If you can get the weight distribution right, it will handle great. Compared to the 500 & 600 the 850 had too much weight on the back wheels ( cast iron gearbox instead of Aluminum and the Gastank in the back.) I've raced all 3 of them. And I still own my Fiat Abarth ( 600 based...)
No wonder you know so much about them. I assume 50/50 weight distribution is ideal, including the driver? I'd already planned on putting the radiator up front, should do the same with the fuel tank. The battery was up front, I'll probably keep it that way. May have to play around with the seat location and wheel base too.
Lighter, cheaper and more readily available (at least here in Yorp) set up can be pulled any Fiat 126.
So, what are you going to do with the rest of the 850 coupe? I've been wanting to build one into a drag car for awhile now... like the look better than the Spyder or the 600's. My buddy has one 850 coupe, but it's getting converted into an OT 1000 clone. He's restoring an OT 1000 Spyder right now, and has two 750 Zagato double-bubbles, an Allemagne Spyder and a Monza coupe... all awaiting restos.
Well, it's not a coupe, it's a convertible. It has major rust in the x brace under the body, as well as several other places. I still plan on pulling a few more parts... steering column, gauges, shifter, parking brake, clutch & brake pedals. There won't be much left other than the basic body with glass and a ragged out convertible top. I'd sell it cheap, or trade for some 13" wire wheels to fit the car. With my goal of 800 lbs without me in the car, 60% on the rear would be 480, with 320 on the front. I need to weight the parts I've pulled and figure up the weight of the 2" x 3" tubing for the frame and start seeing if I can meet that. If it wasn't for a co-worker moving, I doubt i'd have picked up a complete suspension as cheap as the whole car.
800 pounds is really light... This one weighed 770, with the same basic engine ( but right hand rotation, 1000cc) I built it from a old Lola aluminum tub, with lightweight suspension, 3 piece wheels, slicks, and no road equipment.
After looking at that, I may not be able to keep it that light, but it's a goal anyway. I figure worst case it'll be between 1,000 - 1,200 lbs. Still a big weight reduction from the stock 1,620 lbs.
An earlier Spyder is worth quite a bit more - with the european headlights and the front signals in the body instead of bolted onto the bumper. There's a guy with a '70 Racer in the valley that's already been converted to VW power for drag racing - been keeping my eye on that one.
VW conversions seem to be popular in them. I'd rather run the Fiat engine on this. I already have a VW engine, transaxle, and rear suspension I could have built something from, but it just wasn't right for this type of project. I might end up piecing those together with a trike frame I have and sell it to help fund this project.
That looks like more fun than the law allows. Did you build it for yourself or a customer. If for yourself do you still own it? Frank
It was for myself... I built it for a series similar to Solo2... It was pretty effective in its class, but I probably should have built it with a little more Wheelbase, and less weight bias on the back. Handling was very good, but unforgiving. Push it just that litlle bit to hard and it would come around on you ( Every single buddy of mine that tried it spun it and/or crashed...) It had a DeDion rear that was really a seperate Spaceframe that wrapped around the Engine/Gearbox, and the rear wheels were adjustable for Toe In/ Camber.( pic) On 10" wide Slicks of the softest compound Avon sold, the standing starts were the best I've ever felt ( I'm sure a real Drag Car is a lot better, but I've never driven one of those...) I parted it out when I found my Mallock. And the Tub went to a friend of mine who restored it back to its Original Lola spec ( pic3)
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