1972 Fiat Sport Spider?

[SeattleFiat]

Good afternoon,

I'm trying to track down some simple car information on my dad's old Fiat Spider. He says it was a 1972 Fiat Sport Spider but I was hoping if I posted a few pics of it someone on here would see it and confirm the year of the car or anything else they can tell from a few old photos. Ironically my dad bought the Spider from his brother in law and so I have one photo of my pops in it and the other photos is my uncle and his son with the car. Both pics are faded but you can see the side of the car and the front between the two pics. My dream is to get a similar car to my fathers.

I'm in the Seattle/Tacoma area for anyone else (I'm sure there are a few) around these parts!

Regards and thanks for your help!

[SeattleFiat]

Looks like I'm having some issues with the photos appearing.... I will try and fix this. I guess Photobucket isn't free anymore!

*FIXED

[chrisg]

It is an 850 Spider and later series & not a 1970 model, so 72 sounds right.

Seems like I have seen a lot of 850 Spiders for sale recently, but not many that were in good condition. They're out there. Some research should net you good information about what to look for/what to avoid if buying one. Good luck & have fun!

[chrisg]

Oops, duplicate

[SeattleFiat]

Thanks Chris, I'm going to do some research now on the 850, I assumed incorrectly it was a 124. What were the differences?

[Nolan]

There'll be more specific info from someone better educated than myself but the short version is, you can tell it's an 850 by the bumper and it was a two seater and the 124 spider is the 2+2 configuration (it's a two seater with nominal back seat space that looks vaguely like seats but would never accomodate a full sized human..)

Haha, hope that gives you something.

[chrisg]

Really, they are two completely separate machines...the 124 Sport is based on the 124 sedan platform (front engine, rear multi-arm/live axle, twin cam for "sport" designation) & the 850 Sport on the 850 sedan/platform. People get confused by the "spider" designation, which actually is a body type more than a formal name (though "fiat spider " in conversation will get more recognition than "fiat 124 Sport"), but if you study the 850 you will find plenty of good info. Those of us who are really into the cars end up interested in the non-"spider" models, which is why I enjoy 124 Coupes, 124 Sedans, etc. I guess it's part of how European cars are named & it can be confusing at first

[SeattleFiat]

Thanks all, I can see that the hardest part about getting an 850 or a 124 will be the "rust" factor. I like both cars and either would do but really would be great to have the same car my pops had.

[baltobernie]

The 850 Spider is much more rare than the 124 Spider, and parts are much less plentiful. Are you aware that this forum has a tab just for 850's? It's near the bottom of the Index page. Maybe some of the posters there can help you find a car. In your favor, the orange color of you dad's car was popular.

[blazingspider]

Here's a craigslist posting on an 850 in Ft. Meyers, FL. that you may be interested in. It's even the same color as your Dad's was.

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/ct ... 44811.html

[SeattleFiat]

Thanks everyone, I'll head over to the 850 group/thread. Also that Orange 850 in Miami is my dads car exactly from what I can see, same year and color. Too bad I live the furthest possible place away from it, she's a beauty!

[JohnMc]

A friend of mine had an 1969 850 spider when I had my 1969 124 spider back in 1972.
The 1969 850 that he had was rear engine, very low power I believe 850cc, 4 speed no overdrive, non-reclining seats. I believe also only had disks up front and not sure they were power assisted. His did not have carpet. Not many of 850's around at the time.
what I thought was interesting is that it did not have an external replaceable oil filter. It had a centrifical oil filter on the end of the crank - and was supposed to be cleaned every 50k when you did engine overhaul.
Very light weight - we pushed it 3 miles on day when the engine threw a rod.
As personal preference I liked the 124 - but that is just me. They were not bad looking cars.

[baltobernie]

+1 on the low power. On local club drives, the 850s have to slingshot over relatively small hills. I would not hesitate to recommend a 124 Spider to a newbie, but prospective buyers of 850 Fiats should drive one first.