Need advice..

Pafiat · Post by **Pafiat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:55 pm

I am looking at a 1982 FI Spider the body is straight no rust, it has a mediocre paint job. Front end was recently rebuilt along with a new clutch and engine rebuild about 12,000 miles ago. Interior is worn top is shot and a crack in the dash. The odomoter is in KM and the fuel gauge does not work. Is it worth $3,700.00 or should I keep looking? Thanks for any input...

HOLLYWOODSPIDER · Post by **HOLLYWOODSPIDER** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:11 pm

$3700 is not a fantastic price for a car that needs paint, a top and interior. With all those things redone, these cars seldom bring over $5k. You're going to spend $2k at least fixing all that. I wouldn't pay more than $2000, and only because of the new front end and clutch.

You can find a sweet car for $3700.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:28 pm

well, from the sounds of it it just needs a top and some interior work to be a daily driver. $3700 may not be too far out of line. Mediocre paint can mean different things to different people. Obviously it would be better to pay less, but an engine and tranny rebuild could easily cost $3500 and a complete front end rebuild is about $900

Pafiat · Post by **Pafiat** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:54 pm

Thanks guys for the input. Let me add it has new carpeting and the paint looks good from ten feet but up close it does have some flaws. Also it has new tires. Does anyone know if you can change the KM speedometer out for MPH speedo? And can the glass just be changed on the gauges?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:22 pm

speedos can be easily changed

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:23 pm

Where in NC are you? I'm in the Winston-Salem area. The inop fuel gauge may be the sender in the tank. Did you try tapping the glass on the gauge? The needle will sometimes stick and just needs a little help. I'd also recommend taking the car to a mechanic to check suspension, brakes and drivetrain before you buy it. While on the lift it's easier to check the undercarriage for rust.

CarNut · Post by **CarNut** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:56 pm

Pafiat wrote:...the paint looks good from ten feet but up close it does have some flaws. Also it has new tires...

I'd rather have a rust free car with a 10 footer paint job than a show car loaded with patch panels and bondo. Personally, I look at a well maintained #4 car with absolutely no rust as being worth more like a #3 price.

Pafiat · Post by **Pafiat** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:01 pm

I am in Wilmington, NC. I checked the trunk, shock towers and under the rockers I was amazed how rust free the car is. I owned a spider twenty years ago and just got the bug again. This one has good bones as they say, but everything seems nice and tight on the car so cosmetic repairs and it should be good to go...I forgot how hard no power steering was when I first drove it....LOL. But I will decide in the next couple of days if this is the one...Thanks for the response...

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:54 pm

that car should turn pretty easily. Even if the front end was rebuilt it may have a steering dampner that is binding

fiatS2000 · Post by **fiatS2000** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:33 am

Have you seen this one yet?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fiat-SPI ... enameZWDVW

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:38 am

Damn, you just made me sick! I'd have bought that car in a heartbeat and it's only an hour away.

Pafiat · Post by **Pafiat** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:59 am

Mark the car steers easy when moving, it was just in a tight spot so I had to man handle it to get it out. The 71 on E-Bay looked pretty clean but I really want a FI model. I had a 1980 FI Spider years ago bought it for $800.00 with a blown head gasket and shot top fixed it drove it for three years with no poroblems and sold it for $2,500.00 this was back in 1987 I wished I would of kept it.

CarNut · Post by **CarNut** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:41 am

fiatS2000 wrote:Have you seen this one yet?...

The early bidders were idiots on that one. $1600 buy-it-now was a steal. I'm way up in Michigan and I'd have hit that one. The bumpers would be worth 1/2 the price of the car to me.

fiatS2000 · Post by **fiatS2000** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:11 pm

Here's another great offering out of N.C. A good looking 1969 coupe with a $1495 BIN price. You should add this to your collection Denise

The wheels alone are worth 1/3 of the asking price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fiat-124 ... enameZWDVW

fiatS2000 · Post by **fiatS2000** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:22 pm

Here's another early spider Denise, not as close as the other and not in as good condition, but still might be salvageable. This one is in S.C.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-fia ... enameZWDVW