The Cal-look Lounge

Cal-look/High Performance => Cal-look => Topic started by: deano on June 09, 2009, 23:56:22 pm



Title: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: deano on June 09, 2009, 23:56:22 pm
Don't know if you guys have seen this one from the past. ... From Custom Car, April 1973.



Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: cal-look 56 on June 10, 2009, 00:05:12 am
Awesome article Dean.


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: Geoff P DVKK on June 10, 2009, 00:21:22 am
Let me be the first to say........... Bitchen! ;D


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: rick m on June 10, 2009, 07:53:24 am
Very cool.  I remember seeing the car when new. What was the controversy with the car regarding the convertible vs. hard top issue.  Is seem to remember it years back but have forgotten the whole story. 


Rick M


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: Fastbrit on June 10, 2009, 09:45:55 am
The NHRA objected to the hardtop as it was not a factory fitment, so Darrell had to revert to a soft-top. While doing so, he took the opportunity to chop the windshield to exploit the top-chop rules. I think the car looked better with the hardtop and we'd love to restore it to that look but the original is long gone and many other changes made to chassis etc since it looked like that. Darrell also says engine access was a pain with the hardtop.


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: nicolas on June 10, 2009, 10:10:23 am
it is a nice racecar. maybe it sums up to what a racecar with all the innovations and all improvements combined could look like. this thing looks like it was build up from scratch. 


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: Neil Davies on June 10, 2009, 10:17:45 am
My Dad has a collection of magazines in his lowft, including pretty much the first five or six years of CC - I think the car mags stopped when I was thought of! I'm sure I read that issue years ago, before I got into VWs. I might have to dig it out! :)


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: deano on June 10, 2009, 15:15:10 pm
Anyone notice which way the Fiat is going in that wheelie shot at OCIR?

KS..... are you in California presently?


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: empicolector on June 10, 2009, 15:18:37 pm
nice car


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: speedwell on June 10, 2009, 15:29:29 pm
Anyone notice which way the Fiat is going in that wheelie shot at OCIR?

KS..... are you in California presently?
in the reverse side of the track  ;)


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: Fastbrit on June 11, 2009, 01:22:32 am
Anyone notice which way the Fiat is going in that wheelie shot at OCIR?

KS..... are you in California presently?
yes sir! See you at Rich's later?


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: Zach Gomulka on June 11, 2009, 17:34:17 pm
The NHRA objected to the hardtop as it was not a factory fitment, so Darrell had to revert to a soft-top. While doing so, he took the opportunity to chop the windshield to exploit the top-chop rules. I think the car looked better with the hardtop and we'd love to restore it to that look but the original is long gone and many other changes made to chassis etc since it looked like that. Darrell also says engine access was a pain with the hardtop.

Chopped with the hardtop may have looked pretty wicked ;)


Title: Re: Race Shop Fiat Story
Post by: Jim Ratto on June 11, 2009, 20:34:11 pm
ran a Porsche 917 transaxle?