A Transition in Time

[DUCeditor]

I've driven my Spider for, now, 24 years. And for all of that time it would from time to time elicit complimentary remarks from onlookers. But this year there appears to be a new enthusiasm in those comments, and they are coming more frequently.

Too -- and this is weird -- my car somehow looks a bit different to me than it did in the past. I find myself standing and staring at it in the garage like never before.

Now obviously it is not the car that has changed, so could it be the perception? Could it be that those now classic PininFarina lines are becoming so rare and unique that the car stands out more than ever as something "special" -- something belonging to a bygone age?

Anyhow, that's what I've been experiencing and thinking. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

-Don

[tartan18]

My car is a daily driver and not a day goes by that I don't have someone come up to me and say that they had a Spider years ago, or stop to take a closer look at my car when I've pulled into the grocery store parking lot, or wave as I drive by. Yesterday I even had a group of teens (two guys and two girls) yell out as I was driving by them, "great looking car mister." Yesterday when I was at the muffler shop getting a section of my pipe replaced another customer asked if it was a Triumph -- after I corrected him (gently) he smiled and asked how much I wanted for it.

I also find myself standing in the garage looking at the car in the evenings; letting my eyes trace the car's curves. Oh my goodness, I am in need of some serious help.

[4uall]

This post is truely eerie, just last night my wife came out to our garage and asked me what I was doing because she had seen me standing there just looking at Fiona I love how these cars draw the good type of attention and that even with the FIAT badges on the car people will still ask what kind/make of car they are.

[TX82FIAT]

The 82' is my 3rd Spider that I have had for about 3 years. I had a 79 in High school and an 83 in the late 90's early 2000's (never should have sold that one). In the 80's it was a fun car that was kept running and held together with whatever would work. The 83 was in great shape, but comments from those outside the FIAT community were few and far between. I definitely see an uptick in people that admire the car. A couple weeks ago my wife and I were on date night. Stop at the micro-brewery for dinner, Best Buy for cell phone protective case and then off to the movies to see Ride Like Hell ( Good Movie). Along the way we had beeping horns with thumbs up. Sat next to a couple talking about the cool car in the parking lot during dinner. Had people stop us and talk about the Fiat they once owned. Leaving the best Buy there was a crowd of about six people standing around the car checking it out. As my wife and i walked up they asked a ton of questions. What is it, how long have you had it, It sure looks fast. When the crowd walked away I was struck by the fact that they were not in the parking lot together. In fact, three groups of strangers stopped to look at a car in the parking lot at the same time. Sixteen years of Spider ownership with three different cars and never this much appreciation in such a short period of time from the average person on the street.

Pulled the car into the garage that night and just looked at her for a couple minutes. Walked in the house and my wife had a grin on her face, gleam in her eyes and said "so does that make all the work on her worth it". I told her it helps.

[burlybryan]

I think some of the recent attention is due to the proliferation of new 500s. With my wife's 500, we are a two Fiat family, which is pretty rare and cool to see the two together. The revived brand visibility in the US has stirred the memories of those who had Spiders when they were younger. I get lots of people mentioning how they loved their Spider back in the day (my next door neighbor being one of them) and the Italian lines always turn heads.

[azruss]

its interesting to see how cars stand the test of time..both in our mind and the minds of others. I think the following things keep it attractive to the modern tastes. first, modern cars have gone back to blunt noses and big grills. no more pointy nose and hidden headlights. 2nd, the modest "fin" look on the back is mimicked by the porsche boxter and a couple of others. 3rd, the modern car is no longer low and sleek. we have given up to creature comfort and ease of egress. Finally, the beautiful pininfarina 60s design. Many recognize the insane value of Ferrari's of that era and that also improves the patina of the car. It all works for me.

[fiat218]

I've driven my Spider for, now, 24 years. And for all of that time it would from time to time elicit complimentary remarks from onlookers. But this year there appears to be a new enthusiasm in those comments, and they are coming more frequently.

Too -- and this is weird -- my car somehow looks a bit different to me than it did in the past. I find myself standing and staring at it in the garage like never before.

Now obviously it is not the car that has changed, so could it be the perception? Could it be that those now classic PininFarina lines are becoming so rare and unique that the car stands out more than ever as something "special" -- something belonging to a bygone age?

Anyhow, that's what I've been experiencing and thinking. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

-Don

Maybe u lost it and need help

[fiat218]

My 69 has the better shape then my 80 or 79 or 72 that my opinion! 69 more class , more of roadster type

[spiderrey]

69 -72, only real difference is the tail lights. Oh, and the grill. Both years look great, almost as good as a 70, . I really like the small tail lamps on the 68 and the hanging reverse light.

[fiat218]

69 -72, only real difference is the tail lights. Oh, and the grill. Both years look great, almost as good as a 70, . I really like the small tail lamps on the 68 and the hanging reverse light.

69 and 72 are 2 differnt fiats 69 the steering wheel is closer to the dash, 72 is out farther
69 is more a solid car then 72
i bet the 69 can fly around corners where the 72 can't

[georgeramos]

Jim, I think this is mostly about aesthetics but Im curious why is the 69 more solid? were there changes to build quality in the early 70's? On a related note would the 68 tail lights/housings work on a 71? they really are nicer looking IMHO. I already put a 68 grille on there so maybe I should start saving my dough for a set of those taillights!

Back in the late 80's when I had my 79 "restored" i recall getting TONS of comments/questions etc. The same is certainly true today. People stop to pose for pictures with Francesco and one particularly attractive young lady in a new 500 stopped inches from me on a 2 way street and started chatting through the window

[spiderrey]

72 should pull itself around a corner faster due to its bigger motor. Both cars have the same suspension setup from the factory. Both cars have the same shape, body panels will interchange with each. Some minor trim is different. I agree , theres nothing like a clean first year car. But that dosent make it more solid. Theres nothing wrong with being all gung ho and proud of your car. Now a 68 with a torque tube rear end might corner better then a 69 and a 72 because it has a rear sway bar. Some very early 69,s had torque tubes and a sway bar too. I havent come across one but they do exist. George early tail lights are hard to come by. They will fit any year if you do some welding to make the light holes in the car smaller.

[fiat218]

72 should pull itself around a corner faster due to its bigger motor. Both cars have the same suspension setup from the factory. Both cars have the same shape, body panels will interchange with each. Some minor trim is different. I agree , theres nothing like a clean first year car. But that dosent make it more solid. Theres nothing wrong with being all gung ho and proud of your car. Now a 68 with a torque tube rear end might corner better then a 69 and a 72 because it has a rear sway bar. Some very early 69,s had torque tubes and a sway bar too. I havent come across one but they do exist. George early tail lights are hard to come by. They will fit any year if you do some welding to make the light holes in the car smaller.

Meaning if both had the same engine, 69 seems heavier

[spiderrey]

Normally, newer cars are heavier due to added safty built into the car. Like safty beams built into the doors etc. Tube bumpers, very heavy. If you were to install a set of lowering springs on an 80 for example it would lower the car about an inch. My son installed these lowering springs on his 68 and it raised it up quite a bit. That tells me the earlier car is significanty lighter, at the same time it dosent tell me the 68 is less solid. Curious, how long have you been into spiders. This says nothing positive or negative about anything, just curious.

[fiat218]

Normally, newer cars are heavier due to added safty built into the car. Like safty beams built into the doors etc. Tube bumpers, very heavy. If you were to install a set of lowering springs on an 80 for example it would lower the car about an inch. My son installed these lowering springs on his 68 and it raised it up quite a bit. That tells me the earlier car is significanty lighter, at the same time it dosent tell me the 68 is less solid. Curious, how long have you been into spiders. This says nothing positive or negative about anything, just curious.

I don't know nothing really, I'm just going by the fiats I have, I been involved more this past 5 years,