1985 1/5

[Jimb]

Hi,
In reading up on these, I get the feeling the 1985.5 models are certainly more rare, but are they more desireable?

Cheers,
Jim

[Darsella1]

Of course everyone knows I would chime in!

It's all subjective. As far as the Pininfarina models- yes, they are the most desired. Fiat - a '67 124 Sport Coupe will always make people freak out and forget about any Pininfarina. Also, a clone just sold on Ebay for $19,500. People seemed to prefer the restored clone over the real thing I guess.

They are the rarest model, with only 186 to 242 of the "USA" versions produced before they ceased production. I have a list that shows about 30 cars remaining, but we all know there are still a few more to be found. I started a vin "list" so I could prove that they were not very many of them left and to help convince people to spend the money to restore them rather than parting them out for their unique parts. So I am completely bias, because I am convincing people to desire them more than they seem to.

Were they a better built? Not really. Most stayed back east and didn't survive very well due to rust. I found areas on my car that were bare, unprotected metal vs. my rust free 81 Fiat with factory coating. They cost more, and some parts are lot more expensive - if you can even find them. But there are a lot of somewhat modern features on the car that you cannot find on any other and you can't easily reproduce it. Even the exhaust was different.

For me personally, I'm a collector and a Pininfarina fan like my father. So it was "THE" car I always wanted. Just the "F" badge on the hood gives me total chills. It was fun discovering all the little differences and oddities that were on the car while we were restoring it. It was part of the adventure for us.

[So Cal Mark]

that's pretty much the positive look at the car. The story I've been told is that our buddy Malcolm Bricklin became the importer and requested the various upgrades; ac, leather etc. As the importer he set the sticker price in the $18 range, a ridiculous amount for that car at the time. And of course there was virtually no demand for the car and was the final nail for Fiat products in the US.
But the cars are rare, and while not everyone is willing to empty the 401k to get one, there is a market for them

[VAS]

Actually, the 85 1/2 Pininfarina Spiders have an importation record different than previous Pininfarina Spiders. From one of our NOS buy-outs, VAS actually has the importation records, including original purchaser info.

We hope to have a write up on this interesting bit of automotive history in our upcoming FIAT IS BACK! catalog.

-Jerry Lee Phillips, owner VAS

1 800 466-3428

[mbouse]

i, for one am looking forward to finally receiving my new VAS catalogue. i sincerely hope that it arrives in time for my daughters to each get a copy before Christmas present selections begin. After all, this is the greatest way i have found to fund my mid-winter modification and restoration projects...

as far as rare equaling desirablity? i disagree. rare can easily equate to hard to find, or impossible to reproduce parts and wear items, and especially the interior and accessories. you can keep your well preserved 1985.5 Pinin Spider, and certainly i dunn want to even contemplate purchasing an over-restored anything.

i'd prefer to own, maintain, and DRIVE something that is not a trailer queen, not so difficult to maintain that i am afraid to drive it, and still keep within the original parameters of the design and production crews at the factory.

[htchevyii]

I'd be happy to just have the upgraded brakes and r&p steering in my old one.

[katsi]

Are their really SERRIOUS CAR collectors that include the Fiat 124 in their collections? I mean, I love the car but come on, we're talking about pretty low buy ins and if you invest 5K over a 5 year period, you're gonna have a pretty nice Fiat. Or, Pinninfarina if you have those upper years. My neighbor has an 84 Pinninfarina and she's been holding out for 7.5K since 06. It's nice, original and she's the original owner. It even resembles the red one just above these words, but, you can make your own for less. Someone at an Italian car club gave her that value in 06 and she's not budging - I tried . Anyway, are some of these really valued in the over 8K range? I see them advertized there but I'm not buying! I surely hope they get there though !

[pope]

Arent the 85's rebuilt from the cargo ship that caught fire and dumped the Spiders overboard into the ocean. They were fished out, dried and furnished with some new parts in Yugoslavia. Well...thats what I heard!

[Darsella1]

I believe it pope! My car had some baaad rust with poor metal.

Yes, $7.5K for an nice documented '84 is not unreasonable. Most decent 85.5's are in the $12-15K range, the projects are generally in the $7K range. I have the prices going back to 2000.

My 100% unrestored, low mile LE sold for about $12K still needing a lot of expensive cosmetic work.

Everyone owns these cars for different reasons. Some are nice collector pieces, some are drivers. There are many amazing & restored examples of all kinds at the FLU events. I mean, look at Denise's 124? Nobody gives her grief over how much she spent on it making it pristine. I don't understand why you want to make remarks because someone wants to own a rarer model or spend money on a nicely restored example of one. While I don't understand why someone would want to pay $19,500 for a clone, I do understand why they bought it. It was all done for someone to turn the key and just enjoy. Trust me, $5K does not cover much if that's your total restoration budget.

And yes- I drive mine. It needs nothing, easy to maintain, safe to drive and I get to take it to fun shows where people say "wow... I have never seen a Fiat Spider that nice before!" And "wow... I want one as nice as hers". It's been a blast to show people that they are nice examples when most of the we see for sale locally here are scary & trashed.

There are only 30 left. When they are gone- they are gone. While you personally may not appreciate the value in a rare things, some of us do.

[Darsella1]

[quote="VAS"]Actually, the 85 1/2 Pininfarina Spiders have an importation record different than previous Pininfarina Spiders. From one of our NOS buy-outs, VAS actually has the importation records, including original purchaser info.



The problem I found Jerry, was that there were quite a few that were not imported to a dealer or imported later. They were custom ordered direct in Italy by military personnel and imported privately. I was told it was not true and I have proof- mine was one of them, imported in '89. If you want to message me privately, I would be curious to know if mine is on the list.

- Dars

[Jimb]

Very interesting feedback. The one I'm looking at was a total, professional restoration to concours condition. I'm struggling with finding a "fair" value.
Cheers,
Jim

[Darsella1]

Jim,

If you want to message me we can take it offline and I'll give you my opinion if you want. I know what every part on that car costs

- D

[So Cal Mark]

though this "value" discussion comes up regularly, it's impossible to determine. Any car is worth different amounts to different people for various reasons. As Mike said, rare can be desirable or it can make it impossible to use if replacement parts can't be obtained. The r and p steering and larger brakes are great, but all of the earlier Spiders are still fun to drive. My original post on this thread was to point out the effect the 85s had on Fiat in the US since then. They're still nice cars

[Jimb]

though this "value" discussion comes up regularly, it's impossible to determine. Any car is worth different amounts to different people for various reasons.

I agree that value is subjective. There is what a car is worth to the current owner, and what is the maximum that one person is willing to pay for it. It all depends on how badly the seller wants to sell it vs how badly the buyers wants to buy it.
I'm just trying to get a ballpark value of what the absolute best quality, professionally restored to concours condition 85.5 "should" fetch.
Cheers,
Jim

[pope]

Darsella, I seen pics of your car and its beautiful. Congratulations on the hard work.