Tag Archives: 1980

1980 Fiat X1/9

April 1, 2015 Graham 1 Comment

Fiat has been back with us here in the US for a few years now, first with their retro 500 and now with a larger 500L thrown in the product mix. We'll see a crossover this Spring, called the 500X, but one type of car is glaringly missing. A sports car. Specifically, something with an open roof. If you'll remember, the Fiat 124 Spider and Fiat X1/9 were the last two Fiats sold in the US before the 500's return in 2012. Toward the end, those two sporting vehicles were sold under the Pininfarina and Bertone badge, respectively. While the 124 Spider was a traditional roadster with a front engine/rear drive chassis, the X1/9, like the one we see here for sale from our reader John, was a decidedly more forward looking sports car, with a targa roof and mid engine. There are still a few out there kicking around in the classifieds, but few come more clean or rust-free.

Year: 1980
Model: X1/9
Engine: 1.5 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 84,859 mi
Price: $6,000

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1980 Fiat X1/9

Looking for an mid-engine Italian sports roadster that doesn't cost more than your house?

This is my 1980 Fiat X1/9 "Abarth" Targa roadster with 84,859 original miles. This car was styled and designed by Bertone in Italy, and for that reason it is often called a "Baby Ferrari" or "Baby Lamborghini".

This are fast, fun, great-handling cars that are becoming much more rare and collectible in recent years. The styling has become classic and these cars are simple to work on and easy to find parts.

This car is a 1.5L with the lift-off targa top which stows in the front trunk. It is a 5-speed manual transmission and it has had an excellent stereo system installed with a JVC head unit, Polk Audio speakers and a 600-watt SPL amplifier.

This car is particularly unique because it is completely RUST-FREE. It is clean and rust-free in every corner and every crevice. This body is solid in every possible place you can look. It is amazing actually.

The interior of the car has been reupholstered and recarpeted with new materials and it looks excellent. This job cost about $1000 and it looks beautiful.

This Fiat runs and drives perfectly. The suspension is all-new and the car handles amazingly well. The engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, steering, etc are working properly with no known issues.

This is probably the cleanest, best-condition X1/9 you will find for sale anywhere. It isn't perfect, there are some minor areas of clearcoat peeling and a few nicks/scratches.

I have a stack of service receipts as well as a repair manual and factory service manual that go with the car.

This car is kept inside my heated warehouse in Willoughby. Email me or call/text me at 440-339-4341 to see the car.

The color on this X1/9 is certainly eye popping but it fits with the period and playful nature of this car. Considering the mileage and condition, the price is about on the mark with where the X1/9 market is currently. You would certainly have a difficult time finding a better deal on a piece of Bertone sculpture to park amongst your collection.

-Paul

Lancia, Pininfarina, Zagato

Double Take: 1980 and 1982 Lancia Beta Zagatos

April 19, 2014 Graham

With the sun finally creeping out from behind the clouds and the last throws of winter grumpily making way for spring flowers, it's nice to think about an affordable Italian roadster. Sure, the Ferrari 550 Barchetta is a great option if you own some oil fields in the Near East, but for most of us the budget will be a bit more modest. One of the more interesting options that would really set you apart would be to look at the Lancia Beta Zagato; if for no other reason than not many remain. Quick depreciation, spotty reliability and rust-prone panels mean these have become a rare sight in the U.S. However, two have popped up on Ebay that are near twins, though being born two years apart. Let's look at the elder first:

Year: 1980
Model: Beta Zagato
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 39,838 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1980 Lancia Beta Zagato

Up for a NO RESRVE AUCTION is a 1982 Lancia Zagato vin ZLAFS00C3C0203559 the listing would not read this vin? sorry for the confusion one fine car! This car is out of an estate sale that has been consigned, has duplicte title paper work, clean, Has 39k original miles, Original paint, leather,top, outstanding condition, Everything in working order runs smooth, no leaks, the red paint gleams, the tires are original and have some weather cracks. This car has been in storage since 04. but started once a week!. The car has original tool kit, spare , car cover! please email me for any questions! selling as is! if you win please have the funds!

Holy mackerel, it's got the original tires on it! What an impressive condition example; it certainly looks nearly good enough to have rolled off the showroom floor and displays none of the normal wear and tear that is associated with these budget convertibles. With under 40,000 miles on the clock and being a California car, the concerns about what's underneath that polished facade are put at ease. What about the second example?

This 1982 also looks pretty stellar, sporting a different grill setup but otherwise nearly the twin of the earlier model. Condition also looks outstanding on this example overall, though unlike the earlier car it appears this car was resprayed at some point:

Year: 1982
Model: Beta Zagato
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 66,128 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1982 Lancia Beta Zagato

I have a very nice Lancia Zagato up for sale. This fun little Italian sports car reads only 66000 orig miles and runs and drives great with its peppy 4 cyl engine and 5 speed transmission,it's a joy to drive. The Targa and convertible top have been redone a few years back and look and work great. The paint on the car looks to have been redone at some point but not recent, it shines nice but not perfect. Bumpers and glass are near mint cond. the interior of the car is in very nice cond. no dash cracks,clean carpet,nice seats some seem separation on driver seat only .The engine is clean and runs smooth,the wheels are in nice cond tires should be replaced from lack of use. I have all books,manuals and some service records with the car. Please call or email with any questions. Thank You 1 603 387 1693

So it's a little less than perfect; I have no problem with that, although life in New Hampshire for a Lancia would give me a bit of concern. In this case, I'd spend a little extra to get the all-original California example. Hagerty lists top value of these cars around $12,000 and I'd expect the 1980 is heading that way; the 1982, while nice, probably is closer to half that value or slightly more, but I'd inspect it closely underneath before buying.

-Carter

Ferrari

1980 Ferrari 512BB

March 14, 2014 Graham

When it comes to magical moments in your life, as an automobile enthusiast there are few moments that exceed seeing your first Ferrari. For me, that was when I was quite young - about 5 years old, and a friend of my father had a very lightly used purple 512BB. I don't remember much in terms of details about anything else than walking up to that incredibly wide Ferrari, full of vents, ducts and lots of exhaust pipes. And the wheels! The wheels were so wide. To me, having gotten out of a Toyota Corolla, it might as well have been a spaceship.

And it needed to be a spaceship, because Ferrari was decidedly behind the times in the 1970s. The Daytona was an incredible car, there was no doubt; but compared to the Miura, the Daytona seemed like it was a dinosaur. Ferrari's response was to take the heart and soul of the Daytona, combine it with some lessons learned in the Dino, and make a Miura fighter. It wasn't just a response to the Miura though, it was a Miura beater. The two had similar engine outputs, but the 365 GT4/BB was just downright faster. Faster to 60, faster outright at nearly 190mph. The 365 GT4/BB was later replaced by the 512BB and later the 512BBi with their larger 4.9 flat-12s and remained the big dogs into the 1980s; the Lamborghinis may have sold more posters, but if you actually wanted a driver, you wanted the Ferrari. A few decades later, seeing a 512 still gives me goosebumps and while the Testarossa may have embodied Ferrari in the 1980s, it's still the 512BB that occupies my mind:

Year: 1980
Model: 512BB
Engine: 4.9 liter Flat-12
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 25,001 mi
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1980 Ferrari 512BB

1980 Ferrari 512 BB. Only 25,000 klms from new. This is a car that was brought to Canada after being sold new in Switzerland, then going to the UK for a couple years. Being a Canadian car, it did not have to go through the DOT certification that the cars had to do when being imported into the United States. This means that the doors were not cut open to allow the addition of cross members for side impact crashes, as well as various additions under the front clamshell. It makes this car more desirable that the average US car that is available on the market today. Its also a 512 that has never been involved in an accident, has the rare original bumpers, and has had a complete engine rebuild three years ago by Canada's leading 512 BB expert. The transmission was also freshened up at this time. Total invoices add up close to $80,000 for all this work. Have a look at the engine photos, and you will see the detail and the newness in them. Anyone that has been watching these cars know that this model Ferrari is more than likely the next one to rapidly increase like the others have done. Limited production numbers (929 carbureted cars) always dictate which ones become super investments for the future. There is a Ferrari 512 BB running this weekend at the Amelia Island Auction in Florida, and for those who doubt the future value of this car, watch for the results of that auction. This car is not a distress sale, but it will be sold. The last one I had last summer sold to the first person that came to see it. Don't let this one pass you by if your looking for an investment car. I would expect the price to double on these in the next 10 to 15 years. This vehicle is avail for inspection (which I encourage) at anytime. If you fly into Buffalo NY, I will pick you up and bring you back to the airport when your finished viewing. I have the spare tire, just removed it to charge the battery.

With $80,000 in maintenance, you have a bit of an idea of the value of these cars. They're not the cheap Ferraris to get, by any means. Forgotten for a while in favor of newer and older models, the 365 and 512s have been on the rise, especially top condition models like this. A desirable Euro-spec car but also all-original, it's rare to see them in this condition. Hagerty values top condition 512s at just shy of $160,000 - still far short of the Daytona and on par with the top condition GTC/4s. This car is already there with the reserve still on, but this car is from a different generation than the Daytona and if you're smart you could pick this car up and watch it appreciate over the next few years. Just, please make sure that your friend's 5 year old can stare at it up close for a while...

-Carter

Fiat

1980 Fiat Brava

April 22, 2013 Graham 4 Comments

Towards the end of Fiat’s original run in the US market in the early 1980s, the manufacturer had several offerings in showrooms. The newly introduced Strada (known as the Ritmo elsewhere), the mid-engined X1/9 and Fiat 124 Spider. While the Strada would be discontinued after Fiat’s exit in 1982, the X1/9 would continue on as the Bertone X1/9, which the 124 Spider would be sold under the Pininfarina badge. There was one other holdout in the US market until the pullout, the 131, later known as the Brava.

Offered as a two or four door sedan and four door wagon in the US, these weren’t particular flashy vehicles, but their tidy styling and Italian DNA gave buyers seeking something a little less boring in the family car segment. Not only that, the 131 went on to win the World Rally Championship three times; an accomplishment few of its competitors could boast about. This Brava for sale in New York is a rare chance to get one of these cars in good condition.

1980 Fiat Brava

For sale is my 1980 Fiat Brava sedan. The car is completely stock and has only 51,670 miles. The only item added to the car is an AM/FM cassette radio I installed in the car back in 1993 (I still have the original radio plastic blank). This FIAT drives very well and is in wonderful condition. I have the original manual, brochure, keys, pictures from the original owner and maintenance records. It has Pirelli tires which are in great condition, original wheels, jack and tool kit.

History......I purchased the car in 1993 from a person in Michigan. I believe I am the second owner. It had 33,000 miles on it and was completely original. The car had been rust-proofed when it was bought from the dealer in Michigan. Domenick's Foreign Cars of White Plains inspected the car before my purchase. That inspection in 1993 revealed some previous body work to the right rear quarter panel and appeared to be an excellent repair (I have the body shop invoice!). Although I put 18,000 miles on it, the car has been driven about 500 miles in the last 10 years. It has been garaged since 1993. In the last 200 miles, I did extensive work to the mechanicals....complete engine tuneup, transmission serviced, replaced suspension, brakes and replaced various lines, hoses and wires. In November 2011, the car was repainted for the first time in its original color using a 2-stage urethane process. I have kept this car in very good order.

Items of attention.....The timing belt could be replaced as it is over 5 years old. The headliner is sagging a little and I considered replacing it myself but discovered a local shop that replaces headliners. If I keep the car I will get this done. The A/C needs to be recharged or converted. The driver seat left side seam has come apart. The interior rear deck lid needs repair. This is a rare 1980 Fiat Brava in fantastic condition.

Even though they are rare, the 131 and Brava doesn’t have that much of a following in the US, which has kept prices low. For a car like this, I’d expect somewhere around the $4,500 to $5,500 mark would snag it. Unfortunately, this Brava has the GM sourced 3-speed automatic transmission, but, with a car like this, beggars can’t be choosers. I haven’t seen a clean 131 or Brava like this in a while and it’s nice to see a few of these out there in the wild that are still well preserved.

-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

Maserati

1980 Maserati Kyalami

January 28, 2013 Graham

Looking back at Maserati's history, it's rather remarkable that the cars with the Trident badge are still with us to this day. After a divorce from parent company Citroën in the mid 1970s, Alejandro DeTomaso came in to save the day and controlled the company into the 1990s. It was during this time that DeTomaso introduced the Longchamp, a GT coupe powered by Ford's Cleveland V8. Maserati was given their own version of this coupe, with its name coming from the famed South African racetrack. Instead of an American engine under the hood, however, you will find either a 4.2 liter or, in the case of our feature car, a 4.9 liter V8 from Maserati's own parts bin.

The Kyalami was a sharp looking car, and quite rare, with under 200 built from 1976 through 1983. As a result, this is a relatively obscure car to even the most hardcore automotive enthusiasts, which is a shame, given how capable this coupe was. For sale in Vienna, this restored Kyalami looks sharp in metallic red and offers a glimpse into the days when Maserati was on the edge of extinction.

1980 Maserati Kyalami

Perfectly restored collector's vehicle, extremely rare, recent service.

In comparison to its sibling, the Longchamp, the Kyalami usually brings just a bit more in terms of value. This is mainly a result of its Italian engine under the hood. A good example like this should run anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000. With a manual transmission and a good quality restoration such as this, I'd suspect this car is worth somewhere around $45,000.

-Paul

Lamborghini

Handmade 1980 Lamborghini Countach

January 7, 2013 Graham

For some, the Lamborghini Countach is the stuff automotive dreams are made of. Few of us will ever get the pleasure of calling one our own. But that didn't stop one intrepid enthusiast. For 17 years, Ken Imhoff built a Countach from scratch in his basement. A true labor of love, the car was finished just a few years ago and has been featured in a countless number of media outlets. Now Mr. Imhoff is seeking to offload his creation to someone who can truly appreciate it.

1980 Lamborghini Countach by Ken Imhoff

Up for auction is a very unique opportunity to own a piece of car culture. An urban legend of the internet dating back to 2009 when I removed a 17 year endeavor from my basement. My name is Ken Imhoff and I am the builder and owner of this one off hand built Lamborghini Countach which is going to be sold to the highest bidder. The car has been featured on too many websites/magazines and TV I lost count. Just a few were NPR, Regis & Kelly, Paul Harvey, NCIS, Jalopnik (3rd biggest story of 2009) Ripley’s Believe or Not (2011) E-bay’s Motor Master for 2009, just to name a few. The car is a copy of a 1980 Lamborghini Countach (Euro-spec) and consists of the following:

·All aluminum body. 2400 lbs.
·Fiberglass wing, wheel arches, and chin spoiler per original.
·Lamborghini windshield with speed glass side windows.
·All steel tube space frame similar to the original.
·377 Ford Cleveland, 12/1 comp., H-beam rods, big roller cam, gear drive, Crower rockers, S.S. Manley valves with ported 4V heads,48 IDA Webers built by Mickey at Inglese, MSD, 180 deg S.S. headers, the best of the best. Nothing over looked in building over 500 HP.
·Pantera ZF 5-speed, Hyd clutch, alum flywheel, bell housing, and shifter.
·Twin aluminum Howie sprint car radiators. Never runs hot with twin 2400 cfm pusher fans. Oil cooler with twin remote race filters.
·Highly modified Corvette C4 control arms, spindles, carriers and half shafts.
·Wilwood 4 piston Super Lites all around on 12” vented rotors and aluminum hats.
·Wilwood complete pedal setup with Wilwood MC and remote reservoirs
·15 gal. fuel cell, electric fuel pump, and sending unit.
·All functioning Auto Meter gauges including an electric 200MPH.
·A competition style interior, MOMO seats, 5 point harness, splined steering wheel, 5lb. Halon fire bottle, all anodized aluminum interior panels with heat and sound barrier rear bulkhead with removable access panel between seats.
·BBS rims with custom center sections. 16 x 12 and 16 X 10 currently with Hoosier racing slicks.

Please bid responsibly and take careful consideration on what you are bidding on so ask a lot of questions. There needs to be a lot of discussion between me and its next owner. It means a lot to me that it goes to the right home. -Ken

If ever there was a car that would be hard to place a value on, this would be it. Countaches of this vintage can fetch anywhere from $80,000 to $120,00 in good shape, while cheap kit cars can be had south of $20,000. But this is no kit car. This is a labor of love and well thought out in an engineering sense. This car also has the advantage of an engine that is cheaper to maintain in the long haul. Given that the price is edging towards the range of a real Countach is a testament to the recognition this car has received in the press as well as the quality of the builder's work.

-Paul

Fiat, Modern Classic

1980 Fiat X1/9

June 11, 2012 Graham 1 Comment

I'm starting to get surprised at the number of mint condition Fiat X1/9s out there. With their propensity towards rusting and sundry electrical maladies, it is not an easy job keeping one of these in tip top shape for 32 years. It's curious that Fiat kept the 124 Spider on while selling this mid-engine targa right alongside, but these two cars ended up appealing to two very different kinds of open air enthusiasts. This X1/9 for sale in Florida is a very period metallic green and has but 40,000 miles covered between two owners.

1980 Fiat X1/9

This is a museum quality Fiat X1/9. EVERYTHING WORKS PERFECTLY. NOT covered in rust like every other X 1/9. This car has been kept in an Air Conditioned garage since purchase, and always maintained properly.

Good X1/9s of this vintage tend to hover around the $5,000 mark, so this one coming from a private seller at almost $7,000 represents a bit of a premium, but is about $1,000 cheaper than the X1/9 we featured for sale by the dealer in Ohio back in March. Realistically, this car may reach around $6,000, but the right buyer may come along and pony up.

-Paul

Fiat, Modern Classic

1980 Fiat X1/9

March 29, 2012 Graham 2 Comments

With the popularity of mid-engine sports cars gaining traction in the late 1960s, Fiat sought to get in on the action and devise a replacement to their rear engine 850 Spider. With styling conceived by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the X1/9 used the all new single cam engine from the front drive Fiat 128, which was handy, as this powerplant was set up having a transaxle, which made conversion to mid-engine use a rather easy affair. At the start, the car’s body was manufactured by Bertone with final assembly carried out by Fiat, and towards the end of the car’s life, the production shifted entirely to Bertone, with the car being transitioned to the “Bertone” badged in 1983 with the exit of Fiat from the US market. The car was marketed in the US until 1987 by Malcolm Bricklin and his company, International Automobile Importers, Inc. The X1/9 soldiered on until 1989 and has garnered a legacy of a lightweight, good handling compact, if a bit susceptible to the usual rust and teething issues that plague Italian cars of the period. This example for sale in Ohio is a Fiat badged X1/9 and beat the odds as a 69,000 mile survivor.

1980 Fiat X1/9

1980 FIAT X1/9. VIN# : 128AS000133787. MILEAGE: 69,498. These X1/9 are hard to find and are listed on Yahoo's ten most desirable used vehicles that are impossible to find. You want to talk about a rare beauty...this 1980 Fiat X1/9 is it. This one has been well maintained as you can see from the pictures. It runs great and there are no issues.

Since the Fiat 500 came to the US last year, I’ve noticed a few Fiat dealers peddling vintage models of the marque, no doubt as a tactic to get people interested in the history of the brand and appreciate the qualities of current offerings. Since it is for sale at a dealer, the almost $8,000 price doesn’t surprise me. If this was from a private seller, you might be able to snag this car for about $2,000 to $3,000 less. If this example is rust free, it, along with the Lancia Scorpion/Montecarlo would be about the cheapest way into a mid-engine Italian vehicle. The color and US spec bumpers are not to my taste, but it is nice to see clean examples of this sporty runabout are still out there if you search hard enough.

-Paul

Ferrari

1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi

January 17, 2012 Graham

The Ferrari 308 and 328 could perhaps be considered the poster child for all things Italian and exotic. It's appearance in the popular Magnum P.I. television series solidified it's place in automotive folklore. The 308 GTSi was an evolution of the original 308 GTS and included Bosch K Jetronic fuel injection to help meet ever tightening emissions controls. This particular low mileage GTSi is an original owner vehicle with polished magnesium wheels instead of the more commonly seen painted versions.

1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi

My Dad bought this car new at Hollywood Motors an old Ferrari dealer now closed. He thought he bought an 1981 in 1981 but it was actually a 1980. This car just received a new timing belt and service from the Auto Gallery Service in Canoga Park Ca. and has only just 8,XXX original miles with the original 85 MPH factory speedo. He has just passed and thus the reason for selling the car now.

The wheels are magnesium and with magnesium to stay shiny like chrome would need to be clear coated after polishing. This was never done. The leather is a little dry as can be seen in the pictures. There is a slight whistle from the exhaust which I was told is common. Otherwise the car drives great and the A/C was just serviced and blows cold. I have a file full of records

I will require a $2000 deposit within 24hours of auction close via PayPal with remainder due with Certified funds (cashiers check) 7 days from auction close to complete transaction exchange. Please ask questions before bidding. I will facilitate shipping (at buyers expense) once funds are clear but require US bidders and US delivery only. I will not sell outside of the US. This vehicle has some private interest outside the auction and if sold I reserve the right to end the auction and cancel all bids early.

The Ferrari 308 is one of those Ferraris that tend to be used by enthusiasts and not just stored away, so finding one with under 10,000 miles is not too common these days. With the all important cam belt service and a full host of service records, this car would be a good proposition for a collector or an enthusiast looking for a fun weekend drive.

-Paul