Story of a Fiat

[tifosi124]

New guy here from Rhode Island. I just found the perfect resto vehicle 3 weeks ago. This vehicle had 1 owner and was sitting in a garage for almost 25years. Floor and body 100% rot free, and power train only has 46,000 miles.

Here's the story. I'm 38years old now. Rewind back when I was 8yrs old my dad had a 79 spider he bought when he first moved here from italy. He and my mom would always take that car out at night and grab a coffee. One day my dad had a huge pile of sand in the driveway near the car. So being an unattended 8 yr old I filled the fuel tank w/ sand This essentially ended the Fiat's life. Every so often my dad will bring up the car on holidays and we laugh about it..

Fast Forward. Here are a couple of picture's...











So essentially so far I've removed all smog parts, replaced the Carburetor, sent the head out for valve job, tune-up, t-belt, water pump, new gas tank, pads/rotor's.. Car runs great.

Up next is interior overhaul and then going to body shop for show perfect paint job. Vehicle will be bumperless!!!

Hopefully by september for my mom and dads birthday/wedding anniversary on 27th the Fiat will be given to them as a gift, from the son who ruined the old one... Can't wait!!!!

[aj81spider]

Great story! Welcome aboard. There are a few of us in New England.

[4uall]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

Great story, hope it all goes as planned

[RRoller123]

Fantastic! Welcome aboard!

[spiderdan]

What a great story, tifosi124.
I hope it all works out for you as planned.
I can just imagine your folks reaction as you present "Sandy" to them.
Keep us posted.

(And people wonder why I have cats LOL)

[TX82FIAT]

Very cool story. Looking forward to the pictures of the restore and the look on your parents faces when you make good on a 30 year old childhood mistake.

I think I'll share this story with my college kids at the dinner table and maybe they will surprise me with something in 10-20 years. I found myself saying at least twice a year "you can't have nice Sh** with kids around!" Just last week my eldest boy tried to help out changing the oil on the mower then mowing the elder neighbors lawn as well as our lawn. I think he slightly overfilled the oil on the old Briggs and Stratton and put a 10W30 oil in instead of a 30 weight when it was 100+ degrees out with wet grass from all the rain we have been getting in Texas. Think real humid! I get a call at work. "Dad, there is oil squirting out of the exhaust in the mower when I try to crank it." Really!

He is a good kid and it sound like you are too. nicely done.

[KevAndAndi]

Wonderful! You will have redeemed yourself (not that anyone needs redemption for a childhood mistake). Best wishes to you on your restoration and to your parents.

[btoran]

before you show it to him, put a note under the fuel door that reads "Don't even try it!"

[tifosi124]

Thanks everyone and for all the great ideas!!!

[georgeramos]

wonderful story beautiful car

[RRoller123]

Well I'll be damned!! He never mentioned the Forum while we were talking for maybe a half hour. I probably should have asked if he was on here. Glad to see you here, tifosi124, and I can vouch for the fact that he is as pleasant a fellow in person as his story would indicate. And now I know why he had so much knowledge about these quirky little cars!

Pete

[georgeramos]

Would love to hear your parents reaction and perhaps see pics of the finished car and them driving it!