Monthly Archives: September 2012

Fiat

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

4 Comments

The Fiat Dino Spider is possibly the most beautiful Italian car that few have ever heard or seen. While the more common Dino Coupe was styled by Bertone, the Spider was the brainchild of Pininfarina. Both vehicles had the Ferrari derived V6 engine, used in these vehicles to help Ferrari homologate the engine for Formula 2 racing. This Dino Spider is for sale in the Netherlands.

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

Fiat Dino Spider 2.0 in beautiful condition! Comes from 3e owner and is for 7 years since restored general and the technology become obsolete general. Beautiful, black, fully Leclerc interior cover and sun canopy country. Body very solid, no rust, no defects. Technology properly and runs perfectly. Rare condition for a Dino Spider.

At $90,000, this Dino is at the high end of what these cars typically fetch. Normally you would see these for sale between $50,000 to $70,000, but perhaps values are on the move. While some may view this as an expensive Fiat, one could also look at this Spider as an inexpensive Ferrari. With looks that match the best from Maranello and rarity (only 1,159 2.0 Spiders produced), these will certainly remain collectible as the years pass.

-Paul

Fiat

1981 Fiat Spider 2000

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The Fiat Spider carried the roadster torch for Fiat for almost 20 years, which is rather remarkable, considering the automotive advancements that came about between 1966 and 1985. Even today, this two seater looks rather timeless. This later Spider for sale in New Hampshire has the 2.0 liter engine with fuel injection that is good for just over 100 horsepower.

1981 Fiat Spider 2000

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A beautiful 1981 Fiat Spider 2000. Body by Pininfarina. Color: Safari Yellow (an ivory shade). Engine: 4 cylinder with Bosch fuel injection system. Transmission: Manual 5-speed. Now with a LOW RESERVE: This car is in great condition and has been maintained in every way that a solid running Fiat Spider 2000 ought to be. I have invested a lot of money into the car (since 2008), and I am proud to own it. And the clock even works! Here’s a list of what’s been done to the car since I bought it 4 years ago:

Engine completely serviced and tuned-up last year, valves adjusted
New timing belt
New distributor, rotor and cap
Transmission completely serviced and inspected
Complete clutch system replacement (i.e., pressure plate and disc)
Stick shift linkage completely rebuilt into top of transmission
New gaskets for engine (wherever it was opened up)
New Airflow sensor (i.e. sending unit for fuel injection computer)
New air filter
Front end suspension thoroughly inspected and refurbished as needed
New stabilizer bar in rear suspension
Shock absorbers all the way around
Complete brake job, with exterior brake lines replaced
New vacuum brake booster
Heater core and valve, cooling hoses and anti-freeze replaced
Manual radiator fan override switch installed (automatic fan works too)
Performance tires, (approx. 7,000 miles on them since purchased)
Fresh oil changes every 3,000 miles
Body is clean and rust free
Garaged in winter
Minor deficiencies:

The convertible top looks great on the outside, no tears and water tight.
The interior shows some wear and tear
The radio tape deck is not working, but may only be a blown fuse
I’ve invested my money in the mechanical stuff
I removed the carpet to inspect the floors, etc.
I have all of the carpet sections in a box
Car has a few very minor dings (not dents), and a couple of tiny scratches.
Dings can be seen on last photo
I’ve got an un-opened bottle of touch-up paint for the scratches (original color)

This car is beautiful and you should bid with every confidence. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to inspect and drive the car in person.

For a Spider hailing from New England, this car looks tidy. The Buy it Now price of $5,350 is attractive for such a well kept classic Italian roadster. For me, only the color and larger crash bumpers of the later Spiders let this car down. If it turns out to be rust free and mechanically sound, this would be a smart buy for someone seeking a lot of top down character for little money.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1983 Ferrari 400i

2 Comments

Ferrari has been in the business of making grand touring coupes for years, but the 400 and later 412 seem to have been relegated to the dust bin in terms of the history of the Prancing Horse. This was a car of many firsts for Ferrari, two of which were the automatic transmission and anti-lock brakes. This car also enjoyed the longest production run of any Ferrari in history, from 1976 through 1989. While not officially imported to the US, many have made their way over here throughout the years. While this one isn’t for sale in the states, it is tantalizingly close in Toronto.

1983 Ferrari 400i

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Re-listed due to a rogue high bid, this 1983 Ferrari 400i is a beautifully preserved and very presentable example of Ferrari's V12 flagship GT car of the 1980's. Finished in grigio fumo over tan hides this is a superb example of one of Enzo Ferrari's most elegant and eye-catching designs. The vehicle is well maintained with good compression all around and boasts Ferrari’s classic V12 Columbo engine with its characteristically fantastic exhaust note. The car was treated to a very good respray some years ago and it still looks fresh today with only a few minor chips and dings. The interior is in excellent overall condition.

The car is complete with the original owners manuals and pouch, the complete original kidney style leather tool kit and first aid kit along with copies of the original shop and parts manuals. Car is a 1983 but is listed as a 1980 due to ebay not accepting a 5 digit VIN for vehicles made after 1981. Major service recently completed included valve adjustment, timing chain adjustment, all new belts and ignition wires, new water hoses, new fuel injectors, new fuel accumulators and fuel pump, new master cylinder, new flexible brake hoses, new front hood shocks, new water pump seal, rebuilt self leveling shocks, repacked differential and recent front end alignment.

The prior owner owned the vehicle for 26 years before I purchased the vehicle from Bobileff Motor Car in San Diego. Car was sold to me as not legal in CA due to modifications to exhaust made by previous owner. Since the pictures were taken the window tint has been removed. Reason for selling is that I have recently had the unexpected opportunity to purchase a Ferrari 365 GTC4 and cannot now accommodate both vehicles. This car is an excellent example of a rare collectable and potentially appreciating Ferrari V12.

Bidders with zero feedback will not be considered unless by prior arrangement. Car is located in Toronto, Ontario Canada and is available for inspection by appointment. Buyer is responsible for making all shipping and export arrangements and paying all costs. US buyers may contact TFXinternational.com or similar companies who specialize in trans-border shipping and brokerage of vehicles for questions re shipping and/or export arrangements.

At $22,500, this 400i seems cheap for Ferrari standards, but is actually right in line with where the market is for these large V12 coupes. Between $20,000 to $30,000 should buy you a decent runner these days with a good history, while anything above $30,000 will be the cream of the crop.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

4 Comments

The Alfa Romeo Spider will always be a favorite of ours here at CICFS, given the number of examples we've posted recently. This early Duetto is one of the best I've come across and is certainly going to make for a happy new owner.

1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

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1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto 1600 “Boat-Tail” Spider. Complete Show-Quality Restoration Recently finished. Looks and Drives Amazing. West-Coast car all it’s life. Never crashed, raced, or abused. All original sheet metal, no rust. Lots of money was spent to make this car one of the nicest examples around. This is the same model car that can be seen in the movie “The Graduate”.

This model is the last work of Battista Pininfarina and would make a great addition to any collection. This car drives Excellent. It revs up fast, and shifts great. It’s a blast to drive, and it gets alot of attention and compliments. All the gauges and lights work as they should. The ATE brakes are excellent, they do not pull or shimmy. The original 1600 engine had a complete professional rebuild by the previous owner. It runs very smoothly, no knocking, or smoking. It has excellent oil pressure. I had a Compression and Leak-down test preformed cold, and the results are as follows:

Cylinder 1: 200 pds 4%, Cylinder 2: 205 pounds 5%, Cylinder 3: 200 pounds 5%, Cylinder 4: 200 Pounds 4%. Much work has been done to this car, I will try to list it the best I can below:

Complete High-Quality Paint-job matched to the original color. Including under the hoods, in the trunk, and the door jams.
New Interior including: new original style rubber mat set, dash recovered, new seats, new sun-visors, new door panels, new center carpet.
Brand new canvas soft top
New Windshield and seal
Custom made padded boot cover that fits and looks great.
All new rubbers and seals all around.
Original Weber Carburetors professionally rebuilt and calibrated.
Gauges professionally refinished serviced and calibrated.
Heater system was restored, including heater core flush, fan service, and heater vent flaps replaced
Wrap around Bumpers are all polished and have no dents.
New tires, original rims painted.
Undercarriage cleaned and under-coated for rust prevention.
Suspension cleaned and painted.
All chrome and stainless polished.
New complete Ansa Exhaust.
Radiatior and Gas-Tank flushed and sealed.
All new hoses and fuel lines.
New Tail lights and turn-signals
New Headlight covers that fit great.
Previous owner installed new ball joins, and tie rod ends

The car is currently registered, and I have a clear California title. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email. Inspection and test-drive of the vehicle can be arranged. The car is located in Northridge, California.

This Duetto is certainly well sorted, as evidenced from such things as its undercarriage. The reserve is probably set somewhere in the high $20,000 to low $30,000 range, as that is where the best Duettos tend to exchange hands. Overall a nice example in a classic color that reminds us where the Spider love affair began as we await the next generation of open roofed Alfas.

-Paul

Lancia

1979 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider

3 Comments

Mint condition Lancia Beta Zagato Spiders seem to be coming out of the woodwork as of late. We've featured a few here at CICFS this year, most recently this example owned by the President of Fiat Lancia Club's Arizona Chapter. Now comes along a red, two owner Zagato Spider that has been impossibly preserved, especially given these cars' propensity to rust away. For sale in Washington state, this could be one of the best examples of the breed left.

1979 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider

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1979 Lancia Beta Zagato Spider. 34K miles from new. Always garaged. No rust. This stunning Zagato Spider is likely the finest original example in the country. The second owner bought this car in 1980 when it was almost new. He was Capt. Richard Jacobs, who commanded the destroyer-tender U.S.S. Puget Sound, which for a time was the Flag Ship of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and later supported Operation Desert Storm in the first Gulf War. We spoke to his widow who expressed that they had many fun times together in the car when the Captain was home in Washington State on leave.

New water pump, new timing belt and tensioner bearing, new fuel pump, and completely rebuilt ZF power steering rack. New shifter bushing kit installed. Gas tank removed and fully cleaned with new NOS sending unit and fuel filter. Fully recommissioned air conditioning system that blows cold. Thousands in receipts. Optional power windows work quite well. Repainted to an excellent standard many years ago. Original soft top in very nice condition. Completely original inside and in absolutely lovely preserved condition throughout. These are the known defects: the oil pressure needle does not work but the zero-pressure warning light does as it has had a new sending unit installed. The power antenna does not work but can be operated manually. Very slight patina to the driver's seat that shows more in photos than it does in person...the new owner can dye it back to perfection if they so choose. Very slight paint rub-through on one of the contour lines of the hood that generally does not show up in photos...and that's it.

This is another stunning example of nearly perfectly preserved Northwest car. The Pacific Northwest is absolutely the very best place in the country to find wonderfully original classic cars, with cloudy skies and moderate tempertures that keep paint lustorous and interiors cool. This car is destined to cross the receiving ramp at Concorso Italiano someday soon. We just attended the Concorso, and we saw not a single Zagato Spider on the field...underscoring the rarity of these cars today. Little over 3000 examples were ever imported. Today, there are probably only a few hundred still in existence...and probably only a few dozen worth owning. We believe that this car is likely the finest original example left. Expensive. Good luck.

The Zagato Spider owned by the Fiat Lancia Club Chapter President brought $6,400 last month. That was a white car and had double the mileage. This shade of red might be more desirable to Italian car enthusiasts and considering the mileage, I'd wager that this car might bring another $2,000 to $3,000 or so. These weren't the best Lancias, but these Spiders have their charm and they are becoming more and more scarce as the years pass.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1969 Lamborghini Miura S

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Each time a Lamborghini Miura comes up for sale, serious collectors take note. Only 764 of these landmark supercars were ever made and they are highly prized. This particular Miura for sale is a California car for sale in Maine and is an S model, which had engine enhancements good for another 20 horsepower, bringing the total output to 370 horsepower. A few luxuries were added such as power windows, a bit of chrome trim and increased luggage space. In Fly yellow, this bull is certainly arresting.

1969 Lamborghini Miura P400

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1969 Lamborghini Miura S (#3874). Meticulously restored to exacting standards. Upgraded to SV specification, with numerous Bob Wallace upgrades.

Built as Production Order number 304, this early P400S was built on January 22, 1969 and delivered new in Europe. Its known ownership dates to the 1974-1975 period when it was bought by George Cocalas in Long Beach, California afterwhich it was acquired by Joseph Koenig (also of Long Beach) in 1978. Owned by the reknowned exotic car collector and enthusiast Oliver Kuttner of Charlottesville, NC starting in 1979, it was subsequently acquired by film producer/collector Randy Simon in 1988. Shown at the New York Auto Show in 1991 it was later sold by Symbolic Motors of La Jolla, CA in 1995 to Mr. Steve Colletti. The car was described at the time by Mr. Colletti as being "a real car---used but maintained" with a "great engine" and "pretty good chassis and interior".

An exhaustive 4 year restoration commenced in 1995 that left no bolt unturned and no surface unfreshened, a summary of which follows:

APPEARANCE - Chassis was wire wheeled to remove all paint, corrosion and filler. Repaired all cracks, bends or non-original holes. Underside coated with rock protectant and entire chassis painted in semigloss black. Front and rear bumpers, rear 'hexagon' panel, front rock screen & grills, and eyelashes all stripped, primed and repainted. Aluminum rocker panels repainted silver after removing dents and straightening. Entire body stripped to bare metal. Cracks and imperfections welded and sanded. Body straightened, metal finished. Bonnets and doors aligned with new gaskets installed and made to fit perfectly. Painted Miura Fly Yellow by Joe Montanto/JM Auto Works of Van Nuys, CA. Wheels (including 2-9" SV wheels) stripped, crack checked and repainted (silver). Headlight housings disassembled, cleaned, new Hella H4 headlights w/55/100 bulb used in the rebuilt headlamp housings. Two new rear brake/turn signal lenses with housings cleaned and repainted and Halogen lamp conversion performed. New backup light lens and 2 new side marker lights installed. New aluminum firewall clear anodized.

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION - Front chassis stiffeners from mid/late S added to the front. Front shock tower brace replaced with new, late model S type (no swiss cheese-type holes), powder coated for lasting durability. Fiberglass air deflector from late S added and frame rail opened up and boxed as is late S to deflect more air thru the radiator and toward the interior of the front brake rotors. Rear powerpack support brackets had been previously repaired due to cracking. Repair welds smoothed out, crack checked and powder coated. Found to be still unsatisfactory so new brackets fabricated by Beauchamp Fabrication of Santa Ana, CA. New motor mounts and engine support bushings installed. All suspension pieces (Front/Rear A-arms and uprights, sway bar links, spindles, stub axles, steering arms and steering rack) crack checked (magnaflux steel and dye-penetrant aluminum) at Hadd-Co Inspection of Torrance, CA (an FAA and aerospace Level-II/III approved company) and black cadmium plated or powder coated. Springs sent out for testing and refinished. Shocks rebuilt by KONI. Rear spindle/stub axles converted to CV-joint type. New Sway-away 4341 axles. Low drag high RPM boots. Links to tie rear suspension lower arms together fitted (work done by Bob Wallace). New suspension bushings, new inner and outer bearings and seals for rear hubs. New ball joints. New boots and tie-rod assemblies (links and clamps cadmium-plated) for rebuilt steering rack. New mounts where ball-joints press in. New bushings for sway bars. Suspension bolts, washers, and shims black cadmium plated for appearance and durability.

BRAKES - Late S vented disks fitted using Porterfield race rotors (Billet Aluminum hats and directionally vaned rotors). Rotors were cross-drilled and 12-points super-nuts/bolts (Aerospace 220,000 psi nuts and bolts) were milled down to the correct length. Rotors were black cadmium plated, hats were hard anodized black. Factory steel spacers were used between the calipers to get the correct clearance for the vented rotors. Porterfield Carbon/Kevlar brake pads used. Master cylinder rebuilt by Stainless Steel Brake Corporation. Calipers rebuilt (all new pistons) and black cadmium plated. New hard lines fabricated. New braided stainless brake lines w/ stainless steel AN bulkhead adapters and nuts.

ENGINE - Rebored to 82.5mm (.5mm overbore-3977cc), Custom JAE pistons and rings. All new valves, seats, seals, guides (everything but valve springs which tested ok). New exhaust camshafts. Crankshaft checked and reworked to add thrust back in. Timing chain gears lightened to extend life and reliability of cam chains. Sump split. All work by Bob Wallace. System-1 35 micron steel mesh fuel filter, Holley fuel pressure regulator (set at 2.8 psi per Bob Wallace). Aluminum fuel rails fabricated that eliminate the hose between float bowls on each carburetor. BB512 distributor with magnetic pickup converted to work with MSD7AL box and MSD Master Blaster II coil. Tachometer converted to 12 cylinder single-impulse VDO drive. Spun aluminum radiused velocity stacks made (stock height+diameter). 1" taller K&N air filters. All new aluminum air cleaner housings manufactured. (Restored original air boxes with K&N air filters go with the car). Water pump and oil pump overhauled. Starter checked (had been overhauled), new solenoid and seals installed. New heat shield in engine bay over the headers (wrinkle-black painted).

TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH - Split sump. Added limited slip differential. Updated bearings, bushings and synchros. All work done by Bob Wallace. New clutch disk. New clutch master cylinder. New clutch slave cylinder. Hydraulic hard line replaced with 1/4" hardline (AN4). Stainless steel AN bulkhead adapters and nuts (per Bob Wallace).

COOLING - Radiator recored to greater capacity. Replaced coolant tubes with new aluminum (6061-T seamless) tubes by an aerospace company, clear anodized. Bolts that clamp coolant tubes to chassis replaced with stainless and titanium nuts (super-nuts). All rubber water lines replaced with silicone hose, and stainless screw-type non-groove hose clamps used. Header tank for radiator at rear of car was duplicated in aluminum and hard-anodized black. New 12" SPAL radiator pull fans (lighter and more efficient). Rebuilt heater valve. New aluminum pipe from tank to engine made and hard-annodized.

EXHAUST - ANSA sport exhaust. Header flanges machined smooth. Jet-hot coat headers (inside and out) and exhaust (outside only per JetHot). New ANSA exhaust tips.

ELECTRICAL - New fuse block (stock and blade-type). Gauges checked, cleaned and bezels repainted. Halogenation kit installed for brake lamps. New bulbs for indicators (4 watt instead of no longer available 5 watt) and dash lamps (3 watt). Harness contacts cleaned and preserved with CAIG Labs treatment. Starter rebuilt. New, thicker wire run from starter switch to solenoid (12 gauge instead of 16 gauge) as per Bob Wallace. Alternator bench tested. Interior Lucas fan replaced with SPAL fan. New rear wiring harness made with heat and oil resistant (TFNN) wire and vinyl wire shielding, using stock wire colors. New bulbs for trunk and engine bay lamps. Headlight lifting motors disassembled, cadmium-plated and rebuilt. Power window motors disassembled, cadmium plated and rebuilt.

INTERIOR - New door stops. New headliner. New carpets. Seats, dash, center console, door panels, overhead console recovered in dark grey. Steering wheel recovered. New rear view mirror. Shift gate (aluminum) milled smooth, refinished and clear anodized. New shift boot. Shift knob refinished. Dash panel lamps replaced with new bulbs. New pedal pads. All hardware replated.

SAFETY - Original fuel tank duplicated by Fuel Safe as a Pro-line fuel cell in aluminum (powder-painted), return for fuel added to fuel cell to help eliminate possible carb fires. New 3/8" AN6 convoluted teflon fuel line run each way. Aluminum fuel rails replacing hose between float bowls on each carburetor. Eye bolts for shoulder harnesses and submarine strap added while chassis was restored/upgraded (shoulder harness bolts attach into rear frame at upper tub). Carbs vented (as per Bob Wallace) to help eliminate carb fires. Pedal assembly rebuilt. Re-bush pedal assembly, replace bushings with DU self-lubricating bushings. New thrust bushings for pedal assembly. Schroth Safety harnesses and original factory correct standard seat belts. Halogenation kit for brake lamps.

The restored and now thoroughly useable Miura S was enjoyed by Mr. Colletti until 2008 making many trips from Southern California to Monterey, appearing at various events during August there including Concourso Italiano. He then decided to sell the car and consigned the vehicle to reknowned Italian sportscar authority, Mr. Tom Shaughnessy of San Clemente, CA.

Purchased by its current owner in 2008, the Miura was brought to Francorchamps of America in Costa Mesa, CA where specialist Rod Drew went thru the car thoroughly, servicing it before it was shipped to a prominent collection on the East Coast where it now resides. The Miura comes complete with factory tools & bag, jack kit & bag, thorough records of the restoration, service records, and parts and service manuals and extensive Miura articles and memorabilia. It is ready to be shown, or driven and rallyed anywhere.

Current values for a Miura S are hovering around the $450,000 to $700,000 mark. While this car wears an older restoration, the level of detail the seller provides is impressive and reveals that little was left undone in bringing this car back to its glory. Every time I lay eyes on a Miura, I can't fathom the breadth of Marcello Gandini's imagination to come up with this automotive work of art. It's simply stunning.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1993 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

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Even though the colder months are upon us in my part of the world, the appeal of the classic Alfa Romeo Spider never does fade. This Series 4 Spider Veloce for sale in Florida is a low mileage, one owner example that looks great in this shade of green.

1993 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

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This is an absolutely beautiful, one previous owner, Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce, Folio Green. The car has never had any paint work. The top and rear window are perfect, as is the tan top boot cover. All of the accessories work, including the air conditioning. It has an upgraded Alpine CD/MP3 stereo with auxillary input and bluetooth. The original stereo is in the trunk in the Alpine box. Just under 25,000 miles. All books and manuals present, including the window sticker. Even has the original Alfa touch up paint that is still useable.

Drives absolutely perfect. No shakes, rattles or anything else out of the oridnary. Both sets of original keys present. The car has a few small paint chips which were touched up with the factory touch-up paint. The car is so original that it still has the original Pirelli P4000 tires. They will be replaced before delivery since they have some dry rot, but I left them on for now to demonstrate how unmolested the car is. Interior is as nice as the exterior. Tan leather and suede seats are near perfect and show virtually no wear. Dash is perfect. All of the vents are present and rotate freely. All of the gauges work as they should. No warning lights.

Mechanically, the car is outstanding. It starts immediately warm or cold. Valve train is quiet with no excessive ticking. Oil pressure is good. No smoking whatsoever. The car revs freely and feels good as you row through the gears. which change easily with no grinding or hang ups in any gear. The top handle trim piece that is missing in the pictures was in the ashtray and is now back on the top handle. I could go on and on, but in sum, this is a near perfect, 1previous owner, unmolested car in a rare color that is getting harder to find.

The Series 4 spiders (1991-1994) are the last and arguably the best produced. This pristine example will give the new owner much joy with its good stunning looks and fun to drive characteristics. Whether you are driving through winding roads or down to the beach motoring pleasure awaits you. If you have a feedback of less then 5 please call before submitting an offer or hitting the buy it now button.

This certainly looks like a tidy car, from the door jambs to the leather on the seats. As we've seen, decent Series 4 Spiders are fetching between $10,000 and $15,000 these days. This one is priced at the top of the market, but if it appears and drives as described, it could be worth it to the right person.

-Paul

Maserati

1985 Maserati Biturbo

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One of the most maligned Italian cars has returned to CICFS. The Maserati Biturbo was an effort to move the company from manufacturing high end supercars to producing sport luxury vehicles capable of bringing the fight squarely to BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This Biturbo for sale in Philadelphia looks clean and is well documented. But should someone wanting to scratch that Maserati itch take a chance?

1985 Maserati Biturbo

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Only 49k miles. One owner, no accidents, Autocheck certified. 5-speed manual, two turbochargers. Rear-wheel drive, luxury sports car. Air conditioning, leather, power windows, runs great!

With only one previous owner, this automobile is ready for you.The mileage represented on this vehicle is accurate.This is a smoke-free automobile.There are no signs of prior damage on this vehicle.There is no damage evident on this vehicle.All power equipment is functioning properly.The engine on this vehicle is running properly.

For a Biturbo, low mileage isn't always a plus as it is with other vehicles. As we've discussed at length, these cars were notoriously unreliable and are not looked upon favorably by enthusiasts of the marque or in general, for that matter. Sure, everything might be working now, but tomorrow, all hell could break loose. It's encouraging to see a slew of service receipts and $6,500 is cheap when it comes to Italian exotica. Potential buyers must realize, though, that their chances of nursing a Biturbo through a few thousand miles without fault is about as high as hitting 21 on the $100,000 Blackjack table.

-Paul

Fiat

1971 Fiat 850 Spider

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Fiat has had a history of taking rather ordinary cars and turning them into something extraordinary. Take for instance the Fiat 130 Coupe based on their demure 130 executive sedan to the classic Barchetta roadster based on lowly Punto mechanicals. The Bertone styled 850 Spider is another great example of taking a pedestrian car and turning it into something more special. You don’t see too many of these rear engine runabouts on the road these days, as the larger 124 Spider garnered more of the open roofed Fiat market share and was sold for a longer period of time. A lot of these that still exist are rust buckets, but this 850 is in amazing shape, having been in a collection for many years. It is for sale by the same seller as the 1976 Polski Fiat 125p pickup we featured on Monday.

1971 Fiat 850 Spider

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1971 Fiat 850 Sport Spider, 1300 original miles; An unrestored museum piece. We didn’t believe it either, until we saw it, walked around it, touched and examined it top to bottom, inside and out. This is a breathtaking example of what careful upkeep and storage in optimal conditions can yield. Easily the absolute finest 850 Spider we have seen since they were available new in showrooms. If it were possible to build-up a new 850 Spider out of NOS parts, from the X-frame up, the results would look pretty much like this – It’s that good:

Original Paint; Original Chrome and Brightwork; Original Top; Original Upholstery; Original Dash Pad with no cracks; Original Rubber Mats; Original Windshield, Wipers and Blades; Original Pirelli tires, tubes and valve-stem caps, (probably with some original Turinese air still in them!)

Original Headlamps, Bulbs, Fuses, Wiring, Hardware, Clips, Most Hoses, and a hundred other details that are often lost on these fragile little cars.

The engine fires-up up immediately and runs as-new. We have put about 150 miles on the car (still using break-in speeds until the odo cracked 1200 miles). The steering is light and precise, as new. Roadholding is very fine, even on the original tires, shocks and springs. Brakes are as-new, with a light but firm pedal. By any sane definition, this car is rust-free. The X-frame, floors, sills, all crevices and pockets underneath, all suspension mounting points, valance panels, trunk floor, and even the battery box are all clean and rust-free, with the original undercoating intact wherever it was applied. Unbelievably, hardware and fixtures underneath the car are shiny and clean. Bushings and rubber parts are excellent and pliable. The engine splash pans are still in position.

Throughout this car, we found small details left over from the production line that are lost forever when a car is restored: Rivet studs, ends of rubber plugs and trimming, a bit of masking tape never removed from one of the top bows, small smears of paint on the wiring harness and hoses (where they were installed before the paint dried). It’s amazing. Realizing we are acting as temporary custodians to history, we have done our best to not disturb any of this original flotsam and jetsam. We performed only minimal detailing to the car: A gentle wash, Zymol Concours wax on the paint, Simichrome on the brightwork, Windex on the glass – That’s it. This Fiat is a Preservation Class dream, and will be welcomed at any Concours for Macchina Italiano just as it is. If the next owner wants to clean the crevices with Q-Tips and sweat some finer details, it will be ready for Pebble Beach.

What’s the Story Here? This car came from the estate of the original owner, a collector whose taste runs more along the lines of Cadillacs and T-Birds. He enjoys extremely low-mileage originals, and his cars are displayed on jack stands in a temperature and humidity controlled building – Completely away from the sun's damaging UV rays, and free from freeze/thaw/bake cycles that can age rubber and vinyl even on cars that are not driven. He received the Fiat brand new in 1971 as part of business deal, and he gave it to his wife. They drove it only very sparingly, perhaps once around the lake every summer and in annual parades in town. The car never left their small Minnesota city until this summer. It has been kept clean, dry and properly stored after each use.

It remains in stunning original condition. The driver’s side door was repainted back in the seventies, and is an excellent match in color, but a trained eye will notice some minor cracking (invisible in photos). The only non-original parts we could detect are the muffler (replaced with a genuine factory part), the windshield washer bag (which we replaced with a new OEM one, as the original became loose and was roasted on the exhaust), and the filters.

The paint has very few flaws, nicks or marks (even on the nose), and only two tiny touch-ups that we could find. We could find no evidence of crash repair. The windshield is perfect, with no scratches, road-rash, cracks, chips or hazing. The top has a beautifully clear window, excellent stitching, and no tears or holes. It’s mounted on perfect top bows. It goes up and down easily and snaps closed like new. The seats and upholstery look like new: flawless, with perfect stitching and no tears, fading or damage. The Dash board is exellent, with a perfect pad that (amazingly) has no splits. The fake wood paneling on the dash is intact, unmarked and unfaded, but the passenger side above the glove has some cracks (where the headreast hits it when the seat folds forward). Finding original Fiat replacements for this Formica-like paneling is impossible, so we elected to leave it in place rather than to replace it with a non-matching substitute. It's really unusual to find an 850 Spider that still has this original piece installed above this glove box. The rubber floor mats are clean, undamaged and still pliable. Ditto for the trunk mat and securing strap for the folded top (both rare items in any condition).

Gauges and controls all work, with the exception of the oil pressure gauge. We are working on this, and will endeavor to repair it for the next owner. We swapped the sender unit, but this didn’t help. The low pressure warning lamp works, and we will put our attention on the gauge itself. The wipers wipe, the blower motor blows (on two speeds), and the horn is loud ‘n proud.

For a car that was in production for several years looking basically the same, there were several important changes throughout the life of the 850 Sport Spider. 1971 was one of the better vintages for this model. It had the largest engine available, 903cc, which has more torque than the 843cc or (especially) the 817cc models. 71s also had a really sweet looking alloy sump which peeks out from beneath the back of the car (a very cool item that screams "Abarth!").

I honestly don't think I've ever come across a Fiat 850 Spider that has ever looked this good. The mint green color is very similar to the Evergreen color that BMW offered on their Z3 roadster in the late 1990s. While not to everyone's taste, I think it's refreshignly different and not too offensive on such a small vehicle. A 850 Spider that is driveable and sorted cosmetically will typically run you between $6,000 and $10,000. This particular car has started out at $11,000, so I'd assume the sellers are looking for somewhere around $15,000 or so. As nice as this car is, I doubt one could expect to get much more out of it than that. The other issue here is mileage. I could wager a guess that whoever buys this 850 Spider won't be using it as intended, as it is too nice to employ on a regular basis. That's a shame, as this would be a fun runable for the summer months.

-Paul

Lancia

1976 Lancia Scorpion

4 Comments

It appears that the 65,000 mile Lancia Scorpion we featured here at CICFS in June is back up for sale. Bought by the current owner for use in the Woodward Dream Cruise, it is being offered for sale once again with no reserve. Located outside of Detriot, this is quite possibly one of the best Scorpions left in the US.

1976 Lancia Scorpion

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This is an outstanding Lancia Scorpion (Montecarlo in Europe) with low original 65,555 miles on it (Receipts that come with the car prove the accuracy of miles). This Lancia is just beautiful in every way. I bought it from Tempe Arizona for the summer to drive around and for the Woodward Dream Cruise and now selling it before winter comes. This Lancia Scorpion is always garaged. Car never seen snow or salt and it looks like it was never driven on wet pavement either. Car needs nothing! Buy it, drive it immediately and show it off. It drives perfect. Pulls straight and strong. The 5 speed manual transmission shifts perfectly with no synchro issues. Clutch is like new. Brakes work as they should. Engine pulls strong. Alignment is straight. Cars exterior looks great. No rust. Paint shines beautifully. Tires have lots of tread on them. Interior, seats, carpet, dash are all in an amazing shape. Engine bay and front trunk are tidy and clean. Removable roof tucks away and works awesome. Under Carriage and floors are all in clean solid shape. No rust!

I spent a few thousands dollars getting it ready for the summer with new head gaskets and all fluids flushed and replaced. I have all the documents and receipts dating back to 1977 including the recent work I have done on it. Original owner kept the car until 2005 since new. It's been babied all its life. This car has countless laminated records/receipts and even has Original Factory window sticker that came with the car. Car has books, receipts, service manuals, brochures, miscellaneous parts, original tool bag with tools, spare and jack.

Radio, tape player, heater, fan blower, lights, signals, wipers and locks all work as they should. Car came with factory AC but missing compressor. Car has automatic choke to warm it up and it works beautifully. Car starts like a brand new one. No hesitation and no smoke. No accident history, car is solid, clean, straight, no visible rust and drives perfect. I will be surprised if you'll ever find a cleaner or better Scorpion in this original and unmodified shape.

There's a good amount of bidding interest in this Scorpion, and my guess is we'll probably wind up somewhere around the $10,000 to $12,000 mark by auction's end. Personally, these Scorpions, even in US trim, are much more appealing than their loosely related Bertone styled cousin, the Fiat X1/9. Pininfarina nailed it on this car, as those unfamiliar with this Lancia may take it for a 3/4th scale Ferrari. Little does anyone know just how accessible these mid-engined sports cars based on Beta mechanicals actually are.

-Paul