Topic: 68 Fiat Abarth 1300 Coupe

[viotti600]

Actually an 850 T is the same shape as a 600T 'minivan' (i had both).It is a box like shape.Not really the 'rolling toaster' shape of a Multipla. I am sure Jeff knows this as well.

 That is correct. My comment regarding the 600 Multipla was concerning the general layout of the vehicle, not the actual body appearance.

[grant gauld]

"Touche"

[evannice]

Headliner is in now.

[evannice]

And hey Grant, those door limiters cleaned up and fit just fine.  Thanks again!

[abarthje]

Hey Eric,

i have just one word..... WOUW............

[evannice]

Bumpers and trim going back on, replacing the rear "parcel shelf".

[evannice]

1300 stripe decals going on now.

[evannice]

The interior needed very little, just a couple of seams restitched and the back window shelf material and the upper panel on the rear seat were sunburned and crumbling, so they were matched and replaced.

[evannice]

I have received some photos of this car from a previous owner circa 1973.  Too cool!  I see several items of interest to me.  The hubcaps did indeed have red painted center emblems behind the raised scorpions.  There were no red stripes painted on the wheels.  The 1300 side stripes were thinner, smaller font, and mounted higher on the car than the decals we sourced from Berni Motori.  The paint was already quite nicked up, and both doors were pretty well dented.  The rocker trim was still present.  I see the big clunky fender mirrors that flattened the character lines that the body shop had to recreate!

The sender believes that the car was delivered with dual sidedraught Webers and a 4 into 2 exhaust setup going through a very small ovoid Abarth muffler.   Says the coolant hoses were a constant leak and repair issue.  He says the first owner broke an axle shaft and the transaxle was damaged at the same time and the car never shifted right after that.  Still true in 2009 by the way, even after I have gone through the linkage bits quite thoroughly.  I have a happy transaxle waiting in the garage for a R&P swap when the car comes home.

[naegeli]

according to the image on page 276 of the FAZA car guide, these side decals are exactly where they have to be...do you have the hubcaps? i have a set.
have a nice sunday

[evannice]

Hi naegeli,

Yes, I agree that the side stripes in the old photos are right and the new decals are significantly different.  We won't be changing them now that they are done, though.  Thanks for the hubcap offer, but I do have a nice rechromed set.  They just need the center emblems painted now.

[evannice]

Okay, the windshield and back glass are back in.  The new gaskets fit well, the old trim survived the process thanks to the care and skill of the glass guy, the glass did not break, and the old Abarth Register decal is still intact.  Hooray!  There were a variety of delays, but it is looking like I will be driving the car soon.

[evannice]

Vetlenorge, this photo is for you.  I measure the outside dimensions as 122 mm wide and 23 mm high.

[evannice]

Hi gang,

Well the car is back from body and paint now, and it looks very nice.  I have a long list of relatively small problems to sort out such as lights that no longer work and the left side of the dash got crunched so I will have to redo that for a second time, but it runs and drives really well.  I am going to post a bunch of photos and then I will sign off.

[evannice]

More photos.