I'm restoring my dad's 1975 Fiat Spider convertable. Fun car, when it works, but the further I get into it the more I appreciate Volvo engineering.

Just learned of one feature Fiat included that I'm not aware of Volvo ever using. In fact, it's the one area of engineering where Fiat seemed to have been ahead of the curve. On the older carburated Fiats, when the oil light comes on, a relay cuts out power to the fuel pump. This is an increadibly clever way to make sure the car doesn't get driven into the ground if the engine loses all its oil. My first reaction to learning this: That sounds like something the guys at Volvo would have come up with! My wife's reaction: that's the first smart thing I've heard about that car.

Anyone aware of Volvo having built something like this into any of its models?

Of course, the Fiat's wiring is such a rat's nest, that light will probably come on someday when I still have oil...and the fuel pump will leave me stranded.

And, of course, on an unrelated note: if you snap a timing belt on the Fiat's interference engine, you're toast.