I love good stories, and this is one to hear,...
My Spider's build date is 3/79. CS2 0152496.
I drove past the “For Sale” car every day,...to, and from, work for six months. That was spring of 2000.
Silver with red interior, AT, intact top. Ran like CRAP! Died on the test drive,...had to walk back.
$2000. Newly re-painted it's original silver (over a bubble – behind driver's door!), but no air filter (due
to fires from the failed reed valves dumping exhaust directly into the air cleaner!). And abused in a
number of ways, but cosmetically and mechanically salvageable.
Purchased 6/2000. I had the car back on the road, with a rebuilt block (rebuilt the OHCs myself) by
11/2000. I installed all new front suspension and shocks at that time. I installed a new canvas top from
an old company that some might recognize,...Caribou. GREAT top, crappy company.
I refurbished the car with parts from another old company, Bayless (Marietta, GA). The best
supplier,...missed dearly.
Nearly rust-free to this day, now the Spider runs like it should. The suspension is completely rebuilt,
front and rear, and the entire car is complete. New 2” exhaust, catalytic converter, and muffler.
A recent accident set things back, and I await time on the frame-rack at the bodyshop. No big
framework, but the Spider needs it's passenger headlight area/fender horn pulled out and restored.
Luckily the fender's upper framerail is nearly undamaged and the shocktower undisturbed.
The Spider was also damaged in the rear panel,...but that part will be easy for the bodywork gurus!
Having the car in the main garage for so long, I've been able to finish some 'detail' items this year, such
as adding missing parts to the original, red top boot, and a replacement courtesy light for my broken
one. I just replaced the upper and lower rear axle trailing arms, along with new gas shocks.
I was able to find a used hood to replace the damaged original at Aspen Import Autos in Englewood,
CO. I was able to find all of the used replacement parts I needed there.
Everything else I have purchased recently, I got from AutoRicambi or Midwest-Bayless.
At this time the car needs a new windshield, dashpad, and red upholstery, but no more.
Pics of the damaged car are here on the forum. Here's pretty one's:
