Howdy from Los Osos, CA

[Strawman914]

Greetings all, this is my first post. I was the high bidder on a 1972 Fiat 124 Spider from an estate sale in the hills near New Cuyama, CA a couple of weeks ago. I had to drag it off the side of a hot-n-dusty mountain, and it needs a lot of work. It was originally yellow, then painted red, and followed by silver. It has a light blue fabric interior, which is in surprisingly good shape. The driver side seat floor pan and seat tracks are rusted, and it was hit slightly in the rear but came with bumperettes and tail lights in great shape. The previous owner also 'glassed in a front spoiler. The good news is that it is 95% complete, the top operates (but is holey), and the engine is not locked up. After draining all fluids, removing mice muck (the rear trunk was NASTY!) and blowing out/vacuuming the interior and engine bay, I put it up on my lift and made sure the suspension points are solid before I invest too much time/money. The coolant was surprisingly clean/green, the oil smelled good, the brake fluid is clear and the flexible rubber brake lines look relatively new... but the gasoline was dark/gross. My first tranche of maintenance and repairs parts from Midwest Bayless arrived on Friday, and I hope to start really digging in this upcoming weekend. After addressing the brakes (one of the plastic lines to the master cylinder was broken off, so I bought a new MC) and verifying the engine's viability, the plan is to get it driving safely before I weld in a new floor pan & tracks.

I'm a real car nut, and my fleet is varied but fully built/maintained by me. My autocross car is a metal-flared 1973 Porsche 914 into which I've shoehorned a turbocharged Subaru engine and modified 5-speed transaxle. The 2.5 liter engine is based on a 2005 Legacy GT's EJ255, with a new Stage 2 IAG shortblock, a larger turbo, injectors, an air-to-water intercooler system, and a custom dyno-tune (302 wheel horsepower). I also own two other running 914s and one parts car (my wife's stock-ish 1975 2.0 liter, and an SVX-swapped car that I plan to flip). My wife's autocross car is a 2001 Corvette with Z06 suspension, aluminum radiator and an uprated clutch; I've got a full Magnuson supercharger kit ready to be installed. My almost-finished project is a 1985 BMW 524td with a gasoline 3.0 liter M54 engine and later-model ZF 5-speed transmission, and my 1956 VW European-version Beetle body -- currently on a rotisserie for rust repairs -- will go on a highly modified IRS pan (914-based 2.0 liter Microsquirt controlled engine converted to upright, 901 5-speed transaxle, disc brakes, narrowed rear trailing arms, etc.). The VW Beetle is still really early in its transformation, and my wife says I need to finish it up before I start restoring "her" Fiat Spider. We plan to keep it mostly stock.

I've been part of 24 Hours of Lemons teams since 2008, but for the past six years hang out with a great group of guys here in San Luis Obispo county. We race two cars: a 1983 BMW 633csi (swapped 3.0 liter M54) and a 2005 Hyundai Elantra (swapped V6 and 6-speed transaxle); due to a rear-end crash on the street a few years ago that screwed up my neck, I no longer drive but serve as chief fabricator and crew chief. I've got a 30'x50' shop on the back of my property with a 4-post lift, a 2-post lift, tire machines, forklift, large heated/hydro parts washer, 16" swing lathe, milling machine, welders, etc.

[rdv]

Hi and welcome!
Great story .. but where are the pics?!

So whats your plan? Just some repairs to get it driveable? Fun car or daily driver? Full restoration or resto mod?
Any way, it sounds like a plan you have!

I'm always looking and searching the web for new examples for sale, but I must say: I missed your car! Very interested in more details.

Cheers Ralf

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I'm adding my welcome as well. You're a bit too far away for me to pop down and lend a hand, but I'm always happy to answer questions. I'm most familiar with the 1969 through early 1970 spiders.

-Bryan

[Site Owner]

Welcome Strawman! You'l find an active and friendly crowd here. Glad to have you.

[Strawman914]

Thanks folks for the kind welcome! My plan is to make it a safe and fun driver's car first, then to focus on the aesthetics. The aim is to keep it stock, although I'm not very good at resisting temptation to hotrod my cars...

I'll start a build blog and post some pictures in the coming weeks. I just placed another order with Midwest-Bayless last night after installing the master cylinder and discovering swollen-shut rear flexible brake hoses. Also ordered some "while you're in there" stuff that I can tackle when I undertake the timing belt replacement.

[rdv]

hey, good plan, good luck!
Cheers Ralf (waiting for the blog)