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

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wachuko
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Your car is a: 1981 Fiat 2000 Spider
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by wachuko »

mdrburchette wrote: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.
The more I look at the body (see additional photos), the more I agree with you.

My plans is to bring it back to life mechanically. Meaning, clean up the engine, replace hoses, belts, wires, etc. Change all fluids and filters. And start the car. Then work myself toward the back, reconditioning the brakes, bled the system and get it all working correctly, change the oil in the transmission, change any seals along the way.

But not touch the body work. It will allow me to get use to the mechanics of this car, it will give me a good set of spare parts that I am comfortable with the condition.

I like the wheels, so I will recondition them. Going to put a set of new tires this morning so I can at least move the car easily.

But the search for a good car is still on. I just had to get something to get my hands dirty on it.
Drive Safe!
Wachuko

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red107
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by red107 »

Denise, I agree with you on the body. The floors are solid but the rest of the body was pretty shot. But I have seen worst come back. Now the good... The interior was amazing compared to the rest of the car and engine was all together. Nothing missing still in tack. If he did decide to part out the car he would make his money back and more.
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narfire
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by narfire »

Jamie, interesting project there. I'd suspect it would turn into a "franken fiat" like my 72. New/good used fenders ect.
When trying to start for the first time, perhaps stick the fuel line into a can of clean gas. The fuel pumps work great with fuel but any rust/crap and the thing is pooched in a hurry. When I did my 80, I ended up with two parts cars and cobbled the one together, used the second engine to upgrade its performance over several months as funds allowed. A parts car is great to have. If you can find another FI with a decent bod, you'll be in great shape.
Chris
80 FI spider
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wachuko
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by wachuko »

I will start a new thread for bringing back to life the parts car. Want to keep this thread for the search of THE CAR. :D
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1981 Fiat Spider Progress thread
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Europa
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Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Spidereuropa
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by Europa »

wachuko wrote:
Europa wrote: How were you able to determine it was an import?? Just curious.
The gauges are metric. Oil pressure gauge shows 0-4-8 bar and the temp gauge shows 50-90-130 centigrade. The speedometer is covered with the paper mph sticker, over the original kmph. The plate above the radio should say spidereuropa rather spider azzura. Also, your trunk and hood badges should have the pininfarina "f" rather than the sails of the Azzura. HTH.

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ga.spyder
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by ga.spyder »

Jaime,looking at those fenders I would say its a good bet that car was in Michigan :lol: They love salt in Michigan!!
Craig
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wachuko
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by wachuko »

Just a quick update... I just don't know how you guys are finding these bargain cars with no rust for such little $...

This car was for sale in Sarasota for 3,500.00... called, offered to give a deposit since I could not go that day, seller said that there was no need...the next day I go to pick it up he calls to say that he had been offered 5K... :evil: - Leason learned, when the right car shows up, go the same day and pick it up...

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Since I now have a parts car with a complete interior I am going back to Brandon to look again at the first car I saw with the messed up interior and see if the owner will accept an offer. That car had a bad air flow meter (I have a spare one in the trunk of the Fiat I got). If all goes well, I will transfer all the interior from my parts car, wheels, and have a running car.

That will hold me up while I continue to search.
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Wachuko

1981 Fiat Spider Progress thread
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Europa
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by Europa »

How 'bout this one? Offer the dealer $3K.

Ps. Looks like the car was repainted.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/1627220087.html

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pooldoctorstl

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

Post by pooldoctorstl »

The dealer should be ready to get rid of it. I know he has had since at least early December because I saw it on CL and was thinking about making an offer. Remember - bargains are found by constantly looking and being PATIENT. Relax, keep looking, and you will find what you are looking for.
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wachuko
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by wachuko »

pooldoctorstl wrote:The dealer should be ready to get rid of it. I know he has had since at least early December because I saw it on CL and was thinking about making an offer. Remember - bargains are found by constantly looking and being PATIENT. Relax, keep looking, and you will find what you are looking for.
Patience? What is that? :lol: I know... I know... but I lack some of that...

Since we are in the subject of patience... I bought the car that was at Brandon... :!: I will transfer all the interior from the parts-car... I just want a car that I can drive... ...this will calm me down, still give me something to work on...be able to drive it, and wait for Europa's neighbor to sell his :mrgreen:

It is dark and the car is dirty... will take better photos over the weekend.

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Are these wheels worth selling? I don't like them and will be replacing them for the ones in the parts car...

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A few more photos

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Last edited by wachuko on Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Wachuko

1981 Fiat Spider Progress thread
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1981 911 SC Coupe RS Transformation
1983 911 SC Coupe RSR Transformation
1991 964 C4 Cabriolet Progress Thread
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wachuko
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by wachuko »

Europa wrote:How 'bout this one? Offer the dealer $3K.

Ps. Looks like the car was repainted.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/ctd/1627220087.html

Image

I never liked that one... not sure why. Must have been the way it was repainted. Looked like it was done to hide something and sell. They did not even remove the trim before painting.
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Wachuko

1981 Fiat Spider Progress thread
1967 912 Progress Thread
1981 911 SC Coupe RS Transformation
1983 911 SC Coupe RSR Transformation
1991 964 C4 Cabriolet Progress Thread
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red107
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by red107 »

Patience? What is that? :lol: I know... I know... but I lack some of that...

Since we are in the subject of patience... I bought the car that was at Brandon... :!: I will transfer all the interior from the parts-car... I just want a car that I can drive... ...this will calm me down, still give me something to work on...be able to drive it, and wait for Europa's neighbor to sell his :mrgreen:

Congrats!!! are you bringing it to zephyrhills this weekend?
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by FatherG »

Congratulations I admire your focus, determination and hard work. You will enjoy your car.


Eugenio
http://www.sportspider124.blogspot.com
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wachuko
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by wachuko »

red107 wrote:Patience? What is that? :lol: I know... I know... but I lack some of that...

Since we are in the subject of patience... I bought the car that was at Brandon... :!: I will transfer all the interior from the parts-car... I just want a car that I can drive... ...this will calm me down, still give me something to work on...be able to drive it, and wait for Europa's neighbor to sell his :mrgreen:

Congrats!!! are you bringing it to zephyrhills this weekend?

Are you kidding me? I was until today. :D I am diving in and working on it this weekend... will not make it to the event.
Drive Safe!
Wachuko

1981 Fiat Spider Progress thread
1967 912 Progress Thread
1981 911 SC Coupe RS Transformation
1983 911 SC Coupe RSR Transformation
1991 964 C4 Cabriolet Progress Thread
2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d
2015 FIAT Abarth
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red107
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Re: Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

Post by red107 »

How long is the list to get it road worthy? Looks pretty solid from the pics.
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