1979 father/daughter project

[o0sara0o]

So you know that feeling when out of nowhere your kid starts noticing cars? She admires that yellow Mustang convertible at the corner car lot. Months pass; she comments on the Mustang every time we drive by. By and by she says, "Dad, I want a car." She's 13. "And it has to be a convertible."

Long before she was born, I cut my teenaged teeth on a string of 1970s Austin Minis. Something stirs inside. Right now I drive a 1998 Nissan in which I can't even reach the oil filter. I start scanning Craigslist once in a while. Then, she starts to push. We scan Craigslist together. Naturally, I steer her away from the domestics. Not really a principled thing; just want to share my love of cars that are just a bit exotic. Our budget is, well, zero.

"Girl," I say, "you gotta pay for it. And you gotta fix it."
"I don't know how!"
"That's alright. You learn."
[pause] "OK!"

Could she be.... a gearhead? Yesssss!

Long story short, she's got herself a 1979 Fiat Spider 2000 (124? Pininfarina? What do we call this thing?) Totally rusted out. Hasn't run for 10 years. $700 purchase price seems a bit steep in hindsight, especially after initial round of diagnostics. But I figured she's worth it, and buying that car out of the tall grass, covered with a frayed tarp, was a leap of faith. Seeing her sitting at our dining room table with that damned carburetor splayed out on an old serving tray makes it already worth it.

I suspect this forum will be tremendously helpful to us. Thanks to all who have created an archive of advice, and thanks in advance for replies to our inevitable bumbling posts.

Anybody located in northwest Ohio?

Andy (with Sara) in Bluffton

[Foster48x]

That's awesome!

The conversation with my daughter would go more like this...
"Dad," she says, "if your not going to buy me a new car you gotta pay for it. And you gotta fix it."
"I don't have time sweetheart!"
"That's alright. You'll find time."
[pause...me] "OK!"
lol

Welcome to the forum!
Rick

[mdrburchette]

Awesome story! You and your daughter have taken on a huge undertaking. We're all here to help with advice, an odd part or two, and to hold your hand. Good luck with what will surely be a great memory maker.

[maytag]

That is awesome!

Last week my 14 yr old son told me :Dad, I want to start working more on the cars with you".

I asked him why the increased interest, and he said "because yesterday I was walking home and there was this really cute girl looking under the hood of her broken-down car and I stopped to help her, but I didn't know enough to DO anything!".



Whatever the reasons, I think these cars make an awesome family project!

[Zippy]

Awesome story! You and your daughter have taken on a huge undertaking. We're all here to help with advice, an odd part or two, and to hold your hand. Good luck with what will surely be a great memory maker.

Ain't that the truth. Some of the best memories my son and I have are from the year the neighbor gave him an old Vega wagon. It ran, barely and had a really bad paint job. We worked on it together evenings, after school, on weekends. After several weeks we had the engine tuned up, the oil leaks stopped and we repaired the body and primed it before sending it off to the paint shop. It turned out real nice and he was so proud of that car he beamed whenever he talked about it.

Before he got that car he was always off with his friends skateboarding or bike riding and I rarely saw him. What a wonderful thing to have happen. We are so much closer now because of that time together working on a project together.

Thanks Rick for giving him that car.