Potential New Fiat Owner From Iowa

[Newell33]

Hello

This looks like a wonderul site with a lot of great information. I'm looking at a 1975 124 Spider, if I can get the owner to sell that is. It needs some interior work and a few other odds and ends. The more read about the Spider the more excited I get.

Thanks again for the great site.

Josh

[kristoj]

Welcome to the site! Good to see you are getting excited as these are wonderful cars. Just take you time and be patient when searching for one. These are not rare cars with around 200,000 produced. Compare the one you are looking at with others on Craig's list, e-bay, classic car trader, etc. You will also find a lot of information and advice here. Good luck!

[rlux4]

Welcome!
John is right, there are still plenty of good Spiders available if you don't wind up with the 75 you're looking at. You've no doubt done your homework on value and what to watch out for, so here's hoping you get a good one. And you're in good company here, we all are exited about our cars.
Keep us posted on your quest for the car.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

welcome, post some pics of your potential car and we'll help evaluate it

[sonosml]

Hey Josh,

I'm also from Iowa and I have been looking for some Fiat Spider "buddies" to have here in Iowa. What part of Iowa are you from? I'm in Anamosa. Right off of Hwy 151 between Cedar Rapids and Dubuque.

Let me take a guess. Your trying to buy the 75 red spider that is in Iowa City at the service garage downtown. I too tried to buy that one, but for some stupid reason the guy won't sell it nor will the owner of the garage take ownership of it under Iowa's abandonment laws. Its been there over a year.

Give me a shout back. I've been a spider owner for over 20+ years, but not an expert by any means.

IA-Mike

[mbouse]

hi josh.

Sounds like you are already getting some valuable advice.

welcome to the site.

[racydave]

Hope you come home soon with a new to you Fiat! They are out there, hold out for the correct one!

[Newell33]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the response. Actually, I'm from Oskaloosa. The car is in the posession of a relative of my Aunt (by marriage). I don't have any pictures but I did look it over for quite a while today. Although I've moved on to something better now I was the manager of an auto parts store for the last 10 years. I've also raced stock cars for the last 7 or 8 years. I've decided to take a break from spending my life's fortune and work on something that doesn't get beat up week in and week out....lol. Although I have a pretty good idea on the general value of most cars, the Fiats are new to me. My main concern when looking at a car this age is the condition of the body. Rust is much harder to fix than the mechanicals. Fortunately, this car is in great shape with hardly any rust. The small portion of rust I did find was on the driver's side hood hinge, near the hood lock lever. I've seen on this site that used hoods go for around $200.00 if needed. Other than that the body is pretty much free of rust. The top is newer but the hinge mechanisms need some lubrication or attention. The interior will need carpet and seats/covers, but the dash is in great shape with no cracks or blemishes. The chrome on the bumpers and luggage rack are in excellent condition. I haven't heard the engine run yet, but she says it runs great. It has been setting for about a year, so I would obviously go through it before starting it. I would most likely change the timing belt and other components first. It will probably need tires and possible control arm bushings as the front tire wear was abnormal. Otherwise, the underside of the car looks great.
Unfortunately the owner has quite a bit in the car, including the new top about a year and a half ago. I can probably pick it up for around $800.00. I will easily drop another $1000.00 into it to ensure its roadworthiness. From what I've seen it looks like that may be a little high, but I don't really want to pass up a car with such a good body.

Edit: I forgot to add that the owner mentioned the clutch slips. I'd probably have to figure in a clutch kit and cable as well.

Thanks again for all of the comments already! It's nice to see such a friendly group. What are your thoughts so far?

Josh

[So Cal Mark]

that doesn't sound like much for that car

[kilrwail]

Sounds like a bargain from what you've desbribed. Too bad you can't hear the engine running, but I'd say you've found your car! Good luck

[sonosml]

Hey Josh,

I just sent you another private message, trying to find out where your located. But I see here you posted where you are. We're not that far apart. I go to Ottumwa all the time for work and Oskaloosa isn't far from there. I plan about 2 hrs to go to Ottumwa. It sounds like you have alot of "car" experience. So working on your new Fiat shouldn't be a huge problem. Just be aware that there are a lot of things on a Fiat that are done slightly different, which is what drove most mechanics nuts back in the old days. Probably mostly on the electrics. Things are very interconnected and tracing them can drive you nuts.

your aunts car didn't sound like too bad of a deal for a car from the midwest. I think 800 would be a steal if the all the rust it has is the hood. There are several other key locations to check. Lets get together sometime and we can go over them. I have 2 spiders, A good one and a bad one. So you will clearly be able to see the differences.

IA-Mike

[mbouse]

mike,

be sure to include that wind screen on your 'bad' example. it will help cement the point.

[sonosml]

oh yes! The Windscreen that I plagurized from Wi Jerry. It was a huge hit at FUN2008 wasn't it. I'm planning on bringing it to FUN2009 and I thought about making it a "traveling" trophie. I haven't figured out what event to make it the prize for.

I suppose I should post something on Chi-Flu about it.

Sandy was disappointed about me pulling the roll bar out of the Cherry Bomb, she said we could have had a lot nicer wind screen using that the the ugly baby bed bumper.

IA-Mike

[racydave]

It was so ugly, that we all signed it! I was just looking at the pics.

[Newell33]

Well guys, I brought it home last night. The owner mentioned it was a '75. Upon further inspection it turned out to be a late '76, registered as a '77. I ended up getting it for $800.00. I'm sure I'll have tons of questions, so please bear with me!

Thanks!
Josh