Faults:

The cam pulley came off at 12002 miles, so no way the dealer would fix it, it threw the cam belt and bent all the valves.

Burnt points every 2 weeks, starter switch couldn't handle the amperage of starter so I installed a starter button on the side of the seat.

Door stops were made of coat hanger wire so doors had crimp marks at fronts.

I learned a lot about mechanics owning this vehicle for ten years. My toolbox was a permanent fixture to the car. I changed the transmission in a K-mart parking lot while visiting Lake Chelan; luckily able to find a semi-working transmission in a junkyard and luckily a local gas station loaned me a floor jack.

It was fun to drive when running. My next car was a 1983 4-cylinder Toyota Camry and I was amazed to suddenly have a reliable car that rarely needed work.

General Comments:

Honda Civics were also available at the time but unheard of by the general public. It would have been a much better car. The dealer also had a Lotus Europa for 1000$ more but insurance for 1 year at my age would have been 1/3 the price of the car, and reliability would have been the same with much more difficult-to-find parts, but it was gorgeous.

The Fiat did sit for a few years when I picked up a VW Squareback which needed an engine rebuild for cheap. That was the easiest rebuild ever; just loosen a few bolts, drop the engine and bolt on new cylinders. A great car once I figured out how the fuel injection worked - for a while I had the reputation of being a magician with VW fuel injection systems, most mechanics at the time knew nothing about fuel injection.

Faults:

The engine blew at 90,000.

Paint was very thick, as if they dipped the car.

General Comments:

It was my first car. I had the choice of buying a using Mercury Comet V8 or a new car. My dad put the down payment down and I paid the rest.

It was the 70s, what can I say. My first mods to it were big house speakers and a Jensen cassette player.

It was a 4 speed, and it would beat up on 6 cylinder gremlins all day long in drag races. I liked it for what it was - Mine. It didn't have a cruise control, but I made do by setting the choke and idle speed, I could cruise 65mph all day long without touching the gas pedal.

The timing belt went out at 90,000 miles; strangely it didn't bend a valve, and the block looked as good as new.

I gave it to my dad and he sold it. Both are long gone now.

Faults:

Timing belts broke with no warning, at any time, for no reason, even when new!

I maintained this car perfectly, waxed and polished and in the dry Southern California area, it formed rust bubbles on the hood when less than 1 year old!

General Comments:

The old adage that FIAT stands for "Fix It Again Tony" was never more truthful. I actually made my local FIAT repair shop rich!

I wanted a car that was unusual and had some performance, the FIAT seemed ideal. I loved that car, it had real soul... but she was just too damn unreliable. I actually would turn the key to start it while praying that it would start! It broke down so much... if the timing belt snapped, the valves would fall on the pistons and bend, and damage the pistons!

Never, never would own a FIAT again! Ever!