Funny(but interesting)

[Kevin1]

it will probably generate more "buy American" comments until Fiat enters Nascar with Richard Pettys' grandson driving

That would cement the deal with a lot of people if Fiat would field a Nascar team. Considering what Nascar did for Toyota (from "Jap Crap" to "pickup of the year" in one lap) this isn't so crazy an idea. If you asked any of the Nascar faithful 20 years ago about a Japanese pace car you would have been laughed out of the stands. Next month a Camry Hybrid will be the pace car for the Coca-Cola 600.

[mbouse]

I heard countless''Nice Chrysler'' comments this weekend at the Mitty,to the point it was getting a lttle stale.What do you think Fiat's presence in our market will do to the value of our cars?
Craig

slowly it will change the acceptability factor for restorers to begin to consider a Fiat as a project. then if Fiat is successful in their return, the purists among us are gonna have to contend with the "custom" Fiat resto-mods at the car shows. something i am already dabbling with.

it will take a few years, but i expect the smart alec remarks to die down, and brand recognition return. THAT will help the value of our vehicles.

[So Cal Mark]

personally, I don't think Fiats' return will have any effect on our cars at all. No one buys a 32 Ford because Ford is selling Expeditions or Mustangs.
I'm looking fwd to visiting a Chrysiat dealer and asking questions they can't answer

[mdrburchette]

Fiat in NASCAR wouldn't have been such a long shot in the 50s and 60s when foreign cars drew half the field:


Al Keller poses with his Jaguar sports coupe at New Jersey's Linden Airport. NASCAR's first road-course event was staged over two miles of the airport's runways on June 13. The event was open to both American stock cars and ­foreign sports cars. Nearly half of the entries in the 43-car starting field were foreign cars. It remains the only win for a foreign-made automobile in NASCAR's premier series.

[baltobernie]

I didn't know that, Denise. Thanks for the blurb. Of course, it looks like it was dry in New Jersey that day. Had it been raining, Lord Lucas would have intervened

Here's another tidbit for you noobs; a Fiat once held the world land speed record (in 1924). Run that by your Mopar fans! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Mefistofele

[mbouse]

I'm looking fwd to visiting a Chrysiat dealer and asking questions they can't answer

LOL - - - i am looking forward to the EXACT same thing. my only question is, should i drive my Spider or my Ranger to that meeting?

[mbouse]

Fiat in NASCAR wouldn't have been such a long shot in the 50s and 60s when foreign cars drew half the field

the majority of those were British, brought in by returning G.I.s after WWII. Being on the "winning" side gave the nod for the LBC craze that still exists today.

[Gunsmith]

personally, I don't think Fiats' return will have any effect on our cars at all. No one buys a 32 Ford because Ford is selling Expeditions or Mustangs.
I'm looking fwd to visiting a Chrysiat dealer and asking questions they can't answer

Mark you don't need to wait for Fiat to come on board you can go in now and stump them on their own cars.

[wengr]

personally, I don't think Fiats' return will have any effect on our cars at all. No one buys a 32 Ford because Ford is selling Expeditions or Mustangs.
I'm looking fwd to visiting a Chrysiat dealer and asking questions they can't answer

I would agree and hope it is so. I'd prefer to see the values steady as I'll be in more of a buying mode for the foreseeable future. Why hope for the value to rise on something I'll never sell? Also climbing car values will trigger higher parts prices. Let the market come back and let the spiders stay affordable.

[wengr]

Fiat in NASCAR wouldn't have been such a long shot in the 50s and 60s when foreign cars drew half the field:


Al Keller poses with his Jaguar sports coupe at New Jersey's Linden Airport. NASCAR's first road-course event was staged over two miles of the airport's runways on June 13. The event was open to both American stock cars and ­foreign sports cars. Nearly half of the entries in the 43-car starting field were foreign cars. It remains the only win for a foreign-made automobile in NASCAR's premier series.

Interesting. That car, A Jaguar XK120, named for it's reported ability to reach 120mph, could have been built as early as late 1948. It featured the then new the new XK engine complete with double overhead cams and true hemispherical combustion chambers. At the same displacement, I don't see how any american car could touch it.