Fiat has an unenviable reputation in the U.S.. The Abarth name here is less well known, but is revered among the enlightened. Put them together and you get something like today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Ritmo. É buono?

For some reason, American car shoppers in 1980 mostly chose Corollas, 810s, and RX-7s over Stradas, Bravas, and X1/9s, in spite of Fiat offering up to 400 bucks off the sticker price!

Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. I think I've seen a total of two Stradas during the last 20 years, both in Alameda.

Those of us in North America knew this fine Italian automobile as the Strada, and we pretty much backed away from it in horror. Not so in Europe, where car buyers kept buying the things until 1988.

Do you want to vault into the ranks of the most insane Project Car Hell Poster Children, while spending only 500 bucks? We've got just the car for you!