Resurrecting a Vintage Fiat Topolino drag car built in 1964

INLAW MODEL A · Jan 26, 2011

^^^^^^^^^Thanks Bob

More news from this week.

There is a magazine in Finland called Bellissima. It is a Fiat restoration magazine. In the back there is a 3 page article on the Fiat opposite a restored 1939 Topolino that was the 2009 car of the year there. The only problem is the whole magazine is in Finnish and I can't read it.
I will try to post the magazine after I get permission.

woodienut · Jan 26, 2011

Rogers & Nielsen Fiat from 1970 Late model 440 ci. (.060 over 426) checkout the rollbar! LOL Pic's from the stands at Indy 1970.

INLAW MODEL A · Jan 26, 2011

woodienut said: ↑

Rogers & Nielsen Fiat from 1970 Late model 440 ci. (.060 over 426) checkout the rollbar! LOL Pic's from the stands at Indy 1970.
Click to expand...

Boy that first picture looks like the same chassis!

INLAW MODEL A · Jan 27, 2011

I got this email today from Jerry:

 I have to open some stored boxes to get to pix, will do soon as I have been busy helping out a friend. Here is a brief history of car. Bought chassis and body in 1964, started racing 1966 and 1967, sold car in late 1967, moved to Tulsa,Ok. to be part of top gas car which we raced, I was crew member member, all over the west southwest lower Midwest and east coast, ran Nationals in Englishtown,NJ in 1968. Spent lots of nights getting to meets so that we could make enough money to keep racing, sponsor money was not that great back then. I have enjoyed the info and talk,lets keep it up. More later

INLAW MODEL A · Jan 27, 2011

I just spoke to Jerry Adams again. He said he built the car with a 409 not a 348. It had Algon Fuel injection. In 1967 he put in a Hilborn injected 427 bbc. For a trans he had a direct drive box. The steering shaft in the corvair box was drilled and pinned to lengthen it. He then had it annealed to make the hardness even after welding in a section.

I talked to the guy he sold the 427 to in 1967. It is still in Kenosha. It is in a 49 Ford sedan that is chopped. The car has never been finished. The Hilborn injection is on the shelf.

INLAW MODEL A · Jan 28, 2011

More info from Jerry from today:

 Sold 409 and all parts to a racer in Texas, dont remember his name,used a standard Chevy trans for both 409 and 427, only used high gear,fuel tank was a Moon tank,dont know what happened to it, no parts left, always towed behind 65 Catalina on a trailer, trailer went with car,dont remember what paper I placed ad in, have heard about Power Automotive but know nothing about them. After I sold the car, I did see it in a driveway on Springbrook Road in Kenosha once. Hope this helps. One side note, mounting for both engines was the same, that is why I used the same trans in both, driveline did not have to be changed, I made the driveshaft myself, worked at Famco Machine at the time.

1939fiat · Jan 29, 2011

I like the story on your Fiat..and the history you have gathered..
Always cool to see car with history get in the right hands ,and not altered from from their originality.
here's ours..

Rick

INLAW MODEL A · Jan 30, 2011

"always towed behind 65 Catalina on a trailer, trailer went with car"

Here is a little more info I got from Dale about the trailer:

 When I met Mike he had a ford hauler for the car but Mike did have a trailer there. When Joe Benton got the econorail from Freddy, Mike let us use the trailer but I dont know if he got the trailer with the fiat or where it was from. I think Mike had a different hauler befor the Ford. Jeff should know more.

I asked Mike's brother and got this response:

[FONT=&quot]Mike did have a trailer. That may be the trailer Jerry was referring to. I don't have any idea were it now is. Cheryl, Mikes wife or Bob (Hobo) may know where it went. However we use to use a Ford truck custom made flat bed that my dad built. My father use to haul his modified stock cars on. I do not have any idea where the Ford truck went[/FONT]

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 7, 2011

Today I am like a little kid Christmas morning, I just need to wait for Santa, I mean the mailman.

[FONT=&quot]I got this email today from Jerry: send me your address as I have some pix ready to send to you[/FONT]

Another response in regards to the pictures:
found 10 of the fiat plus some of Perry Seitz and Ron Matus, Ron did all of the aluminum work. Axle came with car I think, don’t remember exactly.

I just spoke to Ron Matus. He made the aluminum interior in 1964. He said he has a picture of it from when he was 16 out on the back roads of kenosha when they were testing it.

Ricks Garage · Feb 7, 2011

Now you will need to get a 65 Catalina.....LOL

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 7, 2011

Ricks Garage said: ↑

Now you will need to get a 65 Catalina.....LOL
Click to expand...

LOL That is funny, I need a bigger garage!

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 7, 2011

So I talked to Jerry again tonight. he said he went to Cleveland to pick up the chassis from Lakewood Chassis. He thinks he got the complete front axle set-up with it, and a fabricated bell housing too. The Body was one piece and came from The Hot Rod Shop in Milwaukee Wi. It took forever to get he said. He bought alot of parts from Mick's Auto Parts in Racine because he gave him a great deal. The 427 had Mondello Heads, cam and the headers were off Tom Mondello's fuel altered.
He said he raced a car out of Chicago area alot call The Exterminator. It was an altered running B/A class with a SBC They had a lot of pictures which included the Fiat. Anyone know the car?

I was told that this Crosley altered would run against my Fiat in 1966-1967 and there were alot of pictures taken of the pair at Da'Grove. Anyone know the car or who would have owned it?

I found this but the email is no longer active:

I am restoring a 1950 Crosley B/Altered and am looking for any info, pictures, 8mm movies or any other info pertaining to the car. The car was raced from 1963-1968 and was called the "Exterminator." It was sponsored by Edgewater Autoparts and had the number 27 B/Altered behind the rear wheels on the side of the car. The car was raced primarily in the Midwest such as Great Lakes Dragaway, US 30, and Rockford Dragaway. Besides being raced on the UDRA circuit, it was also shown at the 1964-1967 car shows that took place at Chicago's McCormick Place. The car started out in 1963, blue in color and then was changed to black from 1964-1966. In 1967 the car was painted purple and renamed "Psycho." My Email address is [email protected]. Any info pertaining to the "Exterminator "or the "Psycho" would be greatly appreciated! Thank You.

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 14, 2011

I just got the pictures Jerry Adams sent me. He went to Walmart and made copies of his originals. Wait 'till you see these! I will scan them in tonight.

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 14, 2011

NEW INFO:
This was the first day that Jerry Adams ever raced the Fiat down the 1/4 mile. On this day, Jerry Adams raced the B/Gas Stone, Woods & Cook Willys

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 14, 2011

Here are the the pictures I got today in the mail. The pictures with the BBC have the headers off of the Modello & Masturba Fiat. Jerry Adams called him and got to be friends with Joe and bought them of the car.

Not sure on the guy on the left, Tom, Blank, Jerry Adams, 1966 w/409 engine

Kenosha county road test drive

Ron Matus and Ed

427 bbc

427 bbc

427 bbc

Bill Maxon being pushed at Da'Grove

Jerry Adams

Ron Matus in front of Perry Seits Anglia

Perry Seits in Cowboy Hat, Fred Zalewski by the Bell & Zalewski Anglia @ Da'Grove

J&JHotrods · Feb 14, 2011

SO fucking rad! Big fan of those topolinos. And what a cool history! Subscribed!

fiat gasser · Feb 14, 2011

The tall injection stacks look so tough on the Fiat. Thanks for sharing

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 15, 2011

new poster

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 16, 2011

Yo Baby · Feb 16, 2011

I like it.
I wish I was closer but thems the breaks.
I gotta keep up with this a I'm building a Toppo for a guy right now.

Curt R · Feb 18, 2011

INLAW MODEL A said: ↑

So I talked to Jerry again tonight. he said he went to Cleveland to pick up the chassis from Lakewood Chassis. He thinks he got the complete front axle set-up with it, and a fabricated bell housing too. The Body was one piece and came from The Hot Rod Shop in Milwaukee Wi. It took forever to get he said. He bought alot of parts from Mick's Auto Parts in Racine because he gave him a great deal. The 427 had Mondello Heads, cam and the headers were off Tom Mondello's fuel altered.
He said he raced a car out of Chicago area alot call The Exterminator. It was an altered running B/A class with a SBC They had a lot of pictures which included the Fiat. Anyone know the car?

I was told that this Crosley altered would run against my Fiat in 1966-1967 and there were alot of pictures taken of the pair at Da'Grove. Anyone know the car or who would have owned it?

I found this but the email is no longer active:

I am restoring a 1950 Crosley B/Altered and am looking for any info, pictures, 8mm movies or any other info pertaining to the car. The car was raced from 1963-1968 and was called the "Exterminator." It was sponsored by Edgewater Autoparts and had the number 27 B/Altered behind the rear wheels on the side of the car. The car was raced primarily in the Midwest such as Great Lakes Dragaway, US 30, and Rockford Dragaway. Besides being raced on the UDRA circuit, it was also shown at the 1964-1967 car shows that took place at Chicago's McCormick Place. The car started out in 1963, blue in color and then was changed to black from 1964-1966. In 1967 the car was painted purple and renamed "Psycho." My Email address is [email protected]. Any info pertaining to the "Exterminator "or the "Psycho" would be greatly appreciated! Thank You.
Click to expand...

I saw your Fiat at Milwaukee World Of Wheels tonight, didn't find you.

I talked with someone, tonight, at the show, that has an old drag car called "Exterminator, I will look for you this weekend and we'll talk.

Curt R

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 24, 2011

We had a good time at Milwaukee World of Wheels. We met the guy that has the above mentioned Crosley. He said he has a stack of pictures so we will see.
Here is our plaque that we were given because one of the World of Wheels guys liked our stuff. We didn't "win" any awards because we did the pay the $35 to be judged.

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 24, 2011

Likeumlow · Feb 24, 2011

Not to highjack your tread but check this out! Found it in a junkyard today.

Church Key · Feb 25, 2011

Likeumlow said: ↑

Not to highjack your tread but check this out! Found it in a junkyard today.
Click to expand...

I hope you bought it !!! It looks like a 49 Fiat or later,they made great looking race cars.

INLAW MODEL A · Feb 25, 2011

Church Key said: ↑

I hope you bought it !!! It looks like a 49 Fiat or later,they made great looking race cars.
Click to expand...

I already asked him and he said the old man said the car is not for sale, not now or never.

coolstuff · Apr 3, 2011

coolstuff · Apr 3, 2011

from the collection of Noel Mauer (he lives in Dubuque IA - he did not remember what car show this picture was taken at....)

Yo Baby · Apr 3, 2011

????????????????????

coolstuff said: ↑

from the collection of Noel Mauer (he lives in Dubuque IA - he did not remember what car show this picture was taken at....)
Click to expand...

Roothawg · Apr 5, 2011

Likeumlow said: ↑

Not to highjack your tread but check this out! Found it in a junkyard today.
Click to expand...

He needs to try and save those wheels before they dissolve.

Resurrecting a Vintage Fiat Topolino drag car built in 1964

INLAW MODEL A Member from Right in the middle of Wisconsin

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