Ahh . . . Italia, mia bella. The land of La Dolce Vita, Verdi, Pavarotti, Chianti, Ferrari, Nuvolari, and Fiat.
Italians are true connoisseurs. Though not every Italian can afford a closet full of designer couture or a garage housing a Maserati or Bizzarrini, enjoying life to the fullest is nonetheless not only the privilege of the super rich.
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Italy is the birthplace of some of the most exciting sports cars in history, from small-bore Abarths and Cisitalias to the V12-powered Lamborghini supercars. Somewhere in between fits the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, an agile, open-air 2+2 convertible based on the 124 sedan that debuted at the Torino Auto Salon in November of 1966 and was produced for almost 20 years. Its timelessly beautiful body was designed and built by Pininfarina, then sent to Fiat's gigantic Lingotto plant for completion.
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Unfortunately, Italian cars never enjoyed much factory rust protection. Thusly, many of these beautiful Spiders have been eaten alive by corrosion. Rarely you'll find a 1970s Fiat Spider that has lived all its life in the benevolent climate of Southern California, doesn't show rust, was never involved in a fender bender and, last but not least, is so beautiful that it takes your breath away!
Here's one!
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With few exceptions, all Spiders built after 1974 were sold in the United States. This Spider America 1800, VIN *124CS10105307* is one of 11,385 units manufactured in 1976 for American customers. It was sold new in the Golden State and has had only three caring owners during the past 33 years.
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Showing just 11,000 miles on the odometer, the car was purchased by its second owner, a gentleman from Burbank, California. After enjoying top-down Fiat motoring for many years, in 1998 he ordered up a quite serious cosmetic and mechanical freshening. Twenty-eight receipts--totalling $19,404.00--document his valiant efforts. Included are such pricey items as re-plated bumpers ($1,100), new paint ($2,500), alloy rims ($800) and upholstery ($1,700).
The third owner acquired the car in 2005. Since then, thirty-eight receipts for $5,254.00 accumulated.
All told, the Fiat's restoration history is contained in 66 records, chronologically filed in clear plastic sheet protectors, in a three-ring binder, representing the whopping sum of $24,660.00!
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Needless to say, this particular Spider, finished in its original shade of Blu Adriatico, is stunning to behold. Its coachwork is wonderfully straight, its body lines and gaps are perfect. The finish is smooth and very glossy, without any scrapes, dings, or dents; just the front hood and the top of the left front fender show some paint cracking.
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The Fiat's second owner purchased this period-correct set of CROMODORA light alloy wheels. We had a brand new set of Radial tires of the dimension 185/70-R13 installed last week.
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Opening the hood, we admire a typical Italian detail you'd usually find on a vintage Ferrari: the diamond-tufted sound insulation.
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Engine bay presents itself toothbrush clean!
Built in the spirit of pure Italian competizione engines, the 1.8 four features dual overhead camshafts. It is healthy as an ox with excellent oil pressure and no ill behavior to report. Given the proper care, this engine will last forever.
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One of the Spider's highlights must be its fabulous, red interior with contrasting, luxurious navy velour carpeting.
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A close up view of the driver's door panel says more than a thousand words. Everything inside this Fiat is spotless!
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The classic Fiat dashboard was fully reconditioned; there are many invoices for parts and labor to prove the point. It's as good as it gets; even the wood has been refinished. To keep the classic Italian look pure, the modern KENWOOD CD stereo is hidden inside the glove box.
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Instrument layout and steering wheel possess pure 1960s sports car elegance. With 6 round VEGLIA instruments, surrounded by wood veneer, one is again reminded of period Ferraris, such as the 330GT. Elegant 2-spoke, wood-rimmed steering wheel is in immaculate condition. All switches, gauges, and lights work flawlessly, even clock, heater and fan, and the melodious-sounding horn, too.
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Details: Center console with DOT-mandated warning lights--one reads "Slow Down"--and original owner's manual.
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Front seats were rebuilt from the frame up; upholstery looks pristine. The vulnerable center console is free of any cracks. Spider actually offers plenty of space, even for tall American pilots and long-legged, corn fed flight attendants.
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Rear seat offers limited room for little Cousin Vinny and his Uzi. Note seat belts and perfect fit of top boot.
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Black canvas convertible top is in excellent condition; opens and closes with superior ease.
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"Save the whales" vanity license plates are current.
Before we head out for a test drive, let's view trunk and undercarriage.
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Spider's surprisingly large trunk holds a few boxes with rare spare parts. Surprise!
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Battery lives safely out of harm's way beneath a black plastic cover. Everything is surgically clean.
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Trunk details: Cardboard covers hide fuel tank and spare wheel. There's zero corrosion in this critical area.
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Spider's underbelly looks as good as the rest of the car. Exhaust system is almost new, from the header back, including the catalytic converter and the ANSA sport muffler.
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In a nutshell: This one's clean, rust free, with no annoying fluid leaks.
Rear stabilizing bar does wonders for Spider's handling.
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Friday, January 9, was another beautiful winter day here in Ventura. With blue skies and temperatures in the Seventies, we lowered the top and headed off to work: a thorough, all-important test drive, topped off with a much-needed rest stop at the local Cappuccino Bar.
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Driving the Spider is a feast for the senses!
The engine still cold from a good night's sleep, you pull the throttle control lever, turn the key, and the wild-spirited four comes to life with a deep-throated, roaring sound: La musica! You remember the single most important thing about Italians: they like to take their time (and lots of Espresso) in the morning to get up to speed. So you put in first, change up quickly to second, then third. Let'er roll easy for the first few miles, a strategy the engine will reward with unmatched longevity.
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Soon, you can accelerate with the velocity of a speeding bullet and let fly without restraint. Italian engines love to rev and can stand almost any abuse for extended periods of time. Again, the only sin you can commit is not allowing such an engine to properly warm up.
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Clutch action is smooth and direct, steering tight and precise. The Spider's handling is superior. Designed and built by engineers who cut their teeth hurtling along the curvy mountain roads north of Milano in tiny automobiles, it needs no excuses. Spider teases, yet is forgiving; it changes direction with an eagerness verging on venom, but entertains and delights in equal measure. It eats up straights with a voracity that makes you want to accelerate forever, but its cornering remains stable and controllable, even if your entry speed seems dangerously fast.
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Unknown to most, apart from the circles of the cognoscenti, a Fiat Spider is a serious sports car, having not much in common with pedestrian offerings of rather mundane competitors. It really is a smaller version of the Ferrari convertible, at a most attractive price of admission.
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Among all the soulless plastic conveyances of the third Millennium, the classic Fiat Spider with its rich racing heritage stands out like a white tiger on a black granite floor. You don't need an expensive BMW or Mercedes roadster, and you don't need exorbitant car payments to enjoy life to the fullest. Immune to depreciation, unlike most contenders, this well-kept Fiat Spider could be your E-ticket ride to automobile happiness.
Viva la dolce vita!
Addendum:
We sold this Fiat Spider in February 2009 to a customer in Reno, Nevada.
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