Car: Fiat 850 Spyder

Class: E Modified

Engine: The engine is mid located, reversed, 3100 cc with triported 6 tube intakes. A modified Paxton blows into a 500 cfm 2 barrel Holley with all of the fixes. I used to have a Pro-Jection, but I got tired of repairing it. The entire drive train is Corvair.

Suspension: The suspension system is all Formula car type utilizing late Corvair hubs at both ends. The steering is Porsche rack and pinion. The brakes are very light discs adapted to the Corvair hubs. Wheels are 13 x10 front and 15 x 12 rear spun aluminum. It weighs 1520 pounds.

Other: All that is left of the Fiat body is the shell, floors, and rocker panels. I made a fiberglass Yenko type rear deck lid. It has early tail lights. the head lights were removed and the front reshaped into a sort of late model configuration.

History: The LeVair Spyder originally had an upside down transaxle, and a DeDion suspension. I then ran the blower through a single plane belt. the blower was where the passenger seat would have been. The whole thing was an ungainly set-up. I had previously had a reverse cut ring and pinion in the Formula car . I t lasted ten minutes because it wasn't hardened. They did not make it right so I din't want to go there again. The engine is reversed and the torque IS on the back side of the gears. I ran this in the V8 Avenger with no trouble, so decided it would be fine in 1500 pound car. Reversing the engine allowed the Paxton to be mounted atop the fan bearing housing and operate correctly with a single plane belt. The engine is now lowered and centered and the car has real suspension. Of course the axle and suspension is shorter on one side.

I had a new Fiat 850 once. It was gorgeous (because it looked like a Vair?) but gutless. I drove the LeVair Spyder on the street some. It was just too uncomfortable with the racing suspension, and hot with the mid engine.

I view this car as my Monza GT or my Corvair Cobra. The extra 20 pounds is for the passenger seat and harness. There are always requests for rides.

[Note: For those of you not familiar with them, the Fiat 850 Spyder was a two seat sports car based on the 850 sedan chassis, which was an evolution of the 600 sedan. The car had a liquid cooled rear 4 cylinder engine, originally of 843 cc's (51 cubic inches). Later models had 903 cc (55 ci) engines. Needless to say, Warren has transformed a pleasant little sports car into a fire breathing kone killer. Now to arrange for a ride :-) --Bryan.]

Click on an image to see the full size version.

All images courtesy Matt Nall.