Greetings from N. Idaho

[marty3d]

I am looking at buying a spider and joined up to learn more about their mechanicals, parts, etc. A friend at work has one he wants to get rid of, but I don't know anything about it yet except that it has been covered for a few years, runs, and has brake issues.

I had an Alfa 1750 Spider a few decades ago, so Italians are not totally foreign. But it has been a while.

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! Lots of knowledgeable people here!

[DocGraphics]

Welcome, from N Idaho also, CD'A, where you at?

You have found a great resource for anything you would need to know about a spider & a great bunch of guys & gals also.

[marty3d]

Thanks for the welcome! DocGrraphics, I am in Sandpoint - we're neighbors!

[DocGraphics]

Good luck on your search, we'll have to meet up when you get one.

[marty3d]

Ok, I went to look at the car. It is a 1981, white, red interior. Body and interior are in cherry condition. Top is decent with no rips but window is clouded. The engine looked clean and had no obvious leaks. 61000 original miles. The problem wasn't brakes, but the engine frequently stalls/quits when turn signals or brakes are applied (sounds like a weak electrical connection to me). Battery was dead so I didn't fire it up. Tires are new. Anybody have any idea for value range? Seller has no asking price, just wants an offer.

Here is a photo (I hope).

[124JOE]

use the IMG code for the pic

$2500/$3000 if your willing
in running con $7000 mabey

but you went over the car so you need to make the offer

and a rusty parts car$400/$1000 depending on good parts

[marty3d]

Ok, let me try the photo again...

And, thank you 124JOE

[DocGraphics]

That looks nice, price range, like joe said depends on the condition.

When I got mine it was a runner, OK repaint, nice rims & good tires, good top, no rust in the shock towers but the interior was shot...ended up giving $2600...get in & drive it.
Since then I have found rust in the floor boards that I had to fix & bad suspension bushings that I had to replace...wish I had found this before I bought it & worked the price down a little more but I am FINE with the price I did pay!

The first one I looked at had a crummy repaint, shot interior, needed tires & needed top & wouldn't start the day I looked at it.
He was asking $1800, was thinking maybe $1500 max if it ran right or offer $1000 as is...but decided it was more work than I wanted to do & it was PURPLE. (he did get it running the next day, fuel pump as he expected, but still no)

Now if I had found a cleaner car that needed little to no work I could see the $3k to $4k+ range (if budget allowed) or if the car is super nice, low miles could see the $5k+ pricing if it fit the quality of the car (way out of my budget)

In the end I found that $2k to $3k range driver that needed a little work within my abilities was what I was looking for & found.

This is just my experience/opinion, not a set guide to price off of. Based off the cars & prices I found, looked at or read about in our neck of the woods.
It is up to you to judge its value based on condition of the car, your skills & willingness to fix things yourself or pay to have fixed & how that all works into the budget/timeline, are you willing to start with a project car or, like me,want a runner to fix up or willing to pay for sound running clean car that needs nothing.

I know, I know, what about this car??? I have not seen that car & know nothing about the FI electrical system to guess to the cost of fixing it but if it doesn't seem too major a job to get it running then I'd venture $2500 to $3000 from the pic & your description & the fact that it is FI, again all up to you...start low & see what he says & work from there.

One more thing LOOK FOR RUST!

Hope that wasn't too long winded & helps in some way....NEXT

[RRoller123]

Just for what it is worth... In New England, good running cars can be had for about $2500-$4000. Good Rust-free cars with only a few significant problems (Ha! fat chance) are going to be $5000 and up. Just my observation. And there are a surprising number of rust-free cars out there, alongside the rusty ones. Seems to matter whether they were initially bought as hobby cars and always were garaged, or were bought as transportation.

[marty3d]

Seller accepted my offer of $2000.
I'll post more info on it when I get it home and have a chance to review its mechanicals/electricals.

[narfire]

Hi there. Looks like a good buy from here Welcome.
Kieth (magicwrench) is in Libby Mont. for more assistance if required.
Chris

[RRoller123]

Looks like a good buy!!

[dmwhiteoak]

You did good. You will find all the help you need here to have it running like a scraped ape. Welcome to the forum.

[124JOE]

i got mine in reno from my dad
$28 tax
that was then
repaint new suspention ft and rear 2 tranz rebuilds lether seats full exhaust and a bunch more stuff
yes im happy

nice car