Hello from New Jersey USA
Hello from New Jersey USA
Hi all, I wanted to intruduce myself, a long time Fiat owner, just found this great site. A little history... My first car when I was in High School in 1982 was a 71 Fiat Spider. Here is a picture of it:
In 1982 bought this car for $150. It had only 31K miles and ran strong. I drove it during my senior year and loved the car, but it was rusted badly (it was never garaged) and had to get rid of it. A year later, I bought another Spider, a red 1975:
This is me in 1984 with my 75 Spider. It had the 1800 motor, I dove it durning college for 2 years.
Got married, had kids and then...another Spider! I got this 71 Spider off ebay in 2001:
This 71 had the 1608 like my white one, it was painted Ferrari Fly Yellow. I bought the car sight unseen and it truned out to be in poor shape, so I sold it and bought a 1968 124 Coupe instead.
My garage in 2002, Spider on the left and 124 Coupe on the right.
After a few years I sold the Coupe and... you guessed it, bought another Spider.
This is my current ride, a one-owner car (owned by a woman who bought it new in 1971 when she was 23 years old) from Florida, it is almost completely rust-free and has 54K original miles. Even has Air Conditioning (dealer installed, I assume).
More pictures:
Here's the car next to the one I owned in 1982, in the same spot on the same driveway 26 years later!
In 1982 bought this car for $150. It had only 31K miles and ran strong. I drove it during my senior year and loved the car, but it was rusted badly (it was never garaged) and had to get rid of it. A year later, I bought another Spider, a red 1975:
This is me in 1984 with my 75 Spider. It had the 1800 motor, I dove it durning college for 2 years.
Got married, had kids and then...another Spider! I got this 71 Spider off ebay in 2001:
This 71 had the 1608 like my white one, it was painted Ferrari Fly Yellow. I bought the car sight unseen and it truned out to be in poor shape, so I sold it and bought a 1968 124 Coupe instead.
My garage in 2002, Spider on the left and 124 Coupe on the right.
After a few years I sold the Coupe and... you guessed it, bought another Spider.
This is my current ride, a one-owner car (owned by a woman who bought it new in 1971 when she was 23 years old) from Florida, it is almost completely rust-free and has 54K original miles. Even has Air Conditioning (dealer installed, I assume).
More pictures:
Here's the car next to the one I owned in 1982, in the same spot on the same driveway 26 years later!
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hi Tom, welcome to the site. Where are you located? Haddonfield or Princeton area. I'm in Franklinville. Nice pics. Your going to have to get together with the rest of us jersey guys.
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hi Brady, thanks for the welcome. I'm in Westfield which is in Union county, about 30 minutes north of Princeton. It would be great to get together with you Fiat guys some time. Hopefully I'll have the Spider ready for a longer trip in the Spring. I've been driving it around locally as it still needs some maint done (brakes mainly).azygoustoyou wrote:Hi Tom, welcome to the site. Where are you located? Haddonfield or Princeton area. I'm in Franklinville. Nice pics. Your going to have to get together with the rest of us jersey guys.
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
i bet that collection (thanks by the way) was a trip down memory lane for you... I see loads of experience behind your post.
gonna be fun chatting with you.
gonna be fun chatting with you.
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- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:55 am
- Your car is a: 1970 SPIDER AND A 1976 SPIDER
- Location: New Jersey
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hi Tom,
Welcome to the site. We have a small collection of Fiatholics here in NJ. I see that Brady introduced himself already. You will have to check out his Fiat that is currently under construction. Ralph is one of our Fiat Guru's in the area. Doug is currently searching for a Spider. Tony is in the process of finishing his Spider . Ali has a work in progress. Paul is down south and his is newly painted. Mart is not a Jersey guy but is always welcome here. We also have a few other guys that come and go due to family/ business obligations. I have a 1980 ready for paint and a 1981 that is a work in progress but just about ready for paint. We are sort of a loose mutual aid group. We have met a couple of times for general Fiat maintaince and repairs and a couple dinner meetings (That means a bullshit session).
You will find that this site is full of knowledgeable people that are not only willing to help you out with info but will direct you to parts or resources that you may need. It really is a great site. Send me a pm with your email address and I'll include you in our next meeeting.We are going to plan a few road trips this year. We will be doing a run down to LBI for the CHOWDER FEST in Oct. BTW love the pictures. Once again welcome to the site. George
Welcome to the site. We have a small collection of Fiatholics here in NJ. I see that Brady introduced himself already. You will have to check out his Fiat that is currently under construction. Ralph is one of our Fiat Guru's in the area. Doug is currently searching for a Spider. Tony is in the process of finishing his Spider . Ali has a work in progress. Paul is down south and his is newly painted. Mart is not a Jersey guy but is always welcome here. We also have a few other guys that come and go due to family/ business obligations. I have a 1980 ready for paint and a 1981 that is a work in progress but just about ready for paint. We are sort of a loose mutual aid group. We have met a couple of times for general Fiat maintaince and repairs and a couple dinner meetings (That means a bullshit session).
You will find that this site is full of knowledgeable people that are not only willing to help you out with info but will direct you to parts or resources that you may need. It really is a great site. Send me a pm with your email address and I'll include you in our next meeeting.We are going to plan a few road trips this year. We will be doing a run down to LBI for the CHOWDER FEST in Oct. BTW love the pictures. Once again welcome to the site. George
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
welcome to the site, that's an excellent trip down memory lane there. I bought mine a few years ago. It's been a work in progress, it's back at the body shop in the poconos (long story) for some touch-up work and he's doing bushings and ball joints while its there. Hoping for a better spring, I was gone for a big chunk of the driving season last year due to military commitments.
I wish I had my car today, my Bimmer is acting up, and I'm landlocked here until it gets fixed, or traded in, whichever I decide to do first. Probably traded in.
I wish I had my car today, my Bimmer is acting up, and I'm landlocked here until it gets fixed, or traded in, whichever I decide to do first. Probably traded in.
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Thanks for the welcome. I guess you could consider me a Fiataholic as well. I'm experienced with driving these great cars, but not the best with the mechanical stuff. I'm good with body and interior work and basic maint. An IT guy during the daytime and father of two in the evenings, I make time for these cars whenever I can. Back in the 80's there were a number of Fiat mechanics in NJ, but now it seems tough to find local mechanics to work on these cars. I few years ago I used to bring my cars to a retired porsche mechanic who worked out of his house. He was great, but informed me recently he's getting too old to work on cars now. If anyone knows of a good reasonable mechanic please let me know. I know that if I bring my car in for a front end alignment at the local STS they are going to roll their eyes when they see this car. So I try to do as much of the fixes myself and this forum is a great resource. My email is band_ache@yahoo.com. If I can get my car up to snuff I plan to take it to some events this year. I also have a 128 coupe I'm working on.
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
best place to put your email address is in your signature.... check out my signature
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- Posts: 5754
- Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
- Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Welcome to the site, Tom. Boy, your story reflects many of the people that are on this site. Glad you have your priorities right and prefer the early model Fiats.
I flew to Newark in '07, picked up my 71 and drove it home to NC in one day. Thankfully it waited to break down was I was pulling it into the shop that night.
Be sure to make plans to attend the Fiat Freakout being held in Asheville, NC this year. It will give us an opportunity to check out everyone's car in person. Go to http://www.flu.org for details!
I flew to Newark in '07, picked up my 71 and drove it home to NC in one day. Thankfully it waited to break down was I was pulling it into the shop that night.
Be sure to make plans to attend the Fiat Freakout being held in Asheville, NC this year. It will give us an opportunity to check out everyone's car in person. Go to http://www.flu.org for details!
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hey Tom, I'm Lawrence from Somerset,NJ. I own a 1974 Fiat Spider 1800. I'm having a problem with the car backfiring. I;ve done a lot of things to arrest the problem but all have failed. I was wondering if you know of any decent machanics? I'm new to the site and just wanted give a "holla"
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- Patron 2022
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- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hi Tom, welcome to the forum. What a great introduction! It was fun seeing your Fiat procession.
You're sure to hook up with a good bunch of Fiat guys over there, have fun when you all get together in better weather.
Ron
You're sure to hook up with a good bunch of Fiat guys over there, have fun when you all get together in better weather.
Ron
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hey Lawrence,LSprad wrote:Hey Tom, I'm Lawrence from Somerset,NJ. I own a 1974 Fiat Spider 1800. I'm having a problem with the car backfiring. I;ve done a lot of things to arrest the problem but all have failed. I was wondering if you know of any decent machanics? I'm new to the site and just wanted give a "holla"
Somerset is close, only about 20 minutes from me. I saw a 74 at a local shop last summer, a red one with panasport wheels, but never met the owner. You have the 1800 too, that's a bonus. I think a lot of 74's got the smog choked 1592 engine. Regarding backfiring, that sounds like either an ignition timing or exhaust restriction problem.
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- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:55 am
- Your car is a: 1970 SPIDER AND A 1976 SPIDER
- Location: New Jersey
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
HI Tom,
Care to come and join us for breakfasrt on Aug 15th? Bring your Fiat out. We also are attending a car show on the 22nd. Should be a good time. Check NJFIATS.ORG. George
Care to come and join us for breakfasrt on Aug 15th? Bring your Fiat out. We also are attending a car show on the 22nd. Should be a good time. Check NJFIATS.ORG. George
- RehmmyK
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:14 am
- Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider 2000 LE
Re: Hello from New Jersey USA
Hi Tom-Welcome!!
Just looking at your pics and I recognized the area-I grew up in Scotch Plains NJ, cousins in Westfield!
I've been in South Florida since the 70's-still miss NJ though! I purchased my '81 Fiat while attending college-I'm the original owner!
Ken
Just looking at your pics and I recognized the area-I grew up in Scotch Plains NJ, cousins in Westfield!
I've been in South Florida since the 70's-still miss NJ though! I purchased my '81 Fiat while attending college-I'm the original owner!
Ken
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 LE #542
Original owner
Original owner