FS: Fiat 128, 2 door Sedan, Cheap, located in MN

This is not my car, I am just selling it for a buddy.

Story goes something like this: Buddy picked this up site unseen a few years back. He was offered a Fiat for cheap, he asked if it was front wheel drive or rear wheel drive and the lady who owned it didn't know for sure, but she thought rear wheel drive.

(A rear wheel drive Fiat equals a 131 and they equal cool. A front wheel drive Fiat equals a 128 and they equal not as cool as a 131)

So one Saturday morning he loaded up the car trailer and headed south. When she opened the garage door he realized it was a 128. He is too nice of a guy and still bought it thinking he would do something with it. And the lady was really happy it was leaving her garage.

Well the car has now sat for a couple years and no one has touched it. Because of this he wants to get rid of it before the snow flies.

Here is the info I know: 1975 Fiat 128 2 Door Sedan (2 doors appear to be less common) Dark Blue 1.3L Ran 5 years ago Front wheel drive No title, so it should be a race car or parts. Car is located in Woodbury, MN and will need to be towed to its new home

Best Offer. Honestly, I think he would take $250-$300 bucks for it. He might take less, but I would have to ask. It would make a great Chump or Lemons car. If no one buys it I'm going to haul it to the local upullrparts yard in the next month.

if it had a title or transferrable registration, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

My very first out of the showroom automobile was one of those! 25 y/o newlywed,you wouldn't believe what that car is capable of.

Somebody buy this so I don't have to drive cross country again.

Thank you.

Supercoupe wrote: if it had a title or transferrable registration, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Yeah, I'm not sure of the process as it varies by state. I know some states are easier then other states. I know a local kid who was able to register a titleless 82 Jetta with Colorado plates on it that I pulled out of a field. He checked with the DMV before buying it and I guess it was super simple because it had never been titled in MN and it only cost a bit extra and one extra form. However, if it had been registered in MN then it would have been a pain to impossible.

I WANT THIS. I'll find a way to make it happen.

SlickDizzy wrote: I WANT THIS. I'll find a way to make it happen.

get it! when you wanna part with it give me first dibs.

This is just too cool a car!

Any rust? Swaybar mounts/battery tray/etc? Any chance of an engine bay shot? I have some friends up in MPLS I need to visit anyway....

Two words set alarm bells ringing: Fiat, and Minnesota (ok, it said MN and that's an abbreviation, smartasses)

I thought I would open this thread to reveal a waist-high pile of rusty powder.

How is it that it's plated in Minnesota but it says there's no title? Did the current owner lose it? Couldn't he get a duplicate?

Before taking it to the u-pull yards (in the event that none of these guys manages to put a deal together) you might want to offer it to the Chrysler Museum.

Yeah, umm, I'll probably take it. I'd like to come take a look at it asap. I'll PM you a phone number.

SlickDizzy wrote: Any rust? Swaybar mounts/battery tray/etc? Any chance of an engine bay shot? I have some friends up in MPLS I need to visit anyway....

Definitely, more pics!

Trunk - the tops of the shock mounts were rusting on my old 128.

Rockers are susceptible, as are the wheel arch areas.

Most certainly, engine bay pics are requested.

It's already an SMF car; the rear seat is missing!

Wow, id have to disagree that its not as cool as a 131. I havent ever even seen a 128 that nice. I have considered paying $1k for one in worse shape than that. If I could afford it, I would come buy it right now (The asking price wouldnt be a problem, but purchasing a tow dolly and vehicle to tow it with, then gas from california would be a problem. lol). I hope it gets turned into a street car or nice race car rather than being scrapped or run in the 24 hours of lemons.

Ah, memories - I had a couple of 128s as a student, including a 2-door sedan in a semi-revolting shade of light olive green. I think they're cool and they're pretty tunable as well!

@20Ver, get your buddy to check the rear shock towers from inside the trunk. They tend to go in the seam between the shock tower and the inner fender - if it's in good condition there it'll make a really good small race car.

I have to agree; that car is too nice and doesn't deserve the 24 hours of lemons. Fix it up, give it a nice life.

BoxheadTim wrote: @20Ver, get your buddy to check the rear shock towers from inside the trunk. They tend to go in the seam between the shock tower and the inner fender - if it's in good condition there it'll make a really good small race car.

Sounds like 128's had the same problem on either side of the pond!

Consistency is not always good.

MacDubois wrote: Yeah, umm, I'll probably take it. I'd like to come take a look at it asap. I'll PM you a phone number.

NOOOOOO!!!!

My first car was a 128. I didn't like it.

Of course, I was young and stupid. Now I'm old and stupid and I love racing a Yugo- go figure!

I especially remember the throttle knob on the handle that you could drive "foot free", or lock it at a particular throttle position- crude cruise control (sort of!)! Love it!

Cool little car, somebody already snap it up?

BBC

SVreX wrote: My first car was a 128. I didn't like it. Of course, I was young and stupid. Now I'm old and stupid and I love racing a Yugo- go figure! I especially remember the throttle knob on the handle that you could drive "foot free", or lock it at a particular throttle position- crude cruise control (sort of!)! Love it!

That manual choke knob was useful, sometimes!

Too bad Americans treated 60's and 70's Fiats like they were made for our country. Had they been driven in Euro-like conditions, the reputation may not have suffered as much. It's not like the quality was that far off from what was coming out of Michigan.

Couple of virtual tire kickers, but no cash yet. I'll get it in the air some night this week and look for rust.

It was titled and plated in MN and driven in MN. Previous owner could not find the title. Buddy who owns it has enough going on to not want to bother spending time and money getting a title to give the car away.

oldsaw wrote: That manual choke knob was useful, sometimes!

Was it a choke or a throttle? I'm absolutely confidant mine was a throttle.

That's awesome. It'd be a damn shame to see it scraped .

Also, in Fiat circles over here, the 128 is generally considered more desirable than the 131.

SVreX wrote:

oldsaw wrote: That manual choke knob was useful, sometimes!

Was it a choke or a throttle? I'm absolutely confidant mine was a throttle.

Check this review from Popular Mechanics, circa 1974. It specifically mentions a manual choke, not throttle although the choke control performed the same function.

The article is interesting as it covered the exact same car that I purchased as my very first new car - 128SL.

http://books.google.com/books?id=YdQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=fiat+128+manual+choke&source=bl&ots=Uu8erK9iPN&sig=zeEFbsc9ebc4aTCdT9hQouf1Uxc&hl=en&ei=Jaz3StWPOYOm8Abo97nzCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=fiat%20128%20manual%20choke&f=false

20Ver wrote: Couple of virtual tire kickers, but no cash yet. I'll get it in the air some night this week and look for rust. It was titled and plated in MN and driven in MN. Previous owner could not find the title. Buddy who owns it has enough going on to not want to bother spending time and money getting a title to give the car away.

Not a virtual tire kicker. Want the car. Have the cash. Check your pm's and then give me a call so I can come pick it up.