Check Out This Car: fiat

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1978 Fiat 128 Rally

Fiat have made a big splash returning to the US market with their retro-styled 500. But back in the late Malaise Era they were slogging it out with this econobox.

The 128 was basically their entry-level family car. It debuted in 1969 and revolutionized the small car market with its front-wheel drive layout that contrasted with Volkswagen's aging rear-engine platforms.

To make a front-wheel drive car more affordably and efficiently than previous industry examples such as in the British Mini, Fiat designed the engine and transmission so that they did not have to share lubricating fluid while an electronically controlled fan supplied cooling. To do this, they mounted the engine transversely with the transmission mounted beside the engine driving the front-wheels through an offset final-drive and unequal driveshafts.

It was such a good engineering solution that eventually most entry-level car manufactures would follow suit, including Volkswagen themselves. The 4-cylinder won't light the street on fire but should work well against the car's small proportions and relatively low weight.

The 128 was wrapped in clean, simple, appliance-like sheetmetal evocative of the efficient mechanicals underneath.

Production ended in 1985. This is a US market example that the seller says has been mechanically restored to working order, and the exterior remains rough but original. We say keep 'er as is and get in and go.

Available here on ebay.

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

The 130 looks like a combination of a Maserati Kyalami, Peugeot 604, Ferrari 400 and Bitter SC but that's a all a compliment. The thing about this design is that it's all good for the customer. You can actually see out of the car, and enjoy the view while driving.

Like a lot of Italian cars, the interior is a nice place to bee, with a black dashboard contesting with a healthy helping of wood and beautiful tan leather seats. I bet it smells damn good too, even if it's 41 years old. Steering wheel is retro-future-cool, too.

Underneath the hood is an OHC V6 good for about 160 horsepower to the rear wheels. This one mercifully also has a stick. Unfortunately, against a 3,400 lb. curb weight, it had a lot of work to do, and won't be terribly fast or remotely fuel efficient. It may make a nice tenor, though.

The seller says the car was imported under the 25-year-and-older rule and so does not have to comply with the DOT. As such, it comes in complete Euro trim, with lovely headlights, small bumpers and unconstrained engine. Mechanically they say it runs and drives well. Cosmetically they say it does have some bubbling but the undercarriage is rust free.

With slightly over 4,000 made, this is a rare car in general and even more obscure in the US. I think it has a lot of appeal though, as either a garage queen, weekender, show car or possibly daily driver, if you've got deep enough pockets, however.

Available here on ebay.

1st in the US: 1988 Fiat Tipo 1.6L

It's quite a claim the seller is making, but it could be true. This is the first Fiat Tipo for sale in the US I've seen, anyways.

Fiat is to Europe what General Motors or Ford is the US: a huge automaker that builds cars for everybody. Most of the time that means affordable, frugal front-wheel drive compact cars that get you from point A to point B. In 2013, Fiat was the second largest automaker in Europe. They've made a lot of great contributions to automobile history. Lately, they've been selling the retro-styled 500 here. It's an okay car, but barely represents the best of Fiat.

With the Tipo however, Fiat wasn't interested in retro style and instead forged ahead with a fresh new start. The Tipo debuted in 1988 featuring an array of 4-cylinder gas and diesel engines, front-wheel drive, a galvanized body to protect against corrosion, and an all-new chassis that was shared with a bunch of other cars.

The styling was courtesy of one of my favorite designers of all time, the great Ercole Spada. It is a pure, simple and undiluted exercise in straight lines and angles. In true Italian Fashion, this lovely example looks even more sweet with bright red paint and Borbet alloys.

Underneath the hood is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. It only produced under 100 horsepower, but these engines weren't subject to performance-hindering emissions requirements that a US import would have been at the time, and coupled with the stick shift, may very well feel lively.

Inside is a pretty cool interior, notable for it's digital display and comfortable cloth seating. The photos aren't great, but from what is visible, things look tidy and in good shape. The seller says it has 87,500 kilometers on the clock which is only about 54k miles. They say everything is working and it has zero rust.

Now for the tricky part: paperwork. The seller says this Italian came here by way of Germany, so they have a German title (which, other than a novelty item I'm pretty sure is useless in the US), port clearance paperwork (sounds important) and a Rhode Island certificate in lieu of title because the state does not issues titles for cars older than 10 years. That is perhaps the most vital part and should allow anyone to register the car and get an actual title in any of the other 49 states (except for California, where it all have to undergo smog, but the seller does says it has a factory catalytic converter).

I guess the only question left is why. Why would someone go through the trouble of importing this vehicle only to sell it?

Regardless, this Fiat is a neat alternative to an early 90s VW Golf or Acura Integra. It will certainly be the only one on the block, and it seems to have been well-kept, too. It needs a new owner who will keep it just as clean and un-modified.

Available here on ebay with zero bidders starting at $8k and a $12k Buy It Now.

Early Bangle: 1996 Fiat Coupe Turbo

Utter the name of designer "Chris Bangle" among auto enthusiasts and a collective shudder will ensue. Bangle is an American who was hired as a stylist for BMW, and beginning with the 2002 E65 7-Series, radically altered the look, tone, and feel of all BMW vehicles, much to the public's disdain. During the late 20th century, BMW designs under Claus Luthe were always evolutionary, building carefully on each predecessor. These cars, like the E30, E32 and E34, were also built extremely well and when combined with the conservative styling, became seared in the minds of drivers all over the world as superior products. Bangle broke the evolutionary chain in favor of revolution. It backfired. The E65, with its bloated proportions, ridiculous trunk, overly complex electronics and unintelligible "iDrive", was a step in the wrong direction after the beloved E38 it replaced.

So what was Chris up to before he "bangled" up BMW? He worked for Opel and then Fiat, and this '96 Coupe bears his mark.

The Coupe was produced from 1993-2000. Bangle designed the body, and Pininfarina did the interior. Bangle's work here isn't half bad. It's quite in line with that Italian designers were striving for in the 90s, moving past the chiseled-from-steel edges and lines of the Eighties and into soft curves and minimalist panels. The unorthodox wheel arch shapes are interesting but give it an odd look from certain angles. The round taillights are nice. It's kinda futuristic, kinda pretentious. I also appreciate the rear wiper.

Inside, exterior color flows in and wraps around the dashboard to brighten things up.

Like Alfa Romeo at the time, which Fiat owned, the Coupe is front-wheel drive. Fortunately, under the hood of this example is the later 2.0-liter 20-valve 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. It pumped out around 217 horsepower and propelled the car from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, not bad. This one is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The car is located in Canada and the seller says it has only 69,999 kilometers on the clock, which is only about 42k miles. They say it's in "perfect" condition inside and out. The also say it's one of just a handful ever imported to North America. The US currently doesn't allow cars newer than 25 years old to be imported for road use, but there are exceptions. Perhaps this could be made into one of them? The seller warns however if you are a US bidder and you don't have a concrete plan on getting the car across the border, don't bother bidding.

Available here on ebay with no bids starting at $6,000 and a Buy-It-Now of $12k.

56k-Mile 1970 Fiat 128 Euro

The seller of this rare Fiat says they personally imported it from the original owner in Europe and still have the registration papers from there.

Fiat launched the 128 in 1969 as their standard issue compact car. Production continued until 1985 after over 3 million units were made. Foreign markets continued making the car until 2001.

This car marked a new era of front-wheel drive from Fiat, good for the company's bottom line, bad for driving enthusiasts. Fortunately what the 128 does do, it does well. The engine is transversely mounted and unequal drive shaft lengths allowed Fiat to place the engine and gearbox side by side, now an industry standard in compact cars.

The sheet metal is also innovative, squeezing in a hood, four doors and a trunk in a tiny shape that's also quite charming. The flat mustard yellow is period but works.

This example is not entirely original but is most likely in better condition than it was before. The seller says the car had rust and was stripped down, treated and re-painted in the original color. Inside, they replaced the door panels, headliner and carpets. Underneath the hood the seller replaced the timing belt and gave it a tuneup. They say it has less thank 96,000 kilometers which is about 56k miles.

The 128 is one of those cars where a ton were made, then simultaneously wiped out through use and rust. Finding a relatively low mileage and refreshed version like this is difficult, especially in the US.

Available here on ebay in Sanford, Florida with bidding at $6,200 and reserve not met.

Early Bangle: 1997 Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo 5-Speed

Like Alfa Romeo at the time, which Fiat owned, the Coupe is front-wheel drive. Fortunately, under the hood of this example is the later 2.0-liter 20-valve 5-cylinder turbocharged engine. It pumped out around 217 horsepower and propelled the car from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, not bad. This one is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The seller of this example is also selling the Alfa 155 that I spotlighted here.

They state the Fiat has 47k kilometers, which is only about 29k miles. They say it just had an extensive service and is now mechanically "perfect".

Available here on ebay in Ontario, Canada with an auction and a Buy-It-Now of $11,900 C, about the same in USD.

Lost and Found: 1961 Fiat 2100

The seller of this '61 Fiat got lucky twice: first they bought the car 25 years ago, sold it, then tracked it down 5 years later and bought it again.

In that time period, they say the original cream color changed to yellow. But since the car returned, they've done a bunch of mechanical repairs to make sure it keeps running.

The Fiat 1800/2100 was produced from 1959 to 1968. These featured front-mounted four and six-cylinder engines that powered the rear wheels.

Styling was courtesy of Dante Giacosa and is classic post-war European styling, with slight fins, upright greenhouse, simple lines, and wide-eyed from fascia. Although the loss of the original color is regrettable, yellow contrasting with the white roof is still plenty charming, including the genuine Italian hubcaps that smartly finish it off.

The seller notes that the interior is in need of a restoration, but I wonder if that means sacrificing what could be the original seats? Beyond some polishing and new carpeting, it doesn't need much else.

This model is the 2100, which had the largest engine offered in this body, a 2054cc, single carb straight six producing a mere 82 horsepower. This example is mated to a 4-speed manual column shifter transmission.

Cosmetically, the seller notes the vehicle is rust free with only some minor bubbling. They also mention it has no accident damage and all the stainless steel trim is intact.

Mechanically, they state it runs and drives fine.

As a fun side note, the seller mentions they loan their car collection for use in films and television and this very Fiat was recently used in the tv movie Liz and Dick.

It's available here on ebay in Tarzana, California.

1981 Polski Fiat 126p

The Polski was essentially a Fiat 126 licensed and produced in Poland. To distinguish the two, a "p" was added after the numerical designation.

These are pretty nifty little microcars. If you're going to do a small car, you might as well make it relatively unique. Fiat did just that with the 126, putting the engine in the rear and powering the rear-wheels. The tiny 652cc engine consisted of just two cylinders pumping out a mere 24 horsepower. These are not safe for highways and are designed for country roads and small villages only.

While the Fiat 126 lasted until 1979, Polski production continued, amazingly, until the year 2000, with over 3 million units being made. This thing was a big success.

These were ubiquitous in the communist Eastern Bloc countries during the 1980s. Seeing one trot around the wide, clean roads of Florida these days is a bit disorienting but symbolic of how far the world has come.

The seller of this example says they are the second owners. Cosmetically, they say it has no rust and wears new paint, new brakes and new tires.

Mechanically, they say it has a rebuilt engine and a 4-speed manual transmission.

This seems like a well-cared for example and looks appropriate in orange and the nicely contrasting white steel wheels. If you ever wanted this type of car, it could be a very nice alternative to a VW Bug or Yugo.

Find it here on ebay in Miami, Florida for a Buy-It-Now of $4,000 and the Make An Offer option.

1959 Fiat 600 Mutlipla

Remember the future? This Fiat is over 50 years old but solves some problems automakers are still struggling with today: size, space, efficiency, and affordability.

The Multipla is actually based on the 600, a two-door subcompact from Fiat that was essentially to the Italians what the Austin Cooper was to the British. Over 2 million Fiat 600 cars were made. But the setup was more intriguing than any Mini Cooper: the 600 featured a rear-mounted engine propelling the rear wheels, more similar to Volkswagen of the same era.

In 1956 Fiat introduced the Multipla. It used a 600 chassis stretched by around 10 inches, but featured the same rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The driver's seat was pushed forward, eliminating a front hood and cargo space. The rest of the interior was devoted to either one or two bench seats or a flat floor, possibly seating up to 6 people, including the driver.

Behind the interior lay the engine, usually a straight 4-cylinder engine producing a modest twenty something horsepower.

The car had a top speed of just under 60 mph, accelerated to 50 mph in 43 seconds, and got 38 miles per gallon. The price in pounds was originally £799, or around $20k in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation.

243,000 units were made until 1969.

The no-nonsense seller details what seems to be a mind-boggling nut-and-bolt inside-and-out restoration to pristine (but not original) condition. The engine was replaced with a slightly larger 850cc unit that provides more power. The axles, brakes and body were stripped to bare and completely rebuilt from scratch. Rust was replaced with new metal.

The car is finished in two-tone multi-stage modern urethane paint, using what the seller calls "Aston Martin Green" for the lower half and smoked silver for the top. The interior and engine compartment are also finished in the green. Along with the UK-sourced Minilite wheels, it gives the car a British vibe which works but is somewhat sad considering the Multipla should really be a source of Italian pride. It also begs what the original color combination was.

Regardless, this is what a no-expense-spared restoration usually looks like. Time, energy, money and passion were clearly put into this. The car not only looks good, but the seller says it's fully functional and completely usable in modern traffic.

Find it here on ebay in Irvine, California with bidding at $27,632 but reserve not met.

Sole Survivor: 1976 Fiat Polski 125 Pickup

How adorable is this little pickup?

Unfortunately, it's also quite the endangered species.

According to the seller it is most likely the only surviving officially imported example.

FSO produced Fiat-based cars made in Poland. When they decided to branch out into U.S. sales, they brought over three examples, one of which was this pickup body based on the Fiat 125 sedan. While the other two met their fate, this one managed to live on.

Power comes from a small pushrod 4-cylinder engine directed to the rear wheels.

The seller says this example has an odometer that stopped working at 20,029, but they estimate the mileage can't be much more.

Cosmetically, they say the vehicle was repainted once. They say the body is free of major damage and rust, although the floors have holes and need new welding.

Mechanically, they say it starts and runs fine but will probably need a new clutch and oil filter.

How do you put a price on something so quirky, and apparently so rare? You really have to be a diehard fan, as vintage Toyota micro pickup trucks from the same era are just as charming but probably much more reliable.

Still, there's a lot to love and smile at here.

Find it here on ebay in Minneapolis, Minnesota with no reserve bidding at $4,000.

Lost Compact: 1982 Fiat Strada

This car has just about everything you want to avoid in a old used car: rust, non-original engine, non-running, little maintenance history, five different previous owners, and no title.

Despite the many strikes against it, this Fiat is a rare car in the U.S. and still deserves some attention.

The name Strada was only given in North America. Elsewhere, it was the Ritmo, a compact front-engine, front-wheel drive car produced from 1978-1988. It seemed like it was Italy's answer to the Volkswagen Rabbit, though much less good looking.

The Strada was only sold in the U.S. from 1979-1982. It featured the same puny 1.5-litre engine as in the Fiat X1/9 that produced a mere 69 horsepower. At least the mid-engine X1/9 handled well.

The seller lists all of the issues they know of with the vehicle. They start by saying it would be good for "some parts". They say they acquired it in 2003 and has essentially been sitting since then. They say the engine is not original because it's from an X1/9, but it makes no difference because the Strada had the same engine as the X1/9. It also makes no difference because the car doesn't even run.

What do you do with something like this? Is it worth the cost of repairs? And then there is the issue of documentation. You'd have to go on a bill of sale alone. Since every state has different title requirements, you could run into trouble registering this vehicle.

Since these cars had a poor reputation in the U.S. and never sold well, it's perhaps fitting to find one in such all around poor status.

Still, somewhere, a foreign econobox collector's heart is racing.

Find it here on ebay in Clarkston, Georgia, with no bids and no reserve starting at $500.

Summertime Fun: 46k-mile 1977 Fiat X1/9

If you're looking for a Fiat X1/9, this could be the one. The seller's listing makes a very convincing argument.

The X1/9 was a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-door sports car with a removable hardtop. It was produced by Fiat from 1972-1982, then by Bertone from 1982-1989, quite a remarkable production length for a little Italian car, but it speaks to the model's success.

With a mid-engine setup powering the rear wheels for ideal weight distribution, the X1/9 handled very well. It also featured storage compartments in the front and rear, a huge plus and quite a feat considering the small size. In addition, the removable top segment was lightweight and easy to store.

The seller says they are the second owner having purchased the vehicle from the original owner in 2002. Since then, they claim they have spent $13,000 perfecting the car. They provide a list of some of the things they have done, and it's impressive, right down to re-applying the gold pin stripe to factory specifications.

The mini-wedge styling was done by none other than the great Marcello Gandini, and while not exactly elegant, it is cool and hits the right notes, especially in bright colors like this apple green. Fiat was notable for actually making an effort to work with the U.S. government mandates of the '70s, and the 5mph bumpers have some thought put into them but are still comical and unsightly. These cars look so much better without them it could be worth the effort converting to smaller bumpers.

Inside, the seller says the seats were re-upholstered.

The seller mentions there is no rust, another big plus.

They also say they have the original window sticker and maintenance records proving the car was maintained with upgrades done as well.

There are currently no new targa-top mid engine cars on the market. The only mid-engine cars today are priced well above the average vehicle. The X1/9 is a delightful reminder of a time when ideal driving principles and engineering were presented to the public at an affordable price. The seller of this vehicle has certainly appreciated it.

Find it here on ebay in Woodbrige, Illinois with 0 bids starting at $6,500 and a buy-it-now of $8,000.

Pininfarina Lines: 33k-mile 1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

The strikingly boxy shape of this rare Fiat is credited to Pininfarina. If it looks familiar, they were experimenting with this kind of transformational shape in the late '60s and '70s, mostly on grand touring coupes, and it was probably an inspiration for the Ferrari 400 they later designed, a nice example of which I spotlighted here. The thick, sloping c-pillar has been imitated on countless other cars through the years too.

The 130 was a large executive car for Fiat that was made from 1969-1973. This is the coupe variant, which was a new body style for 1971. It featured rear-wheel drive and a 3.2-litre 6-cylinder engine that produced 165 horsepower. Only 4,294 were produced.

The seller states this is a two-owner car, with the second owner having it for the past 38 years. They say it has original paint, no rust, original plastic wrap and runs and drives great. This one has an automatic transmission.

The interior looks good, except for some wear on the cloth seats.

Supposedly these were underpowered, heavy, and fuel-thirsty, so this car probably classifies as another all-looks, no-go car, which happened frequently with Italian design cars during emissions-conscious 70s. They looked good, but didn't go fast or drive well. This one doesn't even have fuel-injection. Couple with an automatic transmission, a sports car this is not. But it could be a nice sedate cruiser on weekends and trips to shows. It will certainly be the only one on the block.

Get it for under $10k.

Find it here on ebay in Miami, Florida with 10 bids at $7,300.