My $400 find

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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

My $400 find

Post by spidernut »

I couldn't pass this 79 Spider for $400. It hadn't been registered in 11 years and sat under a carport. It runs well now that I made a few adjustments but it won't go into 4th gear. I have a spare transmission that came with the car that will go in probably this spring. I replaced the rims and tires that were on the car with a spare set I had from my other Spider.

This should be another fun project that will start when I'm done rebuilding the motor of my other 79 Spider!

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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)
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RRoller123
Patron 2020
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Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: My $400 find

Post by RRoller123 »

What a great find! Worth way more than that in parts alone.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
rlux4
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 4211
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: My $400 find

Post by rlux4 »

SCORE!!!
Nice find.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
wizard124
Posts: 752
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:27 pm
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider FI
Location: Sheridan, WY exSan Rafael, CA

Re: My $400 find

Post by wizard124 »

John,,,,,,but i thought you wanted a FI?
SunnySideUp
Posts: 640
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:02 pm
Your car is a: SOLD

Re: My $400 find

Post by SunnySideUp »

$400??? :shock: Nice "find" you lucky dog! :D I wish I could sniff out deals like that.
SunnySideUp
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: My $400 find

Post by narfire »

RRoller123 wrote:What a great find! Worth way more than that in parts alone.
No kidding. A fellow sort of locally was asking $400.00 for an engine....

Good score, any/much rust on it? Looks totally salvageable from here.
Chris
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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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: My $400 find

Post by spidernut »

What I ultimately wanted is either a pre-1976 so there would be no smog inspections, or an 80 EFI or newer because they're super easy to smog. But at $400, how could I pass it up?

Re the rust: There's no rust through anywhere. It does have some surface rust around the trunk emblem which I removed, a small spot next to the left tail light and around the driver's mirror. Amazingly, the floorboards are some of the cleanest I've seen with just light surface rust. There are two spots that have bubbled but they are about the size of a dime. The rear seat pans, shock towers, fender wells, sills and undercarriage look great.

My plans are to fix everything and make it a ultra-nice daily driver.
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)
BritCars

Re: My $400 find

Post by BritCars »

Nothing that nice for $400 has shown up in New England. Congratulations!

Jeff
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DocGraphics
Posts: 639
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:43 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 spider
Location: Coeur d'Alene Idaho

Re: My $400 find

Post by DocGraphics »

A little late but, nice find John!
Did you find it locally? I know you were looking all the way up here.

Thats a nice looking find! hopefully I'll stumble on deal like that once i'm done with the 78 & ready for another (heck maybe an X1/9 even)
Don Raugust
1978 Fiat 124 Spider "Fiona" - Burgundy/Tan
2011 pics: http://s918.photobucket.com/albums/ad22 ... 0Pictures/
2012 pics: http://s918.photobucket.com/albums/ad22 ... cs%202012/
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: My $400 find

Post by fiat218 »

i thought u just got rid of one ?
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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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: My $400 find

Post by spidernut »

Don...I found it locally about 15 miles from my home. It is pretty easy to get hooked on having multiple cars!

Jim...I did just sell my 80. I plead insanity. I loved that car but had way too many cars around here. So I sold it...then bought another one. I couldn't pass it up for $400. I wish I had the 80 still. Such is life.
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)
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