I can't thank you enough for posting these retro videos. They're even more fun to watch than the modern videos. I can't explain it. Even though cars have come a long way, it just seems like these older cars had more emotion and character to them than today's computerized machines.
One of my all time favorite cars that I've owned was my '73' Fiat Sport Coupe. Also a Farina design, with the Lampredi engineered 1600 cc DOHC four cylinder. In 1973, the car had a five speed transmission! At 90,000 plus miles, the rust issue became so bad, that it was unsafe to drive, but loved that little red coupe!
Neat thing about these lil cars is that there is an incredible cult following, so there are virtually limitless parts and upgrades available. I helped a friend restore a 79 Spider 2000, and we had n/p finding everything we needed to make it a really fun and reliable sports car.
These Fiat Spiders were always great looking cars. Pininfarina was such an artist. There were a bunch of these buzzing around Long Beach in the ‘80s and the top was *always* down!
By 1982, they had solved the rust problem (rust proofing, fender liners) and installed leather interiors. They were not bad cars, but the suspension was raised to meet US headlight requirements. With a lowered suspension and a thicker sway bar in the front (and adding one in the read) they could handle pretty well. The Spider was in production for about 17 years, which is quite a run for any car.
+Robert Bell They also gained Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection which really improved performance and drivability. One reason they got so many upgrades was the Italian Lira was damn near worthless and in order to improve sales profits they loaded up their cars with power windows, A/C and leather. Honestly for as how old the designs were, they were pretty good cars toward the end of their sales in this country. They had a few problems, like the seat breakage issue, but that wasn't impossible to deal with.
Oldbmwr100rs I loved my 1981 model. And the Bosch injection was very reliable and easy to work on. My Mother had a 1970 model, which rusted in the showroom. Sadly, Fiat today is pushing a re-worked Miata as the new "124 Spider. And it seems like Fiat is trying to sell itself off to some other car company at this point - and getting out of the small car business entirely.
***** Yeah, it's really sad all that's happened. Fiat has been lost for too long, their cars are ugly for the most part, and the new spider, well at least being mostly mazda it'll be hopefully reliable. It's getting hard to find a decent old 124 anymore, especially considering how many were sold here. And the X/19 is insanely rare now, haven't seen one in years.
+Oldbmwr100rs +Robert Bell Fiats dont sell well in the US because of perceived problems that stem back to the 70`s (which cars werent a problem in the 70`s!), but they are very popular in Europe & always have been, especially the small models which sell in the millions.
MrPabsUk Fiat didn't sell well in the US because of their importer, especially by the early 80's. For a while it seemed there were several importers handling different models and not even using the Fiat name! I was quite sorry to see them as well as Alfa Romeo leave the US market. I'm sure it was importing restrictions, crash and emissions regulations and at the time the economy wasn't friendly to limited import cars when the Japanese were dominating the US market.
Of course someone, a German I believe, in the comments below just HAD to claim that, "Beer isn't Italian, it's German". In the first place that's just not true, just because the Germans consume beer like the rest of the world consumes water doesn't mean they invented beer any more then it means that we invented water lol! Beer has been around since at least 10,000 B.C. in ancient Mesopotamia; in the region of southwest Asia; In the second place, the announcer, Mr. Davis wasn't even talking about who invented beer, he was talking about how great the combination of beer and pizza are when consumed together.
In the US, the 1.8 litres aspirated engine produced 90hp and the 2.0 litres one 105 hp (in Europe the 1.8 litres produced 114hp). The US turbocharged 2.0 litres engine produced 120 hp, while the 2.0 litres volumex (supercharged) in Europe produced 135 hp. The same engine, 2.0 litres, but naturally aspired, reached 130hp in the Ritmo 130 TC Abarth.
I still own a 1980 Fiat 2000 Spider. It used to be my summertime daily driver until about 4 years ago when I bought a 2006 Mazda MX5 Miata and since then the Spider sits mostly unused beneath the carport. The body is still in excellent shape due to biannual Rust Check the the rubbers on all the underpinnings are rotten and I am tired of the constant repairs to keep this old classic on the road. It really is a pretty car and with the storage space (tiny back seats)behind the front seats quite useful. But the handling of the Miata is just so good, like riding on rails, that I really no longer feel like driving the Fiat but it is not worth selling this car to someone unless i could be assured that it would be repaired. I even offered it to my local college which teaches automotive mechanics etc., with the reputation of the Fiat (Fix It Again Tony) and the Bosch fuel injection which cured Fiats bad winter starting reputation, you'd think it would be an excellent car for students to learn on!! They are not as trouble prone as they are made out to be as long as standard maintenance is followed. Electrics and transmissions are a problem.
Doug Mare I have a '78 right now. Love that car. Guy wanted $10,000 for the car initially. Couldn't get it sold. I got it for $4,000. You have to be willing to work on these little cuties if you're going to own one.
I drove a 1979 Fiat 2000 a few days ago, and I must say, it's still an excellent car even 40 years later. The only downside was that the one I drove had an ancient 3 speed GM automatic transmission, and California emissions.
These old videos are great! I've been literally watching MW my whole lift (I'm 30). I'd love to see some old Porsche and BMW videos and hopeful the car I was driven home in the hospital in, an 83 BMW 528e.
AJP everytime I read a comment on mw it's also at the exact moment in the video lol he slammed on brakes I finished reading... cue John with the pull up to the left lololol
We have an '80 Spider. Wife's choice...not mine...but she's grown on me. Still slowly making her are own. Still cosmetic issues to deal with...but once we're driving her on a scenic cruise, just doesn't matter. Hoping to take her down to the mountains of Arkansas this April.
+TEDdotcom I'd also see the review of the SAAB 900 turbo, but only the one with the engine and transaxle that is backwards and sideways when compared to other cars.
Those little Spiders have always been my favorite Fiat's, just beautiful little cars... the less said about the current Fiat's, or even worse the Fiat's pretending to be Jeeps, the better.
wow.. caught two things on this video. The spider never had rear drums. it always had discs all the way around and if you notice it's approach through the cones, it hit something. The nose is all beaten up.
I own one I bought from Joe's Fiat in Redwood City , California 3 years ago. What a blast to drive, and owning a '77 since 78 and the Turbo, I could say that there sure is a difference. Much quicker than the normal breathing Spider, and fuel injection really makes a difference. I was so disappointed in the new Spiders. Not nearly the personality of the older models, and the new one , like all the other new 2 seaters, don't have any room behind the drivers seat. With the top down, my wife and I could really load it up with groceries and such. I carefully loaded a big recliner in it and carried it 10 miles to my mother-in-laws. Cant do that with the new one.
Yep, the original 124/2000 was a lot more practical, but of course it is larger. The folks at Mazda sorta goofed making the Miata so tiny.....just three more inches of wheelbase would have meant six ft+ drivers could be comfortable, and the trunk could have been more useful. An original 124 could be used to tour around the country, but the new 124 (Fiata) is more of a toy or commuter car. I owned a 1973 124 and two Miatas, and if the 124 could be brought back with a 180 hp engine, I would love to have one.
These are just great! Love the old reviews and more especially the cars. Just wondering if you happen to have a Fiat X/19 review tucked away somewhere? Thanks alot and keep them coming!
Thank you so much for uploading these retro videos, they are absolutely brilliant. Staying with the Italian theme, is there a road test of the Alfa Romeo GTV6?
Reliability? Fiat? Performed flawlessly? How many miles did it have on it, and how long did your tests take? Must have gotten it after the initial bugs had been worked out, but before the gremlins found their way in.
4:00 in I notice it is rusting already. Sadly, herein lies the rub on the old Italian cars. Most were rusting before they were paid off. Some, caught the tin worm on the boat here. hence there are none around anymore in snowbelt states.
That appears to be a scratch in the paint. By 1980, Fiat had addressed the rust problems, and the later spiders (and Pinnifarina Spiders, after Fiat pulled out of the US market) didn't rust as much - in fact hardly at all. I had a 1981 model, and it certainly wasn't rusty when I owned it in the 1990's. The 1970's models, on the other hand, are as you describe. Once again, too little, too late. Car makers get it right just as they discontinue the product. My 1981 stickered for over $11,000 (!!!) which was a lot of dough back then. The turbo here was over $15,000. You could buy a fully loaded Cadillac back then for less.
Look at the clip at 4:10. There's a big dent in the hood and the bumper is bent as well. When I went back and watched the rest i looks like you guys tried not to show that part of the car except for that part. Did you guys wreck Fiat's car? ;)
landyachtfan79 it was more than turbo hood scoops. I saw it too. Lower front right hood. Like they ran it under something. Besides, the turbo is under the right rear side of the hood. What Mike saw was some bad wrinkling in the hood.
My 82 Turbo is very much loved, but now I have a problem with the engine cutting off when the boost gauge hits the red region. other than that guiseppi runs fantastically. ANY IDEAS? I can't imagine a more fun car to drive. Additionally I have owned a 77 since 78 and it still is a terrific car. In the 38 years 148 K miles it has been incredibly dependable, never leaving me stranded in all those years.
The pop off valve on the turbo unit is sticking shut at full boost and overboosting. Get under the car and work it loose so it can work correctly. Engine cutting off is a safety against over boosting the PSI.
@@jeffinwisconsin thank you, but to late, I took it to one of the last guys that work on Fiats in Santa Cruz ca area and after $2000 the car runs like crap now, but it doesn shut off. Not sure the turbo even work anymore. I am so depressed!! cause I love the car . No one around to work on it that knows what they are doing. I will have to get it smogged this summer and am sure it wont pass running like this.
@@Tony-hx2fj Sorry to hear. We have a good exotic car sales group in milwaukee that used to race fiats in the 70's and 80's so they are good. The will build old Fiat motors to race specs on request. I can't imagine what they did to yours.. Love mine as well. It would be nice to find a old retired Fiat mechanic, keep at it you may find one. Try social media and forums. If it just doesn't have any guts the problem could be the distributor advance pickup (common due to age) and or it was timed wrong - these are just wild guesses. If they were idiots they could have messed with the vacuum hoses and relays that protect against overboost - hopefully not. Best of luck! Don't give up!
@@jeffinwisconsin One of the many reasons I regret living in Californai,, they are so anti classic car, unless you are weathy and could afford the Concours Di Elegance type cars. Hard to believe that I still have to get my '77 and '82 smogged every 2 years while the tree huggers sit like vultures waitnig for it to have trouble passing. Very , very limited classic car network here. I would consider moving but I built my home in 1976 and it is too special to me to abandon. I wii try to find the last Fiat Alfa mechanic as I heard he is a courier to one of the local parts stores. Good idea,, thanks.
Legend Industries, the company that they mentioned which did the turbocharging, were working on a twin-turbo DeLorean. Sadly, it never made to production.
My dad had a couple 1970s Fiat 126s, which I guess is what this car is, despite them not calling it by that name. I remember the later 70s model from when I was a kid, but I never saw the early 70s one other than in pictures. As I recall, he thought the early 70s car had better power (the later models were increasingly choked by emissions). Either would be a very cool car to have today. I actually saw one a week ago, but it looked very modified. I'm always surprised when this show complains about lack of power steering. I'd think a group of car enthusiasts in the early 80s was used to not having that. Sports cars are better without it. Maybe they were just paranoid that the audience wouldn't like it as much as they did.
I still have my 1977 Fiat spider.. and a 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. While the Abarth is faster, handles better, and stops a lot quicker. The spider is more fun.
Good EYE! But that looks more like a generic "Check Battery" light more than an actual Volt Meter. By the time that light goes on, it's usually too late; and you're halfway between Arizona and Nevada! "Hello; Triple A? LOL!
Hello all Fiat lovers. I've owned six different Fiats over the years. In order of first to latest: '77 131, '81 Brava, '74 128 wagon, '81 Strada, '82 Strada, and my personal favorite and still owned '75 124 Sport Coupe.The specs on this car surprise me a little. My '75 124 Sport Coupe with older 1756 engine and Weber carb had 4 wheel disc brakes. Did Fiat change back to drums in the rear on it's last models sold in the states? Or is this commentater mistaken, saying this Spider had drums in the rear? Curious, thanks, and Peace! to all from Syracuse, NY, USA.
That would be fun. A Japanese car with an Italian engine and an Italian car (with a Japanese turbo). I had a 1973 124 and it was nice, but slow. The angle of the steering wheel is wrong, always complained about by the motoring press and drivers back in the day. The easy fold top on the 124 is one of its great features. The press at the time would say, "why can't the British make a top like this?" 🙂🤔
Is that rust already on the trunk? HAHAHA. I had one of these without trubo and the battery leaked and the shelf wore through and the battery rocked. I don't miss these cars or the technology at all.
If a tiny light car is pulling to the left during braking, it's probably from the drivers weight one way or another.I wouldn't mind, i wouldn't use the brakes much.
Fiat should have found some way to get this back into production, and I mean the original design, not the Miata-based one. It's a decent enough car, and if I had the chance, I'd buy one, but it would still be nice to see an update to the original, just minus the quality control issues...
+Buelligan88 Take an Abarth 500 for a drive. Mine has 30k,is three years old,fast,AND trouble free. JDPower just listed the 2013 Fiat 500 as a FIVE Star car in terms of reliability. 1982 was 34 years ago,Fiats are much better today...and NO Soviet sourced sheet metal..
Gia Carangi utolsó autója is ilyen volt, csak piros színben de világos tetővel,és volt rá szerelve csomagtartó hátul. Valószínűleg ez a kocsi már nincs meg, mert az már kiderült volna. Most sokat érne, még rossz állapotban is.
Another example of a beautiful car, fun to drive, but a nightmare to maintain. If the electrics didn't fail, the fenders would fall off from rust. Very expensive to keep these things running, back in the day. Fiat just couldn't make their cars reliable -- common to many Italian manufacturers, unfortunately. Lots of soul, very beautiful, but don't rely on them to get you from point-A to point-B.
You've clearly never owned one. We had nine in the family over the years. Engines were extremely reliable, easy to work on, easy to upgrade, parts plentiful and cheap. Rust was a problem for the 124 series and pretty much all cars back then. Handling was fantastic, top sealed nicely. Brit sports cars were prehistoric while the 124 had an aluminum-head, belt-driven twin-overhead cam engine, 5-speed trans, full disc brakes, front and rear anti-roll bars, and a usable back seat.
LMacNeill I've got a '78 124 non-turbo right now. Have had for a couple years. Car originated in Texas. Found it's way to Breckenridge, Co. I bought it in Arvada, Co. It's now back in Texas (Houston area). Minor rust. Engine is strong (97,000 mi). Redid some of interior. Intend to do more. Have had some maintenance experience with the car. It isn't that bad. You have to be either willing to work on the car yourself or have a decent relationship with a mechanic. I do all my own work. Love this little car! Interesting to work on, a blast to drive.
In what year does John Davis stop pointing out that a car is missing a voltmeter and oil pressure gauge? He is literally the only person I've ever heard complain that a car is missing them.
I know, really! It gets kind of annoying after watching a few of these videos. Many cars don't have them, and a lot of drivers don't even pay attention to them. Plus warning lights may be more effective at warning drivers that there's a problem
I love watching these old videos. I remember virtually all of them when they were first out. Even this one when I was 16. Too bad Fiat to this day can't seem to get it right enough to make a showing of good, reliable, vehicles in the US. Fiat is about to leave again. 30 years later and it's still the worst reliability of any automaker , tying Land Rover. Now only 1 vehicle offering in the US the 500X. Soon to once again disappear. Yet Fiat infused so much money into Jeep that the new Wrangler has surpassed the Ford F150 as the most popular vehicle in the US. FCA is dismantling to now be called ......" Stellantis, Merger of France's PSA and Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler. It includes Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and others. The company is re-engineering its strategy in China."
Il modello turbo fu fatto in pochi esemplari apposta per gli USA ! Infatti non c'era questo motore in Europa ! Ad oggi penso siano rimasti pochi esemplari ! ✌️🇮🇹🤗
@decembrist Plus two World Sportscar Championships with the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo. Those were even more impressive. A turbocharged, 440hp, 1.4 liter engine and a 530 hp 1.7 liter engine, without intercooler, capable to last for 24h races in 1980-81 was something out of this world.
I can't thank you enough for posting these retro videos. They're even more fun to watch than the modern videos.
I can't explain it. Even though cars have come a long way, it just seems like these older cars had more emotion and character to them than today's computerized machines.
They have soul. Cars haven't had soul since at least the early 2000s. :-)
I can never get enough of these love it. It's amazing how far cars have come, but I really enjoy watching these old episodes.
One of my all time favorite cars that I've owned was my '73' Fiat Sport Coupe. Also a Farina design, with the Lampredi engineered 1600 cc DOHC four cylinder. In 1973, the car had a five speed transmission! At 90,000 plus miles, the rust issue became so bad, that it was unsafe to drive, but loved that little red coupe!
Neat thing about these lil cars is that there is an incredible cult following, so there are virtually limitless parts and upgrades available. I helped a friend restore a 79 Spider 2000, and we had n/p finding everything we needed to make it a really fun and reliable sports car.
These Fiat Spiders were always great looking cars. Pininfarina was such an artist. There were a bunch of these buzzing around Long Beach in the ‘80s and the top was *always* down!
80s and - mid 90s
Tom Tjaarda, working for Pininfarina, styled the car
I had one for many years. No reliability issues. Never a single problem. Sold it when I got married. Should have kept it stashed away instead.
By 1982, they had solved the rust problem (rust proofing, fender liners) and installed leather interiors. They were not bad cars, but the suspension was raised to meet US headlight requirements. With a lowered suspension and a thicker sway bar in the front (and adding one in the read) they could handle pretty well. The Spider was in production for about 17 years, which is quite a run for any car.
+Robert Bell They also gained Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection which really improved performance and drivability. One reason they got so many upgrades was the Italian Lira was damn near worthless and in order to improve sales profits they loaded up their cars with power windows, A/C and leather. Honestly for as how old the designs were, they were pretty good cars toward the end of their sales in this country. They had a few problems, like the seat breakage issue, but that wasn't impossible to deal with.
Oldbmwr100rs
I loved my 1981 model. And the Bosch injection was very reliable and easy to work on. My Mother had a 1970 model, which rusted in the showroom.
Sadly, Fiat today is pushing a re-worked Miata as the new "124 Spider. And it seems like Fiat is trying to sell itself off to some other car company at this point - and getting out of the small car business entirely.
***** Yeah, it's really sad all that's happened. Fiat has been lost for too long, their cars are ugly for the most part, and the new spider, well at least being mostly mazda it'll be hopefully reliable. It's getting hard to find a decent old 124 anymore, especially considering how many were sold here. And the X/19 is insanely rare now, haven't seen one in years.
+Oldbmwr100rs +Robert Bell Fiats dont sell well in the US because of perceived problems that stem back to the 70`s (which cars werent a problem in the 70`s!), but they are very popular in Europe & always have been, especially the small models which sell in the millions.
MrPabsUk Fiat didn't sell well in the US because of their importer, especially by the early 80's. For a while it seemed there were several importers handling different models and not even using the Fiat name! I was quite sorry to see them as well as Alfa Romeo leave the US market. I'm sure it was importing restrictions, crash and emissions regulations and at the time the economy wasn't friendly to limited import cars when the Japanese were dominating the US market.
Of course someone, a German I believe, in the comments below just HAD to claim that, "Beer isn't Italian, it's German". In the first place that's just not true, just because the Germans consume beer like the rest of the world consumes water doesn't mean they invented beer any more then it means that we invented water lol! Beer has been around since at least 10,000 B.C. in ancient Mesopotamia; in the region of southwest Asia; In the second place, the announcer, Mr. Davis wasn't even talking about who invented beer, he was talking about how great the combination of beer and pizza are when consumed together.
This is a great design by Tom Tjaarda who also designed the classic DeTomaso Pantera.
In the US, the 1.8 litres aspirated engine produced 90hp and the 2.0 litres one 105 hp (in Europe the 1.8 litres produced 114hp).
The US turbocharged 2.0 litres engine produced 120 hp, while the 2.0 litres volumex (supercharged) in Europe produced 135 hp.
The same engine, 2.0 litres, but naturally aspired, reached 130hp in the Ritmo 130 TC Abarth.
I have an 82 Turbo and love, love, love it!!!!
I still own a 1980 Fiat 2000 Spider. It used to be my summertime daily driver until about 4 years ago when I bought a 2006 Mazda MX5 Miata and since then the Spider sits mostly unused beneath the carport. The body is still in excellent shape due to biannual Rust Check the the rubbers on all the underpinnings are rotten and I am tired of the constant repairs to keep this old classic on the road. It really is a pretty car and with the storage space (tiny back seats)behind the front seats quite useful. But the handling of the Miata is just so good, like riding on rails, that I really no longer feel like driving the Fiat but it is not worth selling this car to someone unless i could be assured that it would be repaired. I even offered it to my local college which teaches automotive mechanics etc., with the reputation of the Fiat (Fix It Again Tony) and the Bosch fuel injection which cured Fiats bad winter starting reputation, you'd think it would be an excellent car for students to learn on!! They are not as trouble prone as they are made out to be as long as standard maintenance is followed. Electrics and transmissions are a problem.
otto Vonostrovo wanna sell it?
I had a '78 non-turbo 124 Spider. To this day it remains one of the best cars I've ever owned. Shame the prices are climbing so rapidly.
Doug Mare I have a '78 right now. Love that car. Guy wanted $10,000 for the car initially. Couldn't get it sold. I got it for $4,000. You have to be willing to work on these little cuties if you're going to own one.
Do you guys have a Fiat X1/9 retro review?
I drove a 1979 Fiat 2000 a few days ago, and I must say, it's still an excellent car even 40 years later. The only downside was that the one I drove had an ancient 3 speed GM automatic transmission, and California emissions.
Fiat Spider Turbo is best classic car italian
These old videos are great! I've been literally watching MW my whole lift (I'm 30). I'd love to see some old Porsche and BMW videos and hopeful the car I was driven home in the hospital in, an 83 BMW 528e.
"Pull to the left" on an obvious left camber road....
AJP everytime I read a comment on mw it's also at the exact moment in the video lol he slammed on brakes I finished reading... cue John with the pull up to the left lololol
Maybe he means the lack of power steering
@@BIGGIEDEVIL Or all the weight of just the test driver on the left
We have an '80 Spider. Wife's choice...not mine...but she's grown on me. Still slowly making her are own. Still cosmetic issues to deal with...but once we're driving her on a scenic cruise, just doesn't matter. Hoping to take her down to the mountains of Arkansas this April.
Love these retro reviews. Keep it up!
Please do the Saab 900 Turbo, First and second gen Camry and the Pontiac 6000. Thanks!
+TEDdotcom
I'd also see the review of the SAAB 900 turbo, but only the one with the engine and transaxle that is backwards and sideways when compared to other cars.
These old Fiat Spiders, I still see them around on the street today.
Those little Spiders have always been my favorite Fiat's, just beautiful little cars... the less said about the current Fiat's, or even worse the Fiat's pretending to be Jeeps, the better.
From a retro point of view, i like them.And with that comes knowing they are not reliable, even the new ones.
Thanks a bunch for uploading all these great videos Motorweek!
May I suggest a Saab 900 turbo review?
Thank you.
That's on the short list
Perhaps a test on the first generation Honda Accord LX hatchback?
itsmegp46 The first gen was before the show started airing, but the did test a gen 2 sedan.
+itsmegp46 they didn't start doing the road test reviews on Motorweek until 1982, the last year of the first generation Honda Accord was built in 1981
Bellissima ! In total colore fa una grande figura ! Fiat 124 spyder , un'opera d'arte ! ✌️🇮🇹🤗
wow.. caught two things on this video. The spider never had rear drums. it always had discs all the way around and if you notice it's approach through the cones, it hit something. The nose is all beaten up.
What was that John? Pizza and beer?
Made my night hearing the last little quip there at 6:19!
I own one I bought from Joe's Fiat in Redwood City , California 3 years ago. What a blast to drive, and owning a '77 since 78 and the Turbo, I could say that there sure is a difference. Much quicker than the normal breathing Spider, and fuel injection really makes a difference. I was so disappointed in the new Spiders. Not nearly the personality of the older models, and the new one , like all the other new 2 seaters, don't have any room behind the drivers seat. With the top down, my wife and I could really load it up with groceries and such. I carefully loaded a big recliner in it and carried it 10 miles to my mother-in-laws. Cant do that with the new one.
Yep, the original 124/2000 was a lot more practical, but of course it is larger. The folks at Mazda sorta goofed making the Miata so tiny.....just three more inches of wheelbase would have meant six ft+ drivers could be comfortable, and the trunk could have been more useful. An original 124 could be used to tour around the country, but the new 124 (Fiata) is more of a toy or commuter car. I owned a 1973 124 and two Miatas, and if the 124 could be brought back with a 180 hp engine, I would love to have one.
These are just great! Love the old reviews and more especially the cars.
Just wondering if you happen to have a Fiat X/19 review tucked away somewhere?
Thanks alot and keep them coming!
Happy to say we do have the X19. We'll try to get it ready soon
That was a quick response! Thanks again! Looking forward to it!
Thank you so much for uploading these retro videos, they are absolutely brilliant. Staying with the Italian theme, is there a road test of the Alfa Romeo GTV6?
We have that
***** I would LOVE to see the first Milano, myself!!!!
Anything Lancia would be interesting to see.
FIAT as in Fix it Again Turbo
These definitely have 4 wheel discs. Where did this guy get his info from?!
I agree! Mine has 4 wheel discs!!
Was about to post the same...
Some of them had drum brakes on the rear.
4 wheel disc was an optional feature.
Awesome job on these retro episodes! Wondering if you have any for the g60 corrado or the 85 celica gts (not supra)
Turbo 2000 sounds like a name that Homer Simpson would have come up with
Do you have a review on the MR2 Spyder?
Reliability? Fiat? Performed flawlessly? How many miles did it have on it, and how long did your tests take? Must have gotten it after the initial bugs had been worked out, but before the gremlins found their way in.
Who removed the rear disc brakes? The 124 Spider was never made as front disc / rear drum brakes.
Rust spots on the back end?
4:00 in I notice it is rusting already. Sadly, herein lies the rub on the old Italian cars. Most were rusting before they were paid off. Some, caught the tin worm on the boat here. hence there are none around anymore in snowbelt states.
That appears to be a scratch in the paint. By 1980, Fiat had addressed the rust problems, and the later spiders (and Pinnifarina Spiders, after Fiat pulled out of the US market) didn't rust as much - in fact hardly at all. I had a 1981 model, and it certainly wasn't rusty when I owned it in the 1990's. The 1970's models, on the other hand, are as you describe.
Once again, too little, too late. Car makers get it right just as they discontinue the product. My 1981 stickered for over $11,000 (!!!) which was a lot of dough back then. The turbo here was over $15,000. You could buy a fully loaded Cadillac back then for less.
A beautiful looking car.
God, I want one, with a modern turbo and ecu. Modernized, it would be a beast
Look at the clip at 4:10. There's a big dent in the hood and the bumper is bent as well. When I went back and watched the rest i looks like you guys tried not to show that part of the car except for that part. Did you guys wreck Fiat's car? ;)
Hood scoops for the Turbo.......HELLO!!!!!
landyachtfan79 it was more than turbo hood scoops. I saw it too. Lower front right hood. Like they ran it under something. Besides, the turbo is under the right rear side of the hood. What Mike saw was some bad wrinkling in the hood.
I owned a 1975 with an 1800 and had more fun driving it than my 2008 corvette. Can drive the fiat at its limit without getting arrested.
You can install a Rover 3,5V8 in the 124
Great videos as always, Motorweek. Any chance of a first gen Taurus SHO?
You can find it on RUclips someone has it uploaded .
Just happen to have that ready to go. I'll try to get it on tomorrow.
@Demetrius, I found a preview of an SHO, but not a full review.
***** Thanks! I look forward to that.
The preview is all I have too. I'll look for a full test but I think preview might be it for first gen.
***** Thanks again! :)
Never mentioned 4 on the floor, aluminium engine, 4 valves per cylinder,over head cams etc.
My 82 Turbo is very much loved, but now I have a problem with the engine cutting off when the boost gauge hits the red region. other than that guiseppi runs fantastically. ANY IDEAS? I can't imagine a more fun car to drive. Additionally I have owned a 77 since 78 and it still is a terrific car. In the 38 years 148 K miles it has been incredibly dependable, never leaving me stranded in all those years.
The pop off valve on the turbo unit is sticking shut at full boost and overboosting. Get under the car and work it loose so it can work correctly. Engine cutting off is a safety against over boosting the PSI.
@@jeffinwisconsin thank you, but to late, I took it to one of the last guys that work on Fiats in Santa Cruz ca area and after $2000 the car runs like crap now, but it doesn shut off. Not sure the turbo even work anymore. I am so depressed!! cause I love the car . No one around to work on it that knows what they are doing. I will have to get it smogged this summer and am sure it wont pass running like this.
@@Tony-hx2fj Sorry to hear. We have a good exotic car sales group in milwaukee that used to race fiats in the 70's and 80's so they are good. The will build old Fiat motors to race specs on request. I can't imagine what they did to yours.. Love mine as well. It would be nice to find a old retired Fiat mechanic, keep at it you may find one. Try social media and forums. If it just doesn't have any guts the problem could be the distributor advance pickup (common due to age) and or it was timed wrong - these are just wild guesses. If they were idiots they could have messed with the vacuum hoses and relays that protect against overboost - hopefully not. Best of luck! Don't give up!
@@jeffinwisconsin One of the many reasons I regret living in Californai,, they are so anti classic car, unless you are weathy and could afford the Concours Di Elegance type cars. Hard to believe that I still have to get my '77 and '82 smogged every 2 years while the tree huggers sit like vultures waitnig for it to have trouble passing. Very , very limited classic car network here. I would consider moving but I built my home in 1976 and it is too special to me to abandon. I wii try to find the last Fiat Alfa mechanic as I heard he is a courier to one of the local parts stores. Good idea,, thanks.
@@Tony-hx2fj Best of luck. Oh my god on testing classic cars. A good warning for the rest of the country. Unbelievable. You can't fix stupid.
Here's a MotorWeek Retro Review of the Fiat Spider Turbo from 1982.
Legend Industries, the company that they mentioned which did the turbocharging, were working on a twin-turbo DeLorean. Sadly, it never made to production.
My dad had a couple 1970s Fiat 126s, which I guess is what this car is, despite them not calling it by that name.
I remember the later 70s model from when I was a kid, but I never saw the early 70s one other than in pictures. As I recall, he thought the early 70s car had better power (the later models were increasingly choked by emissions). Either would be a very cool car to have today. I actually saw one a week ago, but it looked very modified.
I'm always surprised when this show complains about lack of power steering. I'd think a group of car enthusiasts in the early 80s was used to not having that. Sports cars are better without it. Maybe they were just paranoid that the audience wouldn't like it as much as they did.
I still have my 1977 Fiat spider.. and a 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. While the Abarth is faster, handles better, and stops a lot quicker. The spider is more fun.
No 0-60 but a "500 ft test"? What was that? Also I was alive then OK- Italian beer?! Must be a Maryland thing?
I had a 1970 Fiat 124 Spider. Loved/hated it. It had many mechanical/electrical problems. Can anyone tell me if the 1980's versions were any better?
It says it lacks a voltmeter but isnt there one in the tach at 3:16
Good EYE! But that looks more like a generic "Check Battery" light more than an actual Volt Meter. By the time that light goes on, it's usually too late; and you're halfway between Arizona and Nevada! "Hello; Triple A? LOL!
That's a light, not a gauge
Hi! Do you guys perhaps have a review of the Porsche 914 to upload? And also great review of a great Fiat!
914 was before our time sadly
Oh well. Keep uploading these old reviews, I like them a lot!
Was the car damaged in testing? The last slalom showing the front looks like the hood is dented.
he smashed it wit a hamma
Car is damaged from beginning. Effective camera work and editing masking somebodys fuckup.
Yes, still looks GREAT!
I had a 1974 124 Spider
Now this is a rare gem :)
I love these fiats! I wish they would ressurect this model.
+GripHobby They have!
They have. 2017 model based on a Miata frame?
Hello all Fiat lovers. I've owned six different Fiats over the years. In order of first to latest: '77 131, '81 Brava, '74 128 wagon, '81 Strada, '82 Strada, and my personal favorite and still owned '75 124 Sport Coupe.The specs on this car surprise me a little. My '75 124 Sport Coupe with older 1756 engine and Weber carb had 4 wheel disc brakes. Did Fiat change back to drums in the rear on it's last models sold in the states? Or is this commentater mistaken, saying this Spider had drums in the rear? Curious, thanks, and Peace! to all from Syracuse, NY, USA.
Easy to fix I was factory trained before they folded up
FIAT= Fix It Again, Tony!
not so, I own a 77 that I have owned since 78 and it has been much more dependable than american cars of the same age/
These classic spiders can last 300,000 miles or more without major engine repair. Definitely one of the most reliable Italian cars
just be sure to do the timing belt every 20 to 25 thousand miles and you are golden. The twin cam is a tough little engine.
*Has Fiat 500, can confirm driving position 32 years later...*
Lol
This particular example was the most unfortunate color from this era IMHO. This car had a wonderful silver, black, green, blue and red.
It's like it's pre-faded from the factory. The brown accents don't help, either.
I'd like to see a comparison of this and the new one.
That would be fun. A Japanese car with an Italian engine and an Italian car (with a Japanese turbo). I had a 1973 124 and it was nice, but slow. The angle of the steering wheel is wrong, always complained about by the motoring press and drivers back in the day. The easy fold top on the 124 is one of its great features. The press at the time would say, "why can't the British make a top like this?" 🙂🤔
4:03 Taunt??
He said it had rear drum brakes lol wrong 4 wheel disc brakes buddy!
If it is possible, please upload diesel reviews. :)
Is that rust already on the trunk? HAHAHA. I had one of these without trubo and the battery leaked and the shelf wore through and the battery rocked. I don't miss these cars or the technology at all.
Where's the 0-60mph information?!
It's 8 seconds or so.
Yep. The 500 ft times would be close, since it was going 100kph/62mph
If a tiny light car is pulling to the left during braking, it's probably from the drivers weight one way or another.I wouldn't mind, i wouldn't use the brakes much.
Fiat should have found some way to get this back into production, and I mean the original design, not the Miata-based one. It's a decent enough car, and if I had the chance, I'd buy one, but it would still be nice to see an update to the original, just minus the quality control issues...
It has a taunt rear end?
I. WANT. This. Car! Loving the TURBO! Where can I get this exact Year/Model? Anyone?
We have one we are getting ready to sell.
Matt Wright : This Turbo model?
Please provide details, photos, ....
Yes 1982 black with the gold pinstripe tan interior and tan top.
I will take pics this weekend.
How can you make a FIAT even a bigger POS? Put a turbo on it.
+Buelligan88 Take an Abarth 500 for a drive. Mine has 30k,is three years old,fast,AND trouble free. JDPower just listed the 2013 Fiat 500 as a FIVE Star car in terms of reliability. 1982 was 34 years ago,Fiats are much better today...and NO Soviet sourced sheet metal..
Why know review of the new for 82 GM jCars
Gia Carangi utolsó autója is ilyen volt, csak piros színben de világos tetővel,és volt rá szerelve csomagtartó hátul. Valószínűleg ez a kocsi már nincs meg, mert az már kiderült volna. Most sokat érne, még rossz állapotban is.
Since pizza and beer?
Another example of a beautiful car, fun to drive, but a nightmare to maintain. If the electrics didn't fail, the fenders would fall off from rust. Very expensive to keep these things running, back in the day. Fiat just couldn't make their cars reliable -- common to many Italian manufacturers, unfortunately. Lots of soul, very beautiful, but don't rely on them to get you from point-A to point-B.
You've clearly never owned one. We had nine in the family over the years. Engines were extremely reliable, easy to work on, easy to upgrade, parts plentiful and cheap. Rust was a problem for the 124 series and pretty much all cars back then. Handling was fantastic, top sealed nicely. Brit sports cars were prehistoric while the 124 had an aluminum-head, belt-driven twin-overhead cam engine, 5-speed trans, full disc brakes, front and rear anti-roll bars, and a usable back seat.
LMacNeill I've got a '78 124 non-turbo right now. Have had for a couple years. Car originated in Texas. Found it's way to Breckenridge, Co. I bought it in Arvada, Co. It's now back in Texas (Houston area). Minor rust. Engine is strong (97,000 mi). Redid some of interior. Intend to do more. Have had some maintenance experience with the car. It isn't that bad. You have to be either willing to work on the car yourself or have a decent relationship with a mechanic. I do all my own work. Love this little car! Interesting to work on, a blast to drive.
my first car
Pizza and beer.
Nice looking cars . Not cheap at $15,000 dollars .
Why can’t we get cars like this again? All the Italian passion of a Ferrari in a cheap package
These were great cars if you had a mechanic for a buddy. Not much has changed with the modern Fiats.
In what year does John Davis stop pointing out that a car is missing a voltmeter and oil pressure gauge? He is literally the only person I've ever heard complain that a car is missing them.
I know, really! It gets kind of annoying after watching a few of these videos. Many cars don't have them, and a lot of drivers don't even pay attention to them. Plus warning lights may be more effective at warning drivers that there's a problem
“In what year”... I love your phrasing.
Hey, Tony, can you fix the turbo? Again?
+AZDuffman - It's Japanese.. so it'll be OK :)
Myron Samila
Put it in a Fiat and it will get gummed up......
I love watching these old videos. I remember virtually all of them when they were first out. Even this one when I was 16. Too bad Fiat to this day can't seem to get it right enough to make a showing of good, reliable, vehicles in the US. Fiat is about to leave again. 30 years later and it's still the worst reliability of any automaker , tying Land Rover. Now only 1 vehicle offering in the US the 500X. Soon to once again disappear. Yet Fiat infused so much money into Jeep that the new Wrangler has surpassed the Ford F150 as the most popular vehicle in the US. FCA is dismantling to now be called ......" Stellantis, Merger of France's PSA and Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler. It includes Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and others. The company is re-engineering its strategy in China."
Change the axle ratio and it would be a hoot
Il modello turbo fu fatto in pochi esemplari apposta per gli USA ! Infatti non c'era questo motore in Europa ! Ad oggi penso siano rimasti pochi esemplari ! ✌️🇮🇹🤗
“Pizza and beer…”
All Spiders are 4 wheel disc brakes
"Sturdy Italian engine"...now that's an oxymoron 😆
You don't know the Fiat Twincam, like you don't know many others unfortunately.
@decembrist Plus two World Sportscar Championships with the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo. Those were even more impressive. A turbocharged, 440hp, 1.4 liter engine and a 530 hp 1.7 liter engine, without intercooler, capable to last for 24h races in 1980-81 was something out of this world.
Could this be a tribute to Tom Magliozzi, perhaps?!!!
1/4 mile E.T. seems 2 seconds slow for the 82 MPH...
It's a little off but not 2 seconds. I would have expected a high 16 with that mph.
Somethings will never change...
Car reviews Lol
Beer isnt american its german
Actually, the Egyptians invented beer several thousands years before the Germans.
4 disk brakes.. panhard rear suspension
4:56 braking is too poor...
... Pizza and Beer...