Fiat played a significant role in producing the European roadster for an international market, generally based on the drivetrains of their more pedestrian sedans. This tended to mean that they had rather underpowered, basic engines, but with the Fiat 124, things changed, when ex-Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi designed a crossflow twincam version of the 124 sedan’s pushrod engine. This version appeared in the spider and sport coupe and brought the 124’s performance up closer to that of the British or other Italian offerings and was heavily aimed at the US market, with about 75 percent of all cars sold in the US. The engine was also unique in that it was the first production engine to feature a rubber timing belt rather than chains. The body was a Pininfarina design, with elegant lines and an incredibly nice convertible top that could be easily raised and lowered with one hand. Suspension was rather standard, with a coil sprung live rear axle located with a panhard rod and uneven front A arms with coil springs and tubular dampers. The spider was introduced in 1966, and manufactured by Fiat until 1981, at which point Pininfarina took over building the car continuing production until 1985 and after Fiat pulled out of the US market as a brand in 1982, the cars continued to be sold in the US as a Pininfarina Spider Azzura. This Fiat was purchased from a local collector and was still entirely in its original paint, but had a new interior, exhaust header, and alloy wheels fitted. Looking the car over top and bottom it was clear that this was a original accident and rust free body, which is a rarity for the rust-prone Fiat 124. The original paint, unfortunately had significant flaws throughout and a luggage rack had been installed then removed from the trunk lid and, at some point, an approximately six inch area of the hood had been buffed through, so under my ownership, the car received an exterior repaint in its original prugno (plum) colour. Being a 1968 model it has the later crash safety bumpers and a 1.8 liter engine, with lower compression to meet emissions restrictions of the time, but is otherwise now a cosmetically restored car that starts, runs, and drives very well. The 124 is quite a useable convertible, with one of the nicest convertible tops of the cars in our collection as far as ease of setting it up and taking it down, which can be done with one hand at a stopped traffic light from the driver’s seat. Handling is good as is the steering. Power feels somewhat down, when compared to an early MGB, but part of that is the lower compression US spec, which is 11 horsepower and 20 Lb-Ft of torque down from the MGB’s spec, while the European market cars had higher numbers than the MGB. If I find cause to rebuild the engine, I will certainly bring the compression back up to European spec.