Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

rockdad · Post by **rockdad** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 2:08 pm

Just bought an Abarth hardtop on eBay, and wondering if it'll fit any Spider eg Pininfarina 1985.5? Is it right there are early and late model frames?

I took the chance and bought as soon as it came on sale as they very rarely come up for sale in the UK, and didn't want to miss it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200666821061? ... 500wt_1204

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:18 pm

very nice, stout and heavy top. will make your spider handle like a coupe. It will fit an early spider (70-71). I have old and new frames and they vary by 3/4" in width across the top. will just need to try the top to your specific car.

rockdad · Post by **rockdad** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:27 pm

azruss wrote:very nice, stout and heavy top. will make your spider handle like a coupe. It will fit an early spider (70-71). I have old and new frames and they vary by 3/4" in width across the top. will just need to try the top to your specific car.

Thanks for the reply. I bought the top before I bought the car, so intend I take it with me when I buy one to make sure it fits. It looks like the hardtop is the original Pininfarina type made for the Abarth, and I'm guessing it won't fit later models, does anyone know what the date/model range is?

Best regards, John

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 6:49 pm

I had one and sold it. Wish I still had it

AndyS · Post by **AndyS** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:24 pm

I had one and hate to say I wasn't that impressed with it actually. Mine was a one owner top and was in good shape, and I repainted it, got new seals, etc..

It does look cool, but it didn't make the car any less noisy or more water tight, its heavy, and it is easy to scratch the paint when installing. I didn't find it "made the car handle like a coupe" at all. Didn't notice any difference in unibody rigidity whatsoever.

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:46 pm

Mine didnt feel like it made the car stiffer either. I liked it though. Made the car seem bigger inside since I removed the top frame.

AndyS · Post by **AndyS** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:02 pm

my biggest reason for not keeping it was I think the car may have been even more noisy with the top on, and that was the main reason I wanted to try it out. Still had tons of wind noise, plus add some squeaking noises from the top seals where they contact the body,(and made marks on the painted surface back there) and some more noise from where the hardware attached to the top frame. definitely not a Mercedes hard top from an SL!

vandor · Post by **vandor** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:41 pm

AndyS wrote:(and made marks on the painted surface back there)

It should not touch the paint! The rear gaskets collapse over time, so the rear of the top sits too low. If it was touching the body then likely it was at the wrong angle, and the door windows did not line up well.

It seems to me that it is definitely quieter than a soft top. I agree with you on the rigidity, I don't think the top makes any difference.

Rockdad, since the Spider body was basically unaltered over its production run, the Pinin top should fit all Spiders. On a Pininfarina (1983-85) one can't use the rear latches, but those are best left off anyways.

rockdad · Post by **rockdad** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:48 am

Thanks for all the input guys, I'm starting to think it was a good idea to get it! Had my doubts.

Cheers, John

rockdad · Post by **rockdad** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:51 am

vandor wrote:
AndyS wrote:(and made marks on the painted surface back there)
It should not touch the paint! The rear gaskets collapse over time, so the rear of the top sits too low. If it was touching the body then likely it was at the wrong angle, and the door windows did not line up well.

It seems to me that it is definitely quieter than a soft top. I agree with you on the rigidity, I don't think the top makes any difference.

Rockdad, since the Spider body was basically unaltered over its production run, the Pinin top should fit all Spiders. On a Pininfarina (1983-85) one can't use the rear latches, but those are best left off anyways.

Thanks for the answer Vandor, and what is it with the rear latches? Why aren't they needed?

Best regards, John

snoutmeat · Post by **snoutmeat** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 4:17 pm

Sorry to dredge up an ancient thread, but I'm looking for a hardtop for my BS (1970) Spider. I have found one available locally, but the gentleman is selling it because it didn't fit right on his car, which is a CS.

vandor suggests that a hardtop should fit all 124 Spiders, but azruss suggests that there are multiple sizes that vary by 3/4 of an inch....when did the change happen? Were AS/BS cars one size, and later cars a different size? Or did the change happen with the arrival of the Spider 2000?

I know the answer is "why don't you just drive down to the guy's house and see if it fits?" The answer is that he's about 60 miles away, and it's cold and raining, and my car hasn't been on a 120-mile round trip drive in the last 5 years. But yes, I think that's the best solution. Time to take the car out for some shorter shakedown runs, I guess.

Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

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Re: Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

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Re: Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

Re: Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

Re: Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

Re: Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

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Re: Will an Abarth hardtop fit any Spider?

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