Well, I’m not going to go into a long diatribe since I just wrote about a pair of these, but I just wanted to make sure I featured this since it’s in remarkably good shape for the price. If you’re in the market for a Fiat 128, right now you’re spoiled for choice – this makes for a record 3 cars currently available. Being a southern car, this one should be pretty rust-free too. You can find it in Lancaster, CA, just outside of LA, for $1850.
So I was trying to name this in honor of Lunar New Year…. hmm, maybe I should write about a Sunbeam Tiger. If only they were still $3K…. so instead I’ll write about a Fiat 128. Hey, 8 is a lucky number, right?
I’m still fascinated by these cars, although experience is starting to tell me I should keep my fascination to rear-wheel drive cars. Access in the engine compartment is easier, thanks to nobody trying to squeeze in a transmission and drive shafts where engine stuff should be. That said, it’s pretty rare to find one of these, let alone in Kentucky, and apparently rust-free. So that brings us to our first car, whose seller has the same sense of irony (or resignation) in light of the Fiat takeover of Chrysler as the seller of last month’s 124 spider. Find our first example, a 1978 128 sedan, at Mann Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Richmond, KY for $1980.
Occasionally, looking around at cars results in a stronger attraction than originally expected. I first saw this car probably late last year, was interested (as often happens), but this time actually emailed the seller, since his ad was not terribly detailed. It turned out the car had a burned/broken valve, but came with another engine out of a late-70s spider. If you’re an Alfa-anorak, you’ll know the ’69 Berlina came with Alfa’s 1750 engine, also featured in ’69-’71 GTVs and Spiders. Rumor has it 1750s are hard to find, due to their use for restoring the more valuable siblings of the Berlina, and (I think) their popularity for some sort of racing application. The 1750 Berlina also got a distinctive grill, as well as a two-pod/bug-eye dash set up for the speedo and tach, and a center console holding 4 gauges (clock, oil, fuel, water).
Anyway, back to the example at hand. Normally, I’d prefer to feature running cars, but I’m making an exception for this one since my fantasy is that this one is not too far from driveable. It’s in one of the better colors for this model (Rosso Amaranto), with a tan interior. Other listings over the months have shown the car has the rare rear-set armrest/console. You can follow the history of my interest in the car, or see the listing for it, currently at $2500 in Long Beach, CA.
Rusty But Trusty 