Looking for a Spider / Update: Spider Found!

[kmoses]

Hello FiatSpider.com! I am not a spider owner yet, but I am looking. I have spent the last 5 years into BMW E30s and 3 years restoring a '87 BMW 325i. Now that I have finished, it feels strange not to be working on a project. At this point I am trying to gather information about what to look for when buying a Spider (something I should have done when I purchased my first BMW E30). This forum looks like a great source for that information!

Photo of first restoration: 1987 BMW E30 325i

[RRoller123]

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

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

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

And here is another picture-posting thread:

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

And here is a link to a map of Spider owner’s locations. Many forum members have listed their locations.

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=191825

Pete

[btoran]

welcome. first decision is older (pre-1979) vs newer (1979-1985). older cars are carbed and later ones have fuel injection (and potentially a/c). within the carbed cars, there are many different carbs (some good, some not so good). engines came in two varieties (1800 cc's for the older cars and 2000 cc's for the newer ones). older cars have a rear seat (for amputees), while later cars have a package shelf for storage. also, the dash/center console treatment is different between older and newer cars. unless you go for a very early car, the the basic body is the same thru the years but bumper treatments, lights, etc vary from year-to-year. most people prefer the non-intrusive bumbers on earlier cars, but that could be swapped out. things to check for on any car are rust, rust, and more rust. if the car hasn't been restored, it probably has some. not necessarily an issue unless it's in the shock towers. stay away from those. lots of very friendly and helpful folks here to help out.

[narfire]

Not sure where you hang your hat but there are numerous Fiat spiders out there wanting a restoration done to them. Kind of two schools of thought... buy cheap and spend a ton repairing rust and other issues or purchase a decent rust free runner with perhaps a few mechanical glitches and upgrade/restore while you drive it. Many in the northern climes will spend the winter adding/painting ect. to the car.
Rust is the biggest boogy man on these cars and once one starts taking the rockers off, lifting carpet, and really digging around, in some instances the car turns into a parts car and off you go again.
There is no shortage of stock and upgraded parts available out there for either the carb'd cars or the later FI cars. The vendors here are great for parts and information and will help without question.
I think you'll find restoring A Fiat a bit easier on the pocket book compared to the BMW's as well.
Good luck in your quest.
Chris

[kmoses]

A rust free runner is where I am heading (my first BMW was from NJ and I became well versed in rust repair). I live in Eastern NC and Craigslist is showing about a dozen cars from $1,500 - $6,500 with about 6 within a 2 hour drive.

[4uall]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth Nice looking Beemer Good luck with your pursuit

[garion]

Be careful calling it a beamer... Its actually a bimmer....

[4uall]

Tomatoe tomato

[kmoses]

The search is over! I am now the proud owner of a 1979 Spider 2000 (carbureted engine) that was a California car until a year ago. It has some mechanical issues but it runs and can be driven. Now the fun begins.

[RRoller123]

Congrats!

(and p.s., we too say "beemer" here in Boston)