Is it an '81 or an '82?

[Spiderinsider]

In trying to determine the original color of my (repainted black) Spider, I carefully removed the paint from the sticker in the trunk and found it to be 474F - Azzurro Metall. (I should've guessed anyway by all the blue paint in the engine bay.) The door tag reads 06*81 so I know the car was made in 1981 and the registration reads 1982 so I know that was when it was first registered. I'm wondering though if the car is a model year '81 or an '82 in terms of features and specifications. In other words, is the car a true '82 or an '81 model that was just not registered until '82. Can anyone tell me if 474F Azure Blue is a color for the 1982 model year? The 'Paint Colors' chart at http://www.spidercenter.com/ shows that 474F Blue Metallic applies to years '80-'81. Does anyone know the cut-off date of manufacture between model years? Are other ways to accurately determine the model year?

Thanks in advance.

[So Cal Mark]

it should be an 81 model. There should be an underhood tag by the latch that tells what year model the emissions comply to.

[Spiderinsider]

Hi Mark,
Thank you for that. Yes, the plate is there on the passenger side firewall but most of the text is faded away. It has an eight digit stamped number beginning with 081. Would this indicate the model year?

[So Cal Mark]

not the stamped metal plate, there should be an emissions label on the cowl just above the hood latch

[seventil]

Funny! My '81 was originally Azzurro Metall as well, think it looked something like this:



Great color, though I think a black top would be better.

Mine was repainted black also. Not sure why, was looking for body damage that thought it might have been painted over... the original blue color is gorgeous! Hrmpf.

[Spiderinsider]

Unfortunately, no stickers under the hood - only grease. Sorry this is such an anal question. Wouldn't the fact alone that it's Azure Blue make it an '81?

I know the car was made in June of '81 but if the car were built on December 31st 1981 it would likely have been a 1982 model so I'm wondering at what date the '81s ended and the '82s began.

Seventil: Complements on your '81! Mine will look like that again.

[seventil]

Unfortunately, no stickers under the hood - only grease. Sorry this is such an anal question. Wouldn't the fact alone that it's Azure Blue make it an '81?

I know the car was made in June of '81 but if the car were built on December 31st 1981 it would likely have been a 1982 model so I'm wondering at what date the '81s ended and the '82s began.

Seventil: Complements on your '81! Mine will look like that again.

Not mine, I just googled it!

Mine is currently black, will need a paint job eventually. Will have before / after pics up this week!

[Spiderinsider]

I'm going to take mine from black to azure as well so I'll trade you pics. It may be off-topic but in case you've not already considered it, you may consider a soda blaster to save money on the paint job.

http://www.eastwood.com/soda-blaster-st ... media.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRDX6BPzpj0

These things will take the body down to bare metal. The cost of the unit is less than the cost of paying someone to do the work and you'll have the machine for future use.

[So Cal Mark]

Euro mfgs did things differently than the Big 3. Detroit released new models in Oct-Nov designated for the upcoming model year. Typically anything built after Aug would fall into the upcoming year. Detroit shuts down their assembly lines to switch over to the new models. Euro mfgs made running changes, so serial numbers are crucial for figuring out replacement parts. Fiat even updated year models on vehicles that were sitting on the docks near the end of the presence in the US. From your build date I'd say the car is an 81

[Spiderinsider]

Thanks again Mark! '81 it is!

[mdrburchette]

Why don't you look at the VIN#? 1981 is the first year for the mandatory 17 digit VIN so the 10th digit should be a "B" if it's an 81.

[Spiderinsider]

Thanks! Didn't know that. Tenth of the VIN though is 'C'. Isn't that just a registration thing other than having to do with the model year specs? Couldn't it just as easily be a car built in 1977 but not shipped to the US until '82 and then issued an '82 VIN?

[spider2081]

I believe Denise is correct an 81 would have a "B" in the 10th position. IF your vin has a "C" I think your car could be built in 1981 however it is a 1982 model year.

[mdrburchette]

The VIN isn't issued to a car except at the factory. It doesn't seem Fiat cared much about keeping the year models precise, but I have found this to be true with other manufacturers.

[Spiderinsider]

Thanks again. Sounds like enough evidence to conclude an '82 model made in '81.