What does Oppo think about...

"Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen" (sportwagen) 03/22/2015 at 23:34 • Filed to: None

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Fiat 124s? Besides the obligatory "Fix It Again Tony" and "Its unreliable as fuck!"

Seriously! I've got a really good chance of getting a 1971 Sport Spider with a 1608cc engine and a 5 speed from my grandfather for free.

For the time being I would be using it for Autocross only so no lights and such needed (therefore no wiring harness nightmare!)

Have an Abarth for your time!

HNNNNNNNNNNNG I NEED DIS NOW

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/22/2015 at 23:37

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Something something LS swap something something.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 03/22/2015 at 23:39

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It needs a single plane intake and a Weber 32/36 carb along with an Abarth exhaust...

because racecar!

lone_liberal > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/22/2015 at 23:43

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My thoughts run to: very pretty cars which by all accounts are fun to drive but are prone to rust and mechanical maladies. The last opinion was reinforced by all of the times I had to push start a buddy of mine who had one in high school. After a while he started to make sure to park at the high point of any parking spot to make pushing easier. That wasn't a Spider, though.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > lone_liberal 03/22/2015 at 23:45

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Hm interesting... I'll check to make sure it has a good starter and I can get a good battery :)

Also, it needs different seats... some owners actually put Miata seats in their 124s!

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/22/2015 at 23:47

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You had me at Abarth.. then I watched the video

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 03/22/2015 at 23:47

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YES

lone_liberal > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/22/2015 at 23:49

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Hey, at least his car was light! It made it much easier.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > lone_liberal 03/22/2015 at 23:50

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lol true enough

I've actually read that 124s are lighter than ANY Miata built

Jonee > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 00:22

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I passed one on the freeway tonight, actually. It looked great and was chugging along with traffic just fine. The driver appeared to be having fun, so I say go get it.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jonee 03/23/2015 at 00:26

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lol

Ten minutes later...

Jonee > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 00:32

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It was swallowed by a Cadillac?

CAR_IS_MI > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 00:36

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as a recent owner of a bare bones carbed 124 spider, wiring harness nightmare is like factory standard option #1...

Clown Shoe Pilot > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 00:39

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dad had one. it was a train wreck. when it ran though... WOW. so much fun.

but it never ran, so constant heartbreak.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > CAR_IS_MI 03/23/2015 at 00:41

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...so I won't mess with the wiring lol

I'll probably just pull the lights off because racecar (and I don't plan on insuring or registering it)

CAR_IS_MI > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 00:54

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lol. Thats like saying you're only going to eat one pringle...

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 01:19

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My brother had one, and when it ran, what an astounding amount of fun you could have with it....when it ran.

Andrew P. Collins > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 08:42

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First of all, the thing in this picture is one of the sexiest cars I've ever seen.

Second; we've had a 1979 FIAT Spider 2000 in the family for almost two decades now. Next gen engine from your 124 I think, but the cars look similar.

Anyway, it's been great. No, really. My dad barely winterizes and it starts up EVERY summer. Granted it never leaves the county it's garaged in anymore, but it's run and run and run. The only mechanical work we've done (besides rebuilding the transmission as soon as we bought it) is a few odds and ends that you'd deal with any car that old.

It even survived a few summers of power-over beach parking lot exits when I was in high school...

That said, the transmission doesn't really like "performance" driving. I think your grampa's 124 would make a great cruiser, but I wouldn't count on it surviving too many autocross days.

gas head > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 03/23/2015 at 11:25

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First car was a 1972 124 Sport Coupe. Loved it. Lost a fuel pump on my honeymoon, tho. Was very reliable aside from a couple fender benders that weren't my fault.