1978 - a great year!

[TCups]

On June of 1978, I graduated from medical school and bought my first absolutely brand new car -- a "Ferrari Red" Fiat 124 Spider, tan interior and black rag top.  The Fiat was long since traded for a 1982 Honda Accord as the Fiat wouldn't accommodate a child seat.  Mine had no A/C or power steering -- why would you ever need them.  It did have a set of speed-rated radial tires (not so common in those days), a Stebro free-flow exhaust system, a performance cam and the air pump emission control device removed.  That didn't really bother me, because it just pumped fresh air into the exhaust system to dilute the PPM of the exhaust emissions, and in doing so, didn't really reduce the total volume of exhaust emissions.  But it sure as heck robbed the engine of any zip, both by draining the power to turn the pump and by restricting the exhaust.  Add a carb kit with a larger intake throat and bigger primary and secondary jets, and it was a sweet little roadster.  Lacking any "real" back seat, and with an odd steering column that was tilted up higher than most found comfortable, I could push the front seat all the way back and even at 6'4", easily heel-toe, and gleefully push the under-steering suspension trough tight turns with the feel of a consummately skilled race car driver.   Probably remarkable that I survived driving it 4 years, unschathed.

Saw this one, completely restored including new trany and rebuilt 2000cc engine on the web last night.  (sigh).  Lost youth.  Wish I had the bucks to spare to pick up this little jewel.  The wife, of course has no intention of letting me re-live my youth on such a purchase.  She points out that the next convertible will be hers and she wants a Mercedes, not a Fiat!  LOL.
 
To me, it is still one of the best looking automobiles ever made.

[RedFeather]

We all have nostalgia for things like that. Me, I was going to get a '55 Studebaker Commander (Starliner coupe), and get my Dad, who used to do body work/painting, to help me drop a mid-60's Cadillac V8/automatic in her (aka"Studillac"). Was in the Navy at the time and had a little over a year to go when Dad passed away. Never did build it. Recently was Jonesing for a '55, stock, and found some on the Hemmings site. Only about $20,000+ in good shape. They was cheaper back then, indeed! At least you had your's.

[airiscool]

A former boss of mine had an early 70's Spider convertible that he drove for about 8 years until going home from work one night, he stopped at a stop sign and the body lurched downward. He got out and looked under it.

The floor pan side rails had rotted through most of the way where they meet at each wheel well. Only parts of the rails plus the front and rear of the floor pan were holding the body to the suspension.  He drove it home slowly and that night used strap metal and sheetmetal screws to refasten the wheel arches to the side rails, then made an X out of angle iron which he put under the floor pan and strapped that up into the wells also, so he could drive to work the next day. Then he quickly put a forsale ad in the paper.

For then on, he's only had Toyotas and they were always  sedans.  

Paul.

[pindog2000]

i do have to agree with you on that ,sweet looking ride next on the list for me this year is a twin turbo nissan 300zx 90-94 wanted one when i was stationed in sandiego in 92

[North Pack]

Nice looking car, - and YES, '78 was a good year.

[dk1677]

Yes that's a nice one!  ( didn't know your a Doc!)

[ronbeaux]

Those were a sweet ride! Mine was a Porshe 914 plain jane stock with a garage quality paint job(My garage!) The only thing added to it was solid motor mounts and a racing clutch. Don't even know why, it just seemed like the thing to do for a 20 year old. I had an instructor in my Safety Professional classes that hadthe Spiderrestored and he always had a slide show going with pictures of it during breaks. His License plate said "AGDTD." A good day to die. His name is Ethan Lightfoot, American Indian and former US Marshal. Cool guy! At 70 years old I would definately think twice about messing with him.

Sneak one of those into the garage T! Get Mamma the Merc too.

[Magnum]

Nice ride Tommy, I was an alfa spider Man in the 70's and sure would like it back now, i feel your pain:) Pity these things dont fit the safe LOL:) Tony

[TheKnot]

Thats  a good looking ride backm in 1980 my pop bought a similar car it was an mgb midgit and it was fun to drive me and my girl would cruise with the top down she loved it but looked better and would rather ride in dads 58 impala

[Jerrycup]

Hmmm. A red Fiat 124 Sport Spider. What a coincidence! I had one of those, too. Mine had a black interior. Been looking for pictures. Didn't we have one of both cars somewhere?

The monocoque body was manufactured by Pininfarina, and the platform was prone to rusting, but sure had some sleek looking curves. The Brit cars did not compare well for looks or performance in that era.
It had a DOHC engine with cross-flow heads, a Weber carb, four wheel disc brakes, and with a bit of tweaking, you could get 120 true quick-rev HP in a chassis that could bend around a corner PDQ, and stop in abrupt and orderly fashion when needed. It was an Italian sports car, for real.

I seem to remember girls preferring it to Toyota sedans, and a lot of related good times. Kept mine well into the 80's and sold it to a guy I worked with.
I remember a road trip from Ohio to visit a guy in Winchester, VA. He had a TR6 roadster, and we took a long drive with both cars on the Skyline Drive - swapped cars a couple of times. That little Fiat made the Triumph seem like a truck, and he agreed. My friend's original Datsun 240Z was faster, but not nearly as pretty. He was always working on it, as I recall. The Fiat had a bad reputation for reliability, but I had two of them, and relatively few problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_124_Sport_Spider

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

You should buy that car if it makes you happy Buddy. You can "Hide" it here in the barn for as long as you need to. Im not trying to get Ya in trouble with the Mrs. Buddy,,,,,,,, just offering. By the way,,,,,,,,, can you "Hide" some Pachmyr butt pads at your house for me??:p I got some $$ from my Mom for Xmas & I will be in just as much trouble as you would be for buying that car from my better half for UPS showing up with a box of $22 butt pads!!:0 LOL!! Deal stands,,,,,,, Timbo.

[TCups]

Of course, 1971 wasn't all together bad.  Remember my 1971 Opel Manta Rallye?  . . . and Carol's 1976 Olds Cutlass Supreme?

[Jerrycup]

I remember the time the battery in that Olds blew up in your carport in Whitehaven. Wow.

I remember your Opel was a lot better than my 70 model. But even my Rallye was a lot faster than a Beetle.
Where was the other yellow Manta from?
I'm going to go dig up some photos of my Fiat. You may remember I had a blue 73, and then the red 77 (I think it was a 77) but the red was a bit darker than yours, IIRC. That red car was sweet.

[VINNY]

WOW!! I love those opls. I first saw them in Germany in the early 80's. I wanted one sooo bad. Opel Manta gt. Cool car.Thanks for the pics!

[TCups]

The pics are just pulled off the 'net -- mine was just like one of these -- yellow/black.