[Roadsters] Just your thoughts OT Fiat 850

[RWM]

The CP (Solex, or if SU, DP) 2000 Roadster and 240Z were probably 
getting ready to lap the HP 850...



steven boortz wrote:
> hi everyone
> the other night I was looking longingly at race cars for sale on eBay, and saw 
> just such an 850 Spyder race car for sale.  i went back today and it was gone, 
> or I would have posted a link.  the cool thing is that there were many racing 
> photos in the ad, and in one, the little car was being trailed by a roadster and 
> a 240Z.  anyone else see it?  anyone smart enough (i sure wasn't) to download 
> the pic?
> s
> 675MIZU
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Aaron Polivka <aaron at polivka.org>
> To: datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net
> Sent: Wed, August 25, 2010 9:03:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [Roadsters] Just your thoughts OT Fiat 850
>
> I've driven and rode in a Fiat 850 spider.  It actually handles quite
> well (if all the suspension bits are working properly, which is a big
> if) but has the all the "performance" of a 60s beetle. It's pretty,
> though, and has a certain amount of charm, but a roadster is a much
> better driver. As I recall, 1st gear was a "grinder" (no synchro). Even
> a 1600 puts out about twice as much HP.
>
> I'd also hate to be in an accident with at 60s rear engined Italian
> sports car.  Most of these were rusty within a couple of years of new,
> and that cheap, thin metal in front didn't give me a feeling of safety.
> Other than looks, and MG Midget is a much better car, and a Midget is
> one somewhere between "junk" and "crap" on my scale of desirable cars.
> :)
>
> The 124 coupe was way cool.  Probably twice as fast as an 850 and a
> great looking design that has aged very well IMO.  But tin worm and
> horrible reliability has got 99.9% of them sentenced to the crusher by
> now.