History
The photo is not of my car but nearly identical except mine was RHD.
I bought it new in late 1969 when I was 18. It cost $3600 which was pretty expensive at the time. I had ordered the green model but only the yellow was available. Good color though, chuck-up yellow.
I had been in the VADC for two years so as soon as I got the FIAT I started using it in motorkhanas and club rallies/trials, also the new rallycross events at Calder.
I replaced the two inner headlights with 100w aircraft landing lights and later upgraded the standard Pirelli tyres with Aquajets including a larger size on the rears. With studs for winter rallying.
This car could out compete a Lotus Cortina and a 911 in wet rallies, It was a miracle as it wasn't my driving, I had a lot of luck too.
It did have good handling if you knew what tyre pressures to use in different conditions. And put some extra weight in the front for motorkhanas. It also took a long time to stop on dirt. I still don't know how a three bearing crank could rev out so well to 9000rpm, but apart from the starter motor it never had an engine problem.
I dropped a back wheel into a pothole while drifting too fast (about 70mph) through a 50mph corner and flipped it onto the roof. Won a motorkhana the next day after cleaning the oil out of the carby and cylinders.
I couldn't afford to fix it so I removed the roof entirely and welded in roll bars. It was now pretty unique. I made a clear plastic roof that was good to 100mph and didn't leak.
Now my memory fails as I probably sold it for a song and left for overseas where I spent the following 4 years.
Miss the car a lot, even now.
Modifications
Fitted aircraft landing lights of 100w into the inner high beam lights.
FItted ammeter, voltmeter etc. Modified the exaust system.
Always carried a couple of spare front engine mounts as they tended to crack.
