how a 132 got me hooked

[curt]

Hiya guys -and not forgetting the new girlie group members (no disrespect intended)
Kevin suggested that i tell you all about my 131s as a new subject -so i will start at the beginning-in several parts as this could be long -very long -switch off now ! 
OK so here is me -in college doing motor vehicle engineering -gets a job in a local fiat specialist centre -here  i meet and greet my first fiat 130s and 131s and the like -being a poor oily rag my first car is a'P'reg (old P for those that are young ) fiat 132 1800 gls 1800 twin cam-straight from the auctions 75 quid lime green in colour already dying from tin worm -with the original steel wheels and crome caps. I bought this in 1984 the insurance nearly killed me !!
As usual ballistic engine and solid mechs but body rotten. Then a customer came in that had a 131 1600cl R plate-just had a front end crash couldnt afford the repairs so i bought it and rebuilt it.The old 16 pushrod let go on the m62 having done about 70K miles (I think i my younger youth i thrashed cars a bit hard)so changed the lump for a 16 TC engine-then the fun began.
I sold that motor and bought another customers car a 131 16 cl 4 door RDM547V but this guy loved fiats and had spent money on a set of cromadoras and the full sports body kit-in silver it looked great but not a proper sport i know -cheating really.
Then the day came -my boss had an original 131 sport in arancio racing(orange) he wanted 600 quid for it -and as much as i tried i couldnt get the money -so along came someone with the dosh and the car went away
As the old saying goes- what goes round comes round !
2 weeks later the affore mentioned sport KGP488T gets towed in the yard with a very sorry looking front O/S-the guy who bought had lost it on a corner and smashed the wing, front strut, lower TCA etc
The insurance wrote it off and I bought it back for 75 quid 
Anyway after a few parts replaced and the like my very first fiat 131 mirafiori sport  Just for reference I was 20 years then (1988)-insurance companies refused to insure me on a yearly basis so 6 months insurance cost me 488 quid - i had to pay monthly for insurance -everyone thought i was nuts
but the car was worth it 
I will try to scan the photo in that i have got and more to follow- unless everyones switched off by now !!!
Later guys 

[131 Lover]

Hello Curt!
Do you still have the 131 or did you sell it??

131 lover..

[kev131]

Thats a great story - and I can see why you are looking for another car. There are so many people who have got into Sports cos Dad/big brother/uncle/mate had one - And it seems like some sort of biological implant that stays with people for ever more! So I'm afraid to tell you that a cure has not yet been invented.

How actively are you looking to buy another Sport? What appear to be nice complete cars come up for sale regularly on the continent - If you dont mind LHD you should be able to find a complete original and virtually rust free car for under ?5000.

[curt]

hi there 131 lover -i will post more of the story (if anyones interested !!)
As for the first 131 sport -

[curt]

Dont know what happened there-my pooter decided to post a half complete story  -but anyway i sold the first mirafiori sport because the cam belt snapped -flung the fuel pump out of the side of the block and auxiallary shaft and left a whacking great hole !!! But with the money i got a bought -Yes you guessed it -another 131 mirafiori sport !!!