Just Acquired a 1980 Spider

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Hello Fiatisti (is that a word?). I recently bought this EFI '80 Spider as an attempt to relive my youth. My first new car out of college was a 1978 Spider. It was cream with tan interior and finned aluminum wheels. Loved the car. Bought for $6,300 from the Seattle dealer. Sold it two years later for $6,600! Always wanted another but ended up with a '67 Duetto in 1985 and that started a long love affair with Alfas. But still loved my little FIAT Spider. This one was posted near my house and I bought it on the spot. Engine needed work and ended up having the head rebuilt, new timing belt, etc. Got her back just in time for the weather to turn cold but fortunately the heater works!

Lots to do. I'll repaint it over the winter. The seats look to be reupholstered but a lot of the interior is tired. I'll attend to that as well. It didn't come with bumpers and I'm fine with that. Leaks a bit of oil, needs the suspension freshened up. But overall a fun car to drive. It is an interesting contrast to the Alfa experience. Love them both - just different.

I will post pictures once I figure out how to...

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https://goo.gl/photos/VJ4uDEV28eTr4t3y5
https://goo.gl/photos/zva5C93yKWVh2JwN6
https://goo.gl/photos/oNe7HTMXCYL1hJ2p9
https://goo.gl/photos/d662DejbwLyz61He8

[stpher]

Hi,

I have always followed your posts on the Alfa BB ( because I have a 69 Spider Veloce as well ) and now to follow your posts here ( I also have an 81 FI 124 Spider , same color ) Look forward to seeing more. You will find that there are lots of helpful people here just like the ABB Nice car to start with, they are a lot of fun,. I am halfway through doing mine

Good luck and welcome

Thanks, Rick

[zachmac]

Welcome, looks nice, love that color! You realize you aren't just bumperless; some PO has filled in both the bumper shock holes and the square openings to either side of those. Looks good to me.

What are you doing for front turn signals as there don't appear to be any? Will they let you run it without them in your state?

[toplessexpat]

I like the smooth look at the front, and whoever did the work appears to have done a very nice job. I'm hoping you've got some hidden turn signals in the main headlamp units...

[bradartigue]

Looks like a fun project. If you are familiar with Alfas you'll find a lot of the parts in the "guts" of the chassis to be similar.

On a side note you guys should petition to rename this forum "bumperlessfiatspider.com" - speaking of, what happened to that picture of the bumperless spidereuropa that used to hog 3" of screen?

[toplessexpat]

Brad - I'm glad that you've joined us on the dark side, and support bumperless

[zachmac]

Brad's not joining us, he's mocking us! But, to each his own.

[toplessexpat]

I'm sure that's not true. At heart Brad really wants to believe in the weight shedding beauty of going commando.....

[SoFlaFiat]

I'm sure I'm not the only one sitting back laughing about that one Andy, but laughing I am!!

[Frog2Spider]

I think that bumper less Spiders are like top less women.

Attention getting, for sure, but doesn't keep you from admiring those with their tops on.

[toplessexpat]

Precisely....

[SoFlaFiat]

I think that bumper less Spiders are like top less women.

Attention getting, for sure, but doesn't keep you from admiring those with their tops on.

Well put!! Can I quote that? Love it!!

[bradartigue]

I'm sure that's not true. At heart Brad really wants to believe in the weight shedding beauty of going commando.....

Every one of you guys bolts so much after market stuff on your cars the "weight loss" is like one of my diet plans, it's more like weight transference!

I say to each his own; in the end the unmolested cars always survive. My main goal is for people to enjoy them every day, even when driven in the nude.

[zachmac]

[/quote]Every one of you guys bolts so much after market stuff on your cars the "weight loss" is like one of my diet plans, it's more like weight transference!
I say to each his own; in the end the unmolested cars always survive. My main goal is for people to enjoy them every day, even when driven in the nude.[/quote]

Brad,

That's a pretty blanket, and in many cases clearly false, statement. I guarantee my gear reduction starter weighs a whole lot less than stock, as does my 90 amp alternator. I think you need to admit there is a difference between "wood working projects", as you call them, and logical upgrades for performance and safety. I think alternators, starters, improved ignition, and absolutely brakes, fall into the latter category. And while I would do each of those for reasons other than weight, I am pretty darn sure each weighs less than the factory parts they replace, while vastly improving performance and reliability. Resto-rods are popular because people like to drive cars that look old without totally sacrificing the reliability and safety that any cheap modern car provides. I'm pretty sure if Fiat had the current 500 brakes on the shelf when our Spiders were being built they would have put them on the car. I built a 998 point concours winning Jaguar E-type and you can be sure there weren't any points inside the distributor. Jaguar judges are almost as picky as Corvette guys, but all them agree it is also nice for it to actually start, stop and turn.

I know you are a large promoter of "original is best", but isn't it better that a Spider have modern brakes and stop BEFORE the collision than to lose another one to the crusher when the 40 year old technology doesn't cut the mustard?

That said, I am in no way defending bumperless cars under this same pretext. That is simply a cosmetic choice that clearly changes the car's appearance in a way the other mods I mentioned don't and, unless you go to an Abarth style replacements, leaves the car something other than originally intended or period correct.