74 SPIDER

[BEEK]

new to my stable, purchased a 74 spider. kinda rusty, but have to make the decision to fix or part out. front bumper is rusty but not bent, rear bumpers are in good condition. the trunk lid has no rust, the inner fenders and shock towers are rust free. the rest is rusted, repairable, but rusted. floor boards are 50% gone, seats havent fallen thru, yet! ive been wanting a 74, just not sure if this is the one. only paid 50.00 so i didnt get hurt anyway.

[So Cal Mark]

a 74 vin plate and paperwork would be worth more than that out here in the old west

[narfire]

Do you do your own body work? I don't and seems the cars with rust issues are costing me around 3-4 thou to sort and paint.(I've taken the car apart/stripped) I did'nt buy the car(s) as well as you have ($3-500) & I don't believe I have anywhere the skill set you have, so it takes me a bit longer to get the car back together as well, but it is kinda like therapy for me. Were you thinking of bringing the car back and selling or another keeper? What would a restored car sell for there in Florida?
Are there people nearby needing parts? I'm thinking of using a rusty 72 for parts for a not so rusty 75 but I'll end up with parts haging around for ever as there are not many spiders about here in BC
I'd go for it!
Think of it as another save...
Chris

[BEEK]

Yes, i have the ability to do my own bodywork and mechanical work, i used to own a restoration shop. a fiat parts dealership, and a fiat salvage yard. so i have seen a few fiats. 1000's, granted we restored other things besides fiats, we did turn out 20 or so spiders over the years. just got tired of doing that kind of work, been out of it for 7 or so years now, and i am thinking about restoraing a few cars for myself. guess i couldnt get it all out of my system

[mdrburchette]

So you know what is entailed in restoring a rust bucket. Are you planning to keep the car or sell it for profit? I personally would think twice about restoring a rusted car since the damage you see is not the worst of it.

[BEEK]

if i restore it , it will be for me to keep. im probably going to wait a while, and look for a better chassis to start with, but the tinkering will start. i have restored worse though, did an austin healey 3000, that from the seat bottoms down was completely rotten. had accident frame damage kinda repaired in the 60's. granted it cost the customer over 80k by the time the car was finished. it was pristine and rust free.

[bakercs]

BEEK

PM sent.

[wachuko]

new to my stable, purchased a 74 spider. kinda rusty, but have to make the decision to fix or part out. front bumper is rusty but not bent, rear bumpers are in good condition. the trunk lid has no rust, the inner fenders and shock towers are rust free. the rest is rusted, repairable, but rusted. floor boards are 50% gone, seats havent fallen thru, yet! ive been wanting a 74, just not sure if this is the one. only paid 50.00 so i didnt get hurt anyway.

50.00!?? or 500.00?? Was it the one in Florahome?? This one?

[BEEK]

yep, bought it for 50.00

[htchevyii]

It sounds like you are well aware of what you are getting into, but as inexpensive, (undervalued in my opinion) as FIATs are I think you are better off buying the best one that you can find. I bought my '72 for 300 bucks and it's mostly rust free and straight, but after sitting for 25 years everything needed attention and for what I've got in it now I could have bought a nice turn key one. Then again I've been thru most of it and know what I have. Still looks like you got a hell of a deal!