Back from paint, finally!

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rocky

Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

I haven't posted in a while. I just got my Spider back from the painters. Not too bad for a relatively inexpensive paint job. All I needed was a fairly clean finish, after all, its a driver.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39722869@N05/8013258131/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39722869@N05/8013259332/

Maybe this will work better. I knew how to post photos at one time. I must be getting old.

Greg
77 Spider
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focodave
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 704
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by focodave »

Sweeeeet!
She looks great.
I also noticed that your car has the identical wheels that I am trying to sell.
I know very little about them.
Do you know who the manufacturer is/was of those wheels?
Dave
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
rocky

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

Dave,

Thanks, it does look good. I don't know who the manufacturer of the wheels are. These came with the car. If you do happen to find out the name of the maker, let me know.

Greg
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nelsonj
Posts: 394
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 5:37 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Spider 124

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by nelsonj »

very nice - it feels great to finally take delivery.
How long were you two parted? (just paint or did they do body also?)

Interesting grill - I think that is a 74 grill with a 75-78 hood.
Image
Simi Valley, California
Spider 1800
Romans 10:9
rocky

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

Nelson,

It was at the shop four weeks. I did a lot of the prep work, although, they did have to do a little more to get a better surface. The grill and hood were part of replacement pieces to repair other damage in the past.

Greg
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spidernut
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by spidernut »

Greg...WOW! Looks great! You did a great job on it. It sure looks different that when I last saw it. Looking forward to seeing her in person at the All Italian Show.

John
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
rocky

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

John,

Thanks. Work has been really busy the past year and I haven't had much chance to do the fun stuff. Most of the work projects should be finished or well under way by the end of the year. It's a good thing we live in an area that stays pretty mild all winter. See you at All Italian Day.

Greg
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focodave
Patron 2018
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Posts: 704
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by focodave »

Greg,
If your wheels have the letters "CSS" cast on them in between the mesh design spokes, they are "Carrol Shelby Specials".
I just found out a couple days ago.
Dave
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
User avatar
manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by manoa matt »

Nice, I like the roll bar sticker. Aloha.
rocky

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

focodave wrote:Greg,
If your wheels have the letters "CSS" cast on them in between the mesh design spokes, they are "Carrol Shelby Specials".
I just found out a couple days ago.
Dave
Dave,

Thanks, I'll check tomorrow.

Greg
rocky

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

manoa matt wrote:Nice, I like the roll bar sticker. Aloha.
Aloha, Matt,

That roll bar was just too plain. That Momo steering wheel I got from you makes the interior look much nicer. Mahalo.

Greg
leeputmanjr

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by leeputmanjr »

The paint looks GREAT! What paint code? My '74 is Maroon-ish, I believe the code is 162...

Late '73 and early '74 Spiders had the grill badge on a 'small grid' grill, later '74's got the 'large grid' grill (which you have), and the badge moved to the hood with small bumps (which you have). Later '74's (might have been model year '75?) Spiders got the first of the dual-tube bumpers. So, the only thing "wrong" with your car's appearance is the 'surplus' grill badge, which in my opinion looks GREAT!

The steering wheel looks great, the roll bar is sweet, and the ass-end looks wonderful. I love the vintage Cali plates, too. On the front, it looks like your bumper isn't curved, though?

One thing I've seen people do is drill the bumper shocks to release the gas, then push them in, close to the body. It can give it a nice 'shaved' look, without the more drastic measure of totally deleting the bumpers.

Those rims give it a nice look, too.

Very nice Spider - hope you enjoy driving it!

-Lee
rocky

Re: Back from paint, finally!

Post by rocky »

leeputmanjr wrote:The paint looks GREAT! What paint code? My '74 is Maroon-ish, I believe the code is 162...

Late '73 and early '74 Spiders had the grill badge on a 'small grid' grill, later '74's got the 'large grid' grill (which you have), and the badge moved to the hood with small bumps (which you have). Later '74's (might have been model year '75?) Spiders got the first of the dual-tube bumpers. So, the only thing "wrong" with your car's appearance is the 'surplus' grill badge, which in my opinion looks GREAT!

The steering wheel looks great, the roll bar is sweet, and the ass-end looks wonderful. I love the vintage Cali plates, too. On the front, it looks like your bumper isn't curved, though?

One thing I've seen people do is drill the bumper shocks to release the gas, then push them in, close to the body. It can give it a nice 'shaved' look, without the more drastic measure of totally deleting the bumpers.

Those rims give it a nice look, too.

Very nice Spider - hope you enjoy driving it!

-Lee
Thanks, Lee. I like the look of the dual badges, as well. I really don't mind the tube bumpers (aside from the weight). The color is deep red that closely matches the maroon that was originally on the car. I like the slightly redder color of this paint.

I haven't thought much about compressing the bumper shocks. It wouldn't make a difference in a collision anyhow. Really love the steering wheel. I don't have to splay my knees out as much. Turning effort is increased minimally.

The front bumper is normal as far as I can tell. Maybe, it's the angle of the shot. The wheels are nice, made by Shelby (thanks, Dave). I love driving this Spider, probably more than my Alfa GTV. I think it's because it's a convertible and the fact that my wife looks so good in it.

Greg
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