|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 21:37:44 GMT
|
|
Not a factory built car, but a 600 body with as many original Abarth parts as I could get my hands on.
I raced it through the '80s and early '90s in the Netherlands, until my wife at the time got homesick for the USA and we moved.
I had it in storage ( with 2 of my other cars ) for about 5 years until I could afford to take a month off, to sort through my stuff load what I wanted to keep in a container, and ship it here.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 21:40:39 GMT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 21:42:56 GMT
|
But when I had it here I really couldn't afford to get back into racing yet. I had to make sure I was able to make a living first, before I blew it all on racing again... So it sat.  For a long time... |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 21:51:50 GMT
|
At some point I decided I'd better get on with it, before I got too old to be on the track. So I started to collect parts. I had a nice set of Graku split rims which take the same shells as Compomotive & Revolution. Neither one of those companies were still able to sell me the rims in the offsets I needed, but fortunately, Image wheels could. Had the centers cracktested and treated ( by a firm that builds and reconditions airplane propellers, its nice to live in a airplane town...)  I love how they look on the car.  But I also have a set of reproduction Abarth Campagnolo's  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 21:54:58 GMT
|
|
Right now the plan is to finish going through it ( I started doing that a couple of times already, but then something else happened so I had to stop working on it again )
And hopefully have it up and running for the next trackday, which is a month from now.
If I don't make it, then hopefully the one after that...
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 22:01:33 GMT
|
|
Plan is to go through it mechanically.
Check the steering, etc.
Replace what is worn out.
I already had the brake calipers rebuilt.
New brakelines, braided hoses, pads, etc.
New master cylinder.
Check the wiring.
I'm making some changes to the rear suspension.
And just swap the engine & gearbox out of the 500 into this one ( although the engine is getting pretty smokey, I might have to freshen it up...)
I don't think I'll do a lot to restore the outside, just clean and polish it.
It has earned every one of its many battlescars. ( well, all except one. It got keyed in the parkinglot at my job, right after I first started driving it...)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 22:17:34 GMT
|
|
Great stuff!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 22:26:23 GMT
|
|
I love these little cars.
Japanese cartoon had them and I always wanted one but "The Italian Job" won as mini was very cheap then.
Not now though. Keep up good work and you will get there. That's what i'm telling myself also.
I have been building my mini for over 14 years.
Cheers
Atchi
|
| |
Building roof chopped, screen raked '68 Mini with G13B 1.3 16v Gti engine with LSD, Yamaha R1 carbs. As well as mk1 Suzuki Swift Gti AWD with a turbo.
Drives PHEV Outlander but wishing my mk1 Swift Gti or mk2 CRX Vt were still with me!
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 22:28:42 GMT
|
And at the risk of sounding defensive ( which I'm not...  , let me share some thoughts on the Factory/Works built racers Vs ones that are not. ( I'm not using the term "replica" because as far as I know that is a term for artwork that was recreated by the same artist as the original, or done in the same studio, so as far as I'm concerned that does not apply...) I found this car as a neglected stock grocery getter Fiat 600 in a barn with a dirt floor. It was in really bad shape, but at least it was a real OG import Fiat of the right age, restorable but not restored, which was hard enough to find at the time... Simply put, it was the best a young man in his 20s could afford.  And besides that, I raced this car on average every other weekend for years( slalom, trackdays, etc, I even dragraced it once ) I'm not sure I would have put a Works car through the ringer like that... It is hugely important to me, because basically, I grew up with this car. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 22:31:09 GMT
|
Here are 2 pics of me with this car. Taken 25 years apart...  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 23:09:41 GMT
|
|
I must say I actually love how much rubber you have on your wheels! It looks amazing fun, which I am sure it is.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 13, 2017 23:14:10 GMT
|
Thanks man... yeah, it is. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I race with guys in their 70s, and yes they are fast. So judging from the pic I don't think you're too old.
|
| |
1987 Alfa Milano/75
1979 Alfetta Mille Miglia
1976 Alfetta GT race car
1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Rallye S
1968 Fiat 850 spider
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great to see another of these crazy wee Fiats on here. What a great story and I bet you can't wait to be back on track with it.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks... Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that... |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great little car and looking forward to reading more of your adventures with it
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
very handsome thing....shame about the ugly curse word sat infront of it! ;-) cant beat a keeper can you?! look forward to seeing the quick refresh , I'm sure it will get more involved than that.
|
| |
'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating
'80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip
'97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haha.. Here are a couple more pics, so you can get a better look at it.   |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 14, 2017 10:00:26 GMT
|
|
Nice !!
When I see your name on a thread, I am straight in there and you do not disappoint
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 14, 2017 16:35:15 GMT
|
|
Thanks Grizz.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
, let me share some thoughts on the Factory/Works built racers Vs ones that are not.
