Tag Archives: 124

1981 Fiat 2000 Spider Turbo

May 22, 2014 Graham

When talking about classic Italian cars associated with the words Pininfarina and Turbo, Ferrari comes immediately to mind with the legendary 288 GTO and F40; but there was an earlier mating of those two words with a third outlier; Fiat, in this case. Originally badged the 124 Spider, Fiat and Pininfarina renamed the spider the "2000" in 1979, and in 1981 Fiat and Legend Industries made around 700 turbocharged models for the U.S. market. A well proportioned car with classic roadster styling and impressive heritage, the 2000 Spider none-the-less remains one of the cheapest ways to get into a neat and classic Italian ride:

Year: 1981
Model: 2000 Spider Turbo
Engine: 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 26,400 mi
Price: $14,499

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1981 Fiat 2000 Spider Turbo

1981 FIAT SPIDER 2000 Turbo

If you would love to have a great little roadster for some top down, sun in your face, wind in your hair motoring then the Fiat Spider is an excellent choice! Produced almost exclusively for the North American market, although sold occasionally in some European Countries, the Fiat 124/Spider is becoming a very sought after roadster among car enthusiasts looking for an affordable collectible sports car that can be driven and enjoyed as well as make a great investment. Designed by Italian stylist and coachbuilder Pininfarina the Fiat 124/Spider rivaled the MGB and Alfa Spider as the world’s longest running sports car. Many collectors will tell you that the most desirable models are the fuel-injected models, which began in 1980.

'81 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo — Overview: These little cars were never very powerful, but with the exception of the truly exotic cars, handling capabilities were far superior to most other sports cars of their time.. Fiat began to consider pulling out of the US. In an attempt to try to save the Fiat brand in the US, the importer, Fiat USA, Inc., worked with Legend Industries to install turbo chargers on several late '81 and early '82 cars, after they reached the United States. Boost was limited to only 6 psi to avoid damaging the engine, which was not designed to be used with a turbo. Even at a modest 6 psi, the turbo really awakened the little two liter four cylinder engine. Rarity: Only approximately 700 Spider 2000 Turbo models were made. These turbo models proved to be somewhat unreliable, and many of these cars were “de-trubo-ed”, leaving them as normal “Fuel Injected” cars. With the turbo failures, and the normal number of mechanical failures and accidents associated with a car nearly three decades old, there are very few of these still running and in their original mechanical condition. Handling: Truly amazing.. Acceleration: Pretty good... by 1981 standards. It's not a Ferrari, but with the turbo it easily outruns “stock” spiders.

Not only does this fuel injected ‘81 Spider look great but also it drives and handles as good as it looks!!! Everything works. The gauges all operate. The 5 speed manual transmission shifts nicely through the gears. The clutch was changed when the motor was rebuilt. The engine was rebuilt about 3000 miles ago. The entire car was restored over the last few years. Everything has been disassembled and any worn parts have been replaced. Brakes are new. Brake lines have been replaced. Suspension was rebuilt and modified for better handling. Upper and lower control arms have been replaced with new.

The interior of the car is original. There are some very small cracks in the seats. (See pictures)The original turbo was replaced with a new unit as the turbos on these cars were susceptible to premature ware. To combat this, a post oiler was added to keep the bearings on the turbo cool when spinning down. Every effort was made to make this a drivable car you could take around town or a nice trip. The engine runs nice and smooth while the operating temperature stays nice and cool. It’s got plenty of pep. The brakes feel good and the steering is accurate and fun.

This car has power windows and a/c. both work well. The A/C was retrofitted to 134a Freon.

Tires: 195/65/14 tire have less than 2000 miles

All turbo hoses were replaced with new silicone hose.

Brakes are new and have an adjustable brake bias valve installed.

Pioneer sound system, am/fm/cassette/cd 6disk changer

Oil pan guard was installed. (See picture)

Few things needing attention…

A couple of small dings and paint blemishes could be easily repaired (see pictures)

The vinyl top has a slight cut in the welting and is barely noticeable. The rear window is clear.

The Pininfarina Hardtop comes with the car. These tops are VERY RARE!!!!!!

The top alone would go for about $3,000.00. These were used on the 124 rally cars and were designed by Pininfarina. This is not a knock off!

Pedigree: This car has won at concourse at the Fiat Lancia Unlimited national Fiat club meeting twice in class. It has trophied 3 times at Lime Rock Park concours d’Elegance. And has been invited 3 times and participated at the Greenwich CT. Concours D’elegance. It is a very presentable car.

Also included in the sale are extra motors and transmissions and all original parts and extra turbos/manifolds. Many of these parts can no longer be obtained.

Feel free to contact me to schedule a time to see it for yourself.

Worldwide Shipping at Buyers Expense Please, No con artists. I have seen this in the past and will not be negotiating with people I cannot speak to directly. Money talks…….

As a car with potential to show, this is a neat example of a car that you can afford to buy, work on yourself and enjoy some classic Italian lines and soundtrack. Condition is far above average with some room for improvement and pricing is compelling at under $15,000. I personally love the color combination, and the addition of the factory hard top is quite cool. It will never be the car that draws a large crowd or snaps your neck with acceleration, but this is a solid package with some great roots in classic Italian motoring!

-Carter

Classic, Fiat

1972 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

April 10, 2014 Graham 2 Comments

There aren't too many cars where it's considerably more common to see the convertible than the coupe; but in the case of the Fiat 124, that's exactly the case. Most of the Fiat 124s imported to the U.S. were the very popular spider variant. However, the coupe was a great looking alternative that shared the Lampredi designed 4 cylinder. If general rarity wasn't enough, today's example has been kicked up a notch. From the second run of production, this 124 Sport Coupe is an ex-racer that's been returned to road use:

Year: 1974
Model: 124 Sport Coupe
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 100,000 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1974 Fiat 124

NO RESERVE

1974 Fiat 124 Sport

All bills from our time of ownership included.

- 2 liter engine (Completely rebuilt. Bottom end (crankshaft, conrods, pistons, etc.) balanced and blueprinted by JMS Racing Engines. All reciprocating masses balanced. Block deck checked for uniformity of surface. Crankshaft main bearing journals line bored. Professionally bored and honed (40 over). New pistons (stock compression ratio (40 over)). Basically the bottom end is a thoroughly checked out and then done well stock bottom end, if the factory decided to dynamically balance all the moving parts.

- Ishihara-Johnson crankshaft scraper custom fabricated. (Significantly reduces turbulence in the crankcase. Basically gives you a few percent free horsepower by not having to carry around excess oil on your crankshaft or deal with the hurricane force winds that are created in a crankcase without a crankscraper). Highly recommend IJ crank scrapers though be prepared to spend the time test fitting and filing to ensure proper clearances because we're talking thousandths of inches here and IJ builds in a margin.

- Forged aluminum crankshaft pulley, idler shaft pulley, and water pump pulley fabricated by Miller's Mule. Miller's Mule adjustable camshaft pulleys.

- 1800 head to bump up the compression ratio to about 10 to 1 (Completely rebuilt. BIG VALVES (intake and exhaust), intake and exhaust ports port matched to intake and header. Allison's Automotive torque cams. Allison's Automotive prepared the valve train).

- Miller's Mule 9.5 lb billet aluminum flywheel w/ racing clutch and pressure plate (clutch and pressure plate from Allison's Automotive). New throwout bearing.

- Allison's Automotive tuned length, stepper header system with a completely new (not Allison's) header back exhaust system (single Magnaflow muffler).

- Weber 44 IDF carburetors.

- Aluminum Pro Cool radiator with adjustable fan control and high capacity cooling fan (Allison's Automotive).

- KYB gas shocks. Front and REAR anti-sway bars.

- Gotti forged 2 piece racing wheels 15x7. New Nexen N300 195/45 ZR 15. Two piece wheel spacers that convert the 4 lug pattern to 5 lug (very expensive to fabricate).

- EBC Yellowstuff brake pads, Front and rear. New or rebuilt brake calipers. New front drilled brake rotors. New rear rotors. New braided steel brake lines (Allison's).

- External large capacity Oil Cooler mounted in the front grill. Custom braided steel oil lines with Aeroquip aerospace fittings fitted.

- Seats upholstered in gray perforated leather and gray alcantara type suede material. Door cards are upholstered in a gray alcantara.

- 4 point roll cage.

- Gas tank flushed and resealed.

- Computronix D.I.S. 4 (distributorless ignition system) to give her some spark. Something like a consistent 50,000 + volts for your plugs.

- All bumpers and bumperettes professionally straightened and rechromed.

More.

Hey there, these are links to the car running.

NOTE: THIS WAS A RACE CAR PRIOR TO OUR (my dad and I) REBUILDING THE CAR. THE TRANSMISSION SYNCHROS ARE WEAK. We can have Allison's Automotive rebuild the tranny synchros for a very fair price. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am currently an employee of the shop.

NOW, the paint sucks. I love the color. I wanted something very 70s to fit the era of the car so I got House of Kolor base coat, top coat, sparkles, and clear. Our painter and finishing body guy blew the deal, got arrested, etc. Car was halfway finished and with a few missing pieces (lower trunk trim piece which we never got back). Anyways, two new guys were called in to finish the paint. From certain angles it looks great. Others, no. That's OK as you probably hate the color anyways and want to change it as soon as you get it on your driveway.

Also, the car was owned and raced in SOLO by some guy that now has done some NASCAR stuff and I think his kid has raced a bit. I'll have to get his name and include it in a few. The previous owner is up in Oregon somewhere. I bought the car off of Allison's Automotive in Upland, the shop that this guy sold his car to. Being a race car, the driver side of the car has bondo, from the owner racer tagging some hay bails or something. A new quarter fender was added at some time and others had been hammered out and then smoothed over. The body is straight (now) and the frame is straight. This isn't a trailer queen and never will be. This is a USER's car.

While it's not perfect, this car tugs at my heart; I've done similar modifications to my Audi Coupe, and while it certainly compromises the quality of the car as a road car, it does make it more fun. I'd be a little concerned about the longevity of the engine turned up in this state, but the seller seems to honestly detail both the strengths and the weaknesses. I love the style, stance and coloring of this Fiat, and the fact that it's not a trailer queen makes me want it even a bit more. Hagerty places the value of these Coupes in this condition around $6,000. To me, it'd make a great alternative to the more commonly sought and much more expensive Alfa GTV. Certainly, you're not likely to see another like it soon, if ever!

-Carter

Classic, Fiat

1971 Fiat 124 Spider

March 29, 2014 Graham 2 Comments

There's something that's timeless about the small Italian spider, and while the default is to usually consider the Alfa-Romeo as the go-to spider, in reality there were several great offerings - many of which still pepper the market. This 1971 Fiat Spider is no exception; with the cleaner early body style, simple steel wheels with covers and looking splendid in orange over black, this is a unique expression of Italian motoring:

Year: 1971
Model: 124 Spider
Engine: 1.6 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 65,000 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1971 Fiat 124 Spider

1971 Fiat spider sport 124 fiat red on black - best combination I think car looks and drives like the day it came off assembly line everything look great including to the engine bay own by same collector for decades always stored inside never driven in elements car was repainted its original color years back all trim was removed polished and reassembled no rust or road corosion upon removale of trim when painting

I love the simplicity of the earlier 124 Spider; while the later Fiat Spiders may have gained power, hood bulges and wider tires, to me the early model looks great. There is a touch of MGB but also Ferrari in the design; while that sounds a bit crazy the combination somehow works and really looks special. While prices have generally been on the rise for these models over the past few years, they're still quite cheap compared to what a similar Mercedes-Benz SL would bring; expect this reserve for this car to be priced in the mid-teens. Sure, that buys you a much more reliable Miata; but then, if you wanted a Miata you wouldn't be reading this, would you?

-Carter

Fiat

1972 Fiat 124 Spider

June 8, 2013 Graham 4 Comments

For those on a budget, the Fiat 124 Spider makes a great introductory vehicle into the world of classic Italian car ownership. With a production run spanning several decades, examples of all vintages are readily available here in the US, ranging from the most pristine concours examples to those needed a good amount of work for the more intrepid of enthusiasts. This 124 Spider for sale in Florida does a good job of splitting the middle, being a driver quality car in good condition in an eye catching shade of blue.

Year: 1972
Model: 124 Spider
Engine: 1.5 liter inline four
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 79,000 miles
Price: $8,500 Buy It Now

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1972 Fiat 124 Spider

For sale is my private car that I use very offen, it is titled and registered in Miami, Florida. Mechanically very good, engine very strong, drives very, super good. It feels as when it was new, this is one of the best Fiats I have ever owned, it rides so tight it is unbelievable. You may be able to purchase a similar Fiat to restore for $4,000 or $5,000 but must expend couples thousand more I doubt it if will run like this one.

It can be drive anywhere, anytime, unfortunately I need to sell most of my collection because I need the space and the money. Please ask me anything you need to know, come and see it if possible. You will not be disappointed by this car, very hard to find condition and this color belongs to this car. Also hard to see, you can call me any time or day at 305-401-7469. My name is Vladimir. There is not any issue with this car, no rust, very clean, take a look at the pictures, there is a small scrach at the top rear passanger fender. Pictures talk by themselves, all gauges work, horn, shifting is good. Beleive me this is not for a museum or councours but as I said it rides very tight, smooth. Good luck.

I’ve never seen one with them mounted, but the Lancia Beta style alloy wheels work rather well on this Spider, complimented by the slimmer chrome bumpers that the earlier models carried. For the condition of the vehicle, the asking price isn’t too far off the mark in terms of what these cars are fetching nowadays. As long as major rust issues aren’t lurking underneath, this looks to be an honest little roadster that you wouldn’t be afraid to use on a regular basis.

-Paul

Fiat

1975 Fiat 124 Coupe

June 2, 2013 Graham 3 Comments

Following on to the rare Fiat 130 Coupe we featured a few days ago, here's another Fiat Coupe from the 1970s: the 124 Coupe. This 124 Coupe is the final "CC" iteration, with 1975 representing the final year of this compact coupe. It's open roofed sibling, the 124 Spider, would live on to see another decade. While 124 Spiders are rather plentiful, this 124 Coupe for sale in Portland offers the collector a rare chance to get one of these in complete, if not perfect, shape.

Year: 1975
Model: 124 Coupe
Engine: 2.0 liter inline four
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 52,943 miles
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1975 Fiat 124 Coupe

Hello, and welcome to my eBay auction. Before I start I want to apologize to those of you out there that know far more than I do about the history and details and facts about these cars. I am a fan of them and a “car guy”, but I just have never had the pleasure of even seeing one of these cars let alone owning one. This is my first drive down 124 coupe laneJ

This car is a 1975 Fiat 124 Coupe with a 5 Speed. The third generation of Fiat coupes of the 60s and early 70s. This little car had an engine upgrade from an 1800cc to a 2000cc or 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine. It runs and drives better than I ever thought possible. Fast, fun, nimble, agile. It is a total blast and I am surprised by how much I like driving it. Old cars can be a bit of a love hate affair and so far this one is all love. Here is what I love about the car.

#1. Everything works. The blinkers, the wipers, the gas gage, all the gages as a matter of fact, the headlights and brights! The best part is the horn. Full Italian twin bugle style. I honk it constantly. Just to wave at gawkers.

#2. The engine and mechanics. No smoke, no drips, no overheating, no drama. Good clutch and brakes. Matching Michelin tires too with lots of tread. Lots of power and vintage pipe sound for days..

#3. The look. I call this inexpensive exclusivity. Nobody has one of these cars anymore. They just do not exist in my town anyway. Portland is a town that prides itself in being different and nobody has one of these cars that I have seen. It is also very stock looking. Right down to the Italian Speedline wheels and tool kit.

Here is what I don’t love about the car.

#1 The Paint. It is a 10 footer. If you look close up you will see that the color is a bit faded and there are spots of touch up and overspray. But yes this also shows care.

#2 The Interior. Again, not horrible. But not fantastic either. The seam on the passenger cushion is coming apart and the seats are brighter than the door panels. The carpet looks good and the floor pans are solid.

#3 There are traces of rust here and there on the car. I would not call the car a rust bucket or anything and again the floors are solid, but when the car is repainted there will need to be some repairs made to put a stop to it.

That is about all I can tell you. I am happy to answer any and all questions you have as well. Please understand that this car is almost 40 years old. It is fun and cool and even economical, but it is not going to replace your Accord as your only mode of transport. I am setting the reserve very low and I know the Fiat will sell as long as we all play by the rules.

#1. Only bid if you have intentions to buy.

#2. Ask any and all questions before bidding.

#3. Please contact me BEFORE BIDDING if you have zero or negative feedback.

Just be real and genuine and I will make sure that the winning bidder is happy with his or her purchase. I have 100% positive feedback and I plan on keeping that. Also, I will end the sale for the right offer so don’t wait till the last second and worry about missing out. Just call me and we will work out a fair price. I’m Justin my Phone number is 503-969-5127. I am available most of the time and love to talk about the Fiat. Thanks again for looking and Happy Bidding!!

Last month, we featured a 1970 "BC" 124 Coupe that sold for $8,900. That car was in a bit better shape than this CC 124 Coupe, and benefitted by having a cleaner look without the heavier bumpers and fussier grille of this model. Still, this is a neat piece and I wouldn't be surprised if it brought between $5,000 to $7,000 to the right buyer.

-Paul

Fiat

1970 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

May 6, 2013 Graham 3 Comments

Just as soon as we feature one Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, here comes another one. This BC series 124 Sport Coupe for sale in California is my favorite of the all, with its front end resembling a bit of a Fiat Dino Coupe.

1970 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

Up for auction is my clean 1970 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe. I have owned this car for 28 years. It has been a fun-to-drive, reliable car and I will be sorry to see it go. As can be seen by the pictures, the Fiat is in excellent condition, with only a few minor flaws to the exterior and interior. It does have a small paint chip on the upper left rear fender and a couple small door-dings. The passenger seat has a split in the cushion bottom and there are splits along the seams on top of the rear seat. The dash has one crack just above the gauges. It is mechanically sound. The last time I drove the Fiat the water pump bearing was making noise, although it was running at the normal operating temperature. Just want bidders to be aware of this. It will probably need a new headlight/directional/wiper switch as this has periodically stopped working. Easily found and replaced.

At 106,809 miles I had the timing belt and front cam seals replaced. Also both front brake flex hoses and the rear fuel lines. Oil and filter were changed every 3,000 miles. The Fiat has been garage kept, covered, since I've owned it. Paint and all bright work are clean. Glass is in excellent condition. I can't imagine finding a cleaner example. The Fiat has been shown at the Italiano Concorso in Monterey, California, of which I have photographs. Comes with original owner manuals and print ad. Please email with any questions.

The 124 Sport Coupe we featured last week did not sell, not meeting its reserve with a final bid of $8,400. That was surprising to me, as that car needed a bit of work. This BC variant is in much better nick. As such, I'd suspect it will probably sell for a figure close to $10,000 or a little above.

-Paul

Fiat

1968 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

April 28, 2013 Graham 1 Comment

The 124 Spider was rather popular in the US, seeing the brand through their exit from the market in 1982 and living on as the Pininfarina Spider until 1985. Less well known is the coupe related to the Spider, the 124 Sport Coupe. Sold in three series from 1967 through 1975, this coupe had traces of exotica in its DNA, from the four cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi to the styling penned by Mario Boano, who also designed the Ferrari 250GT. A little under 300,000 of these coupes were produced through all three series (AC, BC and CC). This early AC is for sale in Washington state.

1968 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

This is a Fiat 124 Sport Coupe from California, the car appears to have extensive mechanical rebuilding including suspension, and engine. The car has been fitted with twin Weber 40 DCOE carbs and clearly has cams to go with the carbs. Timing belt is nice and tight and looks to be recently replaced, probably when the engine was done (guessing 8,000-10,000 miles ago) sorry no receipts. The engine does not smoke at all and is a delight, clearly who ever rebuilt it did an excellent job. The car also has the sump protector on it along with what appears to be an Ansa rear muffler and twin tip, sounds great dignified growl.
The car shows 44,577 on the odometer, I am guessing that is more like 144,577.

I am selling the car for a client, who found something else he wishes to purchase even though the 124 was a recent purchase. In order for him to purchase the other car he needs to sell this one. The car drives incredibly well, and is very docile when driven gently, but when you open the throttle this thing seriously comes to life. Handling is superb, and the car has a set of period BWA wheels with excellent tires. The car drives great and the suspension is all very nice and tight, looks to have a larger front anti sway bar also. The exhaust is in great condition as well and the car is fitted with a set of tubular headers.

Brakes are excellent. Transmission shifts perfectly and all syncros are pefect. All glass is in fine condition. Most of the chrome shows wear but is quite serviceable. Missing the upright trim on the rear edge of the drivers door. There is very little rust present on the car and its very solid and decent underneath, see the pictures. Rust bubbles are present on the right rear window, and right rocker just in front of the rear wheel. There was some rust repair under the rear edge of the hood. The dark green paint looks good from ten feet, but the new owner will eventually want to repaint the car.

What is nice is that this extremely rare coupe is solid straight completely driveable and can definitely be enjoyed while being improved on. The front seats are aftermarket and comfortable, no idea what happened to the original front seats. Most of the interior is nice but the dash pad is seriously in need of being recovered. All gauges and lights work. Not a cheap car but it has been a long time since I have seen one as over all solid and nice driving as this one. If I did not have so many cars of my own, I would have already bought this one its an absolute blast to drive and will give a stock 2.0 liter Alfa a serious run for its money.

Feel free to ask any and all questions, the car is advertised locally and the owner is open to offers. My name is Jim and I can be reached on my cell phone at 425 238 5317 please be aware that I am on the West coast and will appreciate your taking the time zone into consideration. The car must be paid for in full in verifiable funds before it can be shipped or driven away. I am happy to help arrange shipping for the new owner. The reserve reflects what the owner has invested in the car and in my opinion is a bargain. Thanks for looking and for bidding.

This isn't a perfect 124 Sport Coupe, but it seems to be all there and the seller is rather honest in its description. I'd suspect somewhere around $7,000 to $8,000 would probably be a fair value for this one, given that the seller has a reserve set. While I tend to like the BC version a tad better, with its dual headlamps, this AC is clearly a product of the Spider of which it shares its platform and is a classic Fiat that you certainly don't see every day (or every year, for that matter).

-Paul

Fiat

1972 Fiat 124 Sedan

April 8, 2013 Graham 4 Comments

If you count all the variations of the Fiat 124 that were ever produced, including all the licensed vehicles such as Ladas, Seats, Murats and the like, the production total comes to over 20 million vehicles. So how come we don't see any of these on US roads today? Well, rust proofing wasn't what it once was, and since these were sold here early in the production run under the Fiat badge, it's not hard to guess why they are scarce. This 124 Sedan for sale in Southern California is a pretty honest example of a car that went on to become a ubiquitous mode of transportation in emerging markets.

1972 Fiat 124 Sedan

Have you ever been so smitted by a car that you fell in love? That is the type of feeling you can get from a clean vintage car. This little gem has been lovingly cared for by a gentleman known in collector circuits as a lover of fine Italian cars. Generations of people in many countries grew up with this car or similar cars with different names like the Russian Lada or Zhuguli. In fact, many folks first learned how to drive in or had a very successful date with a young lady in one. The Italians know what I am talking about.

The reaction drawn from vintage Fiats is something that has to be experienced. People of all walks of life seem drawn to them from children and old folks as well as young ladies. Great beach cruiser. These cars are very rare these days, in fact almost impossible to find in an automatic. This example has been cared for by the same collector for over 10 years. The previous owner before was a certified and well known car mechanic. He has more than a dozen cars and drives this one in Beverly Hills, California almost daily.

The current owner is only selling because he is making some room for some more cars. This one has had all of the maintenance done including new head gasket and full brake job. Decent tires and a very clean original dash board. The seats could use some redoing but he decided to leave them as they were because they are not terrible, just a little ripped in places. She has chrome European bumpers and everything is in working order with current registration and a clean title. The VIN number is 124A1129029. For more information or to make an offer please contact Jeff at 949-910-1206.

We feature a lot of flashy sports cars and sumptuous luxury sedans here at CICFS, but it's refreshing to see an honest, vintage family sedan such as this with all its flaws readily visible. The automatic transmission might hold this car back a bit for the more sporting enthusiast, but for something different to get around town in, you couldn't go wrong with this car. Back in June 2011, one of these with a manual gearbox went unsold, not meeting its reserve at $3,800. Have these 124 Sedans appreciated much in that time? Probably not. I'd suspect somewhere around $3,000 to $3,500 would take it. Any more, and you are getting into territory where more interesting Italian iron can be had.

-Paul

Fiat

1980 Fiat 124 Spider

March 30, 2013 Graham 1 Comment

Like the Alfa Romeo GTV6 we featured earlier in the week, the Fiat 124 Spider is an excellent way of getting into the classic Italian car hobby without a big outlay of cash. In addition to reasonable values, it won’t break the bank when it comes to parts and upkeep, as support for this roadster in the enthusiast community is fairly strong and they are relatively simple cars to begin with.

This 124 Spider for sale in Arizona was brought to our attention by our reader Michael has had a recent engine overhaul and has done away with the large and somewhat ungainly US market bumpers from the period.

1980 Fiat 124 Spider

Italian Classic with rising value. Up for Sale and items done; 1980 Fiat 124 Spider, Rosso. First year with Fuel Injection.

NEW: Engine overhaul 3,000 miles ago, transmission overhaul at the same time. Brand new wheels and tires, brand new tie rod ends, brand new front and rear shocks, newer paint, new top, new drive shaft flex disk, new U joint, and more.  There is only 3,000 miles on the new engine. The car shows 53,xxx. No rust at all with 2000cc engine. Items it may need at some point: front brakes are at 50%

No trades or call from dealer please. Would like to sell this car to a collector, serious buyers to drive and enjoy please. Head turner and going up in value. Reason for sale: Just purchased another Italian classic and need the room.  Any questions, please call me at 602-434-two six 20. Price $8,990

This price for this Spider is not too unreasonable considering the engine work and maintenance done, as most 124 Spiders in good, driver quality condition will range between $6,000 and $9,000. A low mileage, concours quality Spider might set you back closer to what the average is for a Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider. More information on why the engine overhaul was done would be welcome, but this looks like a fun little piece for the warmer months coming up here in the Northeastern US.

-Paul

Fiat

1981 Fiat 124 Spider

February 15, 2013 Graham

It's never too early to start thinking Spring, and what better to celebrate the next season than a classic Fiat roadster? This 124 Spider for sale in Miami is a later variant that had a new paint job and convertible top replaced 14 years ago.

1981 Fiat 124 Spider

1981 Fiat Spider 124, ready to drive & enjoy! This handsome Italian car -designed by Pininfarina- is just with its third owner, after being among two members of the same family since it was first bought new in 1981.

Exterior

The black paint with pin striping was professionally done in 1998. The paint still looks very good for being almost 14 years old. There are a few areas near the wheel wells where there are bubbles under the paint (see pictures). All of the lights work and none of the plastic lenses are damaged. The horn, signal lights, brake lights and windshield wipers all work. The tires are in excellent condition and practically look new. The rims are original and were restored. The convertible top was replaced at the same time when the paint was done. It is in very good condition. The bumpers are beginning to show a little oxidizing. All the insignias are in place and the front and rear ones are new. All rubber seals are in place some have small cracks from age.

Interior

This is something unique not only because it is in great condition, but for the red color that was only applied to a limited number of units of this type, instead of the usual beige or black. The covered dashboard is in perfect condition and with no cracks. All gauges work, except the tachometer. All of the lights work and the radio is a recent Pioneer am/fm/CD. Console, seats and carpet are in excellent condition as well as showed in pictures taken just before the ad for this auction was posted. Among the interior parts replaced recently are the sun visors and arm rest chrome trim strips. Shift boot retaining ring was also replaced with a new OEM one.

Mechanical

The engine runs beautifully and it does not burn any oil. Regular scheduled oil and filter changes. Clutch works fine as does the transmission. Shifting through all gears is effortless. Emergency break works fine. Steering is fine as is suspension. As a part of mechanical restoration/maintenance, the following parts were recently replaced with new ones: Battery, original distributor cap, rotor, coil, spark plugs, ignition wires, electronic ignition module, water pump, oxygen sensor, fuel filter, brake pads, and exhaust system (including catalytic converter). The original radiator was also cleaned and restored presenting no leaks.

In general, this great car is ready to drive and enjoy with either the top up or down. Rarely and carefully driven and never out in bad weather. This car has not seen much use and has always been garage kept and pampered. 2 keys and original owner’s manual included. This car is being sold in as is condition with a clear title. Sold in “as is” condition with no warranties expressed or implied. By bidding you accept those terms. Please ask questions or come view the car to determine that it is what you expect prior to bidding. Feel free to send a message to the seller with your questions. Buyer is responsible for vehicle pickup or shipping.

These 124 Spiders offer a lot of style and oftentimes for less cash than a similar vintage Alfa Romeo Spider. These are a great starting point for the novice Italian car enthusiast, as they are not too expensive to buy and won't put you in the poor house when it comes to maintenance. One can expect to pay somewhere between $7,000 and $12,000 for a Spider like this that isn't a garage queen nor a clapped out basket case.

-Paul