Hello from Florida Man & His 1980 Fiat Spider 2000

[OutlierWriter]

Greetings all, and thanks for the add!

Been a fan of two-seater roadsters since my dad purchased his Triumph Spitfire new in 1978.

Myself, preferring the Italian approach to design, purchased my first Spider in 1995, a rusted out 1977 that I used to haul my drum set around the Bay Area to gigs. That’ll teach you how to shift if you didn’t know already, believe me.

Sadly, I drove it off a cliff on PCH just south of Stinson Beach one Saturday night, and told myself I’d never own another until I was mature enough to appreciate it.

Well, that day came recently, and I’m happy to say I must’ve done something right, because after six months, I still can’t believe how fortunate I was to have run across the Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Ever Owned.

Now, if only I can figure out how to post pictures…

Eric
Indian Rocks Beach, FL

[OutlierWriter]

Notes from the previous owner…
…..

Restored Spider 2000 with numerous upgrades.
Fuel injected 2.0, 5-speed, Wilwood disc brakes, LED lighting, powerful stereo. Extensive restoration, runs and drives great. A car you couldn't afford to restore, ready to enjoy! The best kinds of cars to buy are those where someone else has already done all the hard work. Even better when it's a car like the Fiat Spider 2000, where the restoration costs will exceed the value by several orders of magnitude.

So when we spotted this very nicely done white-over-red roadster, we knew that it was a labor of love. Looking it over, the tub is completely solid and doesn't look to have ever been damaged or patched-a rarity among the rust-prone Italians. That means it lived somewhere warm. Then there's the paint job, which is quite good-not perfect, but very good. Classic white with a red interior and some subtle tape stripes along the rockers give it a racy appearance without looking like it's trying too hard.

Doors fit nicely and close well, the hood latches without the need for a heavy slam, and all the weather seals are new so it seals up reasonably well (no, it'll never be like a modern car, sorry). The vintage Italian styling has held up beautifully and the car has a trim, well-proportioned look that stands out today. Nice chrome bumpers with correct 1 ber overriders, a trunk-mounted luggage rack, and new lenses all around give it a crisp, well-detailed look and it's worth noting that all the exterior lighting, including the headlights, are LEDs for safety.

The red interior is the ideal complement to the white bodywork, giving it a sporting look that will never go out of fashion. Both bucket seats were reupholstered, the carpets were replaced, the door cards are new, and even the dash pad looks like it has been freshened. For a little car, there's plenty of space in there once you're behind the wheel, and while the wheel angle looks extreme, it actually works rather well. That's a real wood dashboard, filled with fully operational round gauges from Veglia, with the secondary controls are scattered around the cockpit in typical Italian fashion. The clock keeps the correct time, and even the cover lighter still works perfectly.

A newer Sony AM/FM/CD/USB/iPod stereo head unit slots neatly into the dash with speakers stashed throughout the interior for decent sound even with the top down. The rear package shelf was upholstered to resemble a back seat, but it's really only for children and short trips, but it's certainly nicely done. Overhead there's a matching red canvas convertible top that you can stow from the driver's seat with a little practice, and it fits underneath the original red boot which is the only part of the interior showing its age. The trunk is remarkably spacious and includes a correct mat and battery box, along with a full-size Pirelli spare and Fiat tool kit.

The 2.0 liter DOHC & ne-4 received Bosch fuel injection in 1980, bolstering both its horsepower and torque curves.
It'll never be mistaken for a big block V8, but it starts easily and is eager to rev, making it a lot of fun to run it through the gears. In the featherweight Spider, performance is spirited and it once again proves the old adage that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Examining the engine bay, you'll find a big aluminum radiator up front with factory electric fans, color-matched silicone coolant hoses, and an electronic ignition system. It's a little grumpy when it's cold but once warmed up it's a delight to run it through the gears of the 5-speed manual transmission, which has light throws and easy clutch action. The suspension doesn't break any new ground, but offers a nice combination of performance and comfort, and it's bolstered by new shocks and springs at both ends.

You'll note the floors are rock solid, there are no issues in the rockers, and the catalytic converter has been removed for more performance (please check your local regulations for licensing). The original front disc brakes have been replaced by Wilwood calipers and dimpled rotors, as well as stainless steel flex lines, so braking performance is impressive. 15-inch alloy wheels were powdercoated charcoal gray and fitted with fat 195/55/15 performance radials to give it the perfect ace. Extras include the owner's manuals in their original folder, as well as some spare oil filters.

…..

Again, as soon as I figure out how to post images, I’ll be happy to share.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Again, as soon as I figure out how to post images, I’ll be happy to share.

This site doesn't host photos directly as far as I can tell, so you have to upload your photos to a photo hosting site (Imgur, Google, Smugmug, etc.) and then link to that in your posting.

Looking forward to seeing pictures, and I admit to being curious about that '77 you used to have and the PCH cliff on a Saturday night...

-Bryan

[OutlierWriter]

Here are some pictures. Better ones to follow once I’m back in Florida and can take some.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... I1M_F6Wmvq

As for the ‘77, let’s just say when you’re 23, you don’t always make the best life choices.

[OutlierWriter]

As for my present Fiat, I did invest considerably in mechanically restoring it after I got it back to Chicago. I was fortunate enough to find a technician who actually started working for Fiat in Turin when he was 16.

Heck, for all I know, this cat actually helped build my car.

I also had the body and interior coated in Ceramic Pro, silver package, so I’m really looking forward to getting back home and getting some great picture of it gleaming in the sun.

“The first rule of Italian racing: What is behind you is unimportant.”

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Nice looking car! I am SO envious of people with a clean front hood line, as my 2 cars have been bashed so many times that it's pretty much a lost cause...

-Bryan