How Long Have You Had Your FIAT?

sptcoupe · Post by **sptcoupe** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:32 pm

I really am enjoying this thread - keep those posts coming - and with pix its even better!

baltobernie · Post by **baltobernie** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 4:35 pm

Had my first one for four years:

My second one only two: (got a company car )

This one now seven and counting:

Rock On

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:07 pm

Fantastic pictures Bernie!!!
Nice side burns too!

sptcoupe · Post by **sptcoupe** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:21 am

Looks like the girl outlasted them all!

baltobernie · Post by **baltobernie** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 3:45 pm

a keeper, fer sure

otter · Post by **otter** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:13 pm

24 years - my dad and I got my Turbo Spider (the original owner was a friend of his) when I was in the 9th grade. Here are a couple of photos - one from spring 1991, when I was 16, and another from a couple of summers ago. Nowadays I'm starting to work my way through its mechanical needs - it would be easier if my garage were heated! - like replacing worn front-end components, doing a comprehensive tune-up, fixing an oil leak, replacing worn driveshaft parts, having a couple of rust spots fixed - and I haven't driven it much the last couple of summers due to things like my living in the city (Chicago), a heavy bias towards going on bike rides, another project car (a 1993 Sentra SE-R that I've had since new that is getting rod bearings and other maintenance) and a driveability issue that I haven't diagnosed yet (if it had a ballast resistor, the symptoms would indicate a b ad one) that makes me unwilling to drive it very far until I fix it, since I don't want to get stranded. While I could spend more time driving if I had a different Spider, or a Miata or something, I have way too much attachment to this car to sell it. I've never even driven another Spider!

David
Chicago

sptcoupe · Post by **sptcoupe** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:43 pm

We'd love to see that three-owner car.

alfadude1 · Post by **alfadude1** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:45 pm

I purchased my black 1983 Spider in 1997 down in Philadelphia. When I purchased it, I called the seller before I made the long trip from NH to PA and asked if he was sure it was as nice as he described. He said that he would bet his kids' lives that I would be thrilled with the car. He was right.

I sold it in a moment of stupidity in 2001 and regretted it the moment I handed over the keys to the new owner. I even called the new owner a couple of years later to see if he would sell it back. He responded with an emphatic NO.

Fast forward to 2009. I was checking Craigslist and saw a 1983 Spider that looked just like the one I sold. I immediately responded to the post. Later that afternoon, my wife saw the response to my email with some photos and called me while I was out for a drive. She said that I got a response to an email I sent about an '83 Fiat. Usually, when she sees emails about me thinking of buying another sports car, it winds up with a "discussion". This time was different. She said "hurry and get over there and get your car back before someone else gets it!"

I went right over the guy's house and sure enough, it was the car I had sold years earlier. The car travelled all the way from NH to Washington state and back, when the PO moved. The car had been completely restored, including having the engine rebuilt by a Fiat race prep engine specialist near Seattle.

Needless to say, I bought it (back) on the spot. The deal with my wife was that I had to sell my Audi TT Quattro Roadster to fund the purchase, but I had no regrets. I have had Fiat and Alfa Spiders almost continuously for 30 years so it was good to get my '83 back.

I don't plan to make the same mistake again...

otter · Post by **otter** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 6:52 pm

Dammit, I'm having a hard time attaching pictures.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/9756313@N06/15685393875/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/9756313@N06/15500195077/

sptcoupe · Post by **sptcoupe** » Sun Nov 02, 2014 8:44 am

AlfaDude - great story! Can we see some pix of the '83? Any others?

Turbofiat124 · Post by **Turbofiat124** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:11 am

sptcoupe wrote:Just thought this might be fun. Join in!

1972 BC 124 Coupe - 27 years (second owner)
1981 Spider 2000 - 14 years (second owner)
1986 Bertone (Dallara) - 1 year (no idea how many POs)

23 years!

Zippy · Post by **Zippy** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:34 am

I've had my 1978 for about 15 years now. It is a fun car and my first convertible.

I have had 2 other Fiats, a 1969 sport coupe that I only owned for 3 years and a 1972 sport coupe that I bought in 1978. The 72 was totaled in 1980 when I got hit by an out of control car in a snow storm. I haven't seen my picture of the 69 for awhile but here is the 72 at Moclips, WA in 1978.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:04 am

Bought my 80 new, I drove it off the showroom floor

cibon1 · Post by **cibon1** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:58 am

I've had mine since December 2013. Todd and Ken at Xtreme Restorations have it now in North Smithfield, Rhode Island doing a complete restoration and it should be ready soon. It's a two owner 1969 Fiat 124 Spider from California completely rust free. The block cracked on its trip over the Rockies ( no antifreeze) but Todd found a rebuilt one for me.
[img]Direct[/img]
[img]Direct[/img]

cibon1 · Post by **cibon1** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 4:32 pm

Can anyone tell me why my photos aren't posting? Thanks

How Long Have You Had Your FIAT?

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