It took 40 years but getting my Spider (Atlanta)

[KRegester]

After 40 Years I am finally getting my spider. I was a teenager in Santa Ana California back in 1967 and fell in love with the 124 Spider. There were Lotus Elans and Europas, MGBs, Porsches but the Fiat 124 Spider body was the most beautiful of the lot. They had a bright red one at a dealer on Harbor Blvd along with the 850 Spider and Coupe. Over the past 40 years I have wanted to get my spider but the timing was never right. It was either the wrong place (I was in the Air Force), the kids were too little or too big or I didn't have the extra money for and extra car. Finally I will be picking mine up this friday. She's a 1980 2000 FI Spider, she is hot red of course and she needs a little love to bring her back to full glory. She used to be green and I will be thinking that over as i fix some of her blemishes. Hmmm, Pigeon Blood Red or British Racing Green? That will be a tough one. My wife is almost as excited as I am since I am getting rid of my motorcycles so she can come along with me.

-=Ken=-
Not At-Lanta but Near-'Lanta

[rlux4]

Hey K, Welcome to the forum. You've got me beat. As you can see by my signature line, I was 26 years waiting for my Spider. We had a '79 when we got married in 1980, but it wasn't practical at that time. Sold for a station wagon and subsequent mini vans. Like you my wife was thrilled to let me get a Spider to get me off the motorcycle. Ours were Goldwings but a few years ago she stopped riding with me. So now we're together again!
Have fun with your car, we'd all like to see it as-is and then after the new paint.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

welcome, hopefully you're not near the tornados either!

[KRegester]

Thanks Ron.
I wish I could remember the name of the dealer in So Cal. I think they were on Harbor Blvd?
I am trailering the bike over to Alabama so the wife can come along. She will of course have the Camera and Camcorder so we can start a digital baby book.


Mark, we dodged the bullet on the 'nados.
They were north and south of us, we were in the pocket of calm..

-=Ken=-

[So Cal Mark]

good news about the nados, wouldn't want to see the Spider end up in Oz with Dorothy

[mbouse]

British racing green?

Just kidding. Welcome to the site. Looking forward to tons of pictures, whatever color you choose.

[Tony]

British racing green?

Just kidding. Welcome to the site. Looking forward to tons of pictures, whatever color you choose.

Someone beat me to it! Welcome to the site. I'd say you've beat me on the waiting game so far...only by about twice my age!

[KRegester]

Oh I deserved that. fopah on the first post. <shakes head>
ITALIAN RACING GREEN

So here's some pictures




Now the fun begins.

[rlux4]

Very nice looking car. Looks just like mine did when I got it, except I wish my dash looked that good. My tan top was pretty rough when I picked it up, but it came with a new black one, so putting it on was the first thing I did. I like the looks of the tan top though.
Ron

[KRegester]

The top is there but pretty rough but the rear window is clear. The oil pan is mostly dent free and the body is pretty clean but there are a few spots of rust where they didn't prep before the Earl Scheib paint job. Looks like they masked off the chrome and windows but not all the rubber. This will be fun to clean up. The engine compartment is dark green so I am tempted to put here back to original color.
The brakes pulse so the rotors must be warped and the front end is pretty loose so tie rods and ball joints will need a thorough check.
I tried to run the VIN through all the online checks but it appears they don't work before 1981.
Anyone have a vin decoder for Fiats? I think this was a California car but hard to tell for sure.

Rusty Pan and Suspension


Rusty Driveshaft and Leaking Rear End.

[So Cal Mark]

it's better looking from the top, I'd suggest you keep the shiny side up

[KRegester]

it's better looking from the top, I'd suggest you keep the shiny side up

Agreed!
I bought a sandblasting cabinet 2 years ago to work on my 85 Yamaha FJ600 (stalled restoration project). It will get new use.
At least there is some undercoating left in a few places, arghhh.
Lots of scraping, glass bead blasting and painting, I will build a small paint booth.

[So Cal Mark]

it does have a rear sway bar though!

[ga.spyder]

Hey Ken ,welcome to the forum.I live in Blairsville ,in the N.E. Georgia mtns.What area are you located in?If you want to send me a p.m. I could point you toward a few parts (used) ,and also a couple of Fiat mechanics.If you want to shake her down a little ,contact me and i will guide you over some wild roads!Every cycle club and sports car club in Atl. come up here to get their jollys.
Craig