1974 Fiat 128 SL Coupe USA from Netherlands - Comments

I bought a used '74 128SL in about '79, when I was in college. I really enjoyed that car, but... they did require more routine maintenance then a lot of other cars. That was sort of a problem as I was on a "budget" in terms of parts and tools! So, a lot of things that I presumably could have repaired easily and in shorter order, ended up being more complicated than they should've been.

I own a '78 X1/9 now, and it has similar running gear. It's surprising how much easier it is to work on a car when you can afford to buy the right parts and tools at the right time! And for what it's worth, those parts don't cost anymore in real dollars, than they did then. That means they cost about 4x as much back then.

But...I've gotta say, my 128SL was a "ruster" like no car I've ever seen. I've owned lots of Fiats and none have been nearly so bad as that car. Even the slightest door ding would crack the paint. Then the paint would peel off down to bare metal. Then within a week, it would rust to a point that would've taken any other car 2-3 years to accomplish!

I had a red 1300 SL from 1977-80 during my years as a college kid in Aachen, Germany. I believe the car was a '73 model, but I'm not sure.

It ran 170 kph (about 106 mph) on the Autobahn. The engine was superb and the sound: simply incredible. Had a little problem with rust, though. After one of the tie rods was ripped out of the sheet metal while taking a hard brake, I had to sell the car.

Anyway, I live in Michigan now and I'm missing my little red Ferrari...

Back in 1978, I bought a 128 3P Berlinetta 1300 year 1976, second hand with over 72'000 km on the clock.

It was, well I better say 'IS' my first car and is still alive today.

I restored it 3 times tuned it up and still after all these years driving other cars it is stuck on my side.