How about the Grande Punto Abarth? See videos here:
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
An update on fiatresto/X1/9 Restoration...
First I'd like to thank all that have visited my new site!
As it's winter here in the northeast USA (and consistently around 20° Fahrenheit/ -6° Celsius) there's not a lot of action on the car restoration front. To keep busy, I've been doing work on the site and have just bought a photo editing program to make it easier for me to upload more images. When I'm not working on my X1/9 , my plan is to share the reference material I've collected over the last 35 years of Fiat ownership and to provide an interesting site for people to browse through. Keep an eye on it;)
As it's winter here in the northeast USA (and consistently around 20° Fahrenheit/ -6° Celsius) there's not a lot of action on the car restoration front. To keep busy, I've been doing work on the site and have just bought a photo editing program to make it easier for me to upload more images. When I'm not working on my X1/9 , my plan is to share the reference material I've collected over the last 35 years of Fiat ownership and to provide an interesting site for people to browse through. Keep an eye on it;)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Possible Fiat and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen merger would make them the worlds number 3 car maker.
In December it was reported that Fiat and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen were looking into the possibility of merging as a way to survive the current financial crisis. Since then, there has been no news and many have concluded the talks have not yielded anything.
However, today Reuters reports that the Agnelli family's is weighing a capital increase of about 2 billion euros ($2.58 billion) for a possible merger with France's PSA Peugeot Citroen. This capital increase is speculated to be needed to keep a controlling interest in Fiat, which the Agnelli Family currently holds a controlling interest of 30%.
If the merger happens, a Fiat-Chrysler-Peugeot group would be the third largest auto company in the world after Toyota and GM with a total production of 8.8 million vehicles (2007 figures).
However, today Reuters reports that the Agnelli family's is weighing a capital increase of about 2 billion euros ($2.58 billion) for a possible merger with France's PSA Peugeot Citroen. This capital increase is speculated to be needed to keep a controlling interest in Fiat, which the Agnelli Family currently holds a controlling interest of 30%.
If the merger happens, a Fiat-Chrysler-Peugeot group would be the third largest auto company in the world after Toyota and GM with a total production of 8.8 million vehicles (2007 figures).
Read more here:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The details on the Fiat Chrysler deal.
Here is an overview of the deal Fiat and Chrysler have worked out taken from various news sources.
From The Wall Street Journal:
Under terms of a pact that is being hammered out, Fiat is likely to take a 35% stake in Chrysler by the middle of this year. It would have the option of increasing that to as much as 55%, these people said.
Fiat, the stronger of the two, wouldn't immediately put cash into Chrysler. Instead it would obtain its stake mainly in exchange for covering the cost of retooling a Chrysler plant to produce one or more Fiat models to be sold in the U.S., these people said. Fiat would also provide engine and transmission technology to help Chrysler introduce new, fuel-efficient small cars, they said.
Chrysler also said it would be given access to all of Fiat's vehicle platforms, except the Ferrari sports car line.
JP Morgan analyst Himanshu Patel said the deal appeared to have "minimal downside" for both Fiat and Chrysler and could help the U.S. automaker secure another round of bailout funds.
"While Fiat will not provide a cash equity injection, its willingness to dance with Chrysler may provide Washington just enough cover to lend Chrysler additional funds," Patel said in a note for clients.
From The Wall Street Journal:
Under terms of a pact that is being hammered out, Fiat is likely to take a 35% stake in Chrysler by the middle of this year. It would have the option of increasing that to as much as 55%, these people said.
Fiat, the stronger of the two, wouldn't immediately put cash into Chrysler. Instead it would obtain its stake mainly in exchange for covering the cost of retooling a Chrysler plant to produce one or more Fiat models to be sold in the U.S., these people said. Fiat would also provide engine and transmission technology to help Chrysler introduce new, fuel-efficient small cars, they said.
More from The Wall Street Journal:
...the deal becomes binding only if Chrysler gets $3 billion more in financial help from Washington, said the people familiar with the terms of the agreement.
A Fiat spokesman declined to comment on the matter. Chrysler spokeswoman Shawn Morgan wouldn't comment on Fiat's demand, but said Chrysler believes the $3 billion in loans are necessary for its viability.
A Fiat spokesman declined to comment on the matter. Chrysler spokeswoman Shawn Morgan wouldn't comment on Fiat's demand, but said Chrysler believes the $3 billion in loans are necessary for its viability.
Under the terms of the deal, the Italian auto maker will be given three seats on Chrysler's seven-seat board, two people familiar with the matter said.
If Fiat meets goals for improving Chrysler's operations within 12 months of the agreement, Fiat would have the option of buying an additional 20% of Chrysler for about $25 million, said people familiar with the matter. Details of the goals weren't clear.
If Fiat meets goals for improving Chrysler's operations within 12 months of the agreement, Fiat would have the option of buying an additional 20% of Chrysler for about $25 million, said people familiar with the matter. Details of the goals weren't clear.
Finally this is from Reuters:
Under its U.S. government rescue, Chrysler must demonstrate by the end of March that it can be viable, and the automaker said the proposed Fiat deal would move it toward that goal.
Fiat said it would aid Chrysler in putting together its turnaround plan for U.S. officials ahead of an initial February 17 deadline.
Fiat said it would aid Chrysler in putting together its turnaround plan for U.S. officials ahead of an initial February 17 deadline.
Chrysler also said it would be given access to all of Fiat's vehicle platforms, except the Ferrari sports car line.
JP Morgan analyst Himanshu Patel said the deal appeared to have "minimal downside" for both Fiat and Chrysler and could help the U.S. automaker secure another round of bailout funds.
"While Fiat will not provide a cash equity injection, its willingness to dance with Chrysler may provide Washington just enough cover to lend Chrysler additional funds," Patel said in a note for clients.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Joint Press Release - Fiat Group, Chrysler LLC and Cerberus Capital Management L.P. announce plans for a global strategic alliance.
Official anouncement on the official Fiats Group website. Read it here:
Monday, January 19, 2009
Fiat having merger talks with Chrysler...
TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - Fiat SpA is in talks with Chrysler LLC over a possible stake in the struggling U.S. automaker, a source close to the Italian group said on Monday... read more here:
Friday, January 16, 2009
X1/9 grille differences between 74 and 87...
When Fiat added the shock absorbing bumpers in '75 they changed the shape of the grille to accommodate the shocks. They put a cutout on the sides. When you do a conversion on a late 1979 -1988 car, you need to get a 1975-1978 grille.
1974 grille shape marked in red
Shape of a 1974 grille marked in red. Like the rust;)
The other difference is the late model cars have these grille support "teeth" hanging down. These have to be removed. Luckily they come off pretty easily. Just grab hold of one (use a glove because the sheet metal can be sharp) and start to wiggle it back and forth and they will eventually cleanly break off. The trick is to start wiggling it with a short motion, and then as the metal gets worked you'll feel it give way and then break.
These need to come off 
Good, now do the rest!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Fiat 131 Abarth in action...
Click on play
Fiat 131 Abarth from Codemaster's game Dirt
Here's a quick video from the game Dirt. That's my seven year old son driving!
I'll toss on some video's here every so often because currently it's 2.5° Fahrenheit outside and there's nothing fun about working on a car in this weather. They'll be longer too, as this one was a test of sorts. Lots of Italian cars, of course! Dirt, Colin McRae Rally and Test Drive Unlimited will be getting a workout this winter.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Turning a 1987 Bertone X1/9 into a 1974 Fiat X1/9...
I like the look of the smaller, original bumperettes that were on the 1974 US cars. The problem is finding them as most 1974 Fiat X1/9's have turned to rust. Well with the Internet, that's not much of a problem now. After scouring the Internet, over the next 4-5 months I found a front set from Midwest X1/9 . Then a rear set came from eBay. Turn signals took a little while but they turned up at Midwest.
Before the Internet, it would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack. I don't think I've seen a 74 X1/9 for what seems like 30 years. At least not in the northeast. On the west coast I guess they are still around.
Bumper mounts are different on the early 1974 X1/9. Location marked in red.
Doing the conversion isn't as easy as I thought it would be. From 1975 on, Fiat had to go to the impact absorbing style bumper. These used shock absorbers to mount the bumper. Well these are below the mounting points used on the 74 cars. A new mount would have to be constructed. Luckily I came across a write up on the "Xweb Discussion Forum". Listed in their "best of..." Here's a link:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/12159/message/1146706528/And+for+those+of+you+without+Jumbotrons
This will be a real help when the bumpers are ready to go on the car, After it is painted.
Before the Internet, it would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack. I don't think I've seen a 74 X1/9 for what seems like 30 years. At least not in the northeast. On the west coast I guess they are still around.
Bumper mounts are different on the early 1974 X1/9. Location marked in red.
Doing the conversion isn't as easy as I thought it would be. From 1975 on, Fiat had to go to the impact absorbing style bumper. These used shock absorbers to mount the bumper. Well these are below the mounting points used on the 74 cars. A new mount would have to be constructed. Luckily I came across a write up on the "Xweb Discussion Forum". Listed in their "best of..." Here's a link:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/12159/message/1146706528/And+for+those+of+you+without+Jumbotrons
This will be a real help when the bumpers are ready to go on the car, After it is painted.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
'74 bumpers on an '87?
I'm converting my car to the small '74 style bumpers. Stay tuned while I dig some pictures up...
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Car...
This is my 1987 Bertone X1/9 I've owned for 17 years. I bought it from the original owner who injured his back and being 6'2", couldn't get into it any longer. The kicker was he had just got done paying it off!In the 5 years he had it he only put 26,000 miles on it. It sat a long time and wouldn't start. That, combined with the problems he had getting the car serviced at the Bertone Dealer, (who was a Lincoln/Mercury/Nissan Dealer and pretty hopeless at servicing Italian cars) reluctantly compelled him to get rid of the car.
As the market for non running Fiats was not good back then, he was astounded to see someone interested in it. When he found out I was a long time Fiat enthusiast, he felt better about giving the car away!
I flat bedded it home and, with the help of my friend Tony, fixed a couple of rust spots, put a clutch and timing belt in it (you know the usual Fiat fix it stuff). My wife liked it so that helped as I like to accumulate cars. She and I drove it for about 7 years and finally parked it under a tree in our driveway. That was 1999. In that time we put about 10,000 miles on it.
There the car sat until 2008 when I decided to do something with it. I originally was going to try selling it, but after looking at, realized it was in pretty good shape. I changed the fuel filter in it, put a spare battery in it and gave it a shot at starting. Well what do you know, it started right up! It sounded good, too. Really smooth and quiet.Looking the car over and hearing it run I made up my mind it would be a shame to not get it going for at least a little while. I knew what was done to the car and what it needed.
My goal is to get it reliable to drive to work during spring/summer for a couple of years. I'm going to paint it because the paint is pretty dead and I'd like to try my hand at it. No concourse restoration here, just a daily driver.
Restoring my old Fiat...
This is about my rehabilitating my 1987 Bertone X1/9. I plan on updating this site with pictures and will offer advice and observations as I go along. I hope this inspires you to keep your own Fiat (or whatever car you love) on the road and to give ideas of what or what not to do. Mainly just enjoy the journey!
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