Smiles Per Mile: 1966 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe
We’ve all had a car that just made us feel happy. It might not have been the fastest car, or the nicest, or the most reliable, or prettiest. But it made you feel happy. Happy to get in it. Happy to wave at people on the road driving their bologna and American cheese on Wonderbread sandwich cars, while you drive in something that warms the cockles. Wait. Cockles? And why would cockles be warm? Did they get left in the back seat of a rear engine Fiat? And what are cockles anyway? Some kind of vestigial organ that your mother never told you about? No, that’s not right. I know what muscles are and I know that Molly Malone sells them with cockles that are alive (well…she is a fishmonger) so they must be some sorta shellfish or crustacean. Anyway, where was I? Ah, find this 1966 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe offered for $6,500 in Westfield, NJ via craigslist. Tip from Cory.
From the seller
1966 Fiat 850 Coupe
VIN: 100GC070976
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 10395
paint color: white
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: coupe
Rare 1966 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe in original white, black interior. Originally a California car, the body is solid, in great shape overall with some small areas of surface rust and paint bubbling. The paint shines with a few dings and scratches, it was repainted about 10 years ago.
Everything works on the car! All the lights, signals, horn, instruments, even the gas gauge and wipers. The engine was rebuilt a few years ago, upgraded to a 903cc and runs great. Brakes (disc in the front) work great, transmission shifts smooth, the clutch is good. Upgrades include Abarth Exhaust, steering wheel and cromodra magnesium wheels (which were a dealer option in the 1960’s). Tires are almost new, shocks are good. Steering is tight, the car handles great, no issues. This is a very early car, not many 1966’s out there and more charming than the later 1969-1972 cars with their heavier bumpers and front/rear changes. Lots of new parts, battery, fuel sending unit, thermostat, plugs, wires, carb rebuilt, etc. It’s not perfect, the interior shows some and there are a couple of small dents on the roof from a tree branch falling on it. I’ve kept it maintained and drive it around town on nice days. I’ve had it on a highway a few times, but 65mph is about the max with it’s 4 speed gearing. Has enough pep to keep up with traffic though and a nice growl when the twin choke carb is fully opened and that great Italian Car sound. Runs a little hot on humid summer days, I would recommend a radiator service, something I never got around to. This is one of 3 vintage Italian cars I own and need to let one go. I have been into Fiat’s for 30+ years and have owned this one for 5 years. Rust is minimal, but has a few crusty areas that will need attention. Could be a show car with some work.
See a better way to drive something with Italian flair? tips@dailyturismo.com
$6500 seems like a helluva bargain for some vintage Italian tin. Hell if this showed up at the end of June it might be mine instead of that turbo kit I’m looking at for my Miata. I’m still on the fence between the turbo and adding another toy to the stable.
If it *was* tin, it wouldn’t rust. But you could dent it with a scungile. (Always put Italian in italics, see?)
This exact car appeared here in September when it was priced at $9K. Makes me wonder what the story is.
http://dailyturismo.com/balena-bianca-1966-fiat-850-coupe/
Good eye.
Some googling got me this
“In medieval Latin, the ventricles of the heart were at times called cochleae cordis, where the second word is an inflected form of cor, heart. Those unversed in Latin could have misinterpreted cochleae as cockles, or it might have started out as a university in-joke. Oddly, cochlea in Latin is the word for a snail (from the shape of the ventricles — it’s also the name given to the spiral cavity of the inner ear), so if this story is right we should really be speaking of warming the snails of one’s heart.”
Given the typical Italian style and attitude to engine cooling circa mid 1960s “warming the snails of one’s heart.” sounds about right.
Looks wonderful, I bet it sounds good too. Perfect slow car to drive fast.
Whelk, that explains it.
I see what you did there. Non-cardiological cockles are a bite-sized sort of clam.
You never see these anymore, probably because most have long since dissolved into rust. They’re slow and tiny, smaller than they look, but are tremendously appealing and have great charisma – it truly is a poor person’s Ferrari. Lots of character and brio, for a bargain price (along with the constant maintenance and repairs most Italian cars demand to keep on the road).
These cars used to rust ferociously by the time they were just a few years old. After more than half a century, this one would probably benefit from a very close examination of the floor, and checking the body with a magnet. If it’s not all bondo, at this price it seems like a screaming deal.
I’m from Dublin and feel obliged to chime in on cockles. They are basically salt water clams. very briny and delicious. Some people eat them raw, but I’ve seen the water in Dublin bay, and I’d heartily recommend cooking them.
I had an 850 in Dublin too in the 80s, and always wished it was a sport coupe. Absolutely lots of smiles for the dollar (euro, punt, pound…)
I have a jar of pickled cockles in the cupboard I haven’t been sure what to do with. On a baguette with mayo or what?
Cockles y queso de fundillo………