What Are Differences Between 66-85 1/2 Spiders

[GOPAPA]

thanks all for the input ,,I will copy and paste all these differences into a booklet .. Ld

[Darsella1]

Go Papa, feel free to email me if you need the Pininfarina info. Each year had some cosmetic changes, and the 85.5 had much more than just cosmetic (we all know I can rattle on an entire page and bore you all to death). I also had the LE edition.

There is also a local guy here who has a very early spider from Italy (1967) and I'm sure he would be happy to speak with you on the differences- he said it was really wild. I believe he is parting it out.

[spiderrey]

so what was the first year for the lower grill? if 84 gets credit for rack and pinion, i guess that makes the 83 ho hum, just a carry over year.

[mdrburchette]

I would say the 75 when the later bumpers appeared. Maybe someone that has one can tell us.

[ventura ace]

Nice job, Rey! I can add a few things:

The '69, '69 gauges were shallow, with '70 and later being deeper and angled. At some later year, the speedometer went from 140 mph to 80 mph. The '76 speedometer cable was really weird -- 2 cables, with some little gizmo in between that counts the mileage for the catalytic converter, I think. The earlier cars had a rounded hump over the steering column, and had 6 gauges. Later cars (after 74 maybe??), had no hump and only 5 gauges (no oil pressure). The dash wood was a real wood veneer over plywood for the earlier cars, and fake walnut for the latter cars (after 74 maybe??).

The trouble light recepticle under the steering column changed from one design to another in '70. '70 and earlier had the loud double air horns in the engine compartment. Later years moved them up in front of the radiator, and then later to an all-electric horn in front of the radiator. '70 and other early years had engine compartment lights. Denise knows what year these disappeared, I forget. For '70, the headlight switch on the dash was 2 position (on, off) and the column switch had 3 headlight positions (park, low, high). '69 and the years after '70, it was 3 positions on the dash switch, and 2 positions on the column switch. 70 had a push button for WW squirter pump under the steering column, later years incorporated this into the column wiper switch. The 69 gas pedal pivots from the floor (and seems very uncomfortable for me). 70 - 73 or so had the gas pedal pivoting from a plastic doohickey mounted on the firewall inside the engine bay. The accelerator linkage on all these earlier cars was all-mechanical (no cable), which gives tendency for awful bucking in 1st gear, especially with spongy motor mounts. Later models (after 74??), had a pedal bracket mounted to the inside firewall under the steering column, and connected to a cable to activate the throttle (solved the bucking).

The seatback tilt adjustment was on the inside of the seat for 69, and on the outside of the seat for 70. I think 70 was the only year with Kangol seat belts. Headrests were introduced in 70. The 70 had a remove key indicator lamp -- I'm not sure what other years had this.

70 started with a 1438cc engine with engine mounted fan, evolved to a radiator mounted electric fan, and by the end of the year, was being sold with 1608cc engines. The tranny gear ratios changed slightly in 1970, and then again for 71 and later. 70 had a 4.1:1 rear end ratio. Other years had 3.9, or 4.3, or about 3.5 for the auto trans. The gear shift lever was a short design with a long-a$$ed black extension for 70, with pull-up for reverse. Later years (74 maybe??), it changed to a longer base lever with a shorter chrome extension, with push-down for reverse.

The inside rear view mirror was all metal housing for the earlier cars up through about 74 or so, and switched to a plastic housing. The window glass was not tinted for 70 -- I'm not sure what year they started to tint the window glass. The door design changed in 74 (beefier with extra reinforment, different latch mechanism and different location for latch), and again in 79 (went to recessed exterior handles). 74 and later doors are more prone to cracked hinge mounts on the doors, mainly due to fatigue from the heavier doors.

Well, that's enough rambling for now. Please correct or fill in the blanks for the ???? if you have the information.

Alvon

[spiderrey]

time for me to ramble. 71 had engine lights. my 71 in high schoool had them. i remember beause when i was driving down the fwy at night with no hood, it looked cool with the lights on in the engine bay. couldnt fit my flat hood over my 2 liter with webers back then. 79- 80. when i purchased my 70 from the original owener, it only had 5 gauges and was an all original car. no clock. my 71 in high school had air horns in the engine bay. and what seat belts are you talking about.

[ventura ace]

Rey,
These are the Kangols:

You're right, I think the clock was added mid-year 70. 69 didn't have the clock. A lot of things were changing mid-year 70.

[mdrburchette]

Nice job, Rey! I can add a few things:

The '69, '69 gauges were shallow, with '70 and later being deeper and angled. At some later year, the speedometer went from 140 mph to 80 mph. The '76 speedometer cable was really weird -- 2 cables, with some little gizmo in between that counts the mileage for the catalytic converter, I think. The earlier cars had a rounded hump over the steering column, and had 6 gauges. Later cars (after 74 maybe??), had no hump and only 5 gauges (no oil pressure). The dash wood was a real wood veneer over plywood for the earlier cars, and fake walnut for the latter cars (after 74 maybe??).

The hump and 6 gauges were still there in 78 but the dash wood was laminate.

The trouble light recepticle under the steering column changed from one design to another in '70. '70 and earlier had the loud double air horns in the engine compartment. Later years moved them up in front of the radiator, and then later to an all-electric horn in front of the radiator. '70 and other early years had engine compartment lights. Denise knows what year these disappeared, I forget. For '70, the headlight switch on the dash was 2 position (on, off) and the column switch had 3 headlight positions (park, low, high). '69 and the years after '70, it was 3 positions on the dash switch, and 2 positions on the column switch. 70 had a push button for WW squirter pump under the steering column, later years incorporated this into the column wiper switch. The 69 gas pedal pivots from the floor (and seems very uncomfortable for me). 70 - 73 or so had the gas pedal pivoting from a plastic doohickey mounted on the firewall inside the engine bay. The accelerator linkage on all these earlier cars was all-mechanical (no cable), which gives tendency for awful bucking in 1st gear, especially with spongy motor mounts. Later models (after 74??), had a pedal bracket mounted to the inside firewall under the steering column, and connected to a cable to activate the throttle (solved the bucking).

The seatback tilt adjustment was on the inside of the seat for 69, and on the outside of the seat for 70. I think 70 was the only year with Kangol seat belts. Headrests were introduced in 70. The 70 had a remove key indicator lamp -- I'm not sure what other years had this.

Headrests were on 69 models too. Maybe a midyear change?

70 started with a 1438cc engine with engine mounted fan, evolved to a radiator mounted electric fan, and by the end of the year, was being sold with 1608cc engines. The tranny gear ratios changed slightly in 1970, and then again for 71 and later. 70 had a 4.1:1 rear end ratio. Other years had 3.9, or 4.3, or about 3.5 for the auto trans. The gear shift lever was a short design with a long-a$$ed black extension for 70, with pull-up for reverse. Later years (74 maybe??), it changed to a longer base lever with a shorter chrome extension, with push-down for reverse.

Gear ratio change was 4.3 until 79 then it went to 3.9

The inside rear view mirror was all metal housing for the earlier cars up through about 74 or so, and switched to a plastic housing. The window glass was not tinted for 70 -- I'm not sure what year they started to tint the window glass. The door design changed in 74 (beefier with extra reinforment, different latch mechanism and different location for latch), and again in 79 (went to recessed exterior handles). 74 and later doors are more prone to cracked hinge mounts on the doors, mainly due to fatigue from the heavier doors.

Well, that's enough rambling for now. Please correct or fill in the blanks for the ???? if you have the information.

Alvon

[GOPAPA]

Hey ! great responces ,,keep them comming ..this could be a book of facts .. thx all what about the tattle light on the dash about fuel savings and some other warning I read about some time ago on here .anyone know the year of these changes ?

[Darsella1]

so what was the first year for the lower grill? if 84 gets credit for rack and pinion, i guess that makes the 83 ho hum, just a carry over year.

1983 - Pininfarina took over producing the spider with the new name "Azzurra" for USA, "Spidereuropa" for Europe: different interior, badges and the only year with the round hood badge (yes, they had left over parts!)
1984 - Square "F" badge is introduced. Pininfarina logo & plain radio. These are the only differences I have found.
1985 - Same as the 1984 cars, but Azzurra name is dropped and now called "Spiderpininfarina" or Pininfarina Spider.
1985.5 - Different Vin#, started producing in 9/84 along with the Volumex (they only ran one line at a time and alternated with the last car in July 1985). They were assumed to be the next 1986 year cars. There are many differences unique to this model only, here are just some I can rattle off the top of my head:

Rack & Pininon
14" Chromodora Aluminum wheels
Momo steering wheel
Lockable storage trunk w/ lights
Different exhaust (goes around the rack)
Sealed radiator
Windshield water in cowl
Map light
Dead pedal
120 MPH speedo
Extra lights in dash with delay
Body is 2" wider (I believe- we measured but I can't remember) - has a unique crossmember

We all prefer different years, but my heart is with the Pininfarina's. And I felt if you are going to get one- why not the one that has the features that I wanted. The latest car was the only one for me. The only problem is that both of the 1985's are rare, more expensive or giant rusty POS. So often people settle for what they can afford. I almost bought a PERFECT 1983 that was a great deal and in perfect condition. But yes, it was a ho-hum and not really that different from a Fiat Spider other than a different interior. I decided to take the plunge on the one I really wanted, even if it cost me tears, pain, heartache and all of my savings.

[spiderrey]

maybe one day ill get to drive an 85.

[So Cal Mark]

I picked up a 75 today, 26000 miles on the speedo, and it's been sitting over 10 years. Very straight body and everythings intact. It has the lower grille opening. It's one of the few cars I've run across that hasn't suffered a color change. Still has the original color code tag on the deck lid

[spiderrey]

o k genusis, whay year did the spider change from the metal round pin on the center console to the round sticker? this was next to the fan switch. mark what color is the car?

[So Cal Mark]

what metal round pin?
The 75 is white

[spiderrey]

the little round label next to the fan switch................ c,mon mr guruuuuuuuu..........................................'