New member new (to me) Spider.

[ster1]

Hi folks,

My name is Pete, new to the forum. I just got my first 124 Spider:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rz8k8l8y72fjd ... .jpeg?dl=0

I hope you can see it. There was an auction in town today. A local import shop owner passed away recently, and the family is selling off the company assets. This is a 1980 124 I got for $250. It seems pretty complete and straight. Has some rust, some cosmetic issues, the top is trashed, and the interior is boogered too. I won't be able to pick it up for 3 weeks because it was in almost the last row of the shop's yard, and they have to pull em out, starting from the front, so I gotta be patient. No worries, that gives me time to get the paperwork straightened out, and get a manual for it, and all that. Anyway, just wanted to say hi, and share my excitement! Thanks.

[tima01864]

At 250.00 you can give it the royal treatment, Welcome.

[DieselSpider]

Looks promising.



Good that they made the attempt to tarp them to help protect them from the outdoor storage.

[wetminkey]

Holy Crap, I think it's Aspen Import Autos,...
Is that correct, Pete?
Todd.

[wetminkey]

What's the possibility that your new-to-you Spider is the one just behind this hardtop with the green and yellow trunk,...?

[ster1]

I’m pretty sure that be the one were you there yesterday? Which one did you get? I have to go back today to confirm the VIN. The bill of sale they gave me has a VIN that’s too short.

[DieselSpider]

Aspen Auto Imports is now selling off the remaining cars for $250 each.

Don't miss your pickup day or they will be sold to the next bidder on record.

http://aspenimportauto.com/#projects

If this was more local the yellow 1975 X 1/9 would have been on my list.

[MattVAS]

Congratulations on your purchase.
Glad to hear another one got saved.

[wetminkey]

My wife, and I, were there in December of 2017 for parts,...that's when I got the pic. I had to repair my present car (that I've owned since 2000) after a parking lot front/rear accident. Tom was quite a guy,...diver, spelunker, mechanic,...
After that visit, I had a number of those cars on my 'list'! That X 1/9, you mention, an 850, or two, and I think the car was a Lancia (silver, near the entrance gate).
But still have the same silver/red 1979 auto,...
After receiving an email from Aspen Import Autos, about Tom's death, I wondered what would become of the yard,...I'm REALLY glad to see that some of the cars are being saved!! I could never afford another,...but if I could have!?
And, again, congrats Pete! Enjoy! Let us know what we can do to help with your projects,...
Todd.

[ster1]

Aspen Auto Imports is now selling off the remaining cars for $250 each.

Don't miss your pickup day or they will be sold to the next bidder on record.

http://aspenimportauto.com/#projects

If this was more local the yellow 1975 X 1/9 would have been on my list.

The one I got is 2 cars ahead in that same row. The picture is looking toward the back of the yard, and it's kind of narrow with barely enough room to walk around. They scheduled pick ups by row. The closest rows got pick up week 1, the next rows week 2 etc. Mine is week 3. Also that kind of greenish yellowish hardtop to the right is one my buddy is buying today. It's a '71 850 coupe.

[wetminkey]

I sure am glad that you guys got 'em!
Congratulations!
Todd.
P.S. BTW,...that was Tom that kept everything (that wasn't otherwise) covered with tarps. As I said, quite the caretaker,...

[ster1]

Well, it’s me again. Back at it. I have finished the engine and transmission, and the electrical is under control. Holy cow those ground “blooms” are a pain in the tookus, but I have them all cleaned up and working. Check out my YouTube channel for resto videos. Here’s the first one:

https://youtu.be/kxZFb8jwYpU

They’re all “1980 Fiat 124 Resurrection” with a number. I’m up to 8 or 9 vids by now. I think you can just search my channel for the rest of them? I hope so. Let me know if you can’t find them.

Here’s a list of what I’ve done so far (in no particular order);

Rebuild engine
Repair transmission
Clean injectors
Repair radiator
New water pump
Replace fuel pump
Clean fuel tank
Clean ground blooms
Repair electrical system (This is more or less ongoing)
Replace speedo cable
Replace brake master cylinder
Replace brake pads
New tires
Replace top
Replace ignition switch
Fabricate trunk latch
Replace window cranks
Whew.



I pulled the driveshaft today because the carrier bearing was shot. More accurately, the rubber around it. The carrier bearing crossmember wouldn’t come off because the belly pan was rusted badly, and the studs holding the crossmember just broke loose and spun. I didn’t realize just how badly it was rusted, but it looks like the whole belly is going to have to be replaced. That’s a bit discouraging.

I had forgotten I was on this forum, or else I would have posted more info, as I went along.

What’s next is to finish the driveshaft, replace the windshield wiper motor, and take it for a drive around the block. After that, it’s going to be paperwork / DMV / VIN inspection / title replacement, and then I might be able to actually enjoy it a little this summer