My "New" 1969 124 Spider

[fiat218]

damn that sucks . it does not cost that much to get the engine rebuild

[WYSpider]

Seldom, any guess when it will get out of the shop?

If you need an alignment I can recommend B & F Tire 38th and Quay St Wheat Ridge (303-421-2063). Family owned since 1954 and they are very familiar with Fiats. Super nice folks with good prices. Hank, who started the company and still runs the cash register, knew the Mauro Brothers. My spider was purchased from Roger Mauro Imports on May 28, 1980.

[SeldomSeen]

Oh what the heck. You might as well know what an Idiot I've been.

Everything about the engine was basically ruined. The high performance exhaust header was welded to the head. The valve stems were all different heights and the bolts were screwed up. Tom had a good but tired head that he rebuilt for me. The block had been decked so far that the pistons (high compression) were even with or above the top of the block. They need to be somewhat lower. The block was so over-bored that the PPOs machine shop actually sleeved it!?! So the block was trash. Tom has a used 1608 block that is getting machined and fitted for all new parts and then balanced. The engine was 1438 not 1608 (Someone had moved the distrubutor to the BS position on the head). So I will get a larger used bell housing to accomodate the bigger flywheel. The clutch parts and pilot bearing were garbage. The carb had been rebuilt albeit poorly, so I have asked for a new (best possible Weber) one. Tom is matching a manifold for it. Many suspension parts were needed and a brake cylinder needed replacement. The heater core was leaking and not holding pressure. I have also asked for a stock exhaust system. I actually like the sound of the OE one best. Tom called the previous work: "real shade tree stuff."

At least Tom said that he could find absolutely no rust anywhere and the interior is nearly perfect. The tonneau cover is there and like new. The trans and rear end are fine. I will need a new top as there are a couple of tears. I'm going to put this on when the car is back in my garage. It will be one of the good ones as they are nicer, longer lasting and quieter. I will need to buff out some swirls in the paint with my Porter Cable system and there is a bit of "orange peel" on the hood that should buff out with a cutting polish etc.

So now I will have what may amount to the most expensive Fiat 124 Spider in existance. I ingenuously trusted the pre-inspection mechanic who quite obviously was compromised by the very unsympathetic and wealthy PO. Will I ever be happy with this thing? Will I ever get my money out of it? At this point I'd like to sell it (anyone interested?) and get a '66-'74 Alfa Spider to go with my GTV. Trust me, I'll be a LOT more careful about the next car! My "dream" turned into a nightmare. In the meantime I feel like such a fool. Funny thing is, I'm quite well educated and extremely well read. My friends and relatives consider me intelligent but then I am still capable of this brand of unmitigated stupidity. Go figure.

When will it be done? Maybe in a couple of weeks.

[fiat218]

how cheap do u wanna sell it

[WYSpider]

Wow! I am so sorry for your experience.

[SeldomSeen]

how cheap do u wanna sell it

With friends like you...

[dom]

Shit happens. Don't beat yourself up about it. There is a lesson in our mistakes or our experiences. We usually end up with the very thing we told ourselves that we must not have, it's a strange Universe.

[fiat218]

how cheap do u wanna sell it

With friends like you...

meaning?

[baltobernie]

So now I will have what may amount to the most expensive Fiat 124 Spider in existance. I ingenuously trusted the pre-inspection mechanic who quite obviously was compromised by the very unsympathetic and wealthy PO. Will I ever be happy with this thing? Will I ever get my money out of it?

You will never "get your money out of it", just like 99% of all vintage car owners. Some have made money (particularly on Alfas), but the majority, certainly the majority of Fiat Spider owners, treat this as a hobby. Not a particularly expensive hobby either; some of your friends have probably spent more on one vacation that you will have invested in this car once it's sorted. You've got an early, rust-free car, which is rare. Curb your enthusiasm about selling it until you and Deb have had at least one glorious drive in it on a crisp Autumn day.

"Most expensive Spider in existence?" Buddy, you need to spend some more time here before throwing that one out!

[fiat218]

i do agree, fix it. when u are done and look back u will think THAT WAS NOT TO BAD

so u got a 14,000.00 dollar fiat, lol who cars. i have a 69 and the 1608 i plan to build will cost 6 grand at least, but it belongs to me

[WYSpider]

meaning?

I get first dibs on it.

[fiat218]

oh lol

[SeldomSeen]

fiat218: I mean't to express humor by saying: "with friends like you who needs enemies" - in the spirit of "you're a big help!" I know what you mean't and it was clever.

I sincerely hope I didn't misslead anyone into thinking that I buy cars for the purpose of making money. That sort of activity nearly ruined our hobby. Classic cars were built to be driven and loved. Terms such as "investment grade cars" really rub me the wrong way. When Series One E-type Jaguar roadsters sell for $130,000 it defeats the intent of what they represent. In fact there should be a law that prevents anyone who says "jagwire" or can't instantly name all of years that Jaguar won the 24 Hours of Lemans from purchasing one. Sure, I own two other classics, a near perfect '66 MGB roadster and the GTV but you'd have to pry my cold dead fingers off of them.

The value I place on the Fiat 124 Sport Spider is based upon one and only one fact. My first car back in 1971 was a dark blue 1969 spider. I loved that car like no other since. It broke my heart to watch it rust away in Michigan Winters. Even after the corrosion was well advanced I never had a serious mechanical problem with it other than the occasional electrical nuisance. Like your first love, you never quite get over it. Now that I have a large steel barn, I can keep such a car safe from weather and not have to lay on my back in a snowstorm in order to change an oil pump.

I am more frustrated about not being more careful than anything to do with money. At sixty, I thought that silliness was behind me. This just goes to prove the old saying: "you shouldn't want any one thing too much."

[LStevens]

Seldom,

Your '69 is quite gorgeous! Don't fret about getting the wool pulled over your eyes... It happens to the best of us at one time or another.

Well, since everything else is in near perfect condition once the engine is finished, then everything will be perfect. I personally would rather have to redo the motor than have to redo the body and interior. You can basically say everything is original on the car other than a rebuilt engine. If someone were to find a rust free decent body and pour $$$ into it to get it in the condition yours will be, it would probably end up costing nearly the same as the total amount you'll end up spending on the car.

Question: you mentioned, "The tonneau cover is there and like new" Can you provide a pic of it and show how it attaches tot he car? Does it use snaps or ???

Steven

[SeldomSeen]

'fraid I can't show you as the car is not here. The design is as brilliant as the top. It hooks at six points, in front behind the doors, trunk deck and into the side panels behind the seats. The cover nicely finishes off the car's look when open. Beyond that, there is probably not another convetible that looks as good with the top up.

Thank you all for the encouraging words. Right now it's just a little hard to see the forest for the trees.