Azzura questions

[wengr]

Hello, I'm considering buying an 83 azzura and I have some questions. I will need to locate and install a back seat and seat belts. I'm hoping and assuming that the sheet metal in that area is the same and the seat and belts from say an 82 fiat can be installed without issue. Seems to me that, to change the sheet metal there would have been an unneeded expense, and that the seat delete was simply a cost down issue? the reason is that I would like to have a childs car seat belted in back there. Does anyone have experience with a car seat in the back seat of a spider? Does it work ok? also, do the typically available spider hardtops fit and work well on azzuras as well as fiats? thanks in advance greg

[KillerB]

I know that the luggage shelf from 83 and on will fit in an older car, so I can't see why a seat from an older car wouldn't fit in an 83. There have been a few threads on installing rear seat belts in the last year, one quite recently.

I currently only have the lower part of my rear seat (and it's pretty much shot). The upper wasn't there when I bought the car in '07. I've been in the market for a rear shelf since I found out they existed.

Perhaps another Spider owner in your area might be interested in swapping?

[wengr]

Thanks for the reply, Locating a rear seat should be no problem as I see parts and parts cars around here fairly often. Maybe not black like I need but I guess I can recover or dye or? But will a car seat belt in correctly and be functional? If not there is no reason for me to do it. thanks greg

[kristoj]

There are several threads on installing lap belts in the rear seat. It is not that difficult. Weather or not that meets today's requirements for car seats is another story. There is certainly no provision for the tether strap coming out the top back of the car seat and obviously not compatible with the newer LATCH system. You would have to check with your state's DMV to see what the current minimum requirements are for car seats.

[SpiderHead]

If this entire exercise is to tie down a car seat... why does that seat need to sit on a seat?

The parcel shelf is a very popular modification to a car that had a rear seat that ended up just being a small parcel shelf anyway!

So back to my question. Is there a legality associated with car seats needing to ride on other eats? Could you simply install some seat belts to secure a car seat for a bambino directly to the parcel shelf?

-Ryan

[pope]

I have a tan rear seat and back that I would swap with you for the plastic back on the azzurra if you want. I think that it will work just fine. PM me if you have some questions. I would think that it would be a very bumpy ride for a bambino to rest on a shelf, compared to a padded seat and back.
I think you would have no trouble with hard top, as the bodys are really all the same. At worst, the hardtop should fit a 1979 and later.

[wengr]

Hello, and thanks for all the responses. I actually brought this car home today, so I'll have many new threads about the various issues. I'll be keeping the parcel shelf in the event I install a seat as I'm sure it would be hard to replace when the time comes. At this point it does not even seem big enough back there for a standard car seat.

[Darsella1]

The parcel shelf on the Azzurra's a quite rare as they made far less of them in the first place. That's why everyone is drooling over yours. I would keep it in case you ever want to sell the car as the replaced seat in the back would generally de-value it. I believe it just pops out with a little unscrewing and swearing.

[SpiderHead]

The parcel shelf on the Azzurra's a quite rare as they made far less of them in the first place. That's why everyone is drooling over yours. I would keep it in case you ever want to sell the car as the replaced seat in the back would generally de-value it. I believe it just pops out with a little unscrewing and swearing**.

**side note: you must be swearing in Italian. If you have not been swearing in Italian, your unscrewing is void. you are still screwed...

[wengr]

The parcel shelf on the Azzurra's a quite rare as they made far less of them in the first place. That's why everyone is drooling over yours. I would keep it in case you ever want to sell the car as the replaced seat in the back would generally de-value it. I believe it just pops out with a little unscrewing and swearing**.

**side note: you must be swearing in Italian. If you have not been swearing in Italian, your unscrewing is void. you are still screwed...

yes I wish I had a large stock of these shelves, I could fund all the resto I need - and maybe my kids college. and thanks for the tip on the Italian, that must be my problem, as I'm used to Jaguars and swearing in the queens english with perfect ennunciation

[mbouse]

The parcel shelf on the Azzurra's a quite rare as they made far less of them in the first place. That's why everyone is drooling over yours. I would keep it in case you ever want to sell the car as the replaced seat in the back would generally de-value it. I believe it just pops out with a little unscrewing and swearing.

yeah, this thread is confusing me considerably... of course, generally this is not a difficult task.

on your other thread, you are looking for HIGH QUALITY badges, original design...then on this thread, you are willing to sacrifice OEM equipment to accomodate an occasional use item like a car seat.

seems to me that I bought my Spider (years ago) with the full intent of getting away from the dulldroms of everday life, including the kids. You "need" to haul yours while driving your sports car?

i say that you will be less confusing to yourself if you pick a direction...completely stock, or modified.

[So Cal Mark]

so there is no in-between? completely stock or modify everything? Why can't the poor guy introduce his toddler to the joy of riding in the Fiat? Seems like removing the parcel shelf so it doesn't have to be modified (and can be returned to oem status) is a smart move

[mbouse]

Seems like removing the parcel shelf so it doesn't have to be modified (and can be returned to oem status) is a smart move

point taken, thanks.

[fiasco]

I can sympathize with the "need" to cart around the ankle biters. When I first started looking at roadsters and really knew nothing about any of them, I looked at a Fiats, MG, Triumphs... Then one day my wife said, "You know, you are going to have to be able to take the boys to school once in a while." From that day forward I looked only at 124 Spiders.

Now that in know (a little) more about the range of cars, I feel lucky that the best car out there also happened to be the only one with a back seat. Just big enough for two ankle biters to get to school in.

-- se

[wengr]

The parcel shelf on the Azzurra's a quite rare as they made far less of them in the first place. That's why everyone is drooling over yours. I would keep it in case you ever want to sell the car as the replaced seat in the back would generally de-value it. I believe it just pops out with a little unscrewing and swearing.

yeah, this thread is confusing me considerably... of course, generally this is not a difficult task.

on your other thread, you are looking for HIGH QUALITY badges, original design...then on this thread, you are willing to sacrifice OEM equipment to accomodate an occasional use item like a car seat.

seems to me that I bought my Spider (years ago) with the full intent of getting away from the dulldroms of everday life, including the kids. You "need" to haul yours while driving your sports car?

i say that you will be less confusing to yourself if you pick a direction...completely stock, or modified.

the thing is, I don't consider my kid part of the doldrums of life, I have a 2006 ducati with 485 miles on it. why, because I choose to be at home. to each his own I guess. I got a spider to have the option of beat of both worlds. Can't say I understand your post. I don't see sticking a plastic parcel shelf in storage for safe keeping as a scrifice. I won't choose a catagory, original, modified etc. My category will remain whatever way I want it. thanks for the link to andys, I'll check it out.