How Long Have You Had Your FIAT?

[mscafide]

I've had my 1974 Spider for over 38 years. I bought it in 1976 just for the body and transplanted just about everything from the 1971 that I had purchased new. The wife had seriously damaged the structure of the unibody frame at an auto-x.

I bought it wholesale from the dealer I worked at part time for $2000. I parted it out and ended up with the body at no cost.

The wife only made it 26 years.

Many other Fiats over the years but I only have 3 now. A 1964 Fiat 500 that I bought a year or two before I bought the 2012 500 P.E. that matched it.

[sptcoupe]

Just curious what PE car you have. We have #20, and it is basically my DD except when I take one of the vintage cars out. Just love it.

There was a guy in SoCal who had a 1968 spider from new. Can't remember his name, but he was at the 2005 Best of France and Italy show. Gorgeous deep green with black interior. Are you still around? Anybody know him or the car? He may be the longest term owner out there. But in the meantime, keep these great stories coming!

[mscafide]

I have #289 and it is my DD. I was going to get an Abarth but I don't like the dealers much and the car is not like previous Abarths. It's a bit slow and while there are many mods available, they only make it less slow.

Mike

[MikeHynes]

I bought my first Fiat - '74 X1/9 - used in Jan, 1976. I still have the car. Second owner. 38 yrs and counting!

Mike Hynes
Goodfield, IL.
Two 124 Spider 2000s
Lots of X1/9s

[src53]

Drove my first 124 Spider in mid 70's. A friend had an early '70 and I fell under the Fiat "curse".
I have owned MG's, Datsun 311 Fairlady (x2) and Nash Metro convertible and 2 Fiat FI's. Most of my life I have had a rag top to ride in. Some were great, a few were money eaters.
I enjoy working on current 1982, and feel guilty when working on other cars. Winter plans are complete front end overhaul and installing correct rear axle salvaged from my totaled 1981. We put around 100K miles on the '81 with only a couple of "wrecker rides"
I have only driven the 1982 100 miles or so in the last 5 years. Now that engine is dependable I'll complete a driver restoration and hopefully paint in the spring.
32 years of Fiats have been fun, except for all the busted knuckles
I guess most people on this forum understand a convertible and the pleasure.

[Fi8spider]

23 happy years. I've owned my 1974 Spider since importing it from San Fran back in 1991.

I was born into a Fiat family and currently own a handful of them, Fiat was my first car and have always had one or three in the shed.

[wiggo]

38 years, 2 months, and 20 days. It's in better shape than I am.

Beats me, John.
I bought a Ritmo 130 TC Abarth new in '84. Still have it.
First Spider, a '80 FI was bought some 8-9 years ago. Stii have it.
Bought a VX Spider some 5-6 years ago. Still have it.

And preferably, like you, don't speak about my shape...

[spiderrey]

Gary Poge has a mustard 68 spider. He sat in it when his dad bought it new. So he has had it in his family since new.

[sptcoupe]

I really love Gary's spider. It was in my garage in Texas a few years ago when he and Avalon drove if form SoCal for a car show. Beautiful car ad a deep emotional connection between it and Gary.

[spiderrey]

I know, that car wows me everytime I see it.

[agarair]

Bought my 71 1608 Spider new in 1971 43 years ago. Had just finished AF Officers Training School, came home to NC before going to USAF Pilot Training school, drove to Davids Fiat in Newton NC to see what they had available. David only had one, and it was over at the Catawba County fairgrounds on display. He the threw me the key and ask me to drive it back to the dealership for him. When I found it at the fairgrounds, the sun had already set, the shiny black car with tan interior was setting on a raised ramp with bright lights still illuminating it in a misty fox. The fair had ended the day before, the place was deserted except for a few workers a couple of buildings away, and the car was gorgeous. I think I stood there for five minutes in awe when I first saw her. I still remember that scene today. Needless to say, he had no trouble selling me the car, and gave me a fair price on the 1500 Fiat Cabriolet I traded in which had faithfully served me through four years of college. The paint on the Spider is faded now, the memory of the first time I saw her will never fade.

[fiathead]

It will be 17 years this January for my '69 Spider. I've only had my '68 for about 2 years though. This has been the best year for the '69 though with around 2100 miles of Indiana back roads run up so far. It's probably the best car I've owned and certainly is the one that makes me happiest to drive.

[wizard124]

Just pegged 2 years on my '80 spider. A nearly complete "fixer upper" at this point. I don't think of it as a restoration since there was almost no body rot. Still, there was lots to do to make it an head turner.

My other was a '71 coupe. Bought used in '78 and traded in for a 84 Toyota Supra. I drove it though college and for the first couple of years of my Navy experience. Alas, the Texas heat beat me into submission and I traded the coupe in for the Supra with AC. The Supra had a TC, 5 speed, and 4 wheel disc brakes too. Shows just how far ahead of their time the 124 was.

Of course, now I wish I had held onto the coupe. But, always wanted a spider

[aslives]

I've had mine on and off for 30 years ( spent a few years with my parents and uncle while I was out of the country)

[SoFlaFiat]

Great thread Jeff!!
It's fantastic to see so much history amongst us! 40+ years!! Just awesome!!