RE: Fiat 124 - first pics
Discussion
RoverP6B said:
Nope, I'm a 'no substitute for a rev-happy naturally aspirated six-pot in a sports-car' advocate. I'd love, for example, to see BMW put their 1.6 litre I6 bike engine in a pared-back base-model Z4. A modern Triumph Vitesse, if you like. Or a Mazda MX5 with a little screamer of a 660cc three-cylinder Kei car motor. Either way, make sure they're also equipped with manual gearboxes and 125-section tyres. While big V8s and V12s are enjoyable in their own way, a sports car should be as small, light and exploitable at sensible speeds as possible... and not break the bank in fuel, insurance and tyres.
The MK2 Z4 is far too lardy for such a small engine. Mine feels sluggish with the N54...And it doesn't break the bank in fuel and insurance, it utterly pulverises it. The new MX5 would have been a much more sensible car in every way, alas I couldn't wait that long.
MarshPhantom said:
MarshPhantom, you're bang on the money! 1800cc Lampredi-designed twin-cam four putting out 118 BHP. Five-speed gearbox (with alloy bell-housing), disc brakes all round, coil-sprung, five-link rear axle, full set of Veglia instruments (in Italian as well as English!) set in a fluted aluminium dashboard (a la Ferrari) - oh, and proper Fiamm air horns and Siem quartz-halogen headlamps to clear the road ahead!All of that was standard in 1972 when the 124 CC (as it was known) arrived on our shores. Compare that spec. with equivalent British cars of its day...
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