Hello!

[850tc]

Hi everybody!
Just discovered this great forum, and as most of you seem to be in the US, I'm hoping someone will recognise or have some information about my car.
It's a 1974 124CS1 which came from the USA to the UK in 1996/7 and now lives with me in France where I've just started restoring it. Photos at: http://profile.imageshack.us/user/TC850/
It seems to be a very early US spec car, as it has an unusual (to me) front bumper which has no indicators - they're in the wing like the European cars. The rear bumper is the usual twin tube type. The VIN No is 124CS10088455. It has an emissions compliance plate on the radiator panel and in the drivers door shut, which has date of manufacture as 9/1974.
Also in the door shut there is a green dymotape sticker which reads: "PONER ANILLOS Y METALES 43110 7/92. I would assume that the car therefore came from the SW (not too hot on geography, I'm afraid! ). If my spanish is correct this means the car had new rings and bearings at 43110miles in july 1992.
It's obviously been somewhere hot and dry as every single piece of rubber in the suspension is dry and cracked, but the body has NO RUST!!
The alloy wheels are also unusual; I assume they were on the car when it arrived in the UK, but thay have no markings at all.
So if there's anyone out there with a long memory, it would be great to find a bit of history for the car, or any other info, for that matter.
Thanks in advance.

[pope]

There are others here that can help you better with this car than I, but the car is a 74 because of the extended rubber front bumper and the small bump hood. You say the rear has twin tube? Then that has been replaced because that bumper came out in 1975 and later. It looks like you have a project here. Welcome. Rubber is much easier to replace than metal.

[mbouse]

definitely a project car. Congratulations. Rust free is a great thing..

looking forward to participating in the assistance program.

[mbouse]

amost forgot. look inside the driver door and find the plaque with the build date. that will give you a great idea of model year.

[james124]

The car is very likely a 74. I have one like it except my bumperes did not come with the rubber blobs in front. This is a feature used on some SW USA cars. Car seems to be an excellent restoreable candidate. All parts are available thru the US vendors. Don't waist your time with Italian vendors - very expensive. Restored cars easily sell on Ebay for 8-10,000 Euros in Western Europe. Alors bonne chance surtout amuse-toi. JamesG

[bwilson27]

It's a 1974 California car, with the large rubber bumper blocks.
Someone put a newer rear bumper on it.

Italy - California - France!

[pope]

Those rubber bumpers in 1974 also were required in Massachusetts.

[850tc]

Thanks for all the replies! I hadn't considered that the rear bumper could have been changed! It's in the bin now anyway! I bought the car really for the shell - the plan is to rebuild it to euro spec with a new, lightly warmed over motor and lower springs/shocks (to start with). Just finished reinforcing the crossmember mounts, engine bay painting and front suspension are nearly done. It'll be a long job, especially as it's too cold for the garage at the moment! Anybody got any thoughts on the wheels? American Racing? they mount on studs, with shouldered chrome nuts and are 5.5x13. Cheers.

[mbouse]

har har, modifications are EXTREMELY common here in the states. cosmetic modifications and performance modifications. of course, there are the purists as well. but yeah, expect to find other things that may look suspicious

american racers are a common mod, and so are roosevelts. keep in mind the presence of the locating pins as you shop.

[seventil]

Hey there! Fellow Fiat enthusiast in France as well. Don't see many around here. I'm over in SE France though, near Nice.

I'm interested to know where other people that are living in Europe / France go for parts. Any suggestions?

[850tc]

[quote="seventil"]Hey there! Fellow Fiat enthusiast in France as well. Don't see many around here. I'm over in SE France though, near Nice.

I'm interested to know where other people that are living in Europe / France go for parts. Any suggestions?[/quote]

Hi there.
Yes, quite a long way from me in Charente. I've been getting parts from O&S in Germany: http://shop.schiminsky.de and have found them very friendly and efficient. Prices are good too! I'm in the middle of rebuilding my spider from the ground up, so I shan't be driving it any time soon!