Fiat 125

My car is an orange Fiat 125 special with a brown interior, and a brown stripe down the side. It 's been standing for 2 years but now I am working on it. Sometimes you just don't have the cash.

I have put on a new Weber carburettor so the engine starts first time now - it used to be rough to start as there was a large crack in the float chamber of the old carb - petrol used to pour out of it. I have just obtained an exhaust which has been on a shelf for 30 years apparently (still has original paint on), which I will be putting on this week. I need headlights next - I want all four, if I can find them for RHD, as the originals have rusted on the silver reflective surface. I want original Cromodora 3's on it too - the alloys I have on it at present look ok, but are not the original.

The car is in excellent condition for a 125 having been used as a shop display in Oxford since a refurb in the 80's - I think much of the old bodywork has been replaced with Polski Fiat items - it is like new mostly - except for a couple of small spots of rust. I know it won't stay like that for two more years so I need to find a garage to rent in the area, if I am to keep it.

The car was imported by Haynes International who later became the Haynes Manuals people. I have often wondered if it featured in the Haynes manual itself, but have been unable to find a copy to check this out.

Needless to say it is extraordinary fun to drive. Mental really for a 38 year old car (up to 90 mph anyway). Often people see it and go crazy - 'I rented one of those in the seventies and it was like a rocket', sort of thing. The other week in Beaulieu when I was hunting for parts (which I found) two fellas told me wild stories of rampant European women on some 1970's Euro drinking binge they had as (very much) younger men in a 125 Special. Nostalgia eh? The stuff of magic........