Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt - Jalopnik Comments

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

araknid78 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:51:32 EDT

This article claims it was a 1967 Fiat 500. makes soem sense since he alledgedly sold his 1967 Fiat 850 sedan

[www.leftlanenews.com]

araknid78

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Hyman Decent — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:22:15 EDT

[clears throat, shoots Jalopnik server dirty look]

Hyman Decent

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Hyman Decent — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:21:39 EDT

@Proscriptus: Was the Dino in that photo damaged? If not, it must've been a photo of a Dino, for illustrative purposes.

Hyman Decent

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

cegerer — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:49:51 EDT

BTM = Body / Type / Model. DMV lingo. Apparently, the dumba$$ reporter copied the info off of the police report and wrote FIAT BTM.

cegerer

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

JayC11222 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:54:26 EDT

It was the NY Post that had a photo of a Dino along with the article, but there was no indication that it was the same car or same model. Certainly it hadn't been rolled, and it also had no plates or registration/inspection stickers. Most likely it was just a stock photo that they found when searching for shots of a '67 Fiat.

They also showed a copy of the police report, which was a little hard to read but appears to identify the car only as a 1967 Fiat two door sedan. That is, I don't see "BTM" anywhere on it... or any other model designation.

JayC11222

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Proscriptus — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:05:43 EDT

One of the NY dailies showed a photo of the "BTM;" it is (was) a Dino.

Proscriptus

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

cxtasy — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:20:04 EDT

@drdreydel:

Having owned both a Fiat 850 coupe (1967) and a Fiat 124 Coupe (1969), I can state from experience that the 850 will roll, and it was pretty easy to do, just crank the wheel hard over, mash the throttle, and over you go. It was more like capsizing than rolling, and it only went onto the roof. Then I sold it, and the buyer rolled it too. My brother bought one later, but he knew enough by then to install a camber compensator on it!

After the 850, I had a 600 in Okinawa. Then the 124, which was one of the best handling cars I've ever driven, and much later an X1/9. I'm not a Seinfeld fan, but I think more highly of him now! He rolled it the first day he drove it, whatever it was. Fiats can be fun!

cxtasy

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

joneez — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:14:25 EDT

Come on, Seinfeld for TGUSA? If he rolled a jet car like the Hamster maybe, but a Fiat? In town?

joneez

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

evil2win — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:11:25 EDT

all this Fiat bashing... My daily driver is fiat 124 spider. . Anyway I think sharky must be right. As it was pointed out to me earlier you'd have to be going pretty fast and screw up majorly to roll a Dino. A 500 though, pull the e-brake, one wheel locks up, spin sideways and the leading rear wheel digs into the soft dirt in a ditch and over you go....

evil2win

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

hootjigga — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:20:36 EDT

This would make a nice episode. If Newman stole the Fiat, of course.

hootjigga

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

YachneGabuldury — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:51:40 EDT

Comment on Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt As an old Fiat 850 spyder owner and 124 spyder owner with a husband Fiat machanic to go with them! we auto crossed the 124 - would never have tried it with the 850 - definate role over model!

YachneGabuldury

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

beercheck — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:26:30 EDT

@Novaload: Nice. But I think you have it backwards.

beercheck

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Sharky — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:01:00 EDT

It was a 1967 Fiat 500 ("Cinquecento").

He was only going about 10 mph and it was a very gentle lay down on it's side. He stood up, opened the right door "into the sky", and climbed out smiling! The windshield popped out unbroken, the left mirror and door handle were wasted, the car has some bruises on its left side, but otherwise is totally drivable, as Sam put it, as long as you happen to have an anchor to throw out the window when you want to stop!

Sharky

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Morphine — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:38:47 EDT

@DustyButt: COTD!

Morphine

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

hotrod356 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:33:19 EDT

I second the notion for Jerry Seinfeld to be the host of Top Gear US! The producers will need some pretty deep pockets to accomplish that one?

Ok, after going nuts trying to figure out what the F%#k a fiat BTM is? This is what I have to offer. This car apparently belonged to Seinfeld, so possibley it was a sister car to this odd little 850? It looks like it wouldnt stop or go?
Most likely a AP blunder? [bringatrailer.com]

hotrod356

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Murph — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:30:39 EDT

@JantheMan:

Good recall on the real "sedans", but I'm betting people on the scene can't tell a sedan from a coupe.

I'm betting a Fiat Dino coupe.

Murph

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

NovaloadMissesPolar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:06:44 EDT

I guess it wasn't crashworthy.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

sos10 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:37:46 EDT

@POLAЯ ИIИJA STAЯ: Ah, should have checked this first!

sos10

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

drdreydel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:34:55 EDT

@STR8SIX: HAHAHAHA.

drdreydel

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

ppiddy — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:52:22 EDT

Saturday evening? Hamptons? The cops ruled out alcohol and/or stupid based solely on the word of a ridiculously famous tv personality? What a shock.

ppiddy

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

STR8SIX — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:45:11 EDT

BTM: Betäubungsmittelmißbrauch. Look it up. It's the only reason anyone would buy and drive a 40 year old Fiat.

STR8SIX

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

drdreydel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:25:01 EDT

This is just a thought and I may be way off, but we should also consider that it had to be something that was sufficiently easy to roll. Would something like a Fiat 850 be easier to roll than a 124 or the like?

drdreydel

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

ktownogg — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:10:11 EDT

At least he has a sense of humor about it...

And a final word from Jerry himself: "Because I know there are kids out there, I want to make sure they all know that driving without braking is not something I recommend, unless you have professional clown training or a comedy background, as I do. It is not something I plan to make a habit."

ktownogg

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

v250gto — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:05:06 EDT

i hope hes good enough to have a fiat 130 coupe

[upload.wikimedia.org]

v250gto

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

JantheMan — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:30:28 EDT

It says it was a two door sedan. It is only two options.
Fiat 124

or Fiat 1800/2100/2300

JantheMan

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

SLR_BlowerMania — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:30:14 EDT

This is all that I could find. I don't think this is what he was driving though.

[www.jacknob.com]

SLR_BlowerMania

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:28:07 EDT

Better
Telephone a
Mechaninc

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:20:33 EDT

I wonder if it was like that scene in Bee Movie when he's banging repeatedly into the apartment window...

"I'll try the brakes again... and again, and
again-again-again-again-again-again-agai......

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Preferredcustomer — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:18:12 EDT

No more info on the model, but apparently it was "new to his collection":

"Chief Sarris said Mr. Seinfeld told the officer the car was new to his collection, and that this was the first time he had taken it out for a spin."

[www.easthamptonstar.com]

Preferredcustomer

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

STR8SIX — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:17:39 EDT

@Ray Wert: I thought maybe a Fiat Dino as well. Probably a spider.

STR8SIX

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

muleshoe — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:15:36 EDT

BTM now stands for Bent Twisted Metal

muleshoe

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

combat chuck — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:11:52 EDT

@POLAЯ ИIИJA STAЯ: Thank you! I was racking my brain trying to come up with something clever for BTM involving brake failure. Guess I need more coffee.

combat chuck

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Number_Six — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:10:29 EDT

BTM Cheetah? If you say "Cheetah" when you're drunk, it sounds like "Fiat".

Number_Six

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Preferredcustomer — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:06:59 EDT

This ad is for a Fiat 850 that was allegedly owned by Seinfeld at some point in the past. Perhaps he had more than one/bought a different one? Just grasping at straws, here, but this seems like the kind of thing that could be described as a "2 door sedan." A Dino coupe, while sexy, is not really a "sedan" even to the eyes of the non-cognoscenti.

[bringatrailer.com]

Preferredcustomer

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

j6r — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:04:39 EDT

I bet it goes something like this

Police: What kind of car is that?
Seinfeld: 1957 Osca MT4
Police: A What? (writes down 1967)
Seinfeld: Um a Fiat
Police: What kind of Fiat?
Seinfeld: ... MT4
Police: BTM

j6r

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:03:37 EDT

I love how everyone's worried about Jerry. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR??????

j/k

BTW, the the heck's a Fiat BTM?

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Ray Wert — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:03:16 EDT

Seriously guys -- we need input people. We're just as much in the dark here about what Fiat Seinfeld owns as you are. Could it have been a Fiat Dino 2000?

Ray Wert

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Phil L. — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:57:25 EDT

OK - We all know it isn't a "BTM". And I'm sure a number of us also Googled various items to see if someone knows what Fiat Seinfeld owns.

And you probably came up empty, just like I did.

C'mon - The guy's well known for his car collection - and no one know what Fiat model he owns? We Jalopnik devotees deserve better than this...

Phil L.

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

west-coaster — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:56:44 EDT

"What's the deal with forty year old Italian cars?"

If the car isn't driven very often, it might have been a good idea to give it a pretty good once-over before taking it out on the highway.

west-coaster

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

danio3834 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:53:23 EDT

Seinfeld and his lies. Fiats never mechanically fail.

danio3834

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

aaron x — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:52:43 EDT

Sounds like everyone in the news biz is covering the coverage; not one journo seems to know to ask "BTM? What the hell is that?" - they're all just regurgitating it from other reports.

If the collective Jalop Google-Fu can't figure it out, there's something wrong with the initial report.

aaron x

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:52:17 EDT

Brakes
Tend to
Malfunction

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

zweirad — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:47:20 EDT

@ash78: +1! Great answer. It's got the guinea factor as well as the creepy older dude trolling for trouble factor.

Now what is a BTM? Photos anyone?

zweirad

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

combat chuck — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:43:34 EDT

This never would've happened if he'd let Puddy work on the car.

combat chuck

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

drdreydel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:39:48 EDT

The story is bound to reach one of the Fiat forums...maybe they will have an answer for what a BTM is.

drdreydel

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Buzz Killington — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:39:43 EDT

@dolo54: Thats true. As long as you're not drunk.

Buzz Killington

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

The Name's Ash78, Housewares — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:37:56 EDT

Or on Long Island:

Buttafuoco Teenager Magnet

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Unregular — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:37:54 EDT

Wander what hi Pucker Factor was on the seat, indeed.

Unregular

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

JantheMan — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:33:54 EDT

BTM = Bolognesian Touringwagen-Meistershaft

JantheMan

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

dolo54 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:32:17 EDT

If you're googling fiat BTM, don't go to the Myth Germania site. There's a virus there.

dolo54

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

dolo54 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:29:09 EDT

@4_Chan!!!!!11!one: Just don't think about drinking and driving. They are very strict out there with a lot of checkpoints.

A friend of mine has a ski boat there. Last summer he was renting a cottage on the shore. Man there is nothing cooler than walking out your door and climbing into your boat parked right there and just taking off.

dolo54

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

JSmith53 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:27:12 EDT

Lots of comments, but the most important question has yet to be addressed... What the hell is a Fiat BTM???

JSmith53

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

EndlessMike — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:18:15 EDT

Wow, a Fiat broke? Who would have guessed it?

EndlessMike

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

muleshoe — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:17:56 EDT

Wander what hi Pucker Factor was on the seat

muleshoe

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

b20a — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:17:29 EDT

That Fiat was previously owned by JOHN VOIT!

b20a

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

SwatLax — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:15:04 EDT

@ash78: You know, Jerry is the kind of guy that could get away with some of the shenanigans that we fear advertiser's cracking down on in NBC's Top Gear.

I remember hearing Jerry's recent interview on NPR's Fresh Air, and he talked about how Seinfeld's success gave him the kind of money so he couldn't be bought. The studio could beg him to do another season or do this or that, and he didn't care anymore. So maybe we could get a few good shows out of him before he or the whole show is yanked.

Of course, he'd give Porsche all kinds of dragon love, but it doesn't really bother me when Clarkson does the same to a Jaguar.

SwatLax

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

graverobber- My Yugo Nova! — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:15:04 EDT

NO STOP FOR YOU!

graverobber- My Yugo Nova!

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

The Name's Ash78, Housewares — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:14:17 EDT

It's probably that woman who invented all the baby food recipes, which Jessica Seinfeld stole and then made famous. Conspiracies abound.

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Bumblebee — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:10:45 EDT

@4_Chan!!!!!11!one: Seriously, it's like Beverly Hills out there. They even have the LA traffic.

Bumblebee

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Miscellanea, now on the main floor! — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:10:17 EDT

Kramer filled the brake lines with blood!

Miscellanea, now on the main floor!

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

smalleyxb122 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:09:34 EDT

Wait a minute! Even in a mechanical failure, someone is to blame. If it's a manufacturing defect that causes the failure, it falls back to the manufacturer. Since this is a '67, it would fall back to the owner as "failure to maintain", or the mechanic who last did work to the brakes.

He should have been cited. If my brakes go out, I get a ticket. Why should it be any different for Jerry Seinfeld?

If Jerry can show that his maintainence schedule was adequate, and the brakes failed due to a mechanical defect, drop the charge, but at least charge him. It is a driver's responsibilty to ensure that his or her vehicle is roadworthy.

smalleyxb122

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

DustyButt — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:09:04 EDT

Newman.

DustyButt

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

1300ccsoffury — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:07:56 EDT

Well of course the brakes didn't work. There's no such thing as a Fiat BTM!

1300ccsoffury

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:04:38 EDT

Reporter at sceen: Couldn't you smell something like the brakes burning?

Jerry : What am I, hard of smelling?

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Buzz Killington — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:03:58 EDT

@RicKaysen: Its the East Hampton concierge...er...police department. They're very accommodating, and not just to celebrities. There is sooo much money out there, and most of it is the low-key-but-owns-half-of-manhattan... kind, that the cops give everyone a very wide berth, just in case.

Buzz Killington

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Raddy21 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:03:52 EDT

Good to hear he's ok. But I thought he only had Porsches...well I guess maybe NOW he only has Porsches

Raddy21

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Number_Six — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:00:25 EDT

'the hell's a Fiat BTM?

Number_Six

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

htrodblder — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:55:01 EDT

Where's the photos of the crash? And the booking photo of Jerry? What about the Nazi hooker that was in the car with him? Man you guys are really letting down the kids at Defamer...

htrodblder

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Morphine — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:50:47 EDT

"Then you find out that the brakes are actually milk-bottle tops. They'll stop you . . . once." - Jezzer

Morphine

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

Chuckybas — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:50:41 EDT

I'm having trouble finding a pic of this car. Any help?

Chuckybas

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

goatrope — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:50:18 EDT

A Fiat "BTM"?? What the hell is that? Anybody got any photographs of that?

goatrope

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

RicKaysen — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:48:49 EDT

So, lemme get this straight. Jerry says the "brakes failed" and the police simply chalk it up to mechanical failure without an actual investigation or examination of the brakes. Wow...it must be awesome to have that kind of power.

RicKaysen

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

BRDHNTR: Extraordinaire — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:44:16 EDT

Looks like Seinfeld should invest in his own restoration shop like Leno has so things like this don't happen. Come'on everyone knows FIAT stands for "Fix It Again Tony"

BRDHNTR: Extraordinaire

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

The Name's Ash78, Housewares — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:43:39 EDT

I second someone else's nomination of Jerry to host US Top Gear. That is, if they can afford $1MM+ per episode.

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

Seinfeld Rolls 1967 Fiat "BTM," Unhurt

clinto — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:40:32 EDT

"So, brakes that don't work.... what's up with that?"

clinto