Earlier this afternoon I decided that at dusk, I would take out one of my father’s latest and most precious creations, his 1970 FIAT 850 Spider ‘Abarth’. We’ve owned it for quite some time and with its build nearly at completion, I thought it was a time to see what all the fuss was about.
The story behind this car is so much deeper, this car was my father’s first car. In 1970, in a small town of Massafra Italy, my Grandfather welcomed home my Dad with a gift, a gift of freedom and a gift that has never stopped giving (that’s him in the picture above). At the ripe age of 21, after completion of his compulsory service in the Italian Militare, my father began his youth driving the most amazing roads of Europe, covering thousands of kilometres, continents and women! This very car moulded him into the man and father he is today.
I grew up captivated by stories about this car, dreaming of the day I’d have my license and a 2 seat roadster. The places I’d go, the hearts I would break… and here I am driving the new improved Version 2.0!
Maybe this is the right time for a bit of background on this Fiat. This is no ‘ordinary’ Fiat 850. It’s got a custom sub-frame with double wishbone suspension, Bilstein coilovers, Willwood brakes front and rear, a completely built motor top to bottom! It’s one of the most elaborate of its kind in the world today.
I decided a quick drive and photos would be in order! To truly bond with a car it’s not about time or distance behind the wheel. It’s about opening yourself completely to it, listening to the sounds and feeling the vibrations. All these sensations bring you to the point where you can imagine the injectors spraying the fuel for combustion, putting you into a moment where your imagination is flying through the mechanics of the motor.
Cruising top down at 70km/ph you almost forget its size, it felt so solid! The motor revs so strong and it’s responsive. The induction sound just insulting, it felt like it could pull me right out of my seat and into the engine bay, pure bliss! This is motoring.
Moments later, downshifting to 2nd gear… it stalled. Whilst still in motion and with a drop of clutch I restarted the Muira green beast, but… alas it stalled again. I came to a stop and gave it few ticks over, nothing. With a cheeky grin on my face I pat the steering wheel and say, “you did well…”
Turns out the electronic fuel pump decided to be ‘fuel economic’. There will always be teething problems on such an elaborate build… but for a moment I got to experience a million childhood stories.
Getting a tow from the ALL STARS Maloo.