An introduction... Hey all!

[Guitarguy]

Hi, My back round is vintage guitars and other stringed instruments. I'm on the board of advisers for many publications when it comes to vintage instruments. I also follow the car markets which are kind of on fire as of late. I've owned many cars over the years mostly convertibles (but my cars have to have room for a guitar or two) I currently own a BMW E46 M3. But have owned many American convertibles from 60's and 70's.
I drove a friends 76 Spider and fell in love with the design. I'm not a lifelong Fiat guy. I don't have time to work on my own cars, but love things mechanical. So I'm always going to hire someone to fix most things, as I just don't have the time.
I'm of the belief that these cars are about to rise in value for reasons that have been discussed ad-nausium I'm sure. They seem largely ignored by the vintage car publications and auction houses. But as you guys have seen, that is starting to change.
one example look at: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20582/lot/412/ (a '69 Spider in #1- condition going for $48k)

In the guitar world, guitars that I handled in the mid '70's went for 400-$500... are now in some cases $40-50K
For us older guys in was a sad fact as these guitars passed thru our hands and became made of "unobtainium"

I'm buying an 1985.5 (starting at the top of fiat range but lower rung of Pininfarina designed autos) I'm paying top dollar (don't hate me) but still much less than a friend paid for his 60's Ferrari's tune up..... So Howdy everybody.

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Here is a thread on how to post pictures to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21014

And here is a great picture-posting thread edited by SLOSpider:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 12&t=23084

I am also the lucky original owner of a 1966 Kalamazoo Epi Sorento, single cutaway sunburst hollowbody with mini-humbucker. Lovely instrument!

[Guitarguy]

Thanks, I see all kinds of Forums and i really like this one. It's already given me lots of info before I joined.
Those Epi Sorento's are really great and underappreciated guitars. Nice one.
Does anyone have sales brochures (or copies) or dealer literature from Pininfarina.. in particular the 1985.5 models?

[steve8462]

here is a picture of one on the assembly line

[Guitarguy]

Wow... that is a really cool photo. Thanks for sharing. I would love to get my hands on any info for Pininfarina. Sales brouchures, dealer info, old reviews. I'd be happy to pay for even copies of such for my personal library. I'm a geek for such.
And again Steve thats a cool photo, thanks.
Anybody on this board an old dealer? Or worked at dealership? Does anybody have old catalogs? (As a guitar geek I have old catalogs, but they rarely come up for sale.... sometimes on a web site Gbase.com)
I'd love some advice on how to get printed material. (Mostly post '82 Spiders) Or even to see more photos like Steve's.

[steve8462]

Here is a cool picture of the original factory in Turin, Italy. look clse and you will see the factory test track on the roof. you have to have confidence in your cars handling to put the test track on the roof.

[PininF]

Amazing, who would have thought that could even be possible.

[TX82FIAT]

cant post the rooftop pick without the Italian job mini cooper story.. can ya!

[Guitarguy]

Thats a great photo. Very cool
Does anyone out there have any printed Dealer info?
There was no internet. Pinin and Fiat had to tell the dealers what they were selling. yes?
Anybody work at a dealership that visits this site?

Happy fourth to everyone in the states. Hope you get time with family, and time to relax and gawk at your spider.