. It is everything I want it to be. However; if you wanted it to be a little more "sedate", dialing-back the intake cam is easily accomplished and would lower the point where peak-power occurs, effectively smoothing-out much of the low-end delivery. The other modification to make it easier to drive on a daily basis would be to change out the carbs to a 34adfa or something like it. The motor would still be very strong, and of course very reliable. Just not quite as "fun". :-)