So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

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Jimbo

So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by Jimbo »

I had just picked up my Fiat from the mechanics, was tooling down MD rte 301, as stopped at a light in Waldorf, looked up in the rear view, and noticed some 20ish girl checking out the badging on my car (guess she either thought it was a Ferrari or had never seen a Fiat).

It's kind of a great feeling touring in a car that 1) not many people have ever seen 2) is just darned fun to drive and 3) it'll be the closet thing to a Ferrari 275GTs that I'll ever own.

Now if I can only get my hands on a Lancia Stratos
CajunMike
Posts: 313
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:44 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by CajunMike »

Yeah it's kinda neat to get the puzzling stares. Interestingly enough someone wanted to buy my "Porsche" a while back. I'm guessing he never had seen a Fiat before either.
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aj81spider
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Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:04 am
Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chelmsford, MA

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by aj81spider »

I was at a stop light this weekend and got a "is that an MG?" from the driver next to me. I smiled and said "Fiat!" to which he replied "nice..."

It's fun driving a car that catches the eye and which most people have no idea of what it is!
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
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TulsaSpider
Posts: 1547
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
Location: Tulsa, Ok

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by TulsaSpider »

Nearly every time I go out I get a thumbs up, or nice car or a conversation. Once two young gals hopped out of her car and just started taking pictures. Does wonders for the soul! ;)
1978 Spyder 1800 make that 2L! Finally making real progress!
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RoyBatty
Posts: 852
Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:44 pm
Your car is a: 1975 124 Spider - 1971 124 Sport Coupe
Location: Locust Grove, VA

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by RoyBatty »

I am seeing the same thing here in the Sacramento and Stockton area. Especially as I tool around with the top down.
Lots of folks of all ages giving a thumbs up out on the road or asking "what is it".
And the number of times I've heard, "I always did want to get one of those", is increasing by the month.
I jokingly refer to my '75 as my mid life crisis.
Although nothing could be further from the truth. Almost 15K miles on it now since I returned it to the road from it's 23 year slumber.
And once again thanks to John Erskine! That 5 speed I got from him is running great!
Also have to thank Ramzi and Czaba at Auto Ricambi. They have both been nothing but helpful and informative.
And the folks here and at Mirafiori. Lots of good help and advice.
Hey Spidernut,
I'll be at that RC field off Florin road all weekend. We have a race on Sunday. Stop in with your main driver and visit.
grittracing

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by grittracing »

drove my spider for the 1st time this weekend. Since buying it and taking it apart and rebuilding it. So i have never driven my car ! So i took it to the FLU detroit / alfa meeting never had any 20s girls checking it out but there was a older couple behind me, streatching their necks to try to see the trunk badge. There had a van full of community services guys ask what kind of car it was. And a few others give me the thunbs up and a few turn all the way around while they pass me. Very good felling !
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by mdrburchette »

Curiosity for these cars knows no ethnic, age or gender boundaries. People love to comment on my cars, wherever I am, and it's gotten ten times worse with my new 500. You can watch people as they pass by, turning their heads and checking it out. It does make you feel special!
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
sptcoupe
Posts: 987
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:25 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Sport Coupe

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by sptcoupe »

Most folks think our BC Coupe is a BMW (it's the dual headlights), and the spider is almost always confused for a Miata or Ferrari (its that Pinninfarina emblem that gets them). But Denise is right, the 500 gets an incredible amount of attention. So many "thumbs up", picture taking and windows rolled down to shout and ask "What's that?" that is almost a distraction. The worse are the drivers who come up behind you and get real close, then the next time you glance up, they are on the right side of the car, then they move to the left side, all to better see the car. Its hard to keep track of them. Downright dangerous! 8)
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kmac33
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Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Lilburn/Stone Mountain Georgia

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by kmac33 »

I too always get numerous "thumbs up"s or "that's a beautiful car" when out with the Spider. Somewhat surprisingly, I get a lot more people that know it's a Fiat saying "I had one of these years ago" or "I always wanted a Spider" than those asking what it is. It is very satisfying to see so many people appreciate the classic beauty of the Spider.
My daily driver stumps people much more frequently. About the only folks that can identify it are either from Australia or racing fans that watch the V8 Supercars Series.
Kevin McMullen

1974 Fiat Spider - Restoration Complete! But the mods/refinements continue
1980 Fiat Spider
2013 Subaru WRX
131
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Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:13 am
Your car is a: 1982 131 Superbrava warmed 2.0 litre.
Location: Tasmania, Australia

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by 131 »

kmac33 wrote:My daily driver stumps people much more frequently. About the only folks that can identify it are either from Australia or racing fans that watch the V8 Supercars Series.
OK, we've got to see a photo of that!
Mick.

'82 2litre 131, rally cams, IDFs & headers.
Exit98

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by Exit98 »

Hey Jimbo,

Ferrari 275 GTS. My Dream Car since 1965 or so when there was a red one on the cover of Car & Driver and a yellow one on the cover of Road & Track. WIth that beautiful 12 cyl motor. Oh man.

Image

No coincidence that it looks like our Spiders' big brother. Pinninfarina styled it up just a few years before he did ours.

Unfortunately these are now half million $ cars.
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RoyBatty
Posts: 852
Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:44 pm
Your car is a: 1975 124 Spider - 1971 124 Sport Coupe
Location: Locust Grove, VA

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by RoyBatty »

WOW!,
The lineage is too obvious to overlook.
I am thinking a set of those fender louvers done up "right" would look good on a Spider.
Jimbo

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by Jimbo »

Exit98 wrote:Hey Jimbo,

Ferrari 275 GTS. My Dream Car since 1965 or so when there was a red one on the cover of Car & Driver and a yellow one on the cover of Road & Track. WIth that beautiful 12 cyl motor. Oh man.

Image

No coincidence that it looks like our Spiders' big brother. Pinninfarina styled it up just a few years before he did ours.

Unfortunately these are now half million $ cars.
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kmac33
Posts: 509
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:19 am
Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Lilburn/Stone Mountain Georgia

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by kmac33 »

131 wrote:
kmac33 wrote:My daily driver stumps people much more frequently. About the only folks that can identify it are either from Australia or racing fans that watch the V8 Supercars Series.
OK, we've got to see a photo of that!
Some pics of the daily driver. Pretty common in AU, almost never seen on this side of the pond.

Image

Image

Image

Image
Kevin McMullen

1974 Fiat Spider - Restoration Complete! But the mods/refinements continue
1980 Fiat Spider
2013 Subaru WRX
narfire
Posts: 3959
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Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: So, I had my first "Fiat moment"...

Post by narfire »

Hey kmac, surprise a few M3's with that? :)
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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