New (old) Member - 1982 Spider

wrkalot · Post by **wrkalot** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:53 am

Hi everyone. I've been away for a few years but glad to be back! I have a 1982 Fiat Spider and I'm looking forward to getting back into the site and working on the car.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:45 am

welcome back! Where are you and car located?

wrkalot · Post by **wrkalot** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:53 am

Thanks Mark. We are in Maryland. My wife bought the car in Illinois off the showroom floor in 82'. She drove it to San Diego (where we met). It lived there for 6 years, then Tucson AZ for a year then here to Maryland.

It's her baby

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:11 pm

welcome. with all of those locations, you should have lots of pictures to share with the Spider in lucious locations.

CarNut · Post by **CarNut** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:00 pm

wrkalot wrote:... My wife bought the car in Illinois off the showroom floor in 82'. ...

I'd like to buy a new car and keep it a lifetime, but today's cars are so boring. If you can't hang your elbow out the window, it doesn't feel like a sports car. Congrats on being able to keep it that long!

Gunsmith · Post by **Gunsmith** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:21 pm

I restored a 78 spider for my ex-wife, it was beatiful but I had to get rid of both of them a while ago. I couldn't afford the maintenance but the car was cheap to own. Now I have a new beatiful wife and a beatiful new to me 82 Spider both of which are a joy. I wish I had them both from the start as well. It looks like you will have all winter to get your Spider up to par. No excuses not to have it on the road after the 1st Spring rain. You found a woman with good taste or she was smart enough to find a guy who didn't mind working on Italian cars.

wrkalot · Post by **wrkalot** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:00 pm

Well, over the years I have tried to talk her into selling it... came close once

Glad she came to here senses! I wish I could work on it over the winter but we now live on a boat and the marina parking lot isn't very well protected

It does need some TLC but I have already replaced the control arms, bushings, shocks and springs on the front... I'll do the rear in the spring (I hope) among a lot of other things.