Tag Archives: 1500

Fiat

1966 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

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The Fiat 1500 is one of those lesser seen Italian roadsters, but it is nevertheless a good choice for someone looking for some thrills in a good looking package on a budget. With a 1.5 liter, OHV four cylinder engine, it's not a speed demon, but that's not what cars like these are about. A car like this is for those sunny holidays down by the beach; the kind of days when you leave work behind and time is but a mere abstraction. This 1500 Cabriolet for sale in California is a great specimen for those looking to enjoy their investment, not merely just study it locked away in a garage.

1966 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

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California car with the original black plates. I purchased this car from a collector in San Diego that had five of them he had planned on restoring. Because of health issues and other circumstances he decided to sell. I was given my choice of the five. Since none were running at the time and knowing of the rust issues common to most Italian cars of this era {especially ragtops}, my choice was easy. This car had it's original paint and virtually no rust. Floorboards, rockers, battery box and spare tire bay, all solid and original. I'm sure the hardtop helped save the inside and the underside appears to have been heavily undercoated at some point in it's life (possibly at the original dealership). I have included a few pics to show how it looked when I got it.

Interior was removed and reupholstered, dash was cracked so it had to be repaired and recovered. New carpet, new convertible top. Hardtop was originally gloss black, but decided to redo it in a textured black rubberized coating. Repaint was done in the original color. The left rear corner was the only spot that appeared to have been worked on before. There were some minor dents that were repaired before paint. The doors hood and trunk were removed from the car for painting. The inside of the trunk was left original. There are a few minor blemishes in the paint that can only be seen under close inspection. Since all of the trim is original, some areas are showing some minor pitting and could use replating ie. gauge trim rings,outer door handles and rear bumper.

Tires all hold air and have plenty of tread, but they are old and should be replaced before driving any distance, spare tire also holds air. All of the stainless side trim is there and looks great. Front bumper and grille are excellent. Since the car had not run in several years, carb was removed and cleaned, fuel lines and tank cleaned and flushed. New gas was put in and the engine fired up on the first try. It has done the same thing every time since. It does not smoke, idles smooth and shifts fine thru all five gears. Brake shoes and pads were replaced, a new master cylinder was installed and some brake hoses were also replaced. All lights and gauges work. The clock is not in the center spot and has been replaced with an ammeter.

Heater wipers, horn, lighter all work. The original radio and speaker are there but the radio is either not hooked up or broken. These motors are known to be very reliable and I have found that parts are easily found on eBay. I have owned many small convertibles from this era ie. (Datsun Roadster, Renault Caravelle, Triumph, Sunbeam etc.) and in my opinion this Fiat is the best looking of the bunch. The lines and proportions are spot on. Your not going to win many drag races in it, but if you're looking for a drag race you're probably not reading this. You can see how the body lines mimic the Ferrari 250, which by the way, will win some drag races. But you'll have to dig a lot deeper if you want it parked in your garage!

This is the final version of the 1500 Spider with the increased power (up to 83 hp) and the 5-speed gearbox, the unique steering setup is actually quite responsive. This is not a concourse showcar and I am not trying to represent it as such. My hope is that the person that buys this car will fill the tank with gas, put the top down and drive it every chance they get. As with any car this old, I'm sure there will be things that will need to be sorted out over time, as the car is driven.

I have tried to be as accurate as possible in my description, if you have any questions, or would like specific pics, please ask and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can. Buyer is responsible for all shipping costs. A nonrefundable $1,000 deposit is required within 24 hours of auctions end. I can assist with getting the car somewhere locally for pickup. Thanks for looking and good luck.

A show quality 1500 Cabriolet might breach $20,000. With a no reserve auction, I would suspect this car might bring somewhere between $12,000 to $15,000. While this car is meant for sunny days, the hardtop adds a bit of year round practicality for markets outside of California.

-Paul

Lancia, Modern Classic

1983 Lancia Delta 1500

When it was introduced in 1979, few could believe that the Lancia Delta would eventually go on to be the vehicle that would win six World Rally Championships in a row for Lancia, from 1987 to 1992. But before the four wheel drive arrived, before the championships began to amass, there was the car you see before you here. Introduced in 1979, the original Delta featured a 1.5 liter four cylinder engine with 85 horsepower, front-wheel drive and squared off lines penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The combination was attractive enough to win the European Car of the Year award for 1980. This like new example residing in the Netherlands is possibly one of the best examples of an early Delta left.

1983 Lancia Delta 1500

The Lancia Delta was introduced in 1979 and was voted European Car of the Year in 1980 by an international jury. It was a Giorgietto Giugiaro design. With the total concept of the Delta with its transversal mounted engine, front wheel drive and independent suspension a new era began in the Lancia history. The engine’s of the Delta had 1300 cc and 1500 cc with 75 hp and 85 hp. The larger engine had electronic ignition. The Delta was manufactured on a computer controlled assembly line, a guarantee for a better than average quality. From 1980 until 1986 the Delta was exported to the Scandinavian countries as "Saab-Lancia 600." Later the Delta was very successful in many international rallies in the HF Integrale version until the early nineties.

The 1983 Lancia Delta 1500 of the 1st series now available at Montagna ha had only one previous lady owner from Germany who drove 62.600 km with the car. The car is in an extraordinary condition and looks, drives and handles like a new car, a real collector’s item!

For a thirty year old vehicle, this Lancia is in amazing condition. Showroom condition is a term often thrown about on vehicle forecoruts, but this car lives up to that hype. For $7,500 USD, this is an amazing piece of Lancia history. Even if it isn't one of the faster Integrale versions, the appeal of this car lies beyond speed. This was where an icon began.

-Paul

Fiat

1964 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

Taking public transport to work everyday isn't a joy. Ask anyone. Attempting to zone out the misery, I was listening to one of my favorite albums on my iPod, "La Musica Italiana." It's a compilation of Italo-Disco and other pop classics that helps me ignore my miserable commute and transports me back to the Old World. Why is this pertinent to this post? On the cover of this album is a red Fiat 1500 Cabriolet, just like our feature car. The 1500 shared little with its sedan counterpart, other than the 1.5 liter, 72 horsepower four cylinder engine. While the 1500 is a tad overshadowed by its successor, the 124 Spider, for me the 1500 represents the classic Italian sports car.

1964 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

History: Launched in 1960 the Fiat 1500 Cabriolet had similar styling to the Fiat-Oscar model, although minus the other cars bonnet bulge. With only a 1481cc engine the 1500 Cabriolet was also slower than the Oscar model although its performance was far from disappointing. Standard equipment for both the 1500 Cabriolet and Coupe included servo assisted front disc brakes and a generous level of interior trim. The body itself was styled by Pininfarina and was extremely elegant. These Cabriolets were also commonly known as Spiders. Production of the 1500 sports range lasted until 1967.

Details
Car Condition: High End Level
This beautiful 5 speed Fiat is red with tan interior and a black top. It features an aluminum engine, 155 SR 14 Z X tires with steel wheels, bucket seats, roll up windows and 91,850 miles showing. It is a 4 cyl, 9:1 compression engine and is rear wheel drive with a lever carburetor. It is a sporty, fun and economical car that would make a great addition to any Fiat collector’s garage.

While the seller doesn't list the price, my best guess is this car would realistically fetch around $20,000 to $25,000 on a good day, making it a more financially reasonable alternative to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. It looks to be a survivor with a bit of freshening up, but presents very well. And who couldn't love that white Veglia tachometer?

-Paul

Fiat

First Post on Classic Italian Cars For Sale!

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This site is still in its infancy, but I'm trying out new templates and needed a first post. Enjoy!

Here's a gorgeous little 1967 Fiat 1500 convertible for sale in Colorado and offered by Koenig Sales. The simple and early lines on these cars really help the Pinifarina body stand out. So simple and raw!

Take a closer look at this

quote from seller's listing:

This is a 1967 Fiat 1500. This is a California car with zero rust. It's been very well taken care of. It has brand new paint matching the original color. It also has a new Pininfarnia hartz convertible top, all new wool carpet and new seats. It's a five speed manual transmission. The engine has been rebuilt. I have some records for this vehicle. This car drives beautifully, with no mechanical problems or oil leaks. All of the gauges are working. The chrome trims are really shiny, as is the paint. The tires have plenty of tread left on them. Also, the car has a hard top. It's never been in an accident and it has a clean title. This car is stylish and would be fun to drive in the summer time.

My parents had a later Fiat Spider in white with the terrible U.S. specification bumpers. But as a little boy I remember sitting backwards in the back seat waving at the traffic behind us. It would be great to relive those memories, especially with these classic Fiats appreciating significantly in price recently.

dc