1967 Fiat Spider
Owner: |
Steven Stanfield (All of this user's registries on SuperMotors) |
From: |
Ridgecrest, CA, U.S.A. (Other registries in CA) |
Year, Make, & Model: |
1967 Fiat Spider (Other Fiat Spiders) |
Nickname: |
ABARTH 100-OT |
Mileage: |
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Engine: |
Abarth 1000cc inline 4 cylinder. |
Drivetrain: |
Stock 4-speed manual transmission |
Notes: |
Dad was campaigning Fiat 600's on the circle tracks in and around Southern California, and he bought several cars that he could cannibalize for parts.
After some research, he removed the Abarth engine from the original Coupe and used it for several seasons in various race cars.
The 'Foreign Stock' class was disbanded after a few years due to lack of venues, so Dad put the Fiats away.
In 2000 he decided to restore the 1967 Fiat Abarth 100-OT coupe, and went through all the mechanicals. This car is based on the Fiat 850 Coupe (long and low), not the cute little 500's and 600's.
In 2001 Dad had some serious health problems, and put the car into storage. I kept after him to sell it to me if he wasn't going to finish it. and in November 2006 he decided that his car-building days were over. He sold the car to me, and I left it in storage as I was busy taking care of him.
Dad passed away in March of 2007, and that summer I got the car out and began working to put it back on running order. There were several problems due to being in storage; the fuel lines were dried and cracked, so I had to replace all of those. The fuel filter cartridge was a solid mass of varnish, and I removed it and worked for several hours getting it cleaned up.
After fixing a lot of small items like this, I started the car with Starting Fluid (Ether) and it ran fairly well. After running it for about 1/2 hour, things settled in and it idled and ran great.
I wasn't able to get the motor to turn over fast enough to start in on gasoline - even with a new battery and jumper cables - so I removed the starter and rebuilt it. I found that the leads to one of the brushes had pulled loose, so I cut down a Chevrolet brush and installed it.
The engine now spins over very nicely, but the battery loses its charge. It's winter in the mountains here as i write this, and as soon as we have a warm day (or Spring arrives) I'll run a test on the generator. Dad didn't use the generator in the race cars, so I believe that I'll find minor problems like the starter had.
As far as the body goes, the only rust I can find is in the bottom of the battery tray, and that is easily reproduced. Dad didn't finish the body work, so there are a few minor dings that I'll need to work out before I get it painted the original color.
90% of the chrome if perfect, but I'll have to send a few pieces out for re-plating.
The interior is completely shot. and I'm now searching for a shop that can reproduce the original.
Our plan is to take the little car to Vintage Racing meets and show it at the better shows.
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Last Updated: |
1/31/2008 |
Hits: |
5969 |
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