Joe's FIAT Service Redwood City CA?

[SoFlaFiat]

Anyone know anything about these guys? I just picked up a car today that is meant to have an SCCA history and has Joe's all over it. I googled and left a message so maybe?

If anyone knows anything about the car I would be interested to hear about it! Thanks!!

[juvius]

I like the black/red combo. Keep it that way

[vandor]

Hi Alan,

I know Joe, unfortunately he retired within the past year, but he has worked on Fiats for ~50 years.
He is another crazy Hungarian, so we got along pretty well.
The first issue of Classic Motorsports magazine had a sportscar compariso which was won by a 1438cc Spider that Joe built.
He is still doing some Fiats, but he no longer has the shop and has moved to a different part of California.
I wish I could meet him one day.

[Pasni]

Last I talked to Joe he was still talking about retiring. He's been one of the best Fiat mechanics in Northern California for years. He used to tell me how to fix my problems over the phone so I didn't have to bring it in. He and his son did work on my car. He knows Fiats inside and out. Last I heard he finally did retire from regular service but still tinkered on special projects. I haven't been down to Redwood City to see the shop in a while-sounds like he's left there. Sorry I couldn't tell you about the car.

On a another note, this is the first Fiat I've seen with the same wheels I have.

[Exit98]

So Spill the Beans!

You went down to look over all those Spiders and ended up taking one home with you.

So what were the cars like? Many people poking around?

Nice car. Now that you have it what are you going to do with it?

What will be the fate of the rest of the hulks?

[SoFlaFiat]

Well, it's a sad story, first and foremost because the wonderful woman I met yesterday, lost her husband recently. I only wish my wife would be as understanding and forgiving of a love affair with Fiats as Patti obviously was with her husband.
In the end, I was the only one there and approached Patti with the sum I had available. I know I got a great deal on lots of bits and as I offered $200 more than the scrap guy, I think I did alright by Patti as well. With a broken forklift in the way of all but two cars, and Patti keeping the other one, I didn't have much choice. That said, the one I ended up with is interesting as it was raced in the SCCA circuit in Northern California and prepped by Joe's Fiat Service. The car is an end of year 1970, titled in 1971. It has a transplanted 1608 and I managed to load a spare 1608. Patti also let me take the head off an 1800 with a dual IDF 40 set up which will end up on this car. I have no plans whatsoever to change the exterior of the car but leave it as a rolling momento to Joe's Fiat Service and its racing history. When I am done with my current project I will go through this one as far as mechanics.
The best part of my day with Patti was when I found a cart her husband had built to test engines on, with radiator, battery box, gauge panel and all. I have been thinking about building such a cart and when I got excited about it, Patti was very pleased to see an interest in her husbands ingenuity. She told me we would have been great friends. So, I am proud to now own a tiny bit of this history as well.
Of course, the other sad part is that 4 very restorable, complete cars will go to scrap as well as the other 10 which have multitudes of parts which would certainly sell on this forum given time. Unfortunately Patti doesn't have the time.
Having met Patti, I wish I had been able to meet Ken. She told me that he bought his first spider in 1972 and obviously had a long love affair with these cars. Who can blame him?

[AriK]

What a touching and moving story. I hope more people visit on Saturday. Sad to see all those cars go to scrap. It's too bad we can't take Fiats with us when we go to heaven. I'm glad you will refurbish the car with his memory in mind.

[fiat218]

Are you saying that your wife does not approve

[SoFlaFiat]

Well Jim,
She did say "How many f#*king cars do you need?"

She has no interest in cars beyond wanting something reliable to drive...

The kids, on the other hand, are pretty happy about each having a spider now. My son thinks this one is the coolest car in the world!

[fiat218]

im not married and well i get the same question lol single and 4 fiats:) something is not right here
just be thankful that i dont have a big ass storage shed

[SoFlaFiat]

She's ALIVE!
Yep, I had to mess with it today. I couldn't get the old dizzy with single points to work so I yanked it out and put an electronic dizzy with new cap and rotor in.
With new plugs, wires, and a hog of a fuel filter I happened to have in my box, plus the air cleaner stolen off my 77 for a few, she fired right up!! Woohoo!!! She's a bit loud with nothing but a straight pipe...
Now that it's running, I'll take the motor out and rebuild it! Ha!










And even video

http://youtu.be/Ner2cwP5iK8

[SoFlaFiat]

Glamour shot

[fiat218]

It a racer? No top, no interier

[toplessexpat]

Alan - you know how insanely jealous I am now right?

..... now a good man would go and retrieve the turbo for me....

[SoFlaFiat]

Jim, what are you talking about? I have a tarp and it has a seat! Top and interior!!! Hahaha!!!
Actually, I will grab another pair of the red seats I bought for the 81 and stick them in here. That is all the interior this one will see. Ok, maybe some dynamat...

Andy, If you are seriously interested in the turbo, email Patti (or I can) and ask if she will get it towed to her house where you can arrange shipping from. It is missing the exhaust manifold but Beek has one and the rest of the parts are meant to be there.
I know she would rather see it go to a new home then to the scraper.
I wish I could take another day off work and go get it for you but... Wait, how much is it worth to you?