Guys,

every year the Fiat clubs have a national gathering. This year the event was held in Queensland. There were cars from across the country. Have a look at a map and see how far Perth is from Brisbane, some of these guys are really dedicated.

Hot day (in the high 30s I think), there were some nice cars on display including some Alfas and Ferraris as well. I did not take my car, I only have 250 miles on it and whilst I have not had any issues lately, I was concerned that the heat, distance and low test milage may have conspired against me. In hindsight I wish I had taken the car.........

One of the events was a simple show and shine. There were only 3 500's and I have limited my photos to them.

Don't have any details on the cream car, but both the light green and red car had 650 motors. Apart from that the light green car was fairly standard. Red car had a disk brake front end and a lot of mods to allow for the trim panels to fit under the bonnet. (Fuse holder and brake reservoir were moved, fuel line was redirected, all the heater pipes inside were removed.) Note the false panel at the back for the radio speakers. Radio is under the drivers seat and owner just knows what button to push if he wants to change the station.










Regards

Joe R

I like the trim panels in the bonnet of the red one, but living in the freezing UK I'm not sure I'd want to sacrifice the heating ducts!

Any photos of the Alfas?
Chris

Chris,

what can I say. I only had eyes for the 500's when I pulled the camera out. Having said that, I am on the job. I will see what I can chase down for you. (There were some nice 105's there)

Joe R

Please don't go to any great trouble on my behalf.

Alfas have always had a special place in my heart - don't know why, they just have

Chris

Special place in your heart, I know what you mean. From my experience just when you think you have got them 100% they break it........... ( I have had four)

Joe R

My Alfa is a summertime car - summa time she go, summa time she no go ...

Chris

I've had three Alfas over the years. I did 85,000 miles in my 155; 60,000 or so in my 156 and 40,000 in my 159. Apart from the odd electrical gremlin, no problems with any of them. The best one? Probably the 155! Just fell in love with the BTCC Touring Car look - big arches, dark grey wheels etc. Went like stink, handled really well but everything rattled.

Imported the 156 from Holland and saved a fortune as you could back then. Told my wife the whale tail spolier was standard on Dutch imports! Novel idea of attaching the dash to the bodyshell - Alfa had never done that before. Much more sophisticated, more like a 3 series.

The 159? I had the Sportback and found it large heavy and cumbersome - more like a bus! Being a diesel, it sounded like one as well. Don't like the look of the Guilietta, so no Alfas for me for a while!

Better go and do some work!

Ian

I've also owned a few - mainly old ones (60s & 70s) - and currently have a 1970 1750GTV in original/lightly restored condition.

I'm looking for another project and spied this in Adelaide - 1958 Giulietta Spider Veloce.

Chris

PS: Sorry about taking the thread off topic.

PPS: Really like the photos of the 500s at the National.

That's beautiful!

This is what they look like restored.

They are all LHD with a 1300 twin cam engine available in two states of tune, 4 speed all synchro gearbox, large aluminium finned, steel lined, Alfin drum brakes and 12V electrics.

There are only a handful in Australia.

One day ...

Chris

More photo's from the Nationals. (scroll down the page)

http://www.turbo124.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10591&start=0

Still working on the Alfa photo's.

Chris, I have seen one of these spiders. The lines are so nice from all angles and for a smallish car they have real presence. If you get one and do a job on it you will be the envy of all.

Joe R

The Giulietta/Giulia Spiders are quite rare nowadays and they are also worth a bit of money. I'd definitely have to sell something to finance a purchase and rebuild.

What happened to the poor 124CC in the photos?

Chris

Chris,

did not see it happen but it was during one of the sprints I think. Was a very tidy example. When you play hard these hings happen.

The link to Turbo 124 that you have will eventually have a dissection at some stage. I will let you know if I see something.

Joe R