# Fiat started for the first time in a Century **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 2, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101 "2014-12-02T04:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/21 "2015-01-25T16:33:57Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Is this an example of over engineering? I’m serious. I wouldn’t say so. You have to consider that back in those days, gasoline was not a primary product of oil refining; in many cases it was considered a byproduct or just waste. It was very low in octane number, around 40-50. plus, internal combustion engines were still in their infancy. as a comparison, the Ford Model T’s 2.9 liter four cylinder engine made all of 20 hp. The low octane number of that era’s gas meant they couldn’t have high compression ratios, and the crude manufacturing tech meant the engines couldn’t “breathe” very well (restrictive airflow through the intake and exhaust ports.) So, if you wanted to make a more powerful engine, you had to make it bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/22 "2015-01-25T21:43:56Z")
My friends brother in law has 4 mid 70’s fiats in a barn. Check back in 65 years. I’ll bump the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/23 "2015-01-26T18:46:03Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > To be fair, the engine was pretty completely rebuilt by Brits. Like the Brits have a stellar reputation for reliability… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/24 "2015-01-26T22:16:24Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Like the Brits have a stellar reputation for reliability… You mean the prince of darkness wired it? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/25 "2015-01-26T22:17:29Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > To be fair, the engine was pretty completely rebuilt by Brits. So, maybe, Fabricate It Anew, Trevor? > [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Like the Brits have a stellar reputation for reliability… Hey, _you_ try to set up a pun that horrible! ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/26 "2015-01-27T15:32:17Z")
They liked them big back then. I saw this [Napier-Railton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier-Railton) do the hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/27 "2015-01-27T18:17:19Z")
I don’t get all the FIAT hate. My family loved them. My dad had an 850 spider and then got another one that went to my sister. Then I got an 850 sedan when I was 16. Yeah, it wasn’t as sexy as a spider but I liked it. It was smaller than a VW beetle and I was very popular at high school because we’d try to see how many people could fit in it. The only problem I ever had with it was a broken fanbelt. I’d have kept that thing forever if some jackass old fart hadn’t sandwiched me between his car and another big car at a stoplight. I was heartbroken when it was totaled. I had named him Topo Gigio. _sniff_ ☹ But that thing in the OP is insane. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/28 "2015-01-27T19:47:57Z")
My dad also had a 850 Spider for a while. Fun car. However, one of my sisters owned a 124 sedan, a veritable Rolls Canardly. Although there weren’t many hills in our area, she finally had enough and sold the thing. The new owner was trying to sell it again within a week. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/29 "2015-01-27T20:56:37Z")
Despite the ever-so-clever acronym, the problem with FIAT’s earlier foray into North America wasn’t reliability, it was rust. Open-top sports cars are great. Open-bottom ones, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/30 "2015-01-27T21:03:44Z")
My dad bought the 2000 Spider in 1980. I still drive it to this day. Great car. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/31 "2015-01-28T11:36:27Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Like the Brits have a stellar reputation for reliability… Depends where you go for your Brit automotive products. It’s true sometimes though. Supposedly Lucas, the electro parts maker, once produced a car vac - it was the only thing they ever made that didn’t suck. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/32 "2015-01-28T15:11:24Z")
Coffee. Spray. Keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/33 "2015-01-28T20:00:22Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > My dad bought the 2000 Spider in 1980. I still drive it to this day. Great car. Dang, I don’t even buy cars new, you buy them 20 years in advance :eek: ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/34 "2015-01-28T23:21:20Z")
Those [pistons](http://theoldmotor.com/?p=122246)are enormous! The caption says 7.5" diameter. I think a lawnmower engine might almost fit inside one of those. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/35 "2015-01-30T14:29:07Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > You mean the prince of darkness wired it? Why do brits like warm beer? Lucas built refrigerators too. Seriously though. 28 liters? I don’t think my 1977 Honda CVCC had that much interior space. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/36 "2015-01-31T00:14:06Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I don’t get all the FIAT hate. My family loved them. My dad had an 850 spider and then got another one that went to my sister. Then I got an 850 sedan when I was 16. Yeah, it wasn’t as sexy as a spider but I liked it. It was smaller than a VW beetle and I was very popular at high school because we’d try to see how many people could fit in it. The only problem I ever had with it was a broken fanbelt. I’d have kept that thing forever if some jackass old fart hadn’t sandwiched me between his car and another big car at a stoplight. I was heartbroken when it was totaled. I had named him Topo Gigio. _sniff_ ☹ > > But that thing in the OP is insane. I know! I had a Fiat and it started a LOT more often than once a century! Nothing like every day, mind you, but probably weekly. 😃 Sadly mine (a Spider) died as yours did, sandwiched in a rear-ender. ---
**Author:** ![HyacinthBucket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hyacinthbucket/32/3063_2.png) [@HyacinthBucket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HyacinthBucket)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/37 "2015-02-03T03:02:54Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Despite the ever-so-clever acronym, the problem with FIAT’s earlier foray into North America wasn’t reliability, it was rust. Open-top sports cars are great. Open-bottom ones, not so much. Yep, the infamous self-destructing rocker panels. I remember them well. Bought all 3 of my 124 Spiders brand new and the rocker panels were toast within 3 years, thanks to Chicago winters and road salt. The timing belts usually were right behind them. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/38 "2015-03-31T22:47:15Z")
It. Is. [Alive](http://www.classicandsportscar.com/video/the-285-litre-beast-of-turin-is-driven-for-the-first-time-in-100-years). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/39 "2015-03-31T23:15:43Z")
Wow. I want a ride in that thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101/40 "2015-03-31T23:32:54Z")
So is it fair to say that the gas mileage on this thing would be about 0.01 miles per gallon or so? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-started-for-the-first-time-in-a-century/706101.md?page=3)