Quote Originally Posted by TechnoPope View Post
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After college, my best friend got excited about sports cars and bought an X1/9 after I inherited and started driving an MG Midget. Although I had quite a bit of mechanic experience by then, he had never owned or worked on a car before. I think he could have graduated from Fiat mechanic school by the end of his first summer with that car. Good times...fun cars.
TechnoPope, I can definitely relate! My brother had the X1/9 and I had a Midget. We both gained a lot of mechanical knowledge. Also learned a lot about pressing objects found by the roadside into service - pieces of beer can to repair fuel pump points, wine bottle corks to plug holes in the intake when a gulp valve "disappears" while buzzing down the interstate at 75% of redline trying to keep up with traffic, etc. I sure developed a finely tuned ear for the sound of a motor getting ready to go off-song and also for the sound of a metal part hitting the pavement. (I'm sure you've seen the bumper sticker that says "All parts falling off this vehicle are of the finest British craftsmanship") But like you say "Good times...fun cars" That MG was more than just a ride - it was a rolling adventure. In fact I'd say it was more than good times - it was the best of times.

OK in order to keep this from being a total TJ: I actually like the looks of that little Fiat - especially the Hamann - check out the rear view half way down the http://500oc.net/ site - 265hp from 1.4 liters is not too shabby! And props to whoever incorporated that eight ball in the grill so that the driver is always "behind the eight ball" - funny stuff!