Some cars have options. Maybe they get plucked out of a junkyard and turned into a hot rod, or a street machine, or maybe they get restored, or (our favorite) turned into a racing car of some sort. This little Fiat Topolino doesn’t have that list of options in our opinion, it has two. Option one is that a classic European car lover buys it and lovingly restores theĀ diminutive Italian classic back to factory specs and tools around at slow speeds with a tweed jacket on and some sort of smarmy cap. The other option is that a nostalgia drag racing freak gets his greasy mitts on it and turns it into a steel bodied altered the likes of which terrorized drag strips decades ago. Yes, there are still tons of “Fiat” bodied altereds today but they are largely fiberglass. In fact, I am not sure I have ever seen 4-5 steel Topolino race cars in my entire life. Rare isn’t the word.
So what’s your opinion? Back to stock to preserve history of get out the tools and start to make the race car magic happen right off the bat? Us, well you know which way we’re leaning on this one. Does the world HAVE to have another stock Topolino? The world needs more recreations of famous race cars, at least the world we live in does. Are we wrong? You tell us!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS OF THE 1947 FIAT TOPOLINO AND THEN HIT THE LINK FOR THE FULL CRAIGSLIST AD –
CLICK HERE to see the entire Craigslist ad for this 1947 Topolino
Ok someone show us a steel bodied Topolino altered?
Dont believe I have ever seen one.
I’d say a little of both! Take the drive train from that Geo that got ate by the spreader & stick that in it. 3cyl & a 5 spd, fast & light.
I’ll take one …..
Check back issues of Hot Rod Magazine. A guy built one of these into a hot little autocross car. He took it to a meet, blew away everybody there and was asked to never come back,
I think I remember that! had a big wing on the back, a Buick V8 and 303 on the side?
Funny thing is, there is an Italian guy about a mile from my missus’ place I regularly go past – he has one in his shed he’s restoring – but the kicker is his daily driver is another one in a cream colour, looks like it rolled out the factory 5 minutes ago… and even weirder, there is a guy nearer my place that drives a slightly ratty but bog stock to the hubcaps example too…
Tracy thats probably the John Callies Simca from way back. Had a 303 cube Ponty motor from memory.The Simca bodies were made under some deal with Fiat and I understand they used the original dies & pressings etc.
Rich Guasco (of Pure Hell fame) had a street legal Topo a decade or so back. Bright red and I think built by the Christmans. Saw an article in some magazine back then.
bugger, you’re right! ignore my previous comment where I said it had a Buick!
My dad would love to have this. They were all over when he was a kid in Italy. The motor is like a tractor motor or something .
As much as an altered would be great, I feel this car is too complete in it’s original form to chop it up in the effort of building an altered. I never realized there was such a small engine compartment for that tiny little buzz box, but I certainly think it could be put to better use. I’m thinking restore the thing back to original glory, then put a screaming ‘busa or gsxr motor in that little compartment and turn some heads.
So that’s what a bone stock Topolino looks like. š
I say build it into fuel altered and sell all those pieces you dont use to the guys that want to restore one. Everybody wins
Ya wanna see a steel Topo Altered?? Here ya go!!
http://www.carbuildindex.com/8757/1949-fiat-topolino-the-outlaw-cackle-restoration/