Turins Tiny Masterpiece is reborn! Fiat 850 Epiosde 8

[@robax]

This was my first car. It had everything I wanted.. Italian, red, wooden wheel, stick shift, a big rev counter, rear engine, dual headlights and bucket seats. It had those front suspension splits in the body shell and the muffler would crack off the headers. Other than that it was a ton of fun.

[@automotivetales]

They are awesome aren’t they - like a baby Italian sports car! 😃

[@ronvalente65]

I bought one of these second hand in 1971, We had just got married, was a stunning little car but problems started not long after purchase, after about two weeks it would strangely loose water, at the time Fiat had a facility in Warrington , every time they said it was sorted it did the same again, I cured it myself with a barr seal! then then next pulling away from traffic lights ( Giving it a bit } the engine cut out! so back to Fiat! seems there is some sort of safety device to stop the engine from being over revved, a mechanical part of some sort had sheared, that was fixed, if I can remember the front wheel bearings had to be regreased every 1000miles and this was done religously ! but one bearing started knocking, once again Fiat did the job, after two years it started to show an attack of rust around the sills! so a bottom half was done and quickly sold, after all the problems I still loved the little fiat and was sorry to see it go.

[@automotivetales]

They were certainly not the greatest build quality - I have the original MIRA test report from when the 850 was new and it certainly didn’t fair well on their endurance tests 🤣 but, they are lovable little things, even scary in Abarth trim

[@alexshepherd]

@@automotivetalesI’d love to see the report, wonder how it did on the Belgian pavé!

[@FrogFranker]

I had a fiat 850 in my 20s it was so much fun to drive, never hard to roll start at 650kgs weight (as the generator was often broken and i had to charge the battery at home)....always felt like a racing car even tho it was not that fast, really went around corner so well. Never got stuck in the mud off road as it was so light weight. Electrics would often fail so you really just had to accept that. I replaced the radiator custom made. A real joy to own the Fiat 850 really wish i had kept it but i was just too poor at the time to keep fixing her. But I'm soon looking for a retirement project so perhaps another fiat 850?

[@automotivetales]

There are still some restoration projects out there - one sold just last week in the UK for £900 😕

[@alexshepherd]

3:42 that’s something I like, too - seeing the tops of the front guards from the driving position. I have an 850 Coupe also that I’m getting around to restoring, but ironically my daily driver has the same characteristic in its view out; Tesla Model 3, Performance of course :)

[@santosh911]

Im not as tied to originality as you seem to be. So to make it a useable car, ive been wondering what would be a nice modern conversion engine that would have a ac pump. Im from the caribbean, so ac is a necessity. Maybe a modern injected (perhaps turbocharged) three cylinder engine. Or a subaru N/A engine and transmission. Decent power without being ridiculous, reliability, refinement, lightness and ac! The three cylinder engines might be nice as they may allow the radiator to remain in (or close to) the original position. And also retain fantastic fuel economy. But the subaru transmission would allow the retention of the longitudinal engine orientation. But ultimately, an ev conversion might be the most sensible choice. All expensive and very involved, but that car is worth it!

[@automotivetales]

The little Dihatsu 3 cylinder engine that ended up in the Toyota Aygo / Citroen C1 would make an excellent choice, revvy and powerful for a small car! Would love to hear if you get the project off the ground!

[@sammckay1263]

Hey there:) great video, what a gorgeous car! Can you tell me where the seats are from? They are awesome - I'm interested in buying one at some point but I'd like to get better, safer, nicer seats compared to the stock seats... thanks!

[@automotivetales]

Sadly they were with the car when I bought it - I am told they are original equipment but US market seats for the sports model. I have seen one more with similar seats suggesting this is the case. Good look hunting for one - they are a little few and far between but worth the hunt!