1967 Spider model

[mbouse]

so, i ordered a Spider model off Ebay. No... not one like Pope's mom. A model car! cheeze, you guys!

anyway, it turns out to be labelled FIAT 124 Sport Spider 1400 (1967). knowing it was shipped from UK in NOS condition, i wrongfully presume it would come with righthand drive. though, interesting the level of detail.. down to the parcel shelf with zero leg room, battery in the engine bay, overflow bottle and yellow t-belt cover. event the dash looks presentable, as do the badges outside.

question for you 'sperts. driver side rearview mirror on this model should be where? door? fender? elsewhere?

[mdrburchette]

It may be on the fender. What does the mirror look like? Sorry! You asked for 'sperts. I don't actually spert, but I do spew.

[mbouse]

this depicts a chrome mirror on the fender.

if that is correct, then why did they move it?

[pope]

I think that 1967's were European models. I think the 1968 version was the first year sold in USA. I'll bet that the mirror had to meet US standards and was moved off the fender and onto the door.

[ventura ace]

The '69 owner's manual shows a fender mounted driver side mirror, and the '70 owner's manual supplement shows a door mounted driver side mirror. I can vouch for the '70.



For the '70, no parcel shelf, but a real back seat with leg room for little kids (if the front seats are up several notches). The timing cover was aluminum, not the yellow plastic. I believe these would be the same for '67 - '69. Seat headrests were not on the seats until 1970, unless I'm mistaken. Side marker lights would be the little round things (front only) for '67 - '69.

What does the lower console look like? I believe it was very different for the '67.

Alvon

[pope]

I think moms didnt come with a mirror.

[mdrburchette]

Headrests weren't available in 68 but they were in 69. Round lights were on fenders and quarter panels for US cars. Here's a pic of my 68 with the mirror on the door, but it's a torpedo looking body color mirror vs the chrome flat mirror:

[kmead]

Given that it is a Euro model, it would have likely not come with a mirror. As I recall that would have been an optional item and could have been anything.

The pointy mirror would have been a Talbot mirror which were very popular in the sixties. I have crappy ripoff one on my 850.

http://www.talbotco.com/talbot_mirror.htm

[mbouse]

well, this has the mirror on the fender like Karl's scan of the manual. it also has front only round side markers, and no headrests. upper console looks to be a second glove box of sorts, rather than a radio area. the center console appears to be a not to scale copy of later model center consoles.

so, the yellow t-belt cover is in error, and i know that the rear lights are not correct, because it has amber turn lenses.

i do not recall ever seeing a 1408 engine... does the carb mount on the passenger side, and the air snorkle point to the driver fender? that is what this model shows.

[narfire]

Although over 30 years ago,I remember my 70 with the 1438 had the dist. mounted above the oil filter. The carb is mounted on the drivers side and air filter horn is over the manifold on the pass. side.
Wonder if the model designers took the info from a picture that was reversed?

[kilrwail]

I have an all metal 1/18 scale model of a FI, cat-equipped Spider made by Auto Art. It's well-detailed and accurate in most respects, although there's no battery box in the trunk. Iron cross wheels, doors, hood and trunk open, steering wheel turns the wheels and the seat belts are cloth. But the mirror broke off the door! Too bad it's the wrong year, interior colour and engine to match my car, but still, it was a great gift.

[mbouse]

i was outbid on this model at Ebay, then given a second chance at my last price.. so i went for it. the ad did not say 1967 model, and i did not see the engine bay... anyway! i'll accept it for its faults.

already received a priceless gift on its first day at home. told the wife i had bought a new spider... she was NOT pleased after i insisted i was not joking. said it was red, so we'd have red/white/blue models to play with. i convinced her i wasn't joking... which infuriated her.

then, i showed it to her, and she was embarrassed.

[mdrburchette]

Boy, you owe Missy something special after putting her through all that....maybe her very own model car?

[mbouse]

is that what you do with Ron every time you bring another Fiat home?

DUNN worry Denise, i will compensate her..

[kmead]

The amber turn signals would be correct for a European model, they only come with amber over there. Red is an unfortunate US anomaly. They Euro cars also had a very small front side marker with no rear side marker, theirs may also have been a repeater but I am not sure.

In Europe they also labeled the 1438 a 1400, a 1608 was a 1600 and a 1756 was of course a 1800. Odd rounding to say the least.