Newbie going to look at a Spider this weekend...

[maseratiman]

So I'm going to look at a 1975 spider this weekend. I've never owned a Fiat let alone a Spider or 30+ yo car before. Besides rust, shock tower integrity and overall well being, what should I look for specifically? Are there any issues specific to Spiders from 1975 I should be aware of?

Thanks,

Marc

[RoyBatty]

Hey marc,
mine is a '75 also. Check out all the postings I have put up here and you might get some idea
of what to expect.
As most in here may be tired pf hearing, mine was parked for 23 yrs before I put ot back into service.
I have had to spend a bit to repair or replace items you'd expect after such a long dormant period, bit even
that has not been expensive.
Morw than 20k miles in the last 10 months and I'm lovin it!

[Fiatmonkey]

The cars are easy enough to work on so really just look for a good top and interior. Those are the expensive parts everything else on a carb car is pretty inexpensive (for a car this age) and is fairly easy to fix or replace.

[maseratiman]

Excellent! This car was parked for 5 years and has a rebuilt engine so I'll pay special attention to the interior and top. I searched for 1975 Spider without much luck which is why I posted here. RoyBatty, looks like I might be in a similar situation here. I'll review your posts. And most of all I'll find out this weekend about the car!

Thanks for the replies!

-Marc

[Rey]

I have looked at two Spiders so far while shopping for a car. Both have had loose, wandering steering while driving in a straight line. So I imagine they needed front end replacement parts. Maybe this is common? The last one I drove also bucked like a bronco in 1st gear.

[seabeelt]

Welcome - almost spider owner. Almost all of the mechanical things are fixable easily enough with some cash and time. things harder to fix are things like rust. Check the shock towers in the front, check the rocker panels under the doors for the same. Check the cross member under the engine for cracks, check the body for other structural dmage to indicate an acident. Not that these things cannot be repaired also, but some of the parts are harder to find and install.

[whiterabbit]

Expect the bushings to be shot on the control arms.
Car will "buck like a bronco" when the rubber driveshaft support is shot.
Look for fried wiring inder dash and in engine bay. Alot of splices in it mean headachs.
Alot of "jerry rigging" means alot of stuff done wrong. If you see alot of it, pass on it. There's alot more you don't see!
Look for welding on the cross member that runs under the oil pan to the sides of the frame. You need a good flashlight and look in the engine bay near the bottoms of the shoch towers for welding. If you see any,take a pass on it!
"Tools of the Trade"
Always bring a clipboard to write down all faults. Great bargining tool. Scares the hell out of them when they see all the faults written down.
Very bright flashlight to see in all those dark problem prone areas.
Small mirror to help see.
Small magnet to find all that bondo on that "rust free and new paint" car.
Cash in hand but not in your hand. Keep it locked up in your car. If you have a carry permit then pack heat. They rob pizza drivers for alot less.
Meet them at their house, not Mcdonalds or Wallyworld parking lot. If they don't want you to know where they live then it's a rip off.
Inspect the car before lunch, never late in the day or at night. All sins are exposed in the light of day.
Creep up to the neighborhood early and spy on it. You will see them jump starting it,putting air in the flat tires and all sorts of stuff.
Start the car while it's cold. If the engine's hot it'll hide cold starting problems.
Always remember "no warranty expressed or implyed". They won't tell you all the stuff wrong with it. You gott'a find the problems.
My 2 cents. PS. I passed on 4 cars till I got one a few months ago. Buyer beware should be your rule!

[maseratiman]

Excellent advise. I don't own a gun but at 6"/ 275 lbs people usually don't give me any problems. We are meeting at noon at his house and I'm already aware of some rust issues being present. The car will need a paint job but I'm not certain to the extent (whole car or spot). I'll drive it around a bit ect.

Bucking like a Bronco; I've passed on a few older spiders for that reason alone! Good to know what was actually wrong.

I'll bring the clip board and was already planning to bring the magnet.... I'll let you all know by Monday how it went!

-Marc

[Spiddy]

Good luck Marc, I hope it all pans out well Question for you: How many people do you think have bought a car without even seeing it? Probably not many. How many would have bought an old rust prone Fiat without seeing it? Errr . . . that would be only me, I guess. Didn't see it untill it arrived 3 weeks later at my door on a transporter.

The car was in England, I am in Spain. I wanted the car, what're you gonna do?

Boy, did I turn out to be lucky

[majicwrench]

A lot of older Spiders ( lke my 72) buck like a bronco because of the throttle linkage. Once they went to a cable throttle they got a whole lot smoother. Not sure when they changed...
Keith

[maseratiman]

On the hunt again! Car was sold before I even had a chance to look at it. Thanks for all the advice; I'll be sure to use it soon....

I did like the 1975's looks and I hear the performance is nice as well.

Thanks again,

Marc

[Gr8Panoz]

This might sound silly, but the ignition switch replacement on my 81 was a nightmare. My dad broke the key off in the ignition and it could not be salvaged. The replacement i got from Mr. Fiat was as per the mechanic and locksmith the cheapest p.o.s. they'd ever seen. It required dremeling and relays to work properly. It seems silly but this is a pretty difficult part to find.
Dave