Desired year?

[JerryAebi]

I was wondering what the most desired year spider is? I have a 1974 and I don't see those a lot. Is this a good year?

[spidernut]

It is all a matter of preference. Most like the early bumpers like on the early 124s, but the fuel injected 80+ models have better reliability and less maintenance required (generally speaking). The most desirable from a collector's standpoint is the Abarth Spider. Good luck finding one of those though.

[baltobernie]

A hotly debated topic

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... &sk=t&sd=a
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 8&p=167408
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... &sk=t&sd=a
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... &sk=t&sd=a

[vandor]

It varies depending on who you ask. A lot of people like the early Spiders, but their value does not seem to reflect this. Many regard the 1974 as one of the best years, as it still had the small bumpers, but it had the 1800cc engine with the largest carburetor offered in the US and it also has the better flowing 4 into 2 exhaust manifold.

[bradartigue]

Really 1974 is a terrible year. THE WORST. I have a garage here full of them, I take them from people, along with their title, and charge only $50.00 - coast to coast and in Canada. Please contact me immediately so that I can send a truck to bring this hideous car to my garage and hide it from the world.

In short 90% of all Spiders made from 1967-1985 are identical. Very minor changes to the body and interior and a few engine changes (to the same basic engine design, just larger displacements). There is no "best" though you could argue that after 1974 and before 1980 (fuel injection) FIAT struggled with the mechanicals in conforming with EPA regulations. Easy to rectify, emissions control systems probably made more people hate their FIAT than anything else.

They are ALL excellent years.

Except 1974. Call me immediately, like I said, it's just terrible all the way around. The only year they used canvas instead of steel in the body panels - and they for some reason experimented with knives that eject from the steering wheel in an accident. So it's not just a hideous year, it will kill you. Let's get it off the road....together.

[4uall]

[toplessexpat]

The best spider is the one you own. Not you specifically - but all of us.

Although I'd try to stay away from those put together on a Friday afternoon and Monday morning...

[Exit98]

Jerry, where are you located?

Do you know any of the history of your car?

Your's is somewhat unusual. 1984's were the last of the small bumper cars but certain ones of them, California and Maryland in particular had big rubber bumpstops on the little bumpers to conform with state laws. Like yours.

Not many around.

[baltobernie]

... and Maryland in particular had big rubber bumpstops ...

Our two notable contributions to the federation: Nader and Agnew

[toplessexpat]

1984's were the last of the small bumper cars

.... assuming 1974?

[azruss]

for a pure stock 124, i like the early 1608. less smog stuff, good HP, properly sprung. I do like the flat hood cars.

[phaetn]

Really 1974 is a terrible year. THE WORST. I have a garage here full of them, I take them from people, along with their title, and charge only $50.00 - coast to coast and in Canada. Please contact me immediately so that I can send a truck to bring this hideous car to my garage and hide it from the world.


...snip...

They are ALL excellent years.

Except 1974. Call me immediately, like I said, it's just terrible all the way around. The only year they used canvas instead of steel in the body panels - and they for some reason experimented with knives that eject from the steering wheel in an accident. So it's not just a hideous year, it will kill you. Let's get it off the road....together.

You almost had me there! (And that's why I changed my steering wheel. I'll have to investigate the canvas later...)

I'm planning on driving my '74 from Ottawa to FFO in Pittsburgh in July. We'll see if it makes it the distance. If it doesn't, and it needs to go on a flatbed, at least it will already be nearly half-way to you.

Mine's a weird '74. It has the small bumpers but without the large rubber over-riders; yet they they are mounted far away from the body, almost like the mounts for the later big bumper cars. I had though about drilling out the bumper mounts to eject the oil and pushing them in (like others have done with their bigger bumpers), but mine don't seem to be that same type of mount. It looks like just one solid piece of metal (but maybe it's just been oversprayed). Plus there are holes in the bodywork where the chrome bumpers are secondarily fastened with bolts.

Whenever I think of doing stuff like that I have to remind myself, "Keep it stock, dummy!" It may be a weird half-year "feature", but it's original. I'll keep the body that way.

[spiderdan]

Quote from Hemmings.com

"What's the best year to look for? A tricky question, because it's mostly based on preference and budget. According to Dwight Varnes, one of the most appealing offerings is the 1981 to 1982 fuel-injected 2000 Spider. "They were as close as the Fiat 124 ever came to a 'secretary's car,' but they offered a lot of nice equipment and much better performance," he says. For those looking for a more vintage car with less obtrusive bumpers, the 1971 to 1972 cars have the looks, plus the best performance of any of the carbureted cars.
Unfortunately for the budget-minded, the 1979 to mid-1980 cars are the least expensive, but also the most clogged with emissions plumbing, which strangled performance. Jon Logan of Midwest 124 notes that the 1979 49-state version has a more desirable 4-2-1 exhaust manifold versus the 1979 California version and all the 1980 carbureted models. "The carbed 2.0-liter cars are the worst performers in stock form but are very easy to modify by using the 1975 to 1978 models' intake and carburetor," he says. But, as 1979 was the largest production-run year, they also tend to be more commonly available."

http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/200 ... uide1.html

Ignoring the above and 'cause I know better...68 is the best year.
That's what I found, that's what I fell in love with, that's what I bought, that's what I fix and more importantly, that's what I drive, hard, really hard...and it likes it!

[vandor]

To add one more thought, likely other than the Abarth, the most desired is the 1985.5 with the upgraded steering, brakes, cooling system and ergonomics. Those usually fetch 50% more than an earlier Spider in similar shape.

[RoyBatty]

If you're in California, anything 1975 and earlier is best.
No annual smog inspection required.