| Author | Message | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Junior Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 139 Registered: 3-2002 |
Thanks for that info! The owner is in Chicago, but his brother and the car are in S. California. He told me he was having the engine rebuilt for $400, which sounded awfully low. But it looks like he's shying away from a "concours" restoration. It originally had an interesting hood ornament, long gone, but he also found someone to recreate one from photos! | ||
| Richard Stephens (Dino2400)
Junior Member Username: Dino2400 Post Number: 60 Registered: 10-2001 |
I have had a coupe of the early 60s Fiat 1500 cabriolets which kind of bridged the gap between the 50s car your friend has purchased and the later 124 spider series. I think chronologically it went Transformabiles - TV - 1200 cabriolet - 1500/1600 cabriolet - then 124. (there was also an osca twin cam version of the cabriolet for a while). The 1500 cabriolets are fun cars and have a much more vintage feel than the 124. Body by Pininfarina and Pushrod engine designed by Lampredi (there's your Ferrari connection) is fairly gutless but you'll feel like you are going faster than you are because of the way the car rides so it's still fun (the 14x145 tires add to that feeling, ha!). I'm sure the earlier Transformabiles are even more like this and have an even more 50s look to them (of course). I forget who designed the bodies... I think the engine is 1100 CC or so. www.carsfromitaly.com is a good website for info on the various Fiat models and there is a little info on the Trasformabiles. If he is going to need any parts and is in the states, Chris Obert & Co. in Santa Cruz, CA would be the best source http://got.net/~fiatplus/ 831-423-0218. A phone call to Chris would be a good idea anyway as he'll fill your friend in on what he has gotten himself into. Sounds like fun to me! -Rich | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Junior Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 128 Registered: 3-2002 |
That's kind of what I told him. Rarity would be a double-edged sword for him. He wants it as a fun car, but now almost feels obligated to return it to what it once was. I was watching an auto auction on Speed Channel where some guy built a $150K modified Camaro, then auctioned it off for about $90K. Doubt he got 60 grand in use out of it...Thanks for the input! | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member Username: Peter Post Number: 1813 Registered: 12-2000 |
Well, I know of Fiat TV's (Tourismo Veloce), which were built in the '50's, based on running gear from various Fiat sedans (1100's, 1500's, etc...). These were front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, two-seater convertibles, that did have a two-opening front grill. These are very rare now, as little were imported into North America and the ones that were here, have succumbed to rust and neglect. It would be nice to save a last remaining example of this car, parts will be a problem to find and the cost of restoration would unfortunately exceed what the car is really worth. Drop a modern 124 Spyder engine into it and make it into a fun-in-the-sun daily driver.  | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Junior Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 122 Registered: 3-2002 |
I'm not a Fiat expert, but he showed me some pictures, and it's actually a 2-seater convertible, which is where I assume the name comes from. I think they continued the line until around '59. It has a dual-opening grill, sort of like a BMW, only larger. Any clues? | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member Username: Peter Post Number: 1805 Registered: 12-2000 |
Not sure, is it some kind of 600 derivative (like a Multipla)? Or maybe an 850T Utility (kinda like a VW bus). | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Junior Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 117 Registered: 3-2002 |
Anyone familiar with this car? A friend at work just bought one in need of lots of work. It's a '55, one of only 500 or so made. He bought it because he thought it looked cool for only $500, then found out it's kind of unique. The body is in pretty good shape, but engine and tranny are shot. He's trying to decide if it's worth a concours rebuild, or just to make it driveable. Any ideas? |