Date:         Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:31:10 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fiat (no vanagon content)
Comments: To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com>
In-Reply-To:  <20E1F43427EB4998ACF216FC4F3EA5EF@RON>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'd love the 500 myself. I have always been enthralled with them but never
owned one. When an automotive writer asked Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi which
was the favorite car out of his vast collection, he said "the fiat 500."

Jim

>
>
> Over the years I've had a couple of Fiat 124 Spiders, and a couple of Fiat
> 500's (which resemble a Beetle that got shrunk in the wash - 2 cylinder,
> air
> cooled, rear engined).  I no longer have my Spider but still drive my 500
> around town regularly. The Spiders aren't fast by modern sports car
> standards, but are lots of fun to drive. They were actually quite advanced
> for their time (i.e. 4 wheel disc brakes, a brilliantly designed folding
> top
> that put their British competitors to shame, and of course bodywork by
> Pininfarina).  Rust can be a MAJOR problem so you will want to look it over
> carefully or have a good body shop do it. As with an old Bug, a 124 can
> have
> fatal frame rust but look flawless on the outside. Also, as I recall (and I
> may recall incorrectly), they have an interference engine, so the timing
> chain (or belt? It's been a while) should be replaced if you don't know its
> age.  Most parts are readily available online and not too expensive. 124
> Spiders don't have tremendously high resale values, so don't pay too much.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>  The Bus Depot, Inc.
>  www.busdepot.com
>  (215)  234-VWVW
>
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