I Took My Classic Car For Its First Drive And This Happened

"Spasoje" (Spasoje) 09/14/2014 at 09:57 • Filed to: Car Culture, Zastava 750, Classic Cars, Fiat, Rare, Import

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It had only done about 200km since the restoration ended. I'd never have expected to be in this position so soon, even after a botched restoration. At least we were near the end of the drive at this point... Let's hit the 'rewind' button:

(Full disclosure: I imported a 1973 Zastava 750, a popular Fiat 600 derivative, into Canada some time ago. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to read its intro post, if you haven't already.)

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On the way to the safety inspection, the brake lights failed. How they managed to revive themselves only during said inspection I'll never know, but it became something else to sort out before driving the car.

And sort it out we did: turned out the brake light wiring was the only electrical connection my mechanic hadn't touched, since it was working properly when the car left his shop! It came loose sometime during the arduous two-kilometer voyage between my house and the inspection place...

To my immense pleasure, I can now say that not a single wire is as it left the restorers so long ago!

It came time to drive the little car, then, and what I day I had picked! Awaiting my co-pilots and I was a thirty-something-degrees-celsius summer's day with mild traffic - and the car started on the first try, too...

Ten minutes in and I heard the sound of rolling metal as if warped by a musical effects box, accompanied by the sight of a UFO wobbling on the ground in my rearview mirror. I've lost a hubcap!

I hadn't even parked the car yet and there was already a man running from across the street, hubcap in hand. You won't escape from the trunk! The hubcap, I mean.

Our first port of call was an idyllic photo location, reached via the flattest route possible: only two hills to climb! I should mention that neither of these hills are a problem for any relatively normal vehicle. But the experience in my still-botched micro car was...different.

Made the right turn onto the hill. So far, so good. Into second. The engine got louder and louder while the indicated maximum speed for second gear was reached and passed. Into third! Rapidly losing momentum with impatient traffic behind NOPENOPENOPENOPENOPE back into second!!

I apologized to my passengers for the deafening roar that filled the cabin like safety foam in Demolition Man , but it was the only way to crest the hill alive.

Between the two inclines is a flat stretch of road broken by a four-way stop. It was my turn to go, and I began my left turn just as a Dodge Charger opposite me reached his own stop sign. Instead of waiting for his turn like everybody else, he decided it was best to simply drive his plastic Chrysler from the bankruptcy era through the side of the little blue-and-white car in front of him.

We manage to avoid a frankly embarrassing death by mere centimeters. Blaring our horn proved the definition of an exercise in futility.

By the time we labored over the second hill, the car's temperature gauge was almost in the red. I pulled over to let it cool. And half an hour later, it did.

Meanwhile, we had plenty of time to set up the cameras. Many times. Being cooled off, the car was ready to be moved into position - except it wouldn't start. It cranked, but refused to do anything more. Sounded like the carb was flooded...so a push start had to happen.

Besides the idiot in the plastic Dodge, reactions were very positive. Smiles and thumbs-ups abounded, with some even vocalizing their approval from the sidewalks. Other drivers waving me through intersections early just to get a better look at the car wasn't uncommon (but only AFTER the Charger incident!) .

My little Zastava is slowly spreading happiness throughout the lower mainland.

It had already been an hour or two of driving when the car again threatened us with overheating, around the same time our stomachs did the same with hunger. We found it a nice parkade to (again) cool off in while we hunted down a sandwich or four.

I had contemplated parking it right outside the food place instead, where I could watch over it while I chewed, but failed to do so because of hunger... Turns out we'd have something else to look at.

What looked like a crack addict tore through a Chrysler 300 parked right outside. Every failed attempt at finding whatever ended with him screaming and banging his own head. He did this for an oddly long time while I trembled at the fact that four or five of these guys could carry my car away.

"Let's go back to the car now..."

Evidently, a shiny new mall hasn't helped this particular neighborhood improve by any degree, so we opted to leave sooner rather than later. On the way out, we encountered this:

It's a 1927 Bugatti that somebody has rented. Based on aesthetics alone, I'm not entirely convinced of its originality...but it's a fascinating sight nonetheless.

And those two women in the shot? They're random passers-by from the same country as the car! One of them owned a Zastava 750 before moving here and didn't so much as glance at the Bugatti.

Along the route home, we stopped at the morning's idyllic photo location again for some more shots. While setting up the cameras, a Mazda CX-5 hastily braked diagonally in front of my car. A woman emerged, asking about it. Not ten minutes after her departure, an older man bolted from a Camry freshly parked across the street, exclaiming, "I remember when those little Fiats were new!"

He proceeded to tell us a story from his childhood. Back in the late fifties, there was a warehouse on Granville Island (then still an industrial park) whose owner used it as an indoor karting track. Only instead of go-karts, he used Messerschmitts, Isettas, and such! The guy often invited his friends - Camry man's father - and their kids to partake in the festivities.

"It was the highlight of my childhood," he recounts. "I'll never forget it."

Given that the facility was a dedicated track, all the microcars were parked outside. As each one succumbed to the salty air and merciless karting, they just pushed them over the edge into False Creek!

There's one for the Vancouver-area divers out there.

"Good that you got yourself something unique to drive, unlike my..." he said as he pointed to his Camry, bode us farewell, and left.

So it was again time to get the car into position for the shoot - and it again wouldn't start. We'd have to push-start it for the sixth time that day, and it worked for the sixth time that day. I accelerated and something snapped beneath my foot. The gas pedal dropped limply to the floor.

The accelerator cable had snapped somewhere near the gearbox (so, not repairable from the roadside). I called for a tow.

It had only done about 200km since the restoration ended. I'd never have expected to be in this position so soon, even after a botched restoration. At least we were near the end of the drive at this point...

The towing experience ended up being a pleasant surprise, though. The truck arrived twenty minutes early - its driver immediately jumped out and exclaimed, "I grew up with these cars!"

Turned out he's from Budapest. He recounted his experiences with Zastava 750s while securing my blue-and-white one to the truck.

$kaycog > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 10:07

25

I really like your little car and hope it gives you no more problems in the future. Great write up!

Jobjoris > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 10:14

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Always awful, a tow. Nice story though. Don't forget to register your projectcar over here .

The only way such a nimble 'Fiat' should be towed is with a reason like this:

evil2win > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 10:22

2

Thanks for the story, and don't give up. it will be worth the trouble. Every time I've brought a car back to life there has been a period where you have to work out the bugs so to speak. You'll get these minor problems fixed then with proper maintenance get years of enjoyment out of the car.

JDIGGS > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 14:56

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Why?

Brian, The Life of > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 14:57

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"Yo dawg, we heard you like Bugs so we put a Bug of your Bug so you could Bug while you Bug."

/xzibit

Remarkably-Average-Avalon > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:07

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The car is a Fiat built by the people who built Yugos. What did you expect? Sounds to me like the restoration got the car back in showroom condition.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:16

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It's the tiny things in life.

SchwarzeEwigkt > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:18

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Your're making me worry. I'm about 4hrs from putting my Audi back together after more or less rebuilding the front brakes and suspension. Haven't actually driven it since I've owned it.

I really want it to just work. At least it'll (continue) to be fun to fix it if it doesn't work.

Reborn Pyrrhic > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:22

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I love odd, classic cars, and the Zastava is right up there. Let's see it back on the road soon. Please keep posting!

Thev12jaguarguy > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:32

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I wanted very badly for that V to be a Y. "How's the Yoda gauge looking?" "Good, it is."

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:32

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I initially read this as 'Vodka'... LOL

ScreenShot > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:35

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As each one succumbed to the salty air and merciless karting, they just pushed them over the edge into False Creek!

Sounds like you should have taken your Z car straight from the restorer to the creek and saved yourself all the joy in between.

Jonee > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 15:54

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Great car and story. Restorations always leave lots of bugs that take a while to sort, but that car should eventually become fairly reliable. Although, it shouldn't really be overheating like that unless it was especially hot that day, but you're in Canada. The throttle cable used to break on me all the time in my Subaru 360. I'd just set the idle really high and limp home that way with no accelerator. If the Zasrava doesn't have synchromesh, that would be difficult.

Manuel Andrade > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:07

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That 1927 bugatti it's not one it's a replica built on top of a vw chassis

Yofani > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:10

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I've seen that Bugatti in Niagara falls Ontario a couple of years back and my jaw dropped. I hope it's real because I still remember that night vividly and it's one of the most unique cars I've seen here in Canada

Andreas Reinhold > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:13

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That Bugatti is just a cheap replica on a beetle floorpan.

lonestranger > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:15

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VW transverse torsion bar suspension...

lonestranger > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:16

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... VW speedometer & VW floor-hinged pedals...

lonestranger > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:18

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... and aftermarket VW exhaust. It's a VW Beetle with a mock-Bugatti body.

945T > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 16:38

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Excellent write up! If the weather is nice you should take it to the Thursday night meet at market crossing. I would love to see it!

Spasoje > ScreenShot 09/14/2014 at 16:55

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Why would I let the restorers win?

Spasoje > 945T 09/14/2014 at 16:57

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The repair is supposed to happen on Wednesday. If all goes as planned, I think I'll see you there!

Spasoje > Thev12jaguarguy 09/14/2014 at 16:59

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"Very bad, it looks!" in that photo hehe

Spasoje > Yofani 09/14/2014 at 17:00

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Seems everybody has identified it as a Beetle-based replica...

special_k_side > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 17:15

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If I ever see ya rolling around BBY, I'll honk and wave! Sweet little ride. :)

QQXQXL123 > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 17:27

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This happens with any new restoration. The important thing is to not lose heart; there are a few things wrong with the car right now, but the only way to find them is to drive the thing until they all break and you get to fix them. I'd look at the overheating thing quickly though - it shouldn't overheat like that if the engine and cooling system are reconditioned.

That said, some of the funnest times with old cars are breaking down in fun places!

Bobboco > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 17:45

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Your a good person taking care of this baby. They are great fun to drive. Sort of a go cart with a body. Thanks for posting the article and please post again. I love this kind of scooter!

All the best,

Rob

Brock > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 17:45

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I had a 60's 500cc. Great car.

Steve in Manhattan > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 17:53

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You have to love this little car. Keep us informed.

Darkstrike > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 17:53

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Love the post mate! I'm slowly saving up to buy myself a little classic 500....here's hoping I don't have as many issues as you do with your 600 derivative! :)

Keep us apprised of your adventures! :D

ScreenShot > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 18:18

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Sounds like they already won.

jton456 > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 18:19

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that car it's like a Seat 600:

davedave1111 > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 18:46

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"It's a 1927 Bugatti that somebody has rented. Based on aesthetics alone, I'm not entirely convinced of its originality...but it's a fascinating sight nonetheless."

There's a simple rule of thumb for telling whether a Bugatti is fake or not. If you're looking at it, and you're not at Pebble Beach or somewhere, it's fake.

solracer > lonestranger 09/14/2014 at 19:23

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And what I believe are Model A wheels...

solracer > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/14/2014 at 19:24

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Water and Vodka are pretty much the same thing over there anyway...

PoorBoysRacing5389 > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 19:46

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Reminds me so much of my 68 BMW 1602, always an "adventure" when I take it out! Keep up with it though, eventually it'll get ironed out....or so they tell me.

e39m5hoon > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 20:49

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What's the story behind the botched restoration?

GirchyGirchy > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 20:57

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I've yet to try it...but I hope my Zastava M57 fares slightly better.

 > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 21:01

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It's a Fiat, what did you expect? Fix it again Tony.

jalopwarg > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 21:02

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This 1974 Roller had just had $20k worth of work done on it at the selling dealer before being sold and shipped from the east coast to the west coast. The first hour of its first outing with its new owner resulted in the LR wheel locking up and a subsequent ride on my tow truck. 3 months later, the issue still hasn't been resolved...

KO > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 21:59

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Makes

about as

Ivymantled > Spasoje 09/14/2014 at 22:08

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I have a Fiat 124 Coupe and both the accelerator and clutch cable have snapped - the clutch cable twice. Luckily none of these occasions has been while going fast round a bend.

The accelerator one tends to snap near the pedal, at the firewall, or at the end of the cable in the engine bay - at least in my experience.

Recommend carrying a couple of spares at all times and making sure the cables are well-lubed by getting some grease or thick oil down inside the cable casing.

Spasoje > QQXQXL123 09/14/2014 at 22:35

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I've got a full engine tune happening this week, along with new clutch and accelerator cables. That's expected to sort out the issues, but since the restorers never test-drove the car after completion, we shall see.

Long story short, the guys that restored my car cuts LOTS of other corners (stuff I haven't posted about here) and didn't do stuff I paid them to do.

Spasoje > ScreenShot 09/14/2014 at 22:37

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They sell trailers now, so I'm not so sure... :)

Spasoje > jton456 09/14/2014 at 22:38

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They are the same car, just different badges and different factory!

¿Supongo que usted es de España?

Spasoje > davedave1111 09/14/2014 at 22:43

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Pretty much!

Spasoje > e39m5hoon 09/14/2014 at 22:48

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Long story short, they thought they could get paid without actually doing any work, since I live half a world away. They cut LOTS more corners than I've outlined here...

Once the car arrived and I saw how everything was, I posted my findings on a few choice forums. They've never had another restoration customer since.

Spasoje > GirchyGirchy 09/14/2014 at 22:50

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There is no doubt in my mind that it will!

BTW is it one of the classic M57's or one of the updated versions? :)

Spasoje > jalopwarg 09/14/2014 at 22:55

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On my car's drive back from the restorers (directly to the shipping yard) the master brake cylinder locked up, resulting in a roadside repair. I later found out that one of the rear drums was also missing a piece.

In a way, it gives me solace that this sort of thing can happen everywhere, at any price point...

Spasoje > Ivymantled 09/14/2014 at 22:59

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Thanks! Mine snapped right near the firewall as well.

I've ordered two accelerator and clutch cables and they'll be installed professionally this week. If it snaps again, I think I'll make a custom version with those spindle-type HD metal cables instead...

Aaron K > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/14/2014 at 23:05

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i totally saw YODA, and got excited.

Richard Bartrop > davedave1111 09/15/2014 at 02:34

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Real 1927 Bugattis don't have Volkswagen Beetle from ends, either.

gmctavish needs more space > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 03:24

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I live in the lower mainland too! I'm so excited you have this thing here

Gordon > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 05:09

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Regarding the snapped accelerator cable, check that the engine earth strap is there/making good contact. I had this problem with my Fiat 500L, when the earth is not good, it then earths through the control cables which get hot, brittle & finally snap.

torque > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 06:13

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If the "OEM" accelerator and clutch cables are prone to failure, being such an old car, there has to be an aftermarket solution, yes? If not, can't hurt to try a custom solution with a stronger/thicker cable

ApolloX75 > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 06:25

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Love your story, hope you get it all fixed up.

Also hat tip for the well placed Demolition Man comparison.

Dr. Strangegun > Gordon 09/15/2014 at 07:07

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This, 100%. I hadn't even thought about it and then read the comment and "Oh yeah, I remember those issues....".

jton456 > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 08:03

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Sí, soy español.

Mr Joshua > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 08:04

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That will teach you to replace all cables after the car has been idle for a while. I had the same issue with a Type 3 VW I bought that had just been fully restored.............everything except the clutch cable. Same problem, towed within a month of the resto.

Xavier Corral > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 08:35

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The first few months with any classic is always tumultuous. My mustang constantly overheated when I first got it and my friends thought I was completely insane. I thought I was insane. but 6 montsh and a lot of work later it is my most reliable car!

davedave1111 > Richard Bartrop 09/15/2014 at 08:38

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I think everyone spotted that, but that doesn't help in general because most fakes aren't built on VWs.

CpnCarl > Thev12jaguarguy 09/15/2014 at 08:48

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I didn't see that, really! I was hoping more that the A would be a P so you'd have a VOOP gauge!! ^_^

Paullubbock > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 09:24

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Reminds me of my little MGB LE. I can drive it pretty much anywhere but once I shut it down it have to wait about an hour or two before it decides to start again. Not every time just at the worst possible time.

Dest > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 09:38

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A self aware camry owner! Wow! (Great car too :D)

PureHate > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 09:43

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Looks like a VW replica

MooseBonersenn > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 09:54

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Great story, I can't wait to read more about the car. If it was as reliable as a modern car, it just wouldn't be as interesting. Best of luck with the ride and I hope you get all the issues mended quickly!

DanPadge > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 10:21

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Your story made Yahoo! front page, grats! Neat car, but you have far more patience than I do!

vc-10 > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 10:53

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I totally read this as Vodka at first...

SRTPT > davedave1111 09/15/2014 at 10:55

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Not true, live in Seattle, sunny day all the strange stuff comes out to play. sun doesn't happen everyday around here. though the one pictured is probably fake but the real ones do get driven.

wildnotmild > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 11:09

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You can make anything out of an air cooled VW...

davedave1111 > SRTPT 09/15/2014 at 11:26

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No, seriously, they're (very nearly) all fake, just some better than others. Fake Bugattis outnumber the real thing by thousands to one, so unless there's a really good reason to think otherwise, it's safe to assume one you're seeing is one of the thousands, not one of the ones..

GirchyGirchy > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 11:47

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It's one of the newer ones (M57A I guess it's called) with a real safety. PO had it hard chromed and put the wood grips on...I think it looks great!

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jebiveter > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 12:24

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Fio!

SRTPT > davedave1111 09/15/2014 at 13:15

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Umm yeah cause I talked with the owner and his was at pebble beach. Seriously you see really good stuff up here.. New money mixed with some old add in geek factor people buy and drive what they like not what is new and hot. New supercars are here too, but its a great mix of stuff.. And we get the influx of Canadian stuff as they will come down and bring whatever weird thing they were allowed to import that we are not..

kbasa > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 13:17

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Welcome to owning old vehicles. People get all romantic about them and start with the "it's got so much character" and fall for their charm, but the fact of the matter is that old cars and motorcycles break a lot. There's a reason they had a 3000 mile service interval. The drum brakes needed adjustment, the points were probably getting pitted and crufty and the weak spark coming through the plugs was utterly unable to keep the plugs clean and happy.

I see young folks here in SF driving archaic old mid 60s Detroit stuff and have to wonder if many of them are properly equipped to diagnose closed up points by the side of the road. I'm thinking not.

As a guy that rides, restores and maintains old motorcycles, it becomes apparent that old cars, while quite charming, are a pain in the ass when compared to modern vehicles.

I hope you get your car figured out.

AbeVigodasSon > lonestranger 09/15/2014 at 13:23

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Exactly. I would drive the hell out of this. I'm just a bit confused as to where someone would "rent" something like this?

AbeVigodasSon > Jobjoris 09/15/2014 at 13:23

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Oh man. That is great. The little go-kart sized wheels and tires are fantastic!

FikiCro > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/15/2014 at 13:25

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Well, ... sometimes it really was, to prevent freezing.

davedave1111 > SRTPT 09/15/2014 at 13:33

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I don't think you've got the point of a 'rule of thumb'. Or of 'a joke'. But dude, congratulations that some other guy in your town is really rich - that's what you were after, right?

QQXQXL123 > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 13:35

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I bet they did a better job than the guy who's doing my car.

I'm doing my own car.

lonestranger > AbeVigodasSon 09/15/2014 at 14:43

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I searched "classic car rental vancouver" and found the exact firm that owns that car.

https://www.facebook.com/RentClassic

They also offer a '29 Mercedes replica, though I can't identify its donor chassis. Something body-on-frame, front engine/rear wheel drive with control arm suspension and rack & pinion steering.

Spasoje > DanPadge 09/15/2014 at 15:05

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Wow! Though I can't find it there. Could you send me the link?

Spasoje > Mr Joshua 09/15/2014 at 15:10

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I'm actually replacing both the accelerator and clutch cables this week. If the new accelerator cable fails, I'll make a more robust custom one and never look back...

Spasoje > torque 09/15/2014 at 15:25

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If the factory one fails (again), I'll go straight to an aircraft-grade custom solution hehe

DanPadge > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 15:26

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It's gone now, it wasn't in the slider at the top it was in the list of stories below.

Spasoje > Gordon 09/15/2014 at 15:27

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I will look into it. Thanks so much!

Spasoje > DanPadge 09/15/2014 at 15:34

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Do you maybe remember what the title was? If so, I can use some Internet archives to dig it up.

Spasoje > lonestranger 09/15/2014 at 15:43

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Seems their FB page has a photo of the "Bugatti" parked right where I encountered it. Guess it's there often:

https://www.facebook.com/RentClassic/ph…

AbeVigodasSon > lonestranger 09/15/2014 at 16:36

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Very cool!

Jobjoris > AbeVigodasSon 09/15/2014 at 17:21

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Sicily, 2014. Near the Targa Florio track. Awesome day!

DanPadge > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 17:24

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I think the same as this title but I'm not sure. It was just a link to the article and for all I know the articles show based on my cookies. If it helps any, it showed right around the same time I commented and was credited to Opposite Lock

Spasoje > DanPadge 09/15/2014 at 17:41

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No luck. Thanks anyway!

SRTPT > davedave1111 09/15/2014 at 18:29

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Point of "Joke" taken.. Its money I can't even dream of.. Not even with a powerball lotto win.. I don't dream that big.. Its just different here than down in LA(where I grew up).

davedave1111 > SRTPT 09/15/2014 at 19:08

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I wasn't being completely serious, but thinking about it, maybe I should have been.

Thing is, there are so few real ones about that even when you see a guy driving out of a mega-mansion in one, and he tells you it's real, the chances are that he's lying - although it may be a very expensive replica. They only built <600 Type 35s and 37s in total. Not all survive, and many are race cars or in museums/collections. There probably aren't even nearly a hundred in the world that see regular road use, and how many of them are likely to be used in town?

It's just possible you might see a real Bugatti of that era being driven in the wild, but it's very, very, very unlikely. Unless you see Jay Leno behind the wheel.

And yeah, I know what you mean about the money. I live in London, the Euromillions lottery jackpot is currently about $100m, and it wouldn't even buy you the most expensive property currently listed for sale on Rightmove. And it's only a five bedroom flat...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-s…

Well, this one's listed as POA, but for more than that flat:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-s…

At least I could afford a double garage with a room above it if I won, though:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-s…

A snip at a mere four or five million dollars...

SRTPT > davedave1111 09/15/2014 at 19:19

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Its the same here, depending on where you want to live a lot doesn't buy a lot.. You trade a big commute for pretty and space.

davedave1111 > SRTPT 09/15/2014 at 19:25

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Those are some pretty extreme examples, it's true. You can get a very nice house in a very nice area for the same kind of money as that garage - which, to be fair, is priced the way it is because it could be a 3/4 bedroom house, and will then be worth more.

But anyway, to get back to Bugattis, there's a house in the Bishops Avenue with two Veyrons parked in the driveway. Once spoke to the owner, driving out in what looked like a real Type 35. At least he was honest, though, and said right away it was a replica because he didn't want to drive his real one on the road.

RacinBob > Jonee 09/15/2014 at 19:33

1

If its overheating, take a look and see if all the tin around the engine and radiator are in place as intended. I had a friend with a Fiat 850 spider and without all the tin, all the air did was recirculate through the radiator, under the car and back in the radiator. It might be your problem too.

cooperquinn_wy > Spasoje 09/15/2014 at 22:17

1

If you see someone waving vigorously at you from a dark blue S4 Avant, don't worry. Just a fellow Jalop.

One of my old landlords used to have a couple of Bianchinas, and a Zagato 750 Double Bubble.

You quirky folks and your microcars, I say....

torque > Spasoje 09/16/2014 at 00:29

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Good Call. That's part of the fun of an older car. And by "older" here I'm going to be really broad and say anything older than about 8 -10 years old.

By that time, all the normal people have decided, shit I better trade or or sell this thing and move on since it has somewhere between 100-150K & moved on. However, the car is just old enough that all the unique faults of that particular model have been discovered.

Like "oh yeah, replacing pretty much your entire cooling system on any BMW made since about 2000 is preventative maintenance b/c you see that's when they decided to start making all the cooling system connections out of plastic..."

Which (of course) will fail as soon as your in-laws show up in their LS 460, shaking their head thinking "what a Nimcompoop crawling around on a sheet of cardboard under a 10 yr. old 540i (again!); I can't believe my smart daughter married him! What the hell does she ever see in that guy? I mean come on she could have married Gary. Now Gary I liked. I mean come on he was athletic, funny & I understand he's building a reputation as real "up and comer" at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers"

thebigbossyboss > Spasoje 09/16/2014 at 10:14

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You are living proof that a classic car doesn't have to be fast to be fun. :)