Where are all these Years Of Spiders

[oaxacagold]

This list of model years and dates of manufacture is intriguing yet confusing. Mine was made in september 1983, a month of manufacture which would have typically been associated with the following model year. The weird thing is that mine is titled as a 1983 spider, but in every other way that I can tell is a 1984 model. The column switch set is that of a 1984, and I could be wrong but I believe the crank pulley is also the type which is considered to have started being employed with the 1984 models. If anyone has pictures of the crank pulley of a pre 1983 or a 1984 model which they could post, I'd appreciate it. Also does anyone know of any other changes that are condisered to have started in 1984 that I could look for? I thinking that this wasn't as unusual as I'm making it seem in my imagination, that a lot of the changes were employed in more of a gradual methodology phasing them in as the previous parts ran out as opposed to starting suddenly with a new model year. But if I'm wrong, perhaps this would also confirm the existence of an 83 1/2, cars that are titled as 1983 but identical to an 84 in terms of their manufacture.

[73Spider]

The early models are harder to come by for a couple of reasons.

1) People love the little chrome bumpers.
2) The car is 35 years old and I would guess that a majority have succumb to cancer and have either been crushed or are part cars.
3) In lots of areas a 1973 doesn't need to go through typical inspection/emission tests. North Carolina is one of those states. A 1974 however would have to go through the full inspection.

[mdrburchette]

74 and newer in NC would have to have the emission equipment on the car but don't have to go through the sniffer test, just safety....but it doesn't seem like they are enforcing that law very well now. I haven't got my 82 X19 inspected yet and I've had it licensed for 8 months. I imagine if I got pulled the cop might get his panties in a wad over it though.

[Darsella1]

This list of model years and dates of manufacture is intriguing yet confusing. Mine was made in september 1983, a month of manufacture which would have typically been associated with the following model year. The weird thing is that mine is titled as a 1983 spider, but in every other way that I can tell is a 1984 model. The column switch set is that of a 1984, and I could be wrong but I believe the crank pulley is also the type which is considered to have started being employed with the 1984 models. If anyone has pictures of the crank pulley of a pre 1983 or a 1984 model which they could post, I'd appreciate it. Also does anyone know of any other changes that are condisered to have started in 1984 that I could look for? I thinking that this wasn't as unusual as I'm making it seem in my imagination, that a lot of the changes were employed in more of a gradual methodology phasing them in as the previous parts ran out as opposed to starting suddenly with a new model year. But if I'm wrong, perhaps this would also confirm the existence of an 83 1/2, cars that are titled as 1983 but identical to an 84 in terms of their manufacture.

Here's my opinion...

Since the Pininfarina was either privately imported or sold through a few select private importer/dealers, I found that it really depends upon who registered and titled your car at first in the USA and which state. Many are 1984 cars that were titled as 1983 cars because they just looked at the manufacture date and said "well, it's a 1983". Just look at some of them on Ebay- there are some 1985's that are registered as 1984 cars. Many are registered as Fiats instead as Pininfarina is not car maker and the DMV's are too lazy to want to manually punch it in. Some DMV's require proof, as is in the import "car/manufacturer of origin" statement or bill of sale if you want to register it as a Pininfarina. Mine is registered as a Pininfarina as I demanded it and showed them the back up. After all, I paid more for it because it was a Pininfarina. They were reluctant at first because "the computer says it's a Fiat".

I have not seen very many 1983 cars in person, but as far as I can tell the only difference between the two is the square badge hood & column switch. So I'm not an expert by any means. I would also be interested because I really should be keeping track of the differences and how many are left in all 3 years. Some of the interior badges were even different on all years.

My car was not just different, it was REALLY different from the regular '85. I had to restore and track down a lot of parts that you could not find on any year. There were even some X/19 parts on it. Lord help me if it is ever is in an accident! People thought it was very modified and non-original at the show so it was rather frustrating to try and explain.

[kristoj]

Darcie,

If you ever buy a turbo model give me a shout. I am a history nerd too and have done similar work documenting surviving turbos (over 100). I also have many period documents (articles, manuals, brochures, etc) on this model. I also know what it is like to track down parts that don't exist any more.