Foiled by chains

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Curly
Posts: 526
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:09 am
Your car is a: 1968 AC Coupe and a 1976 CS1 Spider
Location: Gippsland - Victoria, Australia

Foiled by chains

Post by Curly »

A local group of classic car enthusiasts decided that a drive up to our local ski resort for Sunday luch would be a great way to enjoy the sunny spring weather. Unfortunately for us, the ski season had been extended due to the excellent snow conditions still being experienced, so that meant all vehicles heading to the resort had to carry snow chains in case of adverse road conditions. :cry:
Needless to say, we carried on up until reaching the point in the photograph where a $3000 fine can be imposed on drivers who continue on and are found not to be carrying chains.

Has anybody on the forum ever fitted chains to their Spider's wheels for driving in the snow?

Image
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by mdrburchette »

Never had the reason for chains on my Spider, but I did have snow studs on my 280Z.
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!
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Redline
Posts: 631
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:34 pm
Your car is a: formerly a 1971 Fiat 124 BC Coupe
Location: Switzerland

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by Redline »

You won't fit them on those wheels, especially if the car has been lowered. They aren't mounted in this image (maybe they should be :wink: ), but my friend could only use chains with narrow wheels & tyres and standard ride height. They will also eat up alloy wheels.

Image
http://www.124bc.com
La Dolce Vita: Joy and frustration at the speed of smoke
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by mdrburchette »

OMG! Your friend is crazy! :shock:
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!
Gunsmith

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by Gunsmith »

Those are great pictures! You guys know how to have a good time! It doesn't look like anyone cared about the little heater in the car anymore?
halg

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by halg »

When I bought my 72 Coupe it had a set of chains in the trunk, never tried to use them though.
Hal
User avatar
Redline
Posts: 631
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:34 pm
Your car is a: formerly a 1971 Fiat 124 BC Coupe
Location: Switzerland

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by Redline »

When you get several metres of snow each winter, you stop worrying about whether or not your car is "ok for winter". You just learn to drive around it. :D Although even I had to eventually admit that an 800kg, mid-engined sportscar with a flat undertray and zero ground clearance made a better sled than car...
http://www.124bc.com
La Dolce Vita: Joy and frustration at the speed of smoke
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by narfire »

I used my 70 as a daily driver in Vancouver BC in the mid/late 70's. I did put "snow tires" on,but they were virtually useless as there was no real weight over the rear axle. Three inch steel plates helped a bit but the tire technology then I thought was not what it was today. I ended up buying a set of those cable chains and they did work better and were safer as the west coast snow is very wet and after a bit of traffic is like driving on ice. After the fiat was sold, I bought a VW and mounted studded tires in the winter,never had a problem since with studded tires.
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
Nancy1340

Re: Foiled by chains

Post by Nancy1340 »

I owned two 124's in the years I lived in Denver and not one time "needed" chains. And not one time got stuck or stayed home for lack of them. The Fiat laughs at snow. LOL
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