What a beauty, eh?

In late 1967 or early 1968, I acquired an old Fiat which was quite literally a basket case. I don't know how I talked Mom into it, but she helped me purchase this little Italian beauty for $25 (negotiated down from $35) and we had it towed into the back yard. Most of the engine was in the trunk and in boxes - in pieces.

My fantasy was to get it running and drive it after I got my license. As incredible as it seems, I did get it running - although it never ran very well. I had neither the talent nor the money to get it into road-worthy condition. Besides being in poor mechanical shape, it was pretty rusty.

The funny thing is that at the time I got the car, it was only six or seven years old. (The MR2 I currently own is almost 20!)

Trying my hand at body modifications, with the help of a friend, I pop-riveted a Studebaker grill onto the front end. (I sure wish I had a picture of that!)

Eleanor and her Fiat
 

In 2001, I was given a book entitled The Convertible. It contained a picture of Eleanor Roosevelt in an identical Fiat, a model referred to as the Gran Luce. (I'm guessing that Mrs. Roosevelt didn't keep hers in the back yard.)