Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

[red107]

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1604273865.html
Jaime, Found this one local. Let me know if you want me to check it out. So you don't waste your time.
Maybe our Georgia folks can help you look at this one
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1603833592.html

[wachuko]

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1604273865.html
Jaime, Found this one local. Let me know if you want me to check it out. So you don't waste your time.
Maybe our Georgia folks can help you look at this one
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1603833592.html

I bought the first one, the '83 from Tom... not sure what it looks like but figured that worst case it would be great for parts. Picking it up tomorrow.

Europa is going to check on a car next door to him and kuhndg pointed me to a car in Wisconsin that I am waiting for photos (owner should be sending those over the weekend). I will wait for those before looking elsewhere.

I just broke the news to my wife that I bought a parts car... she was sooo happy . Might need to spend sometime in the dog house...

Thanks again!

[ga.spyder]

I have seen the car in Ga.,and its not worth 2500.It has been for sale for a while now.It does run but cant be driven...no brakes.If they cant do a simple brake job,you can figure what the rest of the car looks like.The guy with the 6K car will have it for a long time if he's firm at that price.
Craig

[Europa]

Anyhow... I just got a call back from the seller of this car: http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1604273865.html

Picking up the car tomorrow. There... bought it! Sight unseen, but it is going to be my first parts car...

Well, you're off to a good start. An '83? If your "other" car is not an '83-'85, I got dibs on interior parts, if they're in good shape.

[wachuko]

Anyhow... I just got a call back from the seller of this car: http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1604273865.html

Picking up the car tomorrow. There... bought it! Sight unseen, but it is going to be my first parts car...

Well, you're off to a good start. An '83? If your "other" car is not an '83-'85, I got dibs on interior parts, if they're in good shape.

I will post photos tomorrow afternoon. Trying to get off work early so I can pick it up around noon time. The owner said that the floors are solid as well as all the structural parts, and to fix the body it needs rear wheel archs, lower door skins, etc... will not really know until I see it. 12 years in a barn the interior must look like crap... plus I have to check for any mice damage...

[stefhahn]

Jaime,
congratulations re you first Fiat! I did check through your Porsche threads - wow, great work done there! If you need anything special for your Porsche project then let me know, I'm sitting in Porsches hometown here.
ciao,
Stefan
P.S: you need to change your signature now....

[wachuko]

Jaime,
congratulations re you first Fiat! I did check through your Porsche threads - wow, great work done there! If you need anything special for your Porsche project then let me know, I'm sitting in Porsches hometown here.
ciao,
Stefan
P.S: you need to change your signature now....

Thank you!

Hoping for this:



But expecting to find this :



Let me update the sig

Enjoy the weekend! Cheers!

[red107]

Jaime, give me a call when your in town. I will go over with you when you pick up the car. 904-631-2913
RED

[wachuko]

Jaime, give me a call when your in town. I will go over with you when you pick up the car. 904-631-2913
RED

PM Sent. See you in a few hours.

[wachuko]

Ok, first of all, thank you to red107 for being there to help me confirm if it was a good buy or not.

First Fiat in the garage... As it was as expected, lots of rust, interior is complete, engine, tranny, rear end looks clean (no oil mess that I can tell), and all trim pieces that you see missing from the exterior are all inside the trunk, wheels are in perfect condition and only need to be recoated. I have to put it up in the lift to check everything underneath.

Purchased price: 700.00 + trailer rental + diesel = 875.00

I need to make a list of the things it would neet to bring it back to life and if it even makes $$ sense... from a quick inspection it needs:

Two doors, patches on the driver side floor pan, one rear qtr panel, one rear arch, both rocker panels, a hood, list goes on. I will let the photos do more of the talking:

[wachuko]

A few more photos:











Getting ready to lift it and see what else shows up underneath:

[wachuko]

I got oil, all filters, dist cap, rotor, etc. to do a complete tune up before I try to start it.

If I can figure out what oil to get for the tranny and differential (confusing thread...) I will get that tomorrow and change it.

I also need to check that transmission, it is in neutral but could not get it in gear, did not wanted to force it so tomorrow I will check if the throwout bearing is stuck, or what the deal is.

Also removing the wheels to get four new tires on it. I need to be able to move it out of the garage and the tires on it are rotted and don't hold air... Good time to pull out the touch up paint sprayer and recondition the wheels.

Just for the fun of it, I am going to clean the interior, windshield... and take a few more photos.

Good night!

[Europa]

Wachuko, you got yourself a Spider! Are you planning to restore this one, or is this a parts car?

BTW, that is a Pininfarina Spidereuropa. Either a European or Canadian import.

[mdrburchette]

Jaime,

I'm glad you are interested in the Fiat Spider, but I have to be honest with you. You have just bought what is called a parts car. You do not want to spend any money on the car I see in the pics. It will cost you so much more than what it's worth and you will eventually give up. You can sell those wheels for $5-$600 and recoup some of your money. The rust you see is nothing compared to what is hidden. Please reconsider.

[wachuko]

Wachuko, you got yourself a Spider! Are you planning to restore this one, or is this a parts car?

BTW, that is a Pininfarina Spidereuropa. Either a European or Canadian import.

Three owner car, first owner bought it in Italy and used it while living there and then brought it to the US. I think he mentioned that it lived in Michigan until some 15 years ago when it was moved to Florida used for a couple of years and sat for 12 years.

How were you able to determine it was an import?? Just curious.