Help me ID this ex Fiat drag car body I found

[Sparky13]

This is a Fiat Topolino body found in a barn in Sebastopol Ca. It has writing on the doors but its so far faded, but it does have the number "40 BBA" and the door window says "A1 Plating". Anybody know any info on this car if it as an ex drag car?????? Thanks

[56sedandelivery]

BB/Altered? Neat find, if you lose interest, I'll take it off your hands. Butch/56sedandelivery.

[milo1303s]

better pics would definitely help!!!

[Don's Hot Rods]

I bet if you brush a coat of Ospho over that door then wipe it off with a rag the writing will come up more legibly. I did that to a 46 I had and the paint came up really well and the rusty parts turned to black steel.

Just a thought.


Don

[cougardan]

BB/Altered, notch in the cowl, probably for injectors on a blower, blue plexi windows. I can read Automotive on the door. Something about a speed shop. Should be able to identify this. With a permanent number 40? Are there records for that division?

[Church Key]

You have got an awesome piece of DRAG RACING history there... I think it is the Davis & Ingram BB/A Fiat. When funny car were gaining popularity and the appearence money, the team removed the Fiat body and put a hacked up Mustang body on the altered chassis.

[Church Key]

[customcory]

Wow!

[peter schmidt]

Nice find please do it back the way it was

[nanos1932]

How the f*ck does all this cool sh*t keep popping up. Go get yourself a lottery ticket mate, you are absolutely winning!

[STEPHEN FIELDS]

dang, that is nuts that it went from a show dragster to a body sitting on a dirt floor...

[lippy]

OMG.

[pastlane]

What a great find! Will take a bunch of money but well worth bringing back to it's former glory.

[Rem]

Wow again! That was a beautiful car - and could, no should, be returned to that finish.

[racer67x]

damn..Church was on that one...nice!

[Hot Rod Willys]

Ol Sparkys going to shit when he sees this, what a find! The power of the HAMB comes thru again!

[BOWTIE BROWN]

OUTSTANDING FIND & OUTSTANDING POST FROM Church Key.
"AND THE BOWTIE ROLLS ON"

[Saxman]

Holy crap!!

[oj]

And there you go! Got a pic of what to build so have at it! That is a sweetie! Got to find them two guys and some original stuff.

[Sparky13]

OMG!!! I just got up to check this post. Holy smokes you all are so amazing with the history of cars. I can't believe my eyes this car went from a show dragster to went I found it today.
I'll pull it in the sunlight and get more pics up later.
Is there any more pics of it back in the day racing and what drag strip??
Thanks sooooooooo much for the help!

[lippy]

Father time makes em all go to crap someday. LOL. I use to watch that car at Fremont and stuff a lot when I was a younger guy. More pics please. Lippy

[Don's Hot Rods]

Geez, I remember seeing that one in the magazines........what a beautiful altered it was. It must have gone through another owner after that because the door lettering looks different. In it's current condition you can just barely make out the word "shop" on the door in the one picture. I would think some speed shop raced it after the original guys got rid of it.

It would be great to see this one come back exactly as it looked in the Hot Rod Magazine article.

Don

[AAFD]

Joe Davis & Wes Ingram B/Altered Fiat
San Jose, CA
Featured in June '65 Hot Rod Magazine
Also owned the "Jewel T" and "Colt 45" Mustang

Contact Wes Ingram at 360-707-5701
or go to his website at www.wesingram.com

[Sparky13]

Wow and thanks for the info. Let the pics and story's continue !

[Gasser1961]

Another one found and saved!!! Bitchin

[Flat-N-Low]

You HAVE to put that car back to the way it looked in '65. That was one of the nicest looking Fiat drag cars ever built.

Great find, you lucky dog!

[need louvers ?]

Tons of magazine footage on that one! Pick up any '64 or '65 - 6 Car Craft, Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rod, and if it has any West Coast drag coverage, there is a picture of this car. Won quite a bit, but was "best engineered" at several digs too. I even have a DVD from about ten years ago with this car in action on it converted from someone's old super 8 footage. When I had my Fiat body, this car was on the short list of inspirational cars!!! It does deserve to go back to what it was in a big way! YES, go buy a lottery ticket right now... "Who wants to be a millionaire!!!"

[Sparky13]

K its true this is the Davis & Ingram car! Just got off the phone with Wes Ingram .
Wow , I would love to have a copy of that DVD . I'm so excited right I cant think straight ! Haha lol

[Sparky13]

K its true this is the Davis & Ingram car! Just got off the phone with Wes Ingram .
Wow , I would love to have a copy of that DVD . I'm so excited right I cant think straight ! Haha lol

[lump]

Holy cow. This is WAY cool. Great find!!!

[outlaw256]

damn sparky that is a FIND. i couldnt find anything like that if it was on my own property!! lol. get to work now.

[need louvers ?]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

K its true this is the Davis & Ingram car! Just got off the phone with Wes Ingram .
Wow , I would love to have a copy of that DVD . I'm so excited right I cant think straight ! Haha lol

Let me see if I can find it in the mess around here. The girlfriend just organized stuff a few months ago, so I'm still just finding things!!! If I can do it, I'll make you a copy. If it's copyrighted, I'll send it to you on loan for a bit!

[Atwater Mike]

Fremont drag strip! (later, re-named "Baylands") This car was a staple there.

Dos Palmas Machine Shop did the machine work, Arnold Chaves was the Proprietor.

I always wondered where the body went when Davis & Ingram replaced it with the Mustang....

[beachbum jim]

What an awesome score!!!

[rustynewyorker]

Only on the HAMB does a guy find an old race car and get it ID'ed in less than 10 posts complete with pictures. Wow -

[daddy_o's_diner]

DAMN, INCREDIBLE FIND!!!

One of the coolest Topo's ever...

I have stared at that car for hours when I was building my Topolino project.
Shamefully, I sold it before it was done.

[jick]

oh man....this forum really is something else!

[swissmike]

What a beautiful car. Hope you your intention is to put it back to "original".

[Mopar Jack]

That is fracking awsome.....

[FlynBrian]

Wow!!! What a find!

[roughneck424]

[roughneck424]

Same guys different car here
http://66.154.66.47/forum/showthread...4497&showall=1

[roughneck424]

Different car same track?

[Jimmy B]

Great find, congrats!!

HRM article

[Roothawg]

Too cool.

[1939fiat]

This is a GREAT find..NOW if you could only find the chassis..Think they took this body off and mounted a Mustang body ,didn't they?

Rick
=================================================

Originally Posted by pastlane

What a great find! Will take a bunch of money but well worth bringing back to it's former glory.

[INLAW MODEL A]

Wow wow wow!

[Sparky13]

Ya they used the frame and drivetrain for the "Colt 45" . That car is missing from what Wes Ingram told me .

[1939fiat]

I have pics of that car ...It would be easy to recreate...and a worthwhile project..

We also have a BB/ A Fiat...from the same era.

Rick
==============================================

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Ya they used the frame and drivetrain for the "Colt 45" . That car is missing from what Wes Ingram told me .

[FoMoCoPower]

wow...

[titus]

Very cool, restore it!

JEFF

[Hotrod1959]

Man I miss Fremont. I use to drag my moms 63 Bel-Air there Wed nights.

GREAT FIND!

[55gasserkid]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

This is a Fiat Topolino body found in a barn in Sebastopol Ca. It has writing on the doors but its so far faded, but it does have the number "40 BBA" and the door window says "A1 Plating". Anybody know any info on this car if it as an ex drag car?????? Thanks

Originally Posted by Church Key

Unbelieveable! Totally awesome! Wow!
Jay

[falcongeorge]

I guess I'm a little late with this but

HOLY CRAP!

Thats THE fiat!

[Royalshifter]

Man that is cool...love to have it.

[The37Kid]

What a great HAMB story! Finding any old race car is is a neat deal, finding a GREAT LOOKING one that also RAN GREAT is just off the charts good luck. Start collecting the parts you'll need to build a chassis clone. Bob

[55gasserkid]

Are you going to restore it?

[Sparky13]

Now i got to find a front end nose and grill. Time to hit up the swap meets and the web for parts! haha lol.

[Topolino Kid]

wow from one fiat owner to another, ya got a really sweet one there!!!!!!!!!!!knowing the history is such a huge thing!!!!!!!!!! my body was a former drag car....way back when....had too many painted on manufactures logo's on it....no decals...big racer brown cam logo on the right side behind and level with the driver's window,,sad to say, the guy i got it from wouldn't tell me where he got it to track it backwards....worried about getting too much grief for selling it ...and not to anyone in the long line of "call me if ya ever go to sell it) people he had wanting it....don't blame him for it...but it would be great to know where it has been...and i have to agree ,,it would be great if ya could restore it to it's glory... would be propper...so much of the old cars are disappearing.....mine is going cruisin.....guess not knowing helps me not feel guilty about returning it to those glory days.........

[Topolino Kid]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Now i got to find a front end nose and grill. Time to hit up the swap meets and the web for parts! haha lol.

best bet for a nose section, it's all one peice with the grille...is the ebay euro market,,,got mine there cheap...and if ya get lucky, ya can ship it state side for a reasonable price.....i got a spare nose, but it has had the grille bars cut out..came with mine....there's a guy who makes a bad ass aluminum insert to replace the grille section.....pricey though...

had to check...the hood louvers are what are really hard to come by....other option for the nose is Rich venza's old company...Rod n Race...they cast everything for the body.....get ya a glass nose there....

[Kiwi Kev]

[Gasser1961]

Great find, start looking for a chassis, supercharged sbc, and a ton of other parts. Should be a fun project.

[bdj406]

awesome car love the old fiats

[carsluTT]

talk about striking gold!..... hope to see a restoration thread soon

[56sedandelivery]

This is amazing; most guys will ask for an I.D. and a little history on something they've found. You really hit the mother load on the car and the detailed responses! Butch/56sedandelivery.

[Sparky13]

K to make her a roller again is the first goal now!
Try to bring it has a roller for Cacklefest ?? Will see
So any one in the CA, Bay Area keep your eyes out or if you have any of these.
1934 ford axle/ front suspension
1950 Lincoln rear brakes
1957 Chevy 1/2 truck rearend
1953 Olds four speed auto trans
1964 327 v8 ( I can get these later, not needed yet)
1964 327 vette heads ( I can get these later, not needed yet)

Any donation would be great and if so, hope you don't mind your picture taken and info to add to the credits of help .
Also thanks sooooooo much for all your guys help with your info and post.

[GaryB]

awesome find, good luck with your adventure

[Gasser1961]

I'll check around with some folks I know down in So Cal.

[Gasser1961]

This is the place to find the parts. Someone has them out there.

[VoodooTwin]

Great find, congrats!! So how did you come about this piece of racing history? I love to hear the "behind the scenes" stories. Do tell!

[HEMI32]

Sparky13 -

I stumbled across this thread late last night (surfin' the H.A.M.B. via the TJJ app on my iPhone) ... The moment I enlarged the thumbnail pics in the OP, I knew exactly what you had found! ... As I scrolled down the thread, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Church Key had already ID'ed the car for you! ... Ya really gotta love this place!

I was gonna PM you Wes Ingram's contact info and let you know that his son Alan (Ingram_son) lurks here ... but I see you already got in touch with Wes ... very cool!

This morning I searched the image archives on my home computer for some pics of the "Davis & Ingram Topolino" that had yet to be posted in this thread ... I didn't have much luck ... but I did find these two images:

The Davis & Ingram BB/Altered Fiat Topolino @ ??? (photographer unknown)


The "Joe Davis - Ansen" Topolino @ 1965 NHRA World Finals in Tulsa (photographer unknown)

Tonight I'll search through my archive of 1964 & 1965 HOT ROD Magazines ... and hopefully will find more pics of the "Davis & Ingram Topo."

Anyway ... Congrats on this awesome find! ... I really hope that you will be able to bring this beautiful & historically significant racecar back to its circa '64-'65 glory! ... and please keep us posted here on the H.A.M.B.

PS: I like your new avatar!

[AnimalAin]

Awesome.

[Saxman]

Originally Posted by VoodooTwin

Great find, congrats!! So how did you come about this piece of racing history? I love to hear the "behind the scenes" stories. Do tell!

Yeah, tell us the story of how you found it.

[Sparky13]

Well it's pretty basic and just luck , just stumble on it at garage sale.

[Sparky13]

Guy knew nothing about it , just it's an old car body.

[Panneton Bros. Racing]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Now i got to find a front end nose and grill. Time to hit up the swap meets and the web for parts! haha lol.

I know where there is a body sitting in a back yard in Northridge Ca.

[Stock Racer]

Congratulations! Thats cool as hell. I think its neat that you find the first piece to your build and it almost instantly has direction. I'll be looking for the build thread.

[jangleguy]

Wow! I always felt that the Davis & Ingram Fiat was the prettiest ever. Sparky: Please PM me - I'd love to cover this build.

Thanks,
Scotty

[rd martin]

got to do this one!

[millersgarage]

holy crap!

it doesn't get much cooler than that!

[brett4christ]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...430018&page=11

Go to post 208!

[troylee]

Garage sale ! Thats car god fate, glad to see a HAMB guy get it and bring it back.

[Randy in Oklahoma]

As a kid "back in the day", this was one of my favorite cars! Neat find!

[34 GAZ]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Well it's pretty basic and just luck , just stumble on it at garage sale.

Great find, wonder if they stored any parts at the neighbours .

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by HEMI32

...Tonight I'll search through my archive of 1964 & 1965 HOT ROD Magazines ... and hopefully will find more pics of the "Davis & Ingram Topo."...

As promised ...

Here's a pic that appeared on page 33 of the August 1964 issue of HRM (in the "HOT ROD'S FIRST ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP DRAGS" article):

click thumbnail to enlarge

... here's the "B&M HYDRO STICK" Ad that appeared on page 98 of the October 1964 issue of HRM:

click thumbnail to enlarge

... here's a pic that appeared on page 75 of the November 1964 issue of HRM (in the "THE BIG GO '64" article):

click thumbnail to enlarge

... here's a pic that appeared on page 89 of the December 1964 issue of HRM (in the "FAST 'N' FANCY" article):

click thumbnail to enlarge

... and here's the (previously posted) "THE MOUSE THAT ROARS" article that appeared on pages 34 & 35 of the June 1965 issue of HRM:

click thumbnails to enlarge

[HEMI32]

Sometime in 1965, Wes Ingram left the team to build an A/Altered racecar (which would later become the "Jewel T").

Joe Davis continued to campaign the BB/A Fiat Topolino ... but also used its chassis for his BB/A Mustang ... and by year's end, Joe won the new "Exhibition Eliminator" class with the Mustang (later dubbed "COLT .45").

Here are some pics of the Mustang body on the Topo's chassis:

click thumbnails to enlarge

[Jimmy B]

Great work Todd, Nice to see the evolution.

Is the Colt .45 still around?

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by Jimmy B

Great work Todd, Nice to see the evolution.

Is the Colt .45 still around?

Jamie - My pleasure!

According to Ezra Boggs @ DragList.com, the "COLT .45" Mustang was sold to the Oklahoma-based Martin Bros. ... who ran the car (with many updates) into the early '70s.

I have no idea what became of the Martin Bros. Mustang ... perhaps Sparky13 will be lucky enough to find it in a barn!

[von birch]

absolutely amazing to get an ID and pics like that!

[plym_46]

I remember that Magazine Layout. Made a model of it way back when, It still may be in a box in the basement....

[Sparky13]

Holy smokes, those pictures are amazing! And the BM ad is just over the top.
Ya I wish I could have that original chassis to the car where ever that Mustang is.

[The37Kid]

I wonder if the wheelbase changed when the Mustang body was added? Nice avitar upgrade. HEMI32 thanks for all the photo updates. Tracing a race car's history is as much fun as working it sometimes.

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Holy smokes, those pictures are amazing! And the BM ad is just over the top.
Ya I wish I could have that original chassis to the car where ever that Mustang is.

[Jimmy B]

Originally Posted by The37Kid

I wonder if the wheelbase changed when the Mustang body was added? Nice avitar upgrade. HEMI32 thanks for all the photo updates. Tracing a race car's history is as much fun as working it sometimes.

The Mustang rear wheel arches have been moved forward, so the Fiat chassis would likely have been unchanged.

[Angry Frenchman]

nice job Jack! and pics of the dash and how it looks today?

Originally Posted by Church Key

[Paul]

holy cow wow!

I looked at the opening post when first asked,
hadn't been back till now

I have three or four pictures of that car on my computer,
I searched and saved every Topolino picture I could find when Fred (Racefab) and I were going to put one together

what a find, I am so jealous

I don't think this one has been posted yet

[whiskerz]

Holy crap what a find

[Sparky13]

That's the first picture just posted of the blue plexy door glass !! Thats what's still on the car and the same a1 plating stickers !! OMG!!

[Sparky13]

Paul, you know what year that picture is ?? The door logo, hood scoop are different then the '64 photo in the magazine.

[GaryB]

that is such a bitchin car,good luck in finding the parts needed to get'er done

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

That's the first picture just posted of the blue plexy door glass !! Thats what's still on the car and the same a1 plating stickers !! OMG!!

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Paul, you know what year that picture is ?? The door logo, hood scoop are different then the '64 photo in the magazine.

Sparky13 -

The pic Paul posted was taken in 1965 ... after Wes left the team and Joe campained the Topo / Colt .45 Mustang on his own (with some sponsorship from "Ansen Automotive Engineering").

NOTE: Go back and look at the pics I posted in posts #71 & #86 and you'll notice that the scoop is the same on the circa '65 version of Topo and the "Colt .45" Mustang ... i.e., Joe switched from the tall "Hilborn 4 Port Blower Injector" to the flat "Hilborn 4-Hole Hat Style Injector".

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by roughneck424

Different car same track?

roughneck424 - Yes ... different Topolino ... but same track! ... NOTE: My father shot that pic @ Fremont in March of 1964 (see my Fremont Drag Strip ... PICS from 1964!!! thread).

[The37Kid]

As with all race car restorations, now you have to deside what year you want to restore the car back to. Personally I'd pick the year it won most races. Was the chassis a production item or a one off home built? Bob

Originally Posted by Sparky13

That's the first picture just posted of the blue plexy door glass !! Thats what's still on the car and the same a1 plating stickers !! OMG!!

[Sparky13]

Ok and thanks for that info. When I talked to Wes and showed him the pictures I have , he didn't know why it had blue door glass . But it all adds up since Wes left the team in '65 and Joe changed it up when he was gone.
The chassis was not home built, but a custom tube chassis built by Chassis Research.

[slowmotion]

Very cool thread, always loved them Topo's. Being a FNG, I am truly amazed at the people and resources of the HAMB. What a great place. Good luck on that Topo, Sparky, great find!

[1939fiat]

And once you have enough pictures,the chassis should be easy to duplicate.

Good Luck

Rick
------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Ok and thanks for that info. When I talked to Wes and showed him the pictures I have , he didn't know why it had blue door glass . But it all adds up since Wes left the team in '65 and Joe changed it up when he was gone.
The chassis was not home built, but a custom tube chassis built by Chassis Research.

[isettajohn]

WOW, great find. The Colt 45...

[The37Kid]

Guess Chassis Research offered an Altered chassis along with the normal rail chassis, correct?

[Church Key]

Originally Posted by The37Kid

Guess Chassis Research offered an Altered chassis along with the normal rail chassis, correct?

Yes...Chassis Research did make an altered chassis called the R-16. From what I can see in the photos of the D&I chassis it looks more like a custom made frame.

[Spoggie]

Originally Posted by customcory

wow!

wow!

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by Church Key

Yes...Chassis Research did make an altered chassis called the R-16. From what I can see in the photos of the D&I chassis it looks more like a custom made frame.

OK ... so now I'm a bit confused ...

According to the (April '65) SPEED and CUSTOM "Chevy Fired Fiat" article, the Davis & Ingram Topolino chassis was homemade:

... and according to the (June '65) HOT ROD Magazine "THE MOUSE THAT ROARS" article, the Davis & Ingram Topolino was originally one of Ed Weddle's Altered chassis (ala the Mondello & Matsubara Topo):

... and now we learn that the chassis was neither home-built ... nor a Weddle design ... but rather one of Scotty Fenn's Chassis Research R-16 Altered chassis ... ???

[SamIyam]

Very, very cool.

What are your plans for the car? Restore it?

A separate build thread would be neat.

Keep us posted!

Sam

[Sparky13]

I'll double check with Wes , but he told be Chassis Research .

[edweird]

to me, this is more exciting than finding the titantic!

[Sparky13]

Here is a little story from Wes Ingram!! Enjoy like I did.


"April 64 Riverside Ca. We showed up with a new set of dragster style headers that Joe made and was proud of. The original headers were straight pipes with # 3 & 4 that curved forward to clear the body but all four pipes ended straight and symetrical with a bell-mouth tip. They were no more than 14 in. long. I loved them because they made the engine sound better than any engine I have ever heard at 11,000 rpm. Then Joe built the longer swooping headers, had A-1 Plating chrome plate them."

[Sparky13]

I got more story's to share later !

[The37Kid]

Ok, It's later, we want to hear more stories.

Originally Posted by Sparky13

I got more story's to share later !

[Hot Rods Ta Hell]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

I got more story's to share later !

And more present day photos in the sunlight as you mentioned in your first post.

This is an amazing story. I showed the thread to my kids and they were blown away!

[Sparky13]

Haha lol. " 11,00 rpm's" Damn !
I sooooo want this car back to the way it was!! And tow it behind my '53 Chevy 210 .

[Sparky13]

Tomorrow I'm off work , so the body is coming out of the barn for pics!! Check back tomorrow night for pictures

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

I'll double check with Wes , but he told me Chassis Research.

If Wes said it was a Chassis Research frame, then it most-likely was ... This wouldn't be the first time that the magazines got the facts / details wrong!

Here's a vintage CHASSIS RESEARCH INC. decal ... which includes a drawing of the R-16 / C-16 (Roadster / Coupe) Altered chassis:

click thumbnail to enlarge

[jandlcars]

remember it from Fremont
nice find

[Hucklebuckin]

Wow! Love old drag cars and history! Awesome find!

[fab32]

I remember that car from the extensive magazine coverage during that era. It was a beautiful car and appeared to be among the best detailed/finished car at that time. I think a restoration is the only way to do this one. You've already got lot's of support having access to on of the origonal owners and it appears the ability to duplicate anything your missing isn't a big stretch. Either way bring us along for the ride.........this one WILL be fun.

Frank

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by Sparky13

Tomorrow I'm off work , so the body is coming out of the barn for pics!! Check back tomorrow night for pictures

Sparky13 - It's "tomorrow night"

[61TBird]

More pics!!!!

[gimpyshotrods]

Unreal.

[Church Key]

Any updates...photos...

[fenderless]

Must have been this years no.1 christmas present!

...subscribed..

................................
Taildragger&fenderless

[Sparky13]

Ok , The holidays finally passed. So i brought it outside and sprayed some oil on it. Low and behold some goodies came out in the car. First the top of the door says "Joe Davis", then second the door jamb shows purple metal flake again , then third on the door you can see " Automotive Engineering" from when it had Ansen has a sponsor and the last thing you can see now is on the back window it says " Dos Palmas" the machine shop.
Enjoy and let me know if anybodys gots more pictures , video or knows the last info on Colt 45. Looking for that car to find the orginal frame and engine.

[Shaggy]

Very cool, good luck!!

[GaryB]

awesome,let the fun begin

[Gasser1961]

Looks good. Any luck finding the parts you are looking for?

[Topolino Kid]

man every time i pull this thread up it makes me envious!!!!!!!!!!!!!i'ld love to find out a lil bit of the history of mine........had racer brown cam logo painted on the right side of the side/roof behind the door...was a lite blue/silvery paint.......they had cut out the center of the grille, probably for cooling, and the hood had been cut even with the louvered section front and rear and probably not run when raced....center seat setup and just the very center of the spare tire area , 4" round hole, cut out probably for the chute?????????

never thought about spraying oil on it to hightlight the other painted names, sponsers ect.....had 3 or 4 on each side in the same area the racer brown cam logo was painted....all painted on except for a bell helmet sticker....pic with it sitting on the now gone model a axel.....




drop me a line if ya are having a hard time find peices,,,been there done that

[The37Kid]

Emamel reducer works to pull out lettering too. Great to see these cars coming back to life.

[Topolino Kid]

Originally Posted by The37Kid

Emamel reducer works to pull out lettering too. Great to see these cars coming back to life.

good to remember...problem is i stripped the outside of the body to bare metal 3+ years ago.

[Oldhenry1]

Some guys have all the luck, I am green with envy but damn happy for you. The Fiat is one of my all time favorites. A guy at our track bought
the ex-Burkhalter Bros Fiat, restored it and promply barrel rolled it on his license passes. I almost cried.

[WDobos]

PM me, I have a steel nose piece and repop a steel spare tire cover for the Fiat Topolino

[383deuce]

DAM! What a cool find & the best christmas you have had to ever had. This is so cool to read all the info the guys on the HAMB have posted on it. Saw it run in Tulsa at the Nats. One killer car.

[Topolino Kid]

Originally Posted by WDobos

PM me, I have a steel nose piece and repop a steel spare tire cover for the Fiat Topolino

hey Wayne, i been waiting to see you chime in here.................i started to post to contact ya here , but figured that if i didn't, you'ld pop up!!!!!


hows your topolino doing these days???...been awhile since i saw ya and picked up my roof........working on the floors in mine...finally


keeping on topic, i figured if ya hadn't found them yet, Mr Fiat sells rockers and the lower rear tail section.....plus a few other stock peices...IE floor tin....it's all pretty pricey, but hey ya got yourself an import,

[WDobos]

I'm just getting going on it again. Was working on the trailer to pull behind it a little. Just retired,so will have lots of time now to get it finnished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Topolino Kid]

i can relate to getting back to em.....post some pics up...it is a radical lil topolino....all us topo guys like seeing topo inspiration..........

[jimbob]

Mad!

[WDobos]

Sparky,
Here's a picture I took of an actual photo that I have of your car. If you would like me to scan it and send it to you please let me know.

[sololobo]

This car is awesome, I remember seeing it in zines years ago. I was so into cool pit uniforms and the purple shirts and white pants were so cool. The pit crews in todays high dollar racing wear some great stuff, but the 50's and 60's crew in whites and chain stiched logos were ultimate hip. Best of luck with the historic gem, so cool how quick the H.A.M.B. crew I.D force matched this topo up. Could it be any cooler? ~sololobo~

[isettajohn]

What year was this taken?

[WDobos]

I don't know,I bought this picture from a man who sells them at swap meets. I'll have to check this spring at Canfield swap meet.

[Sparky13]

Hell ya , I would like to have that picture .

[Coupe_of_Frankfurt]

Mighty mighty hamb!!:d

[Pro Stock John]

Making some progress? Killer find.

[biscaynes]

just WOW!

[ModelAPunk]

Awesome Find man! I love Fiats!

[THE-SYNDICATE]

Bitchin!! Another killer car to add to Sonoma County!

Nice Find.....

-Robert M.

[Topolino Kid]

Originally Posted by isettajohn

What year was this taken?

this comment about the topo was posted on my topo build by mistake ....i beleive

nitro1
FNG

Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4

[captainjunk#2]

man this is one of those cool car find of a life time scores you usually only read about on the HAMB , awesome and good luck bringing this one back to life

[nitrobrother]

Awesome find, congrats. Subscribed to keep track of your progress!

[37willysgasser]

cant believe i missed this post, i remember seeing that pics of that car when i was a kid in my pops old magazines, great find, hope you restore it!

[JRSN2CARS]

Hi Sparky,

Congrats on finding a true piece of drag racing history! I saw the Colt .45 Mustang run at US131 Dragway in Martin, Michigan in 1966. I took two 8mm movies of the car going down the track. On the first run, Joe got out of shape and crossed the centerline and had to abort the run. The second run was a full pass. That car looked like a handful to drive! The class designation written on the window was CC/FD, so he must have had some Nitro in the tank when he was there that night. Your story has inspired me to make a video about the car for my youtube channel. I hope you guys don't mind if I use some of the photos posted here to make my video. Here are a couple frames from one of my 8mm movies.

[HEMI32]

Sparky13 - Here's another pic for your photo archive: