I had a '68 Fiat 850 Spyder back around '71, I think.
In its own way, it was as much fun as the Bugeye, and a LOT more refined in
the bargain. I've never owned another car that I could drive as fast as the
850 in serious twisties. Being rear-engined, it oversteered a LOT, and I
just loved hanging the tail out on a curve. And even though it would drag in
the snow, I used to go out in heavy Missouri snows and TRY to get stuck,
just to see if I could get out again. I always could, with minimal effort.
(In those MO winters, I would wait for the engine to warm up before opening
the heater water cock, which would then peg the temp gauge. <g>)
The big downsides were a pitifully underpowered engine, and the Weber carb
was generally either wonderful or else it wouldn't even run. The sheetmetal
was so thin it was impossible to avoid occasional push-ins that left a
crease when they popped back out. A teenage girl once stood on the front
bumper and almost tore it off.
That Fiat was my only transportation for a couple of years, and it did a
good job apart from an occasional carb-related stranding. I exchanged it for
a '67 Stingray. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Here's an example of how much fun the Fiat 850 was: I bought it from a guy
who had owned it for two years, and he was totally blown away when I put a
radio in it. He had never noticed that it didn't have one!
My sister used to have a 124. It was a lot of fun to drive, too, but in a
whole 'nother class from cars like the 850 and the Sprite.
Tom Zuchowski
'61 Bugeye
Clemmons, NC
-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Cook <justincook@yahoo.com>
To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 2:00 PM
Subject: Makin' Trouble!
>When I set out to buy a LC last summer, I was interested in everything
>but sprites. But obviously things changed...
>
>I would like to hear from some people who have owned all sorts of
>different LCs over the years. Please compare the owning and driving
>experience of other cars to that of spridgets. I know I considered
>Fiats (124, 850, X1/9), Alfas (especially the "boat-tails"), Porsches
>(pre-74 911s, 356), triumphs, MGA, MGB, Sunbeams... I'm sure others
>have too.
>
>I think the spridgets have a great combination of low price, low snob
>level, easy parts availability, and fun driving. I'd really be
>interested in hearing some comparisons.
>
>Justin Cook
>67 Sprite "Stinky"
>
>
>
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