Fiat 128 - I have fallen in love...again. | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Fiat 128 - I have fallen in love...again.

Discussion in 'Other Italian' started by johnireland, Feb 14, 2024.

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  1. Mang

    Mang F1 Veteran

    Jul 11, 2007
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    Mike S.
    John, during my Fiat frenzy years, I joined xwebforums.org an excellent Fiat resource in my experience. I’ll keep an eye out for your dream car and notify if I see anything I think you might find interesting.
     
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  2. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
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    Jul 28, 2008
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    Im 10 yrs old in Sicily on vacation. Two streets away from Nonnas is a light green 128 with big fog lights and rally stripes It was the coolest car I ever saw. While I was there I was passenger in a gymkhana with my uncle in a 500. I always think of it. Love the 128, I like quirky cars I guess. Sorry it didnt work out John.
     
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  3. johnireland

    johnireland F1 Veteran
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    Mar 19, 2017
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    While I keep my open for a good 128 at an intelligent price...the "second car weekend toy" search has brought me back in touch with two other cars that I truly love. My first Alfa was a 1977 Alfetta Sedan...drove it every day of the week, and tracked it at two day events six or so times a year. It was amazing. So I'm looking for a first generation 1975-1977 example. They are proving just as elusive as the 128. The European ones will be harder to get past CARB in California...but if I find an example pre 1975, I'll have a slightly better chance. But the euro ones are all twin Webers, while US Alfas had SPICA fuel injection starting in 1968. The attached pictures are a visual match for my 1977. And the other car is the Alfa 164. A big M5 size sport sedan, I bought on new in 1991 and it was fantastic...a really nimble big car. But it also had a lot of electronics...now obsolete electronics...and that is one thing I'm trying to avoid. But the right one could change my mind...they were that good to drive. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
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  4. johnireland

    johnireland F1 Veteran
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    Had to add this video on 164s...

    Quello che (forse) non sai sull'Alfa 164 (youtube.com)

    there is a fourth car in the race that appeals to me but frightens me...a Lancia Fulvia Berlina. My concerns with Lancia is that they
    often seemed to try the most complicated way of doing things. I compare this 1300 cc Lancia Berlina and to a 1300 cc Alfa
    Giulia Super...and the Alfa is much more sporting. But the Lancia is a fraction of the cost of the Alfa.
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    Attached Files:

  5. johnireland

    johnireland F1 Veteran
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    Well the journey is finally over. It started with the search for the 128...and two full offer for cars...that weren't accepted. Wandering the world via the internet I saw many nice cars but with various issues registering them in California. I flirted with one of my favorite cars, the 164, but couldn't find one stateside that I really like, and they weren't really analog enough for me. Found some Lancia Berlinas that tickled my fancy...but never got me to push the button. Finally, a car that I walked away from in April because it might have trouble passing emissions and registration in California, kept showing up on my radar. The more I looked and the more I read, the more I realized this was the best one out there...at least that I could find. We agreed on the price today, I Zelled him 1/3 of the money immediately (received) and wired the rest...which will post tomorrow. We agreed on the price, the money has been paid, tomorrow I'll arrange the shipping, and hopefully in two weeks at the latest it will arrive from Connecticut to my front door in Los Angeles. If California DMV and CARB look too closely, I'm in trouble but I'm hoping that as a 49 year old car it will slip under the radar. I hope. And Pray. It has some very small blemish/paint warts but nothing I need to worry about for now. The current owner has had it since 2019 and put a lot of money and work into it. Now he has other projects and needs the space. I drove a real beater recently and even with all its faults, it was like putting on a well loved pair of shoes. This one has none of those problems. So here is some of the seller's pictures. I can relax now. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
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  6. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    Apr 28, 2003
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    Very cool. I love the seats.
     
  7. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #32 TheMayor, Jun 8, 2024
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2024
    Very hard to find a good Alfetta GT today. This one looks really clean!

    If its missing the Catalytic converter most likely the smog place in CA will discover its missing. If the car is 1975 or older you should be OK. CA exempt.

    These cars have the rather controversial dash layout where the tach is right in front and everything else in the center. A lot of Americans didn't get it and didn't like the speedo in the middle. Really hurt the sales of what was a really fine car.

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  8. johnireland

    johnireland F1 Veteran
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    The dash has some cracks, hence the cover, but I can deal with that in time. They can be found in Italy.
     
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  9. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    They all do from the mid 70's. Even all Alfa spiders do. There's a company in LA that can rebuild any dash.

    Replacement dashes are relatively cheap given their complexity

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/155787995915?
     
  10. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
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  11. johnireland

    johnireland F1 Veteran
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  12. Santiago Montenegro

    Dec 14, 2009
    4,773
    Caracas
    I don't like meddling in other people's lives, so I remained silent. But as you wrote about your wants in a car, I couldn't stop thinking "what he really needs is an Alfetta GT". You'll be happy with it.
     
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  13. johnireland

    johnireland F1 Veteran
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    TheMayor, absostone and Face76 like this.
  14. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Very happy for you! When you get it you should start a new thread on the Alfetta GT. I think a lot of people would be interested.
     
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  15. GIOTTO

    GIOTTO F1 Rookie
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    Dec 30, 2006
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  16. Alfaguy23

    Alfaguy23 Rookie

    Oct 24, 2024
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    Stephen Flaherty
    A great looking Alfetta John congrats. I had to join up specially because of this thread because I wanted to be able to see the photos. I have had many Alfa's down the years too and still own my 1983 Alfasud 1.3 Ti (series 3) I also owned a few Fiat 128 3p's - wonderful cars too. I love in Ireland so getting stuff from Europe is not so bad but I mainly got my cars in the UK but because of the Brexit taxes that's no longer viable here.
    Here is a hazy photo of my 1979 Fiat 128 3p (taken around 1986) This was my second 128 3p.
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