Finally got a Spider
Finally got a Spider
After 38 years I finally own a Spider. Back in 1970 my wife and I looked at buying a '68 124 Sport Spider, as they were called back then. We fell in love with the car but the owner owed much more than the bank said it was worth so we couldn't get it financed. We liked the car so much we went to a dealer and looked at buying a new one. While looking at the cars we decided on a blue Sport Coupe instead. A couple of reasons, one being that it was $200 less, $3200 vs. $3400 and the other one was we liked to take friends along with us from time to time. As it turned out we made a good choice because we started a family a bit sooner then we had planned. When the army sent me to Germany in '73 we had to sell it to pay for my wife and son to join me there. I really hated selling that car. We drove it from California to Massachusetts with everything we owned in it and then back to Cal a year later this time with a new passenger. THAT was a pack job!
So anyway we decided to look for a small car to drive to work instead of our Tundra, what with gas being what it is and when the wife spotted a Spider in the paper I just had to have it. The best part is it's in pretty good shape. It needs some work but nothing major. I can't wait to get it on the road.
Details: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000
Carburetor
68000 miles
current color is bright yellow (rattle can) originally Avorio (?)
So anyway we decided to look for a small car to drive to work instead of our Tundra, what with gas being what it is and when the wife spotted a Spider in the paper I just had to have it. The best part is it's in pretty good shape. It needs some work but nothing major. I can't wait to get it on the road.
Details: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000
Carburetor
68000 miles
current color is bright yellow (rattle can) originally Avorio (?)
Re: Finally got a Spider
Welcome, I just joined this forum recently and am enjoying the warm reception and helpful advice. The fund of knowledge here is amazing. A word of warning... you might as well get some pix up soon or you won't hear the end of it! Congratulations on the 1980 Spider.
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- Patron 2022
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: Finally got a Spider
Hello, and welcome to the forum. I let my '79 Spider go for new family reasons back in '81, so I definately hear what you're saying. Congratulations on your find.
Good job warning him about the pictures Mark. So Joel, let us see some pictures.
Ron
Good job warning him about the pictures Mark. So Joel, let us see some pictures.
Ron
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- Posts: 909
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:26 am
- Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo
- Location: Ohio
Re: Finally got a Spider
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on finally getting your spider after all these years. You are correct about the gas mileage as well -- I just drove 1,000 miles over the past fours days driving to and from Fiat Freak Out and averaged about 29 MPG (and my car is a turbo, which gets lower mileage than other models). Are you sure your car's original color was not Azzurro? That is the color of my car (click the link below my signature to see photos). It is a light blue metallic color that was popular on the early '80s cars.
John
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid
Pictures of my baby!
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid
Pictures of my baby!
Re: Finally got a Spider
welcome to the site. It's certainly interesting to see how many former owners are returning to the fold
Re: Finally got a Spider
Thanks for the warm welcome. I've been looking around for a little while a I find this to be a very friendly and helpful site. For anyone that's interested here's a photo for you.
The car is wet in the pic and believe me it looks a whole lot better than when it's dry.
John, if you look at the rocker panel you can see the original color. It's kind of a tan/cream color, nothing like the beautiful blue on your 82. Man that can looks brand new. Beautiful
The car is wet in the pic and believe me it looks a whole lot better than when it's dry.
John, if you look at the rocker panel you can see the original color. It's kind of a tan/cream color, nothing like the beautiful blue on your 82. Man that can looks brand new. Beautiful
Re: Finally got a Spider
Welcome Joel! THe color of you rspider is similar to my 128.
So have you noticed an unusual amount of bugs being attracted to your car? Everytime I walk up to the 128, I see bugs crawling around on it. I also noticed this on a motorcycle I used to own (bright yellow). I guess the bugs think its a big flower?
So have you noticed an unusual amount of bugs being attracted to your car? Everytime I walk up to the 128, I see bugs crawling around on it. I also noticed this on a motorcycle I used to own (bright yellow). I guess the bugs think its a big flower?
Re: Finally got a Spider
I love the bright yellow Spiders. Back in 1970 I had a yellow/black Z/28 Camaro, and bees just loved that car.
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- Posts: 851
- Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:07 am
- Your car is a: 1981 Spider Turbo - missing the turbo
- Location: Sydney - Australia
Re: Finally got a Spider
What's that magazine title in the foreground of the photo ?
THE FLEET
2014 Abarth "SS"
1981 Spider 2000 (Legend Industries Turbo - minus the Turbo)
1978 X1/9 1.3 Dual IDF 40's, Coupe Cam, Allison Header/Exhaust
1971 128 Sedan 1100cc, Coupe Cam/Headers
Motokhana Special 127 rear engined Rail 903cc
2014 Abarth "SS"
1981 Spider 2000 (Legend Industries Turbo - minus the Turbo)
1978 X1/9 1.3 Dual IDF 40's, Coupe Cam, Allison Header/Exhaust
1971 128 Sedan 1100cc, Coupe Cam/Headers
Motokhana Special 127 rear engined Rail 903cc
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- Posts: 909
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:26 am
- Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo
- Location: Ohio
Re: Finally got a Spider
joelbert2k wrote: John, if you look at the rocker panel you can see the original color. It's kind of a tan/cream color, nothing like the beautiful blue on your 82. Man that can looks brand new. Beautiful
Joel,
Looks pretty darn nice in the picture. Now that I see the picture, you are correct that the color is Avorio. It should be color code 285 "Safari Ivory" in English. You can find the various colors for your model here: http://www.fiatspider.de/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=94
John
John
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid
Pictures of my baby!
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid
Pictures of my baby!
Re: Finally got a Spider
Nice looking car. Thanks for the pic.
By the way John, I tried that website for the colors, but it kept giving me a 'sorry translations will follow soon' message. Am I doing something wrong?
By the way John, I tried that website for the colors, but it kept giving me a 'sorry translations will follow soon' message. Am I doing something wrong?
Re: Finally got a Spider
AdrianS, that is actually not a magazine but and old sign that I have hung onto since my wife's birthday. It says "IT"S NIFTY bla bla bla IS FIFTY"
As for the bees being a problem, I haven't had the opportunity to find out yet. I drove it home at night in the rain and it hasn't been out since. Soon, I hope!
As for the bees being a problem, I haven't had the opportunity to find out yet. I drove it home at night in the rain and it hasn't been out since. Soon, I hope!
Re: Finally got a Spider
WHOA !! that is yellow
neat looking car. welcome to the site, and welcome to FIAT SPIDER ownership...
neat looking car. welcome to the site, and welcome to FIAT SPIDER ownership...