Compare and Contrast - RallyDarkstrike Edition

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike) 03/09/2016 at 21:39 • Filed to: None

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Hi all! I’ll post the answer in the morning, but... Answer at end of post! :D

This post is inspired by !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! post from earlier today:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Here is my compare and contrast question - these three unlikely companion autos share one obscure trait - the original FIAT 500

(and later FIAT 126)

...and any pre-1989, carbureted SAAB 900...

What is the link? :) Hoping I didn’t make it too hard, and also hoping I didn’t give it away! It’s pretty obscure though! :P

Good luck!



ANSWER! All three had center-console mounted choke adjustments for their carburetors! Told you it was obscure! :P

Fiat 500's Choke (small left lever):

Fiat 126's Choke ([Thanks for the pic Borsuq!] Again, the small left lever - almost the same mechanicals as the 500 underneath! :) )

The Saab 900's Choke:

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/09/2016 at 21:43

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Since these are kinda weird cars, I’m guessing it’s something with engine configuration or engine parts but honestly I have no idea.

CB > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/09/2016 at 21:45

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The engines were installed backwards?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/09/2016 at 21:50

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The thing I’m thinking of, not engine configuration or engine parts, but I will say it has something to do with the engine.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CB 03/09/2016 at 21:52

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That could sortof be an answer actually, in a way, as the 900's power was actually transferred off the engine at the front and then down to the gearbox, and the 500's engine was mounted “backwards” to begin with as it was rear-engined, rear wheel drive, with the transmission in front of the engine......

....BUT, not what I’m thinking of. :P

CB > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/09/2016 at 21:52

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Damn.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CB 03/09/2016 at 22:25

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Good try though! :)

Heading to bed now, but I will check other comments and post the answer in the morning! :D

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/09/2016 at 22:45

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Air cooled only works for the little Fiats. I’m guessing some sort of weird forced induction.

Leon711 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/10/2016 at 01:25

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Longitudinally mounted? The SAAB being FWD and the Fiat’s RWD but none are transverse.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/10/2016 at 06:57

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Nope, but it does have something to do with the induction! :P

See the answer above....told you it was obscure, haha! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Leon711 03/10/2016 at 06:58

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This actually works as an answer, so kudos! BUT, not the obscure answer I was looking for! :D

See the answer above! :)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/10/2016 at 08:48

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I should have known because you made a big deal about the Saab being a carb car

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/10/2016 at 09:46

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No worries, haha! I needed to clarify that or there would’ve been no chance anybody could’ve got it! :)

Thanks for trying though! :D

Cé hé sin > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/10/2016 at 10:43

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Yes, that’s obscure....

Wasn’t the Beetle the same, because rear engined? Can’t imagine why Saab did it though.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Cé hé sin 03/10/2016 at 19:56

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I don’t think it’s necessarily a “rear-engined” thing but it does seem pretty common on them...easier than having to run it way up and around to the dash, I presume?

I think you’re right - at least from what I can find, early Beetles (at least) seemed to have their chokes located on the center console near the gearshift as well!