Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto was created through the consolidation of Bayless Fiat Lancia World and Midwest X1/9 in 2009. As a result, we are the longest-standing FIAT and Lancia specialists in North America, with the Bayless name providing parts, service and advice to owners continuously, for over 53 years…
We are located in Columbus, Ohio and support popular models such as Fiat/Pininfarina 124 Spider, Fiat/Bertone X1/9, 850, 128, Lancia Scorpion/Montecarlo, and Beta series with 24,000 SF of office, parts warehouse and service facilities.
Bayless Fiat Lancia World was known as the original mail-order FIAT parts company in North America. Established in 1971 by Art and Susan Bayless, they combined Susan’s entrepreneurship and Art’s passion for racing Fiats and built a thriving business in Marietta, Georgia.
Art’s racing career included several 850-based race cars, and a Dallara powered X1/9. Bayless sponsored countless club racers of X1/9s, 124s, 850s and 128s with the iconic brown and yellow Bayless racing livery.
Midwest X1/9 was established in 2002 by Matt and Marnie Brannon in Columbus, Ohio as a progression of Matt’s racing efforts with a Fiat X1/9. The family of three began selling OE NOS and used FIAT parts through on-line auction sites. New replacement parts, engine builds, mechanical service work and restorations activities were then added, to help keep fellow enthusiasts and their cars on the road.
The combination of two racing-inspired family businesses was a perfect fit, building on each company’s reputation as trusted, “easy-to-do-business-with” suppliers of quality parts and services. Our clients and fellow FIAT/Lancia owners often become long-time friends, not just here in the USA, but in dozens of countries around the world.
In 2016, Midwest-124 owned by Jon Logan, became a service partner and presence within the Midwest-Bayless facility. Jon is the only engine builder endorsed by Guy Croft for classic FIAT cars in North America. Jon follows Guy’s respected best practices and techniques, continuing a legacy of quality FIAT/Lancia engine builds and other mechanical services. Jon performs “crate” and direct installation mechanical builds of engines, cylinder heads and transmissions, along with vehicle level mechanical refurbishment services for clients across North America and abroad.
Today, Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto offers a greater variety of quality parts and services to clients than any other source. We like to say that we provide all of the easy stuff, and other, more difficult solutions as well. Customer satisfaction on every transaction is our #1 goal.
O.E. Original Equipment New Old Stock
When you want quality and exact OEM fit, look no further, we have the largest standing inventory of Original Equipment FIAT / Lancia parts. Period. We buy old stock inventories whenever and wherever we find them, and have thousands of hard-to-find pieces in-stock.
Quality Aftermarket
We provide a comprehensive collection of common replacement parts for all areas of your car at fair and affordable prices. We’re lucky that most of the popular vintage FIAT cars were sold under license by dozens of other companies, meaning basic mechanical items for brakes, cooling, clutch, engine, ignition, steering suspension and transmission are normally available and in-stock for immediate shipment.
Warranted Used
Some cosmetic or model-specific mechanical components for our cars are no longer being produced, or were never reproduced in the first place. In other cases, some reproduction pieces are a bit lacking in the fit/finish/quality department. The only solution in these situations is a clean used (or refurbished/rebuilt) exact fit OEM piece.
We enthusiastically offer a salvage parts program for recycled FIAT / Lancia parts, and invented the 1-10 rating scale over 20 years ago in an effort to help eliminate the distrust of buying used parts on-line. All of our Recycled / Used items are rated on a scale of 1-10 and have a no questions asked satisfaction guarantee.
Condition:
7 = Average Used (expected weathering or patina, but functional)
7.5 = Above Average (minor cosmetic blemish or issue, but usable as-is)
8 = Good Used (clean appearance, ready to install)
8.5 = Very Good Used (very clean appearance, either factory original or cleaned / refinished)
9 = Like New (appears as new, very minor blemish or indications of previous temporary installation)
Refurbished / Remanufactured / Rebuilt
One of the first services we offered clients was the remanufacture of X1/9 upright/hub assemblies. Our intent was to offer a professional part assembly solution that a garage mechanic with only basic hand tools might not be able to do themselves. This expanded into a variety of in-house mechanical remanufacture solutions, including engine and cylinder head assemblies, steering, steering and suspension, electrical, brakes and transmissions.
We also offer OE / Refurbished used factory hardware and metal items that are stripped and replated like new. OEM quality parts for demanding enthusiasts with detail that is essential to a show-winning restoration.
Exclusive / Custom Parts
Midwest-Bayless has introduced many product innovations to the market. Did you know we were the first vendor to introduce Wilwood Brake kits to 124 and X1/9 owners, way back in 2007? We did the same with replacement aluminum radiators for X1/9s in 2010, and fuel tanks later in 2013. KONI-based coil-over strut solutions were introduced a decade ago and are built 100% in-house. Want a custom exhaust or new crossmember for your Scorpion/Montecarlo? We build those too. …And we perfected the Honda K20 conversion kit that turns a mild mannered, great handling sports car into fire breathing 240HP supercar.
Custom Restoration, Refurbishment and Tuning
We have performed dozens of show-winning restorations over the years that have demonstrably elevated the cache and value of vintage FIATs and Lancia cars in North America. We know our way around these vehicles inside and out, and validate the fit and quality of the parts we sell by using them in-house EVERY DAY. Oh, and we offer tuning services with our Dynojet chassis dyno to get the most out of your vintage or modern FIAT.
Racing
Matt, Marnie and Brayden are all licensed, national-level SCCA road-racers, and each have previously qualified and raced at the SCCA “Runoffs” National Championships. We have campaigned our FIAT racecars in hundreds of events at internationally recognized race tracks such as Road America, Daytona, Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway to name a few. Matt’s racing efforts have earned 5 top-five SCCA “Runoffs” National Championship race finishes in his H-Production X1/9, including two podium appearances!
We are true enthusiasts, owning, driving and actively racing dozens of Fiat cars, classic and modern.
Social Gatherings and Open House
Midwest-Bayless encourages FIAT members to gather and drive! We have been long-standing key sponsors of regional and national club events, and host an annual all-Italian open house ourselves every summer. We have an active social media presence on Facebook, so be sure to follow our page for announcements, new arrivals, social events and race reports, or just send us a photo of your Italian Beauty!
https://www.facebook.com/MidwestBayless
As the most comprehensive supplier of parts, advice, service, and positive experience in the business... it is our pleasure to serve you and your Italian Sports Car.
Matt, Marnie, Brayden and Staff,
Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto
We Do FIAT Right