Identifying a 1972 BS1

[Fi8spider]

Hi guys and gals,

I need a little help from the brains trust here for a Fiat friend of mine based in New Zealand. He is looking at purchasing one of the very few Spiders that were privately imported into NZ and we are trying to ascertain how much of it is original and how much of it isn't.

The car was imported into Australia (from the U.S) sometime during the 90's where it was converted to right hand drive and probably repaired in hast with parts from other models. In 2000 it made it's way over to the land of the great white cloud where it currently resides.

I need a couple photos or links of confirmed 1972 BS1 Spiders, unmodified and original would be grand, the chassis number of the Spider we are talking about here is:
124BS10061XXX.

Exterior, engine bay and interior pics would be ideal.

Thanks in advance.

CC

[4uall]

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[fiat218]

delete post

Why delete post?

[BEEK]

i have one of those bs1 spiders mine is a 73, unfortunately it is apart. ill put this back on you, i can identify a true bs1 car and what came on it. can you post a picture of your car?

[vandor]

FWIW a US '71 and '72 BS1 Spiders are pretty much identical.
However, in late 1972, up to '74, the bumper changed, they were still chrome units, but were set farther from the body and were mounted to the body via rubber blocks. In the past I thought this change happened at the BS/CS change over, however I have seen several late '72 and '73 BS1's with these bumpers.
Another weirdness on the US model BS1 are the taillights used in '71 and about half of '72. These were just a bit wider on the outside than the other BS/CS1 lights and used only two lenses, a long red one and a clear one for reverse.

[perthling]

Fi8spider, if you have any shots of the car as it is now it might help to post them here and the brains trust can identify what isn't from a '72.

[Fi8spider]

Thanks fellas, just received, this is the only pic he has.

He will be travelling to go and see the car in the next few days where he'll take a few more pics.

No bars, needs them sorted.
Is the bonnet correct?
Wheels are ok but...

[toyfiats]

Is the bonnet correct?

No, the Spiders had flat hoods through '72. The mirror is wrong too, and looks like it doesn't have the Pininfarina emblem on the rear quarter panel.

[Fi8spider]

Thanks toyfiats!, is the grille suppose to be honeycomb with badge in the centre with chrome badge trim?
Regarding the bars and vandor touched on the subject, these were fitted with the blade bars though did the 72 have over riders or not?
Cheers.

[toyfiats]

Thanks toyfiats!, is the grille suppose to be honeycomb with badge in the centre with chrome badge trim?
Regarding the bars and vandor touched on the subject, these were fitted with the blade bars though did the 72 have over riders or not?
Cheers.

Yes, it should have a honeycomb grill with the badge in the middle (not on the hood). USA-spec Spiders had bumper over-riders. They may have been optional on Euro-spec cars, but certainly weren't standard.

[fiat218]

72

[georgeramos]

The easiest way is the taillights. They are 14" across on the 71 cars and I think the 72 as well. Would have had flat hood as has been said with honeycomb grille and of course the fabulous 1608!

Your friends car has a great stance. What size are the wheels.

[Auspider]

Wholey Moley I thought that was my car at first glance!


I thought the small bump hood was introduced with the 1608 to accommodate the carbies and taller engine? Btw don't use mine as a reference, its a 78 but been changed to look like a bs1

[spiderrey]

72,s came with either the long or the shorter tail lights.

[vandor]

>I thought the small bump hood was introduced with the 1608 to accommodate the carbies and taller engine?

Yes, but only for non-US cars. There were no twin carbs for the US, so the flat hood stayed until the CS came along.