New Member. Just bought a 74 Fiat 124 Sport Spider

[Lotus]

When I was in high school a friend of mine had a spider that we tore around town in. That car didn't care how fast you threw it in a corner it took it just fine and kept going. Flash forward 30+ years and as the family is driving to dinner I see a small red car with a for sale sign in it. I tell the wife to go back but we are late for dinner. After dinner we drive by and then stop so I can read the sign. The sign is quite faded but I can make out the price 10k. That is more than I am wanting to spend on my daughters first car so we are about to leave when an older gentleman comes out. We start talking and find out the car only has 14,500 miles on it. I am looking at it closely and can't find any rust (we live in a very dry place). The gentleman names off a price that if I buy it in the next couple days he will drop to. It is a substantial drop in price!

It is labor day weekend so I am not sure I can get the cash out but I tell him if I can I will contact him on Saturday. Well, I get contacted with an even better price as I am rounding up the money. We go and test drive the car and the only thing that I can find wrong with the car is when you are letting off the gas it pops out of fourth gear. Other than that this car runs great/looks great. So, we bought it. I have had more fun driving this car around the last few days then I have the last year with my recently restored 70 firebird. lol.

Attached is a before/after picture of the car after cleaning it up. The tires are pretty rotted even though they have new tread on them. I am looking at getting some of the 15" wheels I see talked about on this site with 205/50/15 tires. Other than that we are going to change all the fluids, check the belts, and just start a routine of maintenance on the car as the daughter and family enjoy driving the car.

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! That is a great story. Mine was faded to that orange-red color too when I bought it, and a bunch of coats of MegGuires Cleaner Paste Wax brought back the Red. Good luck, and you will find many knowledgeable and friendly people here on the forum!

[baltobernie]

Hello and Welcome! That's a nice-looking Maryland or California '74 you've got there.

Maybe hold off on spending several thousand dollars on new wheels and tires for a little while. Get yourself some cheap 13" tires, and familiarize yourself with the car. See if it's something you and your family will want to keep for a while. Search this great forum for items that can be deal-breakers on this model. After the adrenaline has worn off, and you've had the chance to objectively evaluate what you've bought, make a plan and a budget for what you intend to do with the car. If a couple grand for new shoes fits that plan, then go for it.

ps: I don't want to throw any more cold water on your new purchase, but a 40-year-old car is not suitable for a new driver. Youngsters inevitably experience a fender-bender as they gain driving experience. Not even a roll bar and harness is enough protection in a Spider for such an event nowadays. Sorry, but put her in a modern beater for a few years, while the three of you enjoy the Spider. She'll grow into it!

[johndemar]

+1 on getting your daughter a more modern car as a first car. My son put his share of dents in mine at 16.
Plus any 40+ year old car isn't going to be as safe as something that's only 10-15 years old.

The car looks like a great find and should be lots of fun for you. A wealth of information here to help on that journey.

And I hate being negative too, and it may be a simple answer, but why does a car with only 14,500 miles on it and no rust have an incorrect hood?

[hayesbd]

As the father of 9, I can also attest to the likelihood of an incident with a new driver (of 6 licensed drivers so far, 5 have been in accidents). Things are very different now than when we learned how to drive. Also, before you put one more mile on this car, I highly recommend replacing the timing belt.

Good luck,
Brian

[baltobernie]

... but why does a car with only 14,500 miles on it and no rust have an incorrect hood?

Looks like a correct small-bump hood.

[johndemar]

... but why does a car with only 14,500 miles on it and no rust have an incorrect hood?

Looks like a correct small-bump hood.

Ha! Maybe it's the lighting and my old eyes seeing a big bump where there is none.

[SunnySideUp]

The hood on Lotus's car is a 2000 series (big bump) hood.
Lotus's Spider:


Compare with this one which is correct for '74:



Regardless - welcome aboard and enjoy the car!

[Lotus]

Hi, it has been a while. I have been enjoying the car as my daily driver to work and back. The rotted 13" tires finally gave out...
I bought some 15" wheels from Mark at Allisons Automotive and some 195x55 tires from tire rack. Between that and an alignment the car is looking and riding great.

I can't say for sure and doubt the car only has 15k miles on it. I do know that it has spent most of its life with an older couple here in the small town that I live in. I am not sure why it has the wrong hood on it...I am going to do some asking around to find out though.

The car runs great except for fourth gear which when you let off the gas it kicks out and when down shifting fourth is not an option.

The car won't be my daughters first car...she will be driving my 2006 gmc truck as her first vehicle. The fiat is pretty much mine now. I like it so much I am selling my 69 Triumph GT6...the two cars are night and day when it comes to driving them.

Here is what the car looks like now.

[johndemar]

The wheels look good on the car, and the bigger rubber fill the wheel wells out nicely.