Poor life choices

"Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius" (rex-imperator)
08/01/2016 at 09:28 • Filed to: Fiat 124 not-a-race-car

So I did it. As much as I mock owners who gut the interiors of their street cars and remove the AC because racecar!... then they don’t actually have a cage or fuel cell or fire suppression because street car!... so he (it’s always he) can’t actually go racing .

As much as I don’t like convertibles.

As much as I like a car I can enjoy and a car I can use (see Forester XT)

I bought this!

The story I got is this. I have no evidence so far that it’s true, but it sound plausible. If I can work with the deep pool of car knowledge, this may be the place to do it. If you know something about this story that is true or not, drop me a line.

This a 1972 Fiat 124 Spider born race car turned street car.

In the 1970s, an as-yet unnamed dealership in Florida built a few purpose-built racing bodies. I assume SCCA or Trans-Am style racing.

The body is 100% steel. Front body panel, fenders, doors, quarters and rear body panel are all seam welded and smoothed. The cowl is moved back from a 124 about 8-10 inches. The seats are moved back about 8-10 inches. The rear seat is deleted and the head rest shape (what are those things called?) is hand-pounded and wheeled steel with a minor amount of 1.5in angle iron supporting the structure.

The cage was removed and somebody at some time took the racing bits back out and put the street car bits back in there. My best guess is they cannibalized a rusted out 124 street car. The gentleman that I bought it from put a street car ‘interior’ back into with a 1980 spider dash board, console and hand-built carpets and door trim pads.

It’s an odd duck. The ‘burb where I live has a whole contingent and Angry Olds® who complain incessantly about noise and traffic. I am doing my best to contribute to both of those.

If you know anything, hit me up. drakkonwd at ‘that google-mail’ .com

DISCUSSION (43)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 09:31

As much as I mock owners who gut the interiors of their street cars and remove the AC because racecar!... then they don’t actually have a cage or fuel cell or fire suppression because street car!... so he (it’s always he) can’t actually go racing .

Alot of these people are perfectly content with autoX and the occasional track day (bro).

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/01/2016 at 09:36

Once I think I can trust it I plan to do some auto cross. In the slow lane. This thing may make 100hp.

The U-joints have gotten noisier in the 150 miles or so that i have owned it. The brake work and pretty well, but the pedel is terribly spongy. I have to calibrate my brain for the lag in a low-hp carb’ed engine. Timing seems good, but it smells rich. The clutch and the transmission seem to be ok though! The diff too. There are so few systems on this car a dolt like me can even figure it out.

Once I feel like it won’t outright break, I’ll be out there.

Your boy, BJR > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 09:37

So awesome. Looks like something out of speed racer.

Rock Bottom > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 09:39

Are you familiar with the SVRA? ( http://www.svra.com/ ) Take it racing! This car is perfect for vintage racing!!

Oh, and I’d do away with that front license plate mount. I drove for 5 years in California without one and as long as I wasn’t driving like an asshole, nobody cared.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/01/2016 at 09:40

Plus do you have to suffer without AC 100 days of summer to go autocrossing 5 times that year?

yamahog > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 09:44

“it’s always he”

Because as the ladies of Oppo can attest, we actually track our cars and pass tech.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > yamahog
08/01/2016 at 09:49

Sick burn.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 09:59

Florida has 365 days of summer (our actual summer is like heat wave you can imagine except it goes on for four months) and I went waaaaay more often than that. When I lived down there, I was at autoX or the track most weekends.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:00

What are your plans with it? Looks like a lot if fun.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > yamahog
08/01/2016 at 10:05

No no, it’s not racing cars and passing tech. It’s doing stupid shit like gutting the cat and removing the AC for all those fucking speeeeedz !

I know a lot of female racers (motorcycles mostly) and they are much less likely to make stupid mods that have zero benefit but greatly increase the pain and suffering.

yamahog > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/01/2016 at 10:07

Kinja'd!!!

PorkchoPlissken > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:11

That...is one fine looking automobile.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
08/01/2016 at 10:18

It’s a toy. That’s it. No top. No doors. No ventilation. (decent storage actually).

I’m going to enjoy it for a while. The buy some larger wheels and tires. I haven’t decided if I want to go wide enough for flare. Likely not. 1980s ‘widebody’ sucker but I think I like the petite, smooth look of this.

I will definitely add some type of cowl vent. Around town it’s ok, but on the interstate it’s insufferably hot in the cabin. I don’t think the engine heat soaking through the bulkhead can escape.

Also the windshield is a 1952 Chriscraft boat windshield. It’s not tall enough, but that will have to stay. Trading comfort for fashion with that one.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > PorkchoPlissken
08/01/2016 at 10:19

I think so too. I was hoping to be in the 911 market when I turned 40, but the prices have escaped my buying power in the last 5 years.

I also was interested in a Conquest /Starion but so many of those are basket cases. Someday. But not now.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:34

I hope you enjoy it.

Is that a MO plate? Hopefully I’ll get to see you around.

random001 > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:39

I want.

Also want more pictures. Like, all the pictures. I love that so much.

Dave the car guy , still here > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:40

Very nice, well done.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
08/01/2016 at 10:44

St Louis area. I have to put in my app for Historic plates I want to get custom plate and I’m trying to figure out how to work the name of the guy who spent the last 8 years building it out. I was thinking of some Italian and kitschy but everybody does that.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
08/01/2016 at 10:44

Also, I better enjoy it. It’s not good for anything else. Anything!

PorkchoPlissken > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:50

Yeah, turns out 911s might always be out of reach for me, but there are so many other options that it doesn’t really bother me. Hope to see more pics and posts on this beaut in the near future. Congrats.

sony1492 > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:51

This is awesome, can’t wait to see it with some wider rims.

InfinityAero > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 10:57

Cool... but sooooooo bizzare. Would look sweet with some 16" 245s and a widebody flares >=D

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > InfinityAero
08/01/2016 at 11:01

See other comments. I really want wider wheels and tire, but I *may* skip the flares and keep the petite look. I could go way overboard on this

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > InfinityAero
08/01/2016 at 11:03

I will get some fake 6-7 inch wide Panasports though.

With those current 5 inch wide wheels, even with less than 100hp, it’s a drift wagon fuh-sho

jjhats > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 11:07

that is awesome! if you are at all considering modifying it, some suspension and wheels would do the car wonders. otherwise enjoy it as is

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > jjhats
08/01/2016 at 11:15

brakes! Oh, they’re manual but they’re awful.

jminer > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 11:21

I’m in St Louis as well and have been looking for an old European roadster. Almost ended up with a fiat 850 a while back. Did you find that guy locally? It looks like a blast.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 11:25

I am in your area. I will be keeping my eyes out.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 11:27

That is quite the thing! Congrats sir! :D

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > jminer
08/01/2016 at 11:37

one of my good buds is also starting the process of shopping for an 850. I sent him a text message with a photo that said ‘your move!’

I actually did get it locally. A guy in Villa Ridge MO pieced it together and finished the interior that never was.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
08/01/2016 at 11:37

I’ll see ya around. That would be fun.

Spridget > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 11:48

I don’t know anything about the history, but I’ll make a post on Curbside Classic. The CC commentariot is very knowledgeable about this sort of thing.

RallyWrench > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 12:24

Well that’s interesting! I’m interested to hear what you learn. I hope you plan to get rid of the luggage rack?

InfinityAero > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 13:01

For sure, I still have the stock 13s on mine, with a 185 width. I’m having a devil of a time getting her started (fuel pump/wiring issues cropped up over 4 months up on stands) so I’m not sure how it feels yet... it’s still easy enough to turn the wheel at stop that I’m sure anything up to a 205 would feel fine. 225s would work, I’m sure, but might require building up some popeye forearms. The lighter curb weight of your edition will help with that; looks like it should be around 1950 lbs.

jminer > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 13:17

Well color me envious. Quite a nice find there.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > RallyWrench
08/01/2016 at 13:24

No longer term plans. Just ideas. I don’t want to do anything that requires a paint job just yet.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2016 at 18:27

First, this car is awesome, keep us updated as you make changes.

Second, I was at a wedding this weekend talking to someone who likes cars(drives a manual TDI) but knows little. And he said something like you, “I’d love to get one of those rear engined Porsches after I’ve saved some money from work to fix up.”

I felt bad telling him that any air cooled Porsche is serious money now a days. He assumed a beaten one was $5,000.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/01/2016 at 18:55

Exactly!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/02/2016 at 12:11

Well, this is almost $5,000, just needs an engine, a transmission and a rebuild of the whole front end... https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/565786…

Id be mad except that like everyone else I have a wholly irrational love of the 911.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/02/2016 at 13:06

Look up rusted hulks of VW vans. $15000 for a vin plate and a heap of iron oxide.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/03/2016 at 11:09

You should bring it to the Autocross at FA at the end of the month.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
08/03/2016 at 11:17

That’s the plan in the future. This fall may be hard. What’s FA?

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/03/2016 at 12:44

St Charles Family Arena

Stlsolo.org for our local SCCA