New to this board after being pointed here for the Dono thread Looks like a great place to get and give info.

Just bought one of these Fiat roadsters, and like all old Fiats (this is a 1973 I am trying to save) it has some rusted sheet metal and needs a paint job.

The rust is in front trunk, hood and under doors. Nothing really structural, just sheet metal.

I live in Wesley Chapel and wondered if you could recommend a good body/paint shop in the Land O'Lakes/Lutz/WC area (heard good things about both Diamond and Diane's Hi-Glow) ...and second if there is *anybody* in the Tampa area that still does mechanical work on these old Chryslers, er...I mean Fiats

 

Welcome to TR. I don't know too much about Fiats. I used to have a '73 Triumph TR6 though. I imagine an old British car is only second to an old Italian car when it comes to finding people in the area that know these cars inside and out. I'd find someone familiar with those old Fiats to do the body work, not just a body shop. There are all sorts of nooks and crannies for rust to hide in that body-on-frame. And all kinds of weird hard to find parts that a specialist would know where to get. Maybe even a British car specialist could help if you can't find someone specializing in Fiats, as they are all pretty similar in their design.

Or put some ads on Craigslist looking for some help too. Good luck, post some pics, would love to see your fiat. BTW- there is a cheap Fiat Spyder on CL now, might be a good parts car for you.
1978 FIAT 1800

 

My dad does auto upholster if you need interior work, or convertible top replacement, etc etc

 

Diamond Auto Body does do good work, but it took them a month and a fucking half to get repair my S2000. It needed a new front bumper, driver side fender, driver side headlight and have the paint blended. Also needed a new control arm That was ALL it fucking needed, and they dicked me around, constantly telling me it was hard to get parts for, and for a while, it sat there untouched when I would stop by with the parts sitting in front of the car. THEN when I finally got it from them, they didn't tighten the bolts on the front suspension, and I noticed as soon as I got on the road that something was wrong. They did good PAINT work. Don't go to them for ANYTHING else, unless you like driving a rental forever. And since I am on a rant, FUCK semi truck drivers. The whole reason it was there is because a truck wasn't looking, and drove my car off the fucking road.

 

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the comments on Diamond. They have a decent Angie's List rating, but little here on TR as far as I could see.

Regarding upholstery I do indeed wish to recover the seats, console, and doors. I was thinking to swinging by Cimo and Cimo to see what they could do, thinking of changing the black vinyl to a tan or darker brown leather.

 

Can you do this with yours please?




Signed, the VW guy

Theres quite a few videos of this car in action (including in-car). Search Pat McDermott Fiat 850. Try not to watch the one where he stuffs it into the wall and it catches fire He wasn't hurt and rebuilt the car.

 

Just Dave, That's how ALL Fiats should look!-Bob

 

Check Mastry Subaru - There used top be a guy that worked on Alfa's there - one of the top in the country - They are pretty close to Fiats. If not there's a guy off US 19 that works on them - Not sure of the place but they are on 66th Street - between ulmerton and east bay

 

thanks much! will check them both out, much appreciated.

That blue 850 is just scary!