Possible new 78 Owner- Pennsylvania

[hedbutter]

Hello everyone! I'm currently in the process of looking over a 1978 Fiat Spyder convertible that is currently mostly apart. The body (at least what i was able to see on the initial check) is solid and has had all of the rust repair completed, and looks to be completed thoroughly. The engine is said to have fresh seals and a quick gone over, and is currently out of the car. The interior pieces seem to be in decent shape as well for a 28 year old car and everything major seemed to be there.

I'm a bit hung up on the price, and wanted a few inputs as the car will need to be put back together (which i can do), a final sanding/prep for paint (partially me) and then painted (not me). The current asking price is just north of a grand, but I also see ones running in the high 2000s, but they tend to have rust or other issues. I know getting a project like this that needs to be put back together i most likely wont break even on, but i'd like to not get hurt too much if i decide to sell.

Also- does anyone know the length of the car without bumpers installed? I have a 12' 4" trailer currently, but the car looks to be almost exactly 13 ft. I could take the gate/ramp off the back of the trailer and let it over hang a few inches, but then i need a ramp of some sort to get it the car loaded in that case.

Thanks in advance!

[124JOE]

it sounds like a great deal.yes it 13 ft
i say go for it,"quick"

[baltobernie]

Unless you are very familiar with the Spider, I'd suggest passing on this one unless you can have an expert inventory it. Some of the bits and pieces on even the later-model Spiders are NLA from the vendors, and difficult to find as salvage. Such items can drive you nuts. Non-running cars generally sell here for only a few hundred dollars; almost scrap price. Exceptions to the rule are out there, of course, but the term "basket case" generally deserves the

Perhaps look for a solid runner for a few thousand dollars. See if you like the vintage car experience, then consider a rolling restoration by working on it during PA winters.

[SoFlaFiat]

Bernie is right! Unless you have been through a spider and know the parts, it can send you on a hundred wild goose chases looking for parts. That said, if you buy it, there is a lot of help here on the forum, even identifying parts.
One thing though, a 12' trailer is typically a single axle. By the time you load a spider on that, you will likely be light in the tongue and it will track like garbage. I would never tow a car on a single axle trailer. Too much possibility of disaster. Please be careful!

[KevAndAndi]

+1 for getting your feet wet with a car that's already assembled. Better to tackle a project like this after you have become an expert, which will come quickly with ownership and some reading and research (and the expertise of a certain forum's members).

[hedbutter]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I've decided to not purchase this vehicle, at least not at that price. He wasn't 100% on what panels were replaced (replaced by previous owner) which had me concerned, as well as not knowing exactly what may or may not be missing. Also, I would have been renting a trailer as I did a bit more research that was way too risky.

[baltobernie]

If you are in ea. PA, PM me with your contact info. We see a number of cars for sale every Spring and Fall that never make it to CL or eBay.