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Most articles written about FIAT invariably give the reader the full title of the company in Italian, well in English it is the Italian Automobile Factory Turin.
Well strange things happen, it was not my intention to write about Fiat although it is the sixth largest car manufacturer in the world, in fact I discovered one could write an article on the complex nature of the company listing all the businesses it controls, but we would soon get bored.
As a car maker it produces Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia, it also controls Ferrari and Maserati, but Fiat is better known for it’s small cars. One of the problems is that Fiat doesn’t market the Lancia brand in either Ireland or the UK, and to a degree robs us of the chance of trying the quality bread and butter cars.
At one time Fiat were known for selling cars which had a poor quality of steel and consequently rusted at a faster pace than so many other cars, also build quality was often indifferent, having said that Fiat were not on their own and I suppose we should not dwell on the problem.
The reason for writing was the arrival of a VW restored camper at Clonea, it was immaculate and with the ever ready camera we descended on the lady trying to unload, the two young daughters were not exactly helping, it turns out that this camper was a Californian import, rust free, yep not a trace, Eileen would love one of these so I left her chatting to the lady, no doubt dreaming of touring our exquisite island.
When Eileen came back to the caravan she said did you know they had a classic car over there pointing to the site they were parked on, in fact they own three or four cars, my ears pricked up, what have they got, like many women cars are not a high priority, definitely a sports car, maybe a Jaguar, my interest went down, go and have a look, out came the bike and I cycled over, next to the camper was a covered car, at this point the wife sort of recognized me and an introduction to the husband.
For some reason he didn’t want to be photographed with the car and in fairness and to protect his privacy I won’t even name him, we will just call him Rob.
Rob agreed to take the cover off, he had just come from a show in Wexford, but what was underneath the cover was really a shock, a 1981
Fiat 2000 in immaculate condition, it oozed quality and whilst I have since
kicked myself the wheels were a work of art, you might just get a glimpse in the pictures.
The car has a sort of history it like the VW was a Californian import, likewise it was rust free, however there is a drawback with these cars, minor but the paint work deteriorates with the sun, that magic word, they lose there luster.
Not that this beauty suffered from lack luster paintwork, it would seem though Rob is not a mechanic or painter by trade he appears to have magic finger’s as he resprays his own cars, the quality is true professional, he also does all the mechanical work as well, by now I was feeling like a wimp, can’t even change the oil, I asked him what he actually did for a living, he sort of makes money I reckon considerable.
You might ask what leads me to that decision, well he has a classic Porsche and wait for it- a Ferrari 308 and he does all the mechanical work on them, just tells you what writing about classic cars can get you into.
Just looking at this 2000 was enough, you can look at a car and go well that’s nice but this one nearly had me on my knees, though I doubt Rob will see this article he is the sort of man who would inspire one to greater heights, interesting without being the slightest bit boring, to be honest it was difficult to drag myself away.
Right, the Fiat 2000,
The spyder had a nineteen year run from 1966 to 1985, apart from engine updates the body remained virtually unchanged, which indicates to some extent the purity of the Italian design, it was a luxury vehicle with few competitors.
The great pity was that Fiat had decided to go for the very lucrative American market to it says somewhere that more than 75% of production went there, consequently there was and still is a great following for the spyder stateside.
Engine wise Fiat fitted a 1438cc motor and then it was upgraded to a 1756cc and eventually a 1995cc carb model, which kicked out 77bhp this was superceded by a 1995cc Bosch injection giving 99bhp, Fiat then put in a 1998cc injection giving 133bhp.
There is a little twist to this story, as always the motor was designed by Ferrari’s chief engineer, so this was a special job almost a Ferrari in sheep’s clothing, anyway it had Double overhead Camshafts, and not surprising it achieved an industry first by using re-inforced rubber belts in a mass produced car.
The specification is mouth watering, Rob’s one had white pristine leather seats, bucket of course, delayed wipers, radial ply tyres and the convertible could be locked down in 15seconds, there are four wheel disc brakes as standard plus all the other enjoyable luxuries.
Suspension was normal I guess unequal length wishbones and coil over damper at the front, at the back a very simple coil spring rear axle with a pan hard rod plus extending radius arms to stop rear axle wind up.
I was certain Rob belonged to a club, but no he preferred not to be but enjoyed going to shows, he races his cars at Mondello so they are not just for sitting in a garage.
However this man has a love for cars whether it is the beauty of design or the mechanical perfection, would you take your Ferrari engine to bits I wouldn’t even lift the bonnet.
Ted lay tedlay@gmail.com
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NOW THAT’S A BLOODY SNAKE!
Would you drive or wait? |
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TAKEN FROM THE www.route25classiccarclub web site (listed on our links section) More photos on their site.
Pat Bolger memorial Cup
This year, for the first time, there was a cup presented for the best car of the show. This cup was given to the Kilkenny club by the family of the late Pat Bolger, who died in February of this year.
The Pat Bolger Memorial Cup was awarded for the first time at the Kilkenny 2010 field day in Dansfort The cup, which was donated to the club by Pat’s family, was presented to Mr. Eamonn Foley for his 1948 Riley 12.
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Continuing our look at Japanese Classic’s I researched some of the reviews written by actual owners rather than the motoring press and it came as no surprise to find that virtually everyone expressed similar views, the sports cars the 240Z’s and the 260’s etc were loved by their owners, of course Japanese reliability is legend, and with the saloons the same results, though with a difference.
One person had owned their car for twenty odd years and found it boring, it started first time, nothing went wrong and apart from regular servicing it cost very little to keep, though there were critical comments relating to the dreaded tin worm, but what makes didn’t suffer the same problem.
The 120Y or Sunny, described as luxury in miniature, the list of items included is impressive even by today’s standards, tinted glass, cloth reclining front seats, built in head restraints, thick carpet, individual arm rests, electric clock, cigar lighter, electric screen wash and two speed wiper’s radio, heated rear window and reversing lights, yes I know we have all that and more but it comes at a price, I won’t spoil it by telling you the cost of the Sunny.
Technically one got front discs and rear drums, but they were serfvo assisted, engine wise a 4 cylinder ohv 1171cc unit producing 65bhp, twin choke Hitchi carbs, 4 speed all syncro box, independent front suspension using coils and McPherson struts, the back end semi eeiptic springs, top speed was 93mph with petrol consumption in the region of 30-32 to the gallon, and the tyres were 155×13’s
Apart from the four door you could get a two door coupe with a lift up tailgate and folding rear seat.
Having said all that there is nothing written about safety, unlike Swedish and German cars who even then were making their cars much safer, though there is an opinion that a lot has to do with the person behind the wheel, trouble is it might not be your car.
Whilst on the subject of safety I use the Callan road most of the time and of late have been tail gated by articulated lorries who think 100kmh is not fast enough, for a timid driver having the rear view mirror filled with the radiator of a truck that if you have to brake suddenly is definitely not going to stop in time frightening, as there are very few passing places what does one do?
The 140Y or Violet, it has all of the luxury’s of the 120 plus such things as steering lock, interior bonnet release, radial ply tyres and a 1428cc overhead camshaft motor, five main bearings, Nikki twin choke carb, suspension is identical to the 120 and top speed is only 1 mph more, petrol consumption 26-34mpg, once again tin rust was it’s worst enemy, otherwise is was a brilliant buy.
The Laurel 6 another offering loaded with luxury items as standard, apart from everything in the Violet, the Laurel gets quad headlamps, a cassette player, full flow ventilation and nylon facings on the upholstery, under the bonnet you get a 6 cylinder 1998cc overhead cam unit giving 100bhp, a top speed of 106mph and petrol guzzled at 25-30mpg.
The brake and suspension set up is again identical though the Laurel has 185x70HRx14 tyres, no doubt to cope with the extra power.
Body designs are almost identical the Violet being slightly larger the Sunny and the Laurel larger than the Violet.
For a difference there is a Cherry Coupe the F-11, this differs considerably from the rest of the line up in that it has a transverse engine and front wheel drive, there is a third door, well to all intents and purposes it is a lifting tailgate, with the rear seat down you get space for a 30 odd cu:ft load.
You are really spoilt with the Cherry, a rev counter, water temperature and it says fuel gauge, I presume they ran out of things to say, though it might have helped to say what sort of steering was applicable, though having driven a Datsun Estate I was often wondering which way the wheels were facing it was so light.
The normal brake set up front discs and rear drums, servo assisted but with dual circuits, suspension independent coils at the front with coils at the back with trailing arms.
Power, a 1171cc ohv unit giving 52BHP and a top speed of 93mph, tyre wise you only got 12’s but they were 155SR’s.
Of course built in tin worm, it is such a shame that so many of the early Japanese models have virtually disappeared from the classic scene, unless it was lucky to get a coating of Ziebart or similar you didn’t stand a chance of keeping it long term, well not in the UK.
Well happy motoring, until the next time regards
Ted tedlay@gmail.
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GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS THIS WEEKEND IN THE ALL IRELAND HURLING FINAL.
WE HAD A VISIT FROM THE “K-TEAM” IN DANESFORT AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO PAINT A TRACTOR BARING THE TIPP COLOURS, BLACK AND AMBER
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Are we living in the past? Or are we preserving a part of automobile history for future generations? So what are we doing to ensure that the youngster’s of today appreciate the cars and bikes of yesterday.
From what I can see very little, it is clubs like our own and the numerous clubs through out Ireland that need to nurture the youth of today to become the custodians of the past.
Do we have a youth or junior section?
If as it is said in the club magazine we are going to have monthly meetings with talks by various experts or even demonstrations, who is going to be there? Yep the fat cats of the classic car world, in other words the usual people, don’t get me wrong we need you, without your contribution there would be no club.
I will give you a scenario, you are eighteen, wish, or so and have a love of cars old cars, how do you get into the scene, very little money, little mechanical skill, perhaps a father who cannot even knock a nail in straight, like me – so where do you start.
Wow, I need a car, indeed you do, how much? Where from? What sort of car, ah it might need spare parts, without doubt, where do I get them from, all relevant questions, where do you get the answers, Internet some yes, magazines well again some, there are a few magazines for sale in Ireland though they are in my opinion over priced, but nevertheless they have plenty of pictures, but lack any practical application, sorry if somebody is offended but it is true.
We know you can buy ten or fifteen year old cars for next to nothing, provided of course the majority have not gone to the crusher in the name of progress and prosperity, but they are not classics, have computerised parts which cannot be repaired,
So how do we advise the up and coming generation? Do I hear the usual remarks, let them do what we had to, or do they want it handed to them on a plate, easily said when you have got sufficient money to indulge yourself, we to a degree grew up with some of these cars being the norm, I could change spark plugs, put on a new hose, even put in Anti-Freeze, of course battery changing was a doddle and keeping it topped up, I even managed to start the car on the handle, without breaking a thumb, checking the dash pots of the carbs, no bother, and as for the free Redex, it was almost as good as petrol.
Unfortunately that is where my mechanical abilities fade away, even at my age I would be delighted to know some of the more technical aspects, changing brake pads for instance, I had a bicycle and decided the brakes had worn down, so it was easy to pop down the bike shop and buy a new set, not a bother putting them in could do it blindfolded, of course one has to try out the latest improvement, I pedalled furiously down the road and applied the brake levers, it had no effect the bike didn’t slow, thankfully we had a slight hill which did the job, on coming to rest I looked, not a sign of the brake blocks they had flown out, I put them in upside down.
Do we as a club have the inclination or the ability to pass on our knowledge and experience, without making them pay full membership
Ted Lay. tedlay@gmail.com
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