Fiat 124 spyder

If it has been sitting for two years with the handbrake on, there is a pretty good chance that the rear brake caliper pistons are frozen and/or broken.

Fiat 124 Spiders have traditionally weak differentials, and parts are getting hard to find.

Watch out for rust (door bottoms, sills, around the battery, seat belt mounts, etc.) Window winder mechanisms are weak.Chronic oil leaks. Electrolysis in the cooling system. Bad thermostats. Timing belts. Stitching in the seats. Exhaust system.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend a Fiat 124 to anyone unless they are prepared to work on it themselves, as a hobby car, and not rely on it for any kind of regular transportation.

 

As the original owner of my 1973 FIAT 124 Spider, I would have NO problem recommending it to anyone who can do their own work as a daily driver quality car, 318,000 miles on my 124 and it has NEVER seen the side of the road or tow truck. I have never heard of the rear axle being a weakpoint either but I replaced my original one at around 200,000 miles so maybe they are a weakpoint. I am on my 3rd motor, rebuilt the original motor once at around 80,000miles, replaced it with a rebuilt motor at 245,000. I can go months without opening the hood to work on the car but yeah, you have to be your own mechanic to own one of these toys.

Rust is the big enemy, if it is solid I would consider it. Mine is sitting in the driveway for the last 2 years undriven and showing signs of rust. It was garage stored and of course driven hard until 2 years ago when I purchased my Dino, now the Dino has the preferred spot in the garage and my 124 is rotting outside.

Mike

 

in oz a proper 124 spyder in half reasonable condition can go for $15k

 

$20k http://carpoint.com.au/used-car/FIAT/124/South%20Australia/1845222.aspx

$25k http://carpoint.com.au/used-car/FIAT/124/Tasmania/1176220.aspx

 

If you can maintain it yourself and it's a car you like, I'd say go for it. They're great little cars if they've been well taken care of.

 

I drove a Fiat 124 Spider for two years as my daily driver, and it never gave me any problems, save for a clutch cable that broke once. But it was a easy fix and I was back on the road. Parts are easy to get you can find most anything for a 124 on ebay or from IAP including rebuilt engines and transmissions.

Michael Satterfield
www.moretti124.com

 

Lots of parts available from:

http://www.vickauto.com/

http://www.international-auto.com/

Someday these will probably increase in value. Right now they seem to be more of a cult classic.

 

If its got no rust but faded paint? Id drag it over to maaco for a 220 dollar paint job..(same color) Maybe do some prep yourself if its needed.

Throw a new top on the car. A few seat covers and your good to go.

Fun little car.

Forge the 924 and 944 in my opinion...repairs are costly. IMO

Want a track car? buy a vette.

124 spyder was always a pretty car.

Good luck. (maybe post photos)

 

Hemming Listed the Fiat 124 as one of the cars to watch and expects them to go up in value quite a bit in the next two-five years.

 

I am thinking about buying a 124 coupe as a project. Much different and rarer than the spider in the US. Wonder what they will do value-wise over time?

 

There was a local guy who had a Fiat 124 spyder and a P1800 Volvo in the paper a few months ago. He wanted $1500 for the pair. The Fiat was sitting outside his shop with the top down in the weather. Somebody had bumped the left front fender but basically the car was intact. A good solid project. Unfortunately, I was more interested in the Volvo and after driving 5 miles to where it was located, it had been hit hard behind the right front wheel. So I passed on everything. The Fiat eventually disappeared and I don't know what happened to the Volvo. Sometimes you just have to pass on a deal that you can't really get enthused about.

 

I have two 124 spiders for sale I am going to post them on auto trader next week.

 

Being a resident of the People's Republic of Kalifornia, I personally stay away from carburetted cars post 1975. Even where I live in the boondocks, I am still subjected to the bi-annual smog fire drill. It's a hassle I don't need. There are plenty of nice 1975 and older cars to pick from.

-steve

 

so..............

is 'bi-annual' twice per year or once every two years???

 

good question! It's supposed to be every two years, and I've heard it called bi-annual, but, to me, that term sounds more like twice a year.

-steve

 

Thats wild! I never knew that. Ya learn something new everday...

-steve

 

SMOG is the reason I am selling my two 124's and focusing on my Moretti and Fiat 850. You can't make any power unless you want to swap it back to stock every two years.

 

When I was way younger I had a choice between 2 850 spiders and 2 jag Xk120's, the 2 fiats were $300 for both and the XK's were $1500 for both.

This was just the begining of my really bad investment career. I bought the 2 850's.

 

Yeah for $800 you can't lose anything. The 124 is easy to work on and cheap, I even just installed a convertible top on one of mine and it was very easy only took about an hour and a half to do it.