Here is a picture of my ’74 Spider:
This car was at last year’s Freak Out, but was not yet running. I’d finished the ‘assembly’ phase (engine) but she still needed a completely new fuel system and had not run since 1977.
Purchased Mother's Day weekend 2008, from the original owner. Untouched after being damaged in a rally in 1977, the car was a Chicago native needing new motor, trans, brakes...and so forth. A complete & total mechanical rebuild!
I spent nearly a year finding all the bits & pieces to complete my “dream” project. A 2000cc motor from California, a trans from Wisconsin, carbs from Oregon, an air cleaner from New Zealand, rims & gauges from Colorado...mechanical parts from nearly every Fiat vendor...
There were Chicagoland FLU “Team Wrenching” parties at my house to pull the old motor & trans, and others to drop replacements back in, and a few others for every major phase of the project. Countless friends & helpers made this project possible, and without them it never would have happened.
She’s a ’74 with early bumpers, Marchal H4 headlights & driving lights, CD-3 rims & hubcaps, a smooth hood, a 2000cc motor, dual IDF’s, 40/80 cams, a lightened flywheel, electronic ignition, stainless exhaust, drilled & slotted brake rotors, ferodo pads, braided stainless flex lines, chrome bezel gauges, ‘euro’ style front & rear turn signal lenses, a Nardi steering wheel, custom dash-mat, and CoCo floor mats.
In March of 2010 she became “complete”, and hit the road for the first time since 1977, and MAN....
...what a ride!
Lee Putman |
