New person here from Ohio

[bob39]

Hello to everyone. Bob39 here. I'm from Ohio and currently do not own a Fiat Spider. Giving some considerations to buying one but want to be sure that parts are available for them. I know E-bay and forums like this are a source for used parts and some NOS parts. In the case of VW Bugs and many other older cars from the 60s & 70s there are companies that make reproduction parts. Are these reproduction parts also available for Fiats? Having older cars is not new to me as I have a 39 Chevy streetrod and my wife has a 70 VW.

Thanks to the sponsor of this site. I plan on looking around here and may someday have a Fiat Spider.

[rlux4]

Hello, and welcome Bob. You are actually in a state that has a vendor for our parts. Jon Logan of Midwest 124 is in Hilliard. At this point there are enough suppliers to keep us in just about anything needed. Your interest in owning one is good, the more people who own and maintain these cars, the more likely it is that the vendors can make a profit and stay in business.
Stop in here regularly, you'll find a great sense of community amongst us. And let us know when you decide to jump into ownership. We can help you with what to look for, and look out for.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

welcome to the site. There are several vendors in the US and some in Europe supplying virtually any part you need. Some soft parts or low-demand parts are hard to come by, but anyone that surfs the web can find parts and information without too much trouble

[SpiderHead]

Welcome Bob!

There are some great vendors for Fiat parts out there...

Forums like this are awesome for the "sence of belonging" to a larger group of owners, and are quite simply the best way to share experiences, and get advice.

I've not seen a single cry for help go unanswered, nor end in frustration.

Fiats are a fun cars, owned by fun people!

I wish you luck in your search for the perfect Fiat for you! If this is your first Fiat, I recommend spending a little more on the original purchase and buying one that is complete, running, and in enjoyable condition from day one. You will have plenty of opportunities to work on it, as it needs it or as you make improvements. Too many first time owners bite off a bit more than they can chew, and the project languishes for years before either being completed, or abandoned.

-Ryan

[bob39]

Thanks for the welcomes. For now,to me a Fiat Spider is a Fiat Spider regardless of year. From browsing here and on e-bay I see mention of 124 and 2000. What is the difference of these models and are there other models? As I look to see what is available are there years that one should stay away from? Is the Fiat like other cars in that the later years are not easy for the DYI person? If and when I buy I would like to find one that is in good condition and not requiring much work so that I can enjoy it from the start. I'm not opposed to finding one that will need work to put it in condition that I will be happy with but for now I'm not interested in one needing a complete rebuild.

I need to find a book on Fiats, any recommendations?

[rlux4]

124 Spider was the model designation until 1979 when the engine size went to 2 litre (1995 cc's or 2000 rounded up), the model designation became 2000 Spider then. From 1979 on are called the "big hump" cars for the larger humps on the hood to accomodate the taller engine configuration these models have.
The repair manuals for our cars are available at Amazon or Ebay all the time. The best source for wiring diagrams is Brad Artigue's site ( http://www.artigue.com/fiat/ ), however he's got it offline until next month.
The later years you refer to are probably the fuel injected cars. This is a regular source of debate. I'm prejudiced, I have an '82 and after some study about the Bosch L-jetronic system a person finds it pretty basic and relatively easy to work on. There are good diagnostic sources for the system available. On the other hand, the carb'd cars are the majority and most owners wouldn't trade. There are more power mods possible with the carb'd models if that is something you want.
These cars have had a bum rap in the past for being unreliable. Not true. If the car is maintained and cared for they are no more unreliable than any other, in most owner's opinion.
Ron

[baltobernie]

Hello and welcome!

One of the great things about this forum is the "search" ability, like this thread: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... ars+wanted

A couple other questions you may have already begun to answer include

• ∙ regular or occasional use?
  ∙ level of restoration/repair/maintenance I'm willing/able to do
  ∙ smog and safety inspection procedure in Ohio - vintage/historic waiver?

Good Luck, and let us know how you're doing.