Everyone in Oz - Must be selling their Spider

[adrians]

There is 13 Spiders for sale in Australia at present

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/FI ... l%20States

Make that 14
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/FI ... l%20States
Plus one 1984 FIAT SPIDER AZZURRA for $22.5K
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/FI ... l%20States

And another one ???
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/pr ... 0AAAB2F110

The market's been flooded - there goes the resale values !!!!!!

[mdrburchette]

Good gracious! 9 of them are early bumper cars...I wondered where all of them went. Here's one I'm not familiar with:

[mbouse]

the trouble with them is the steering wheel is on the wrong side.... i hope they are sold at a discount.

[adrians]

Denise,
The one you don't recognise is a 1973-74 CC Coupe with the roof chopped off and a custom rag top.

Mike - Remember these car were never sold in Australia directly by Fiat, so all of them are US or European cars that have been convert LHD to RHD using Coupe parts. - except one for $5,500 which is still LHD.

Regards
Adrian

[mbouse]

understood.

question - are those conversions mandated by some law or regulation? in the USA a right hand drive classic foreign car would be left as from the factory, and not converted. the conversion would lower the value of the car

[adrians]

Mike,

In previous years - 'you were forced' to convert a car from LHD to RHD ( as mine was converted back in 1994 ). However the various road authories have started relaxing the rules, - an classic car over 30 years old doesn't have to be converted now !
30 years is also the magic number for historic plate registration as well ( cheaper rego - limited driving distance - Club Plates )

I suspect it all comes back to the 'standards' in regards to seat belts and the Oz Crash ratings.

Regards

[ga.spyder]

Adrian,
What is the exchange rate for Australian currency to American dollars?
thanks,Craig

[adrians]

I use

http://www.xe.com

Today it's

1,000.00 AUD = 637.999 USD

1 AUD = 0.637999 USD 1 USD = 1.56740 AUD

OR

1,000.00 USD = 1,567.40 AUD
Dollars
1 USD = 1.56740 AUD 1 AUD = 0.637999 USD

[bajacalal]

Mike - Remember these car were never sold in Australia directly by Fiat, so all of them are US or European cars that have been convert LHD to RHD using Coupe parts. - except one for $5,500 which is still LHD.

I have an English (from England) book about Spiders & Coupes that briefly discusses RHD conversion. It is supposedly an easy operation as these types of projects go since the steering column and pedal assembly can come right out of a RHD coupe and the dash is symmetrical with the instrument cluster and glovebox assemblies roughly interchangeable. I guess a fair share of the Spiders originally sold here have since been exported.

[adrians]

Yes, the cars were always designed for RHD as well, if you look on your cars in the States you'll see the 'pressing and bolt holes for the steering parts.

[perthling]

Mike,

In previous years - 'you were forced' to convert a car from LHD to RHD ( as mine was converted back in 1994 ). However the various road authories have started relaxing the rules, - an classic car over 30 years old doesn't have to be converted now !
30 years is also the magic number for historic plate registration as well ( cheaper rego - limited driving distance - Club Plates )

I suspect it all comes back to the 'standards' in regards to seat belts and the Oz Crash ratings.

Regards

Adrian is right - to an extent. The rules differ from state to state (sound familiar?). In Western Australia LHD cars were permitted as long as they were fitted with a RHS mirror and had a big sticker on the rear saying 'CAUTION: LEFT HAND DRIVE'. This requirement no longer stands. Now you can drive a LHD car on the roads if you want. 'Historic' registration in W.A. is only 25 years - but dispensations can be made for 'special interest' vehicles which may be younger (eg Lancia Delta Integrale, not originally sold in Australia, so a couple of 16Vs were registered as 'invitation class').

[SpiderHead]

limited driving distance - Club Plates )

So, get the special registration, and disconnect the speedo cable? But remember to lube it when you re-attach it I suppose eh?

-Ryan

[perthling]

Again, it depends on which State you're in. In WA there is no limit to mileage, but the car is only supposed to be driven to and from Club events, in Club events, or for road testing. The Club event doesn't have to be the Club of which you're a member, it can be any car Club event, and the 'road testing' isn't really policed...