The Official 356Talk Forum

OK guys, here's one to beat me up on. I'm just finishing a Fiat 500 ABARTH, clone. 698/75 HP. Started out with a stock '70, and have built everything cosmetic, and mechanical from genuine ABARTH parts sourced from Italy. No easy feat. "Why" you say, because I saw one in 1960, and fell in love with the sound and kinky look. Not to mention the fun of the build. Mike, thank you for keeping our hobby alive. Where would we be without you. And thanks for the great parts you have provided for the '54 Pre-A I'm restoring. ...........................Jim.

Jim Liberty wrote:fell in love with the sound and kinky look

I always suspected you were kinky! Welcome to the dark side. I haven't owned an Abarth yet but a Daimler SP250, 2 Elva Couriers, and 2 Devin Ds have to count. In 1970 I was driving around Italy in a VW bug and was amazed by all the hotrodded Fiats going flat out around corners simultaneously blowing the air horns. When you heard the horns you braced yourself in anticipation of how sideways they came at you. Very entertaining! Even if you couldn't afford an Abarth you made your Fiat look like one with propped up engine lid and decals.

CJ, you know I have a "Blown" Bugeye, a '53 MORGAN "Skimpy" race car, and a MORGAN Trike. Talk about the dark side. Tiff and I ran the Cal. Mille in the Skimpy. She is still not talking to me.

By "blown" I assume you mean a Judson supercharger that was made in suburban Philadelphia. Didn't they blow soon enough without being "blown"? I hope you have one of their magnetos as well.

Yes a Judson made for the 948. I have the magneto, but is is not functioning well. Do you have a cure. .....................Jim.

Like old motorcycle mags, they often fail due to bad windings or a failed condenser. They also tend to get corroded inside and the brushes can't make proper contact. Have you looked inside? There must be some 105 year old man rebuilding them in some dimly lit basement shop somewhere. There should be some simple tests that will show what has failed.

CJ, mine is an "Electronic Magneto" by Judson. I took the end off and it is filled with an asphalt material, rock hard. I've considered cleaning it out and installing a modern coil. Is there a fix for what I have. ...............Jim. PS. Can you believe it was made in "Conshohocken, PA"

Like this...http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig210.htm I forgot about those and of course they are not magnetos at all but the marketing suggested they were.

I think you might be smart to put a small coil inside.

Convertible D with Judson "magneto" http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/272 ... 60Super%60

C J Murray wrote:Like this...http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig210.htm I forgot about those and of course they are not magnetos at all but the marketing suggested they were.

I think you might be smart to put a small coil inside.

Convertible D with Judson "magneto" http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/272 ... 60Super%60

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Not exactly flying off the shelves, those....

There you go Jim, Adam must have at least one that works.

Split from Chassis Mockup thread

Like this one?

Fiat Abarth along with my friends selection of cars to bring to the C & C wife and I hosted at our vacation rental this past weekend.



He is a big fellow and it is interesting to watch him slip into this little car......

100-4 and Abarth Zagato, just beautiful!

Dan Kalinski wrote:Like this one?
Fiat Abarth along with my friends selection of cars to bring to the C & C wife and I hosted at our vacation rental this past weekend.

Cincinnati, '61 or '62, hobbying in a buddy's machine shop (long story). Local guy sees work, has a 750 Abarth, wants it (really, I do not make this up) metal-flake red.
Pays me to strip it, which is my education on Italian body filler (it's plastic, and there's a LOT of it). Guy who owns the shop arranges to get it metal-flaked.
I hope someone in the mid-west ran into it; it was hard to miss.