Well, it wasn't me that had the winning Powerball ticket in Arizona. But that hasn't stopped my lustful looks at an Eagle Speedster which is a modern interpretation of a Jaguar E-Type. Lots of modern upgrades and a great looking permanently topless "Spider!"
Mine runs better after a wash and vacume...or so it seems. If I was lusting after another red headed Italian mistress, I don't think my car is what I should be worring about...
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
I just saw that Eagle on Top Gear the other night. Yeah it's quite a ride, and only 1/2 Million or so.
I've posted this before, but here's the one I've lusted after since I was 18 years old. Notice a family resemblance? Our Spiders are it's very poor cousins. That's not why I bought my first Spider in 1972, at least not that I was consciously aware, but I suspect that my subconscious may have had a lot to do with it:
SunnySideUp, that Eagle is one sweet-looking ride!
Exit98, Ha! -- I can picture the guys at Pininfarina when they were commissioned to design the Fiat Spider, rooting through old drawings of the Ferrari 275GTS, having one too many glasses of fine Italian wine -- then getting out their erasers and changing a few lines and finally saying "OK Fiat, there you go..." Hickup! Burp! Ahhhhh.
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
This has also been my fantasy for many years. I made an offer on Nicolas Cages 250 GT spider a couple of years ago. It was a very small fraction of the asking price....and I got a response saying I gave them a good laugh.h well, worth a try
Like FoCo said, except the price of a good one is now $600K and up. They made just 200 of them.
Thanksgiving week on Chasing Classic Cars Wayne Carrini found one in Florida owned by a real old man, late 80's or so. He'd stored it since the 70's. No rust but it was rough. Carrini paid $400K for it, and after getting it back to Conn he got it running, but nothing else, and flipped it for a profit, he didn't say how much.
Smart move since a complete restoration would be over $150,000, probably more. The motor alone is over 50K to rebuild. He said let the next guy do it.
Even if I win the lotto or collect a huge windfall, I'll still be the same me: Pratical, frugal, and still want to work on my own cars. That being said I don't think I could plunk down the money for a Ferrari built with Fiat quality parts. Although the 275GTS is a beauty, I prefer the Fiat dino spider's lines. Fiat price, Fiat quality, Ferrari engine and a good example can be had for minimum $30K.
The late Hal Gaylord built a custom spider (using 10 body shells) and stretched the front about 12" and made the hood opening inset like the 275GTS and some Alfas. I think it would be relatively easy to turn a 124 spider into a 275GTS clone. Or you could go the Ferris Bueller route and turn a 124 spider into a Ferrari California 350GT. Some of the shots of the car in the movie were a Fiat spiders made up to look like the Ferrari. There was even a kit being sold at one time to do the conversion.
focodave wrote:SunnySideUp, that Eagle is one sweet-looking ride!
Exit98, Ha! -- I can picture the guys at Pininfarina when they were commissioned to design the Fiat Spider, rooting through old drawings of the Ferrari 275GTS, having one too many glasses of fine Italian wine -- then getting out their erasers and changing a few lines and finally saying "OK Fiat, there you go..." Hickup! Burp! Ahhhhh.
One of the Fiat history books I have explicitly states that our Spiders were fashioned directly after the 275GTS, and also the one-off Rondine (sp?) they did too. (For the rear end)
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
This has also been my fantasy for many years. I made an offer on Nicolas Cages 250 GT spider a couple of years ago. It was a very small fraction of the asking price....and I got a response saying I gave them a good laugh.h well, worth a try
Exit98 wrote:I just saw that Eagle on Top Gear the other night. Yeah it's quite a ride, and only 1/2 Million or so.
I've posted this before, but here's the one I've lusted after since I was 18 years old. Notice a family resemblance? Our Spiders are it's very poor cousins. That's not why I bought my first Spider in 1972, at least not that I was consciously aware, but I suspect that my subconscious may have had a lot to do with it:
She is beautiful, and yes very similar to our Spiders. Has anyone seen a Spider with side louvres? Maybe I can find some at AutoZone and slap them on like those Buick type.
But I do have a soft spot for the E-Type, but who doesn't. Did anyone ever see the episode of Mad Men, where Don Draper takes a new E-Type out for a test drive?
Giulio/Charlotte
1st car '75 pistachio 128 sedan
Owned a '74 Spider, '68 Firebird, a '65 GTO convertible, and a customized '74 650 Yamaha
Currently own an '81 Turbo (removed) Spider