The original Fiat 124 Spider production ceased in 1985, leaving about ten years between the 124 Spider and the Barchetta replacement. Compare this to the continuity at Alfa Romeo, where the Spider nameplate didn't skip a beat between the Series 4 spider and the 916 series Spider, swapping out RWD for FWD without so much as a name change. That Fiat abandoned its old nameplate to position the Barchetta as a new model was wise to us, as it allowed the Barchetta at least a chance at being evaluated in its own context.

In our experience, the formula for a hot hatch doesn't feel out of place in a roadster. Sports car reflexes are lost when the chassis is mined from a FWD economy car, but the result is far from hopeless. We've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of a first-generation Audi TT - a car that by all logic should be a disapointment - and yet the car just feels like a droptop GTI. No need to fret the FWD, in our opinion.

Year: 1997
Model:  Fiat Barchetta
Engine: 1.8L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  18,000mi
Price: $16,500 obo
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Fiat Barchetta

Car was a Collector's inventory
always garage in controlled environment
ZERO RUST
CAR IS A CLEAN TITLE, NEVER BEEN HIT AND NEVER HAD A REPAINT.
perfect collectible car
working A/C
power windows
power mirrors
pulse wipers
just drove 2100 miles in last moth
Car is presently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
tire threads are near perfect
I also have the original set of Barchetta wheels with mounted Pirelli tires.
This is the only one I could find in North America in this condition
It is privately owned and on consignment here
Owner has original Canadian Registration available to complete the sale

This car is as clean as they come, with around 18,000 miles on the clock. Claimed to be accident-free and devoid of rust, this example should have very few cosmetic flaws. Servicing the ubiquitous twin-cam Fiat mill will be straightforward, if not exactly convenient in North America. A simple iron-block unit, the Pratola Serra engines utilize hydraulic tappets and really only require the periodic timing belt and water pump replacement.

The seller has this Barchetta priced on the high side, to be sure. Part of that is the rarity in the US - buyers won't need to go through the hassle of sources a Barchetta and importing it to the US. The other reason for the strong asking price is the condition of this example - it is an original and low-mileage Barchetta in great shape, after all. We would personally go through the trouble of sourcing one from Europe, but for those who want a Barchetta ready to go for this summer, we could get behind this example.

-Graham