Greetings:

Not certain to post this here or in the 850 Section,, I hope I do not offend anyone! I have restored a couple of Alfa's and assisted with my brothers MGB/GT over the years, after not having a project for a few years I was looking for a challenge, and I found one! Having grown up with 124's in the late 60's and into the 70's I was familiar with Fiat's, even had a "covered headlight" 67 850 Spider in the late 70's. I always had a soft spot for 850 Coupes, I loved the big instruments and the simplicity of servicing. While there are good and bad arguments about the merits of Series I and II cars (at least in North America), I really wanted a 903 motor with the alternator and like the four tail lamps of the S II models. While 850 Coupes were plentiful in Seattle when I was young, I do not think I have seen one running in years.

A 1970 Sport Coupe appeared on Craigslist about 25 miles from where I live, the add promised "little rust". Well the floor pans were in great shape, however the from cross member was rusted out as was the battery box and spare tire well. In addition the transaxle was coated in gearlube and it had been poorly repaired from a prior shunt in the front. Furthermore the car had not run in 18 years and was stored under a tarp by a river in rainy SW Washington state....The gentleman selling the car was a mechanic who was supposed to be the third owner. He assured me the engine ran when he stopped driving it...I found the whole story a bit far fetched...what do they say about a fool and his money? A few photos providing I can post them...













What did I like about the car? I have always liked Positano Giallo, a very 70's color. And it had not been modified too much.
If there is interest I will post more photos of the work I have done over the past three years...

Thanks for the story. I love 850 Coupes! I had a '71 and a '67. I wish I had had the time to restore the '67.

My vote is for MORE! I'd love to see what you've done. And I think the coupes are SO COOL!!

yes more pics please .... love progress ..how cool to have a pit also .. dream garage someday maybe

I vote for more too!

defintely post mor epictures.

The Saga Continues...

About a week after paying far too much for the Coupe it arrived at the house where I live. I do own this home, rather it is owned by a lady friend, said house has a smallish one car garage that is normally inhabited by her (BMW designed) Mini Cooper. When I told her I was looking for a project car she was not too keen, though she knows my love of Italian cars. In the 80's I had been fortunate enough to own a couple of 8 and 12 cylinder F-cars, I did not know the above lady at that time though I have occasionally regaled her of stories regarding the F-cars.

So I told her I bought a very rare "F-Car", of which Hemmings wrote that there were most likely fewer than 20 in operation in the USA (this I have a difficult time believing). Needless to say she was not amused when the tow truck arrived, the Coupe did not resemble a 250 GTO in many ways.....



After attempting a through cleaning, and cleaning the front trunk I was even more dismayed at the corrosion and evidence of front accident damage to the front...



Note the rusted out spare tire wheel, the aluminum sheet medal attempting to act as a battery tray and the fact that the bulkhead has been damaged by the spare tire being forced against in an accident.

The prior owner was very proud that he fitted rear brakes from an X1/9, quite why one needs rear disc brakes on a 50HP, 1700 lb car is beyond me but everyone has an opinion. What he never fitted was an operational handbrake, after some investigation I decided to revert back to rear drums.



Though I was planning on fitting four new tires, the condition of what was on the car was a bit shocking...



Between the condition of the car once it was cleaned up, and my lady friend being cranky that A: her Mini was in the cold and B: this rusty dangerous "how many airbags does it have" money pit was in the garage I started thinking I would get the motor running, if possible as it had not run in 19 years, and get some brakes on it. Then it would back on Craigslist..

The Saga Continues Part Due

I have worked in the car business most of my life as a mechanic, Parts Manager, Sales Sloth, Sales Manager and even a General Manager. After 30+ years of this I should know how to look at a car, and I had bought a pile of "merd" as our French friends would say, still I wanted a project and I bought a project! I decided to keep the car and embark on a major resto....including the following:

1: Attempt to start motor
2: Replace master cylinder, calipers, flex lines, discs, drums and wheel cylinders in brake system.
3: Rebush suspensions including king pins. Replace shocks
4: Cad plate most fastners and brake lines
5: Replace most every electrical piece
6: Recondition cooling system
7: Renew Interior Trim
8: Finally have body shop deal with rust

After a bit of fettling, a new fuel pump (thank you Mr. Obert), and fuel from a one gallon tank it actually weezed to life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21spOE1f-u0

After the initial euphoria of having it run I soon realized (not surprisingly) it was, as our English friends would say, "clapped out".

And Clapped Out segues into Engine Out. This is one of the things I most enjoy about the 850, it is very easy to work on.





And the same time I had decided not to let a bit of corrosion bother me and I painted the underside and refinished the suspension along with freshly plated fastners.





Finding (decent) shocks for an 850 is a challenge. I really wanted a set of Koni's but could never locate them. The English Spax shocks are available but at a shocking (forgive the pun) price, approx. $325 each! I bought a set of Boge off Fleabay, stupidly I fitted the fronts to the rear and vice versa!

Naturally the hubs were serviced and new Spider Joints fitted.

Very cool car! Never seen one.

Nice work! You've got quite a job ahead of you. Keep us posted.

I love the four lights in front. This is such a cool car. I can't wait to see it coming back to life. Now I want one!!

Nice work! It reminds me of my 850 Coupe. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold it...
I put discs in the back too, not, I'm not sure why, prolly because I could. I was able to make a 124 sedan hand brake cable work.

Flav,
What are you using for CAD plating? Are you sending it out or using a home kit?

fredguaz wrote:Flav,
What are you using for CAD plating? Are you sending it out or using a home kit?

I use Hudson Plating in Vancouver BC. I am told enviro regs have made cad plating a difficult business proposition in the USA. Typically Hudson charges $125 CDN per batch, I drop off and pick-up personally though I do not why the one could not use the mail for smaller pieces. Regrettably their "bronze" color is a bit more "gold" than what the factory used.

https://hudsonplating.ca/

I am currently doing a 124 BC Coupe, here are some photos of work they just did for me..





Hudson will always accept parts that are dirty / greasy or else very small, to the best of my knowledge they have never lost anything. Sometimes I have things plated that I am going to paint, the plating gives the paint a nice surface to adhere
to...

Never tried the home process, I have been told it is not a good....any comments / experience with the home process?

Flaviaman wrote:And the same time I had decided not to let a bit of corrosion bother me and I painted the underside and refinished the suspension along with freshly plated fasteners.

Hopefully it's not completely bolted back together yet - you have the left rear brake backing plate installed on the right, & vice versa.

That little extension-arm visible on the right side of the backing plate in your photo should be on the left instead (towards the rear of the car). This little arm holds one end of the positioning spring for the e-brake cable lever (one per side of the car). If you're removing the X1/9 rear discs & reinstalling the 850 drum brakes, you'll probably want a usable e-brake too, right?

Nice job on everything so far...looking good!