Weird fiat

[red107]

Today I went to help a friend of my wife with there fiat. I was told it was a 78. Well I arrived and it was in really good shape for sitting for 3 years. got it started in 3 minutes flat. So I was feeling cocky and good about my skills. Brakes need work and tranny is shot. It would go into gear but i suspect either bad clutch or needs adjustment. Well Started looking at the car after it was running and notice the door handles were from 79 on up fiat. So I looked at the rear and the tail lights are from a 79 on up. Side light are from a early year. Speedometer was from later model. There was a placard in the door said 05-78. The current owner has owned it for the last ten years. The vin was 124CS1. it also has a small bump hood. Could this car have been moded. The motor is a 1800. Anybody seen a fiat with similar stats. Looks almost like a 78.5 which I never heard of.

[mdrburchette]

The taillamps seem a bit strange to be 79 and up, but the late model door handles were used on later 78s, as well as rear ends and a few other things.

[kilrwail]

My car was born in May 78 and has the newer door handles. But the taillights are not like a '79. Side runing lights are rectagular and recessed at one end. My speedo is in kilometres and is no different from others I've seen. Are you sure about the taillights? They should be rectangular, with no curved edges.

[red107]

[quote="kilrwail"]My car was born in May 78 and has the newer door handles. But the taillights are not like a '79. Side runing lights are rectagular and recessed at one end. My speedo is in kilometres and is no different from others I've seen. Are you sure about the taillights? They should be rectangular, with no curved edges.[/quote

Yes, I'm positive the tail lights are from later years. That is what took me to really start looking at the car to see what else was strange. The side marker are recess like earlier years. It also has no badge on the the rear that say 1800. But I have seen fiats like that before. The instrument panel also doesn't have the hump by the bottom center liker earlier years its straight across like my 81. I will take picks tomorrow to show you guys.

[wachuko]

Looking forward to the photos.

As far as being modded by a previous owner, anything is possible. Is the paint original? Any indication of body work?

I also read somewhere of Fiat just using what they had in stock between model years. Putting out cars not completely spec for the new model year... Would be good to know if your friend's car is one of the last '78 built.

Also, very cool of you to help out a fellow owner getting their baby back on the road

[red107]

Looking forward to the photos.

As far as being modded by a previous owner, anything is possible. Is the paint original? Any indication of body work?

I also read somewhere of Fiat just using what they had in stock between model years. Putting out cars not completely spec for the new model year... Would be good to know if your friend's car is one of the last '78 built.

Also, very cool of you to help out a fellow owner getting their baby back on the road

The paint is original. Black has red interior, with red door panels and black arm rest. The previous owner put some gay looking 3rd brake light like what Mercedes Benz used. Has after market A/C. I will be removing that crap tomorrow afternoon.

[So Cal Mark]

all of the European mfgs made running changes back in those days, rather than waiting for new model years like the Big 3. Anytime you look up oem Fiat parts there is always before and after certain serial numbers.

[ga.spyder]

I have a 77,that seems to have fallen thru the cracks.It was built in 10/76,so very late in prod. run.I wanted to get the wiring,etc..cleaned up .I asked the owners of a stock ,one owner 77 if they would mind me getting pix.Opened the hood,and it was completely different.Where they had electrovalves on the fender,I have all my relays.Their relays are all inside their car,like every other 77 I have seen.I can only conclude that mine was a late or left over 76 that was badged as a 77.Fiat was supposedly notorious for using surplus parts on different models...like an italian AMC.
Craig
ps....Red,I really like the color combo on your Spider

[red107]

Thanks for the input. I guess this 78 was one of the first off the line with some 79 parts.
quote="ga.spyder"]ps....Red,I really like the color combo on your Spider[/quote]
Thanks

[azygoustoyou]

I have that exact same car but I think the tail lights are the earlier 78 style.

[wachuko]

The paint is original. Black has red interior, with red door panels and black arm rest. The previous owner put some gay looking 3rd brake light like what Mercedes Benz used. Has after market A/C. I will be removing that crap tomorrow afternoon.

Removing the A/C? Why? Not working?

Similar to this system? http://mirafiori.com/faq/content/AC/ac.htm

Not a nice to have option? Just curious.

[mbouse]

except for the tail lights, i am alright with what you are seeing. the '78s absolutely had two different door styles.

yours would not be the first to have tail lights changed out for another model year. i have heard and seen it happen before, though sometimes the effort to do so makes far less sense than finding the correct replacement lights.

[red107]

Removing the A/C? Why? Not working?

Similar to this system? http://mirafiori.com/faq/content/AC/ac.htm

Not a nice to have option? Just curious.

yeah the A/C was toast. Spent today removing it. Not to mention It leak water on the passenger floor and rusted the floor board. Also took up leg room with the vent hanging underneath the glove box. Removed All the lines except for one going to the evaporator. Also the rear end was the same as my 81. The only thing that is a 78 seems to be the running lights and the motor.

[wachuko]

Well...



Are you forgetting something???

[red107]

I had my camera also. Forgot all about it while I was working on the car. I plan to work on it tomorrow also. So I will take pic tomorrow.