There's Hope After All - A Real $25K Spider

[davery]

That's nothing look at this:

http://roadstersalon.com/inventory.html

Scroll down

A 1985.5 listed for $53K

Of course reading the description, I would love to see what it looks like.

[RRoller123]

I would say that overall this trend (if there is one, I am as yet not fully convinced until I see these cars actually selling) is obviously encouraging, as long as the parts stay plentiful and relatively affordable. There is no question that they do get rarer with time and scrapage.

Pete

[Texasbull]

My criteria while looking for a little sports car:

Simplicity in design, fun to drive, convertable, readily available parts, easy to work on and CHEAP. Now if I get all done with her and someone offers me $25K, I might consider it, or a little more, since my clock lense is clear.

[124ADDHE]

I agree that one of the great features is the low price and super high bang for buck with our spiders, however, they have always been the "red-headed step child" of classic euro cars, I have major pride in my fiat, especially the looks, this is why I am happy to see the prices finally getting up there; i have no illusions that the old spider will never command ferarri dollars, but, this car is worth more than the market value of the old days relative to the Fiats competition.

When the series III jaguar XJ's started appreciating, it was all high-fives and smiles.

I got high-fives and beers for anyone interested in some fiat spider cheer

[ga.spyder]

I was at a huge sports car meet last week.The featured marque was Triumph and there were hundreds.Probably 40 or so MG's and ...me.One Fiat! I had a guy(obviously not a sports car guy) come up and ask "What is it?.Then,''Who makes it?" But then he hit me with"Out of all the cars here,I think this is the best looking".That is why we take pride in them. We all know they are under rated and under valued.Maybe that is why we tend to poke fun at ourselves!I laugh along with all the Fix it again Tony crap from the British owners,then politely offer to kick their ass on a mountain road.

[maytag]

I agree that one of the great features is the low price and super high bang for buck with our spiders, however, they have always been the "red-headed step child" of classic euro cars, I have major pride in my fiat, especially the looks, this is why I am happy to see the prices finally getting up there; i have no illusions that the old spider will never command ferarri dollars, but, this car is worth more than the market value of the old days relative to the Fiats competition.

When the series III jaguar XJ's started appreciating, it was all high-fives and smiles.

I got high-fives and beers for anyone interested in some fiat spider cheer

I think I get it: You're looking for market-validation of the way you feel about the car. yes?

I guess I can understand that.

But me, personally; I've never been to worried about what the market thought about my stuff. I do get too worked-up about what Y'ALL SPIDER OWNERS THINK though!

[courtenay]

Chuckle...I'd be willing to bet, Maytag, you get real darned worried about the market thinks about your stuff whenever you go to sell any of it...
And yes, since I already own a Spider and am not looking to buy another, I get warm and fuzzy feelings when the market validates the way I feel about my car.

[dantye]

I was at a huge sports car meet last week.The featured marque was Triumph and there were hundreds.Probably 40 or so MG's and ...me.One Fiat! I had a guy(obviously not a sports car guy) come up and ask "What is it?.Then,''Who makes it?" But then he hit me with"Out of all the cars here,I think this is the best looking".That is why we take pride in them. We all know they are under rated and under valued.Maybe that is why we tend to poke fun at ourselves!I laugh along with all the Fix it again Tony crap from the British owners,then politely offer to kick their ass on a mountain road.

Agree! And largely overlooked is that the buyer profile is changing: Fewer look down their nose at Auto trannies, safety bumpers, power windows, AC, etc. Also consider how the size and suspension of the later Spiders makes for so much more comfortable a ride than most of the Brit cars. Add to this that someone on this forum was recently parting out ELEVEN Spiders, clearly the remaining roadable Spiders are being put and kept in better and better condition. Sure, it's crazy that a spider that still has a foggy clock brings $25K, but thanks to things like the Velocity cable channel, there are more crazies out there every day - and FEWER Spiders!

[maytag]

Chuckle...I'd be willing to bet, Maytag, you get real darned worried about the market thinks about your stuff whenever you go to sell any of it...

yeah, there's probably a little more truth to that than I was thinking when I posted that!

on the other hand;
Most of my "for sale" listings read something like this:
"Buy my stuff so I don;t have to throw it away!"
seriously.
and I've thrown-away PLENTY of stuff, 'cuz nobody wanted it. and very recently, too. complete motors. heads-galore. transmissions. seats. guages. etc.
Heck; 6 months ago, I very nearly scrapped a rust-free shell because nobody wanted it. Daniel finally rescued it to California, but it took more than a month to find a taker.
None of this points to a car on the rise in "collectibility".

and as I said: I like it that way.

[sptcoupe]

Don't know if you noticed, but on the same site that lists the $35K spider, there ia a 1984.5 Pinninfarina listed for $52K. There is also an interesting pricing guide that shows how the various models compare to each other in terms of value.

[davery]

Don't know if you noticed, but on the same site that lists the $35K spider, there ia a 1984.5 Pinninfarina listed for $52K. There is also an interesting pricing guide that shows how the various models compare to each other in terms of value.

Actually it is an 85.5 Spider. I thought that website was interesting. I noticed that alot of their interior upgrades were from Spiderpoint.