New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

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PNWSmoker

New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

Post by PNWSmoker »

Hello All,

I'm new here and have bought my first 1978 Fiat Spider. I paid $890.00 for the car. It has recent paint from the last 6-8 years and the body looks pretty dang good besides the hood needs to be re-fit. Looks to me like the hinges gave way at some point and a prior owner tried to weld them back up but didn't do a real fancy job. The car runs OK and the guy had a ton of new and used parts so in my mind I did well. For all the cars I looked at this one was 10 times the car for close to the same money as some of the other rust buckets. (Pictures Below)

Let me start by saying I know nothing about the Fiat Spider. I took my wife for a ride in my buddies 79' on Sunday and the next thing you know I'm buying one on Monday. I may have learned my first Fiat lesson today though unless some one can help me out. I bought a set of aluminum wheel from a guy that had a early 70's car and when I got home I've found they don't want to fit up. When I asked the guy if they'd fit my car he said oh sure they're all the same. Well like I said this may have been my first Fiat lesson.

Thanks for reading this and check out the pictures below. First few are of the car at the guys house before I bought it then the last two are in my shop shortly after getting it home. Lastly there are two pictures of the wheels I bought tonight. They say Shelby Cal 500 on the inside of the wheel if that helps.

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And the wheels

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mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

Post by mdrburchette »

Nice looking car, especially for the money! As far as the wheels not fitting, there are two locating pins on each hub to help align the stock wheel to bolt them on. Those pins may be what's keeping you from getting those Shelby wheels to go on. I ground mine down so my aftermarket wheels would fit. Some people remove them.
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
pope

Re: New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

Post by pope »

You bought tires from a cell phone maker? Next we'll be seeing Apple make iTires.
mbouse

Re: New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

Post by mbouse »

before you grind down those locating pins (which is o.k.) be sure to double check that bolt pattern on those new wheels.

Fiats require 4 x 98mm...

nice looking car. my wife loves her '78.

i am curious about the seats, they don't look stock.
rlux4
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 4211
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

Post by rlux4 »

You scored! That looks like an excellent deal, in decent shape, and it runs. Congratulations.
Welcome to the forum, and Spider ownership.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
PNWSmoker

Re: New Member and First Time Fiat Owner From Oregon

Post by PNWSmoker »

I will check the bolt pattern and if it's the same I'll cut the pins down.

The bucket seats were out of some dodge car from what the guy told me.

I'd never seen Nokia tires either.

Thanks for all the info fellas!

Josh
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