[camerjeff]

As I am Retiring, and my last day of work will be next Friday, I renewed my Interest in purchasing an odd Luxury Fiat Model that was never sold in North America. A Fiat 130 Coupe. I have been looking on and off for about 10 years for a nice example. I have attempted to purchase a couple that were already in the US, but either being outbid on the last one on BAT a couple of years ago, and just missing one that sold a day before I contacted the seller last year.
So I decided to start looking in Europe for a nice example that had the options I wanted, 5-speed manual transmission, and the bright orange velour interior were musts. A/C was preferred but not a must and the exterior color was flexible. Also I looking for one with under 60k miles.
Over thanksgiving weekend this example came up for auction on a French Site in a paint color I had never seen before and I placed bids up to my limit taking auction fees, and inport/export costs & shipping costs into consideration. In the end I was outbid, and started looking at other cars. Well I was surprised early last week when the auction house contacted me because the high bidder did not pay for the car, and the second high bidder passed on the opportunity to buy it. So it was offered to me. And I jumped on it. I just got word that the shipping company is scheduled to pick it up early next week.
So I am a bit exited to own it, and I have sense learned the car has a bit of history attached to it, that I was unaware of because I can't read or Speak French. So what do you all think? If anyone is interested on why an American born and raised in the Midwest would want an obscure European Luxury car from the 1970's I will post the back story.

[sdbob]

Congratulations. Enjoy your gift. When I retired I bought a 26 ft enclosed 'loaded' trailer.

[johnta1]

Congrats!
I would be interested in the back story?
(1st sex in back seat? )

[mgarblik]

Congratulations on your retirement. I always like to learn new things. Having never seen or heard of that model, I would be interested in the back story. I have to admit, that may be one of the best looking Fiats from that era. It looks like it was a top sports model of the era. Speaking of that, I don't think you mentioned what model year it is? The colors are a little crazy. I like the pic where the bright orange carpet glows up through the big holes in the steering wheel spokes.

[camerjeff]

Thanks all, as for the info on the car, in the late 1960's Fiat had Delusions of competing with Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Jaguar for the Luxury performance Market. And the 130 Coupe and Sedan were the results, along with the Fiat Dino. They sold many more sedans from 1968-1975, but they only managed to sell about 4500 of the Coupes from 1971-1976. And other than the usual Italian Rust and Electrical issues there was nothing wrong with the cars, but they were priced higher than the equivalent BMW but slightly less than Mercedes or Jaguar. Powered by a 3.2 SOHC V6 that makes 165 HP and a wight of 3500 lbs, they are not the fastest cars, but with 4 wheel independent Suspension, and 4 wheel disc brakes they handle and stop very well for the era. My car is actually 1 pre production 1971 model that was used on the European Auto Show circuit for 1971 & 72. Used by Fiat as a Company car until 1981, then Sold to its 1st owner, I am its 3rd owner, the 1st in Italy, and the 2nd in France.

As for why a guy Born and Raised in the Midwest would want an obscure Italian Luxury car from the 1970's? Here is the back story. When I got out of the USN in 1981, there were not many jobs to be had in Central Michigan. My uncle who was good friends with the owner of the Local Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari dealership put in a good word for me, And I was Hired as the Shop Flunky (owners words not mine) So among my more normal tasks of Cleaning and prepping the New and Used cars, rotating the stock on the lots & showroom, cleaning the service bays, and helping the Mechanic's when needed. I was tasked with moving the owners car from in front of the dealerships doors when he arrived, around back, and reverse the process whenever he was ready to leave. He was a very avid Italian Car collector, and had many what were considered classic's in the early 1980's, and on nice days he would usually drive one of his classic's. I was able to drive many somewhat exotic cars, even if it was just in the parking lot of the dealership. He was a very distinguished man about 70 years old at the time.
We talked cars many times, He always tried to talk me out of driving the 1970 GTO that was my daily driver at the time. I remember asking him what the next car he wanted to add to his collection, and he immediately said a Fiat 130 Coupe! But he was irritated that at the time it was almost impossible to import one due to emissions and safety issues. He later gave me a Brochure (in Italian) of them, and I saw that bright orange interior and fell in love with it and the body shape. He mentioned that for the last few years when he went back to Italy he drove one, and was very impressed with them, and said other than needing 50 more HP they were perfect.
Fast forward about 10 years, and I was engaged to a German National, and she went back home to visit her family, I flew over about a week later, and she picked me up at the Frankfurt airport in her fathers car, a Silver Fiat 130 coupe with a Bright Blue Velour interior! I had never actually seen one before, and even though she never let me drive it, the more I rode in it the more I liked it, and its odd features. I was very disappointed the next year when she picked me up in his almost new Ford Scorpio automatic, probably a better car for him, but I never warmed to it.
So that is the back story on why I wanted one, that and my interest in odd cars, and for some reason that orange interior just screams 1970's to me.

[mgarblik]

Is the V-6 DOHC engine a Fiat creation? Or did they buy the engine from someone else to place in this special model. Most of us probably think of Fiat as having 4-cyl engines. I do at least. Finally, is the engine fuel injected? I would think some type of crude port fuel injection was available by 1971. VW had port fuel from Bosch, continuous FI by 1968.

[camerjeff]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Is the V-6 DOHC engine a Fiat creation? Or did they buy the engine from someone else to place in this special model. Most of us probably think of Fiat as having 4-cyl engines. I do at least. Finally, is the engine fuel injected? I would think some type of crude port fuel injection was available by 1971. VW had port fuel from Bosch, continuous FI by 1968.

It is a SOHC, not a DOHC 60 degree V6, it is a Fiat engine used exclusively in the 130 coupes and sedans. It was designed by the Former Ferrari Engineer Aurelio Lampredi. And no it is chocked by a Single 2bbl Webber 45 Carb. I am told that the original design used 3 webber 2bbls, but the performance was 2 close to the 4 seat Ferrari's of the era for 1/2 the price, so it was limited to the single 2bbl.

The car does have some very advanced features for 1971. I owned alot of $50 Fiats in the late 1970's and they all had 1.5L to 2.4L four cylinders. This is the 1st V6 model that I have owned. I am still learning about it, and it has some very odd features.

[eaglesan13]

That orange interior is pretty cool looking!

So what happened to the German national, did you marry her?

[camerjeff]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

That orange interior is pretty cool looking!

So what happened to the German national, did you marry her?

No she was actually out of my league, and she finally decided to move back to Germany.

[Half-Inch Stud]

OHC-6 to Fiat. Hmmmmm is the way the original OH -6 owner went when i bought the 69-Sprint stick. He wanted less front-end overhang weight. He went to an X-1/9, I went to his 250cid 4-bbl SPRINT.

[jerry455]

Cool car Jeff. I have never seen or heard of that model. It is a very attractive looking car. Maybe we will see it at Burd's Cars and Coffee.

[camerjeff]

Thanks Jerry, I hope it drives as good as claimed, I should be able to make it to Burds this year as work won't interfere.

Doing a bit of internet research I found this site in Dutch with some interesting information on this car, the auction site said it had been used as a Fiat Company car for about 8 years, I had no Idea who's company car it may have been. Also judging by the pictures the headrests must have been added by the seller at some point in the last 8 years.

https://fiat130.nl/to-22438-f-1971-i/

[mgarblik]

I think it's a very safe bet it will be the only one at any Cars and Coffee anywhere! Cool sounding engine and the carburetor vs early CFI will be a blessing.

[Verdoro 68]

Neat car, neat story. Love the color combo and that Pininfarina styling. Congrats on your retirement!

[camerjeff]

I was trying to find a good photo of the V6 engine that shows the very nice looking exhaust manifolds (or headers) that these engines Have. I found this Postcard on line showing the sedan version with the 3-speed BW automatic. But is shows the manifolds very well.

[camerjeff]

The car was picked up yesterday and moved to the port of export, the total cost for shipping is going to be about $2000 more than the initial estimate, that did not include $750 pick up and delivery fee from the storage location to the port, brokorage fees, customs fees, and $850 delivery from the port of import to my house. I was originally going to pick it up, but it would cost me about that amount, and 2 days of driving. But the actual shipping cost from port to port is exactly what they estimated. So step 2 of ownership is over, only about 5 more to go.
Also I found out the car comes not with 2 fitted bags, but 5. And I have to pay to have them shipped seperatly as the shipping company's insurence will not cover any theft of items in the car, only items that are part of the car.

[72projectbird]

Cool car! I like it's boxy, sharp lines.

I've been researching and planning on a vehicle taking a long boat ride to the US. It's certainly an interesting scenario to navigate, but definitely worth it!

[camerjeff]

Thanks 72! Its about as close to an exotic classic Italian car I will ever be able to afford. I have confirmed the car was used by then Fiat Ceo Giovanni Agnelli, grandson of Fiats Founder. I had no idea the car had that much history. Supposedly it was used for the European show car curcuit in 1971 & 72, then used as one of his company cars from 72 to 81, when it was sold to its 1st Italian owner. I will be its 3rd owner after the seller that was just north east of Paris France.
Fingers crossed that the rust in the front fenders is not much worse than it appears (when does that happen? I know I'm a dreamer sometimes.) I always thought the 130 Coupes were better looking than the 4 seat Ferrari's of the era, but slower with only 1/2 the cylinders, and 2/3'ds the HP.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by camerjeff

Thanks 72! Its about as close to an exotic classic Italian car I will ever be able to afford. I have confirmed the car was used by then Fiat Ceo Giovanni Agnelli, grandson of Fiats Founder. I had no idea the car had that much history. Supposedly it was used for the European show car curcuit in 1971 & 72, then used as one of his company cars from 72 to 81, when it was sold to its 1st Italian owner. I will be its 3rd owner after the seller that was just north east of Paris France.
Fingers crossed that the rust in the front fenders is not much worse than it appears (when does that happen? I know I'm a dreamer sometimes.) I always thought the 130 Coupes were better looking than the 4 seat Ferrari's of the era, but slower with only 1/2 the cylinders, and 2/3'ds the HP.

Ya never know, sometimes you get lucky and the rust really is just what you can see, and nothing more.

I agree it looks far better than most 4 seat Ferraris from back then, although I've always thought the Ferrari 412 was kinda cool

[carcrazy]

Interesting car! Best of luck with it and your retirement!