Old fiat owner, new member

[msrmd]

Hello and thank you for the hard work necessary to create and maintain this site.

I bought my first Fiat 124 Spider in 1973. I was just graduating from college. It was rallye red, and had the 1608 engine. I was single and starting my first job in television. Life was good. I dated my wife in that car, and later drove my children around in the back seat. I went to medical school in it but during my junior year, (when it was ten years old) I had to sell it to pay the rent, buy groceries, and afford Christmas presents.

I have had a number of very desirable new vehicles over the years, but last year I saw a 124 Spider on ebay. It was a 1971 that I knew very little about, but on a whim I placed a bid and to my surprise, I won the auction. Fortunately it was in decent mechanical shape, but needed a lot of interior work. I have put about three thousand dollars and several hundred hours into it and it is looking and running pretty good. (1608, modified with electric fuel pump and upgraded carburetor. Also has roll bar and is metallic burgundy or maroon.) I have kept most of my restoration to original state rather than customization.

Along the way I began to yearn for the 1973. I had found IAP, Bruce's, Vick's and unfortunately Caribou (who still owes me for a parade boot that has never been delivered after a year of waiting and unanswered calls). I was talking to one of the guys at Vick and he began looking for a 73. Several months later he called after locating one and on his recommendation I bought it sight unseen. He is overseeing the process of a true professional ground up restoration to better than new condition. We have been at it for about 8 months, and it may take that much more. Odd as it may seem, while I continue to work on my daily driver 71, I have only seen the 73 in pictures. I can't wait to finish it and get behind the wheel of the chariot of my youth.

Driving the 71 brings back so many good memories. Every sound, feel and even smell is like an old friend. I had forgotten how much fun it was to drive in a car built for the pleasure of driving.

I will look forward to visiting with all of you who share my peculiar passionate addiction to this beautiful italian mechanical work of art. By the way, I know many of you are partial to th 1982, and one day I may need one of those too. But for now I prefer those classic chome bumpers.

[So Cal Mark]

welcome to the site! That's pretty amazing, to restore a car you've never seen or sat in! I admire your faith

[rlux4]

Welcome aboard. Great story! Although I gotta tell you, you're not an old Fiat owner. Graduating in '73 makes you younger than me, and I'm not old. (I do avoid mirrors however.) Unless you meant that you drove one way back when, or you own an old Fiat, that's better.
Let us see some pictures, OK?
Ron

[msrmd]

I actually have the title to the 73 and sent my son-in-law to inspect it and take detailed pictures. I checked references on the gentleman who is overseeing the restoration, and executed a detailed letter of understanding between us. Still a leap of faith, but a calculated one. Faith is believing in what is yet unseen. The mental picture I have and the anticipation are almost worth the price of admission.

As far as pictures... I am a little inept attatching images, but I will work on it.

By the way, I'm in Hot Springs, Arkansas and haven't seen another 124 Spider in person in years.

[rlux4]

To attach pictures to your post you'll need to upload them first on a photo sharing site. Then copy them there and paste them in your message composition box back here at the forum.
Ron

[kristoj]

Great story and congratulations on fulfilling your desire to get a '73 -- especially one that will be completely restored. I'm excited for you. Definitely have to post some pix when available.

And Ron, if you graduated before 1973, you are officially old my friend!

[rlux4]

I didn't actually graduate John, after 2 years I succumbed to the lure of untold riches becoming a carpenter, then builder. I became a carpenter, then a builder, still waiting for the untold riches. I was born in 1947, so I do qualify for senior discount anywhere I go!
Thanks kid,
Ron

[mbouse]

not all of us are attached to '82 Spiders. some of us prefer carburetors to fuel injection. I have one of the last carb'd Spiders produced in my '80...

welcome to the site. get that son-0-law to show you how to post pictures.

[kristoj]

Well Ron, per the post on what makes a classic, the Classic Car Club of America basically only recognizes pre-war cars as classics. Since you were born in '47, I guess you are too young to be a classic.

I might be a few years behind you, but our Fiats are the same age!

[Hjulenx]

I also have a certain affinity for the '73 spiders. Actually, the entire reason I have a Fiat is because of a '73....

When my father graduated from the Naval Academy in that year his mother, my grandmother, bought him a forest green Fiat Spider as a present. Him and my mom dated in that car until it was wrecked sometime in the 80s when he was coming back for a class reunion. He was going through test pilot school at the time and couldn't fix the damage so the car was sold. Unfortunately, my father died serving his country in 1992 and he never got a chance to replace the car.

When it came time for me to get a car, my mother found a '81 Fiat at the local Naval Air Station, whose owner was a Naval Academy graduate! Long story short, I just graduated from the Academy this past May, and have had the car for almost 8 years.

My goal one day is to find a forest green '73 and restore it to perfect stock condition in tribute to my dad.

[kristoj]

That's a great goal to have. It's amazing how certain cars touch our lives. My father died a few years back. He was an Air Force veteran and served in Korea. Not exactly the same story as you, but he is the reason I own my BMW and will never sell it.

[msrmd]

James,
Congratulations on the accomplishment. I'm sure your father would be very proud of you.

From my recent experience in locating a 73 Spider, I would recommend starting early in your search. Apparently for some reason, there were fewer imported that year than before or after. That fact plus the 35 years of rust seems to have made the supply limited. Also they made it with both the 1592 and the 1608 engine that year, and many prefer the 1608. You can tell quickly by looking at the odometer if it is original. The 1608 goes to 9000 rpm, while the 1592 goes to 8000.

Good luck on your career in the Navy, and the search for the perfect 73 Spider.

[pope]

He is overseeing the process of a true professional ground up restoration to better than new condition. We have been at it for about 8 months, and it may take that much more. Odd as it may seem, while I continue to work on my daily driver 71, I have only seen the 73 in pictures. I can't wait to finish it and get behind the wheel of the chariot of my youth.

I am doing what you are doing...except that I have to LOOK at the Spider everyday. A metal shop is constructing my metal panels. Never having welded before, I might be a master welder now (thank God for electronic welding helmets and 2" Roloc sanding discs)! 98% of damage is undercarrage rot, not body panels. Plus design changes. Definitely better and stronger than new. Its funny how a simple cancer area can involve so much, usually effecting three panels that all come together and are spot welded together. I am trying for August of 09. Brother, I hear where your coming from.
Congratulations on the Spider and Good Luck

[msrmd]

First attempt at attaching pictures of 73 at the beginning

/Users/Mark/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2007/Roll 14/DSC01430.JPG/Users/Mark/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2007/Roll 14/DSC01451.JPG/Users/Mark/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2007/Roll 14/DSC01454.JPG/Users/Mark/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2007/Roll 14/DSC01442.JPG/Users/Mark/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2007/Roll 14/DSC01437.JPG/Users/Mark/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2007/Roll 14/DSC01420.JPG

[msrmd]

Ok, that didn't work.
Someone help me find a photo sharing site that I send these to before linking them here.