1971 124 Spider in Danville California

[dparnas]

Greetings everyone. I've owned my Spider since 1984, it was my first car, bought when I was 16 years old and has seen me through college and now lots of pampering. Spent the last year or so trying to "take it to the next level", as it has always been in good shape, but I'm trying to make it great. Got a new paint job, some cromodora daytona wheels, lots of new trim pieces, restored original tail light on the drivers side, 3 point seat belts, new custom rear bench with speakers, custom side panels to fit around the roll bar and lots more. Definitely a labor of love. If I can figure out how to get some pictures up, I'd definitely like to show the car off to everyone and get their input.

[dparnas]

Trying to post a picture. Here goes:

[rlux4]

Hi there, welcome to the forum. I'm very impressed with your story, it's nice to hear when someone really cares about these cars, as you obviously do.
Great looking car!
Ron

[mdrburchette]

Beautiful! Another person that appreciates Fiat's finer year models. That color seems to be more popular than I would have thought.

[rocky]

That's a beautiful car. I think I may have seen your car last year at the Import Doctors? It was really an impressive car. I don't think there are that many Spiders with Daytonas in the area, especially in orange. You should join us on the drives we have with the Alfa club. Hope to see you around.

Greg
'77 Spider
'74 Alfa Romeo GTV

[DUCeditor]

Beautiful car!

-don

[dparnas]

Thanks guys. Yes, I'm sure that was me at Import Doctors. Would love to join the Alfa Club sometime for a drive if the timing is right. Let me know what's coming up.

[rocky]

I will make sure you know what's coming up this summer.

Greg
'77 Spider
'74 Alfa Romeo GTV

[Exit98]

HI,

Beautiful car, I love the early ones.

I'm interested in learning how you installed 3 point belts. Are you using your roll bar to anchor them?

[dparnas]

Thanks, yes, here are a couple of photos.

[JohnnyRaggs]

Cool car, my spider is a '71 also, same color too. But more rust What upgrades have you done to it? I just got mine and am looking for some good ideas.

[dparnas]

Thanks for setting me up, where do I start?

1) Best upgrade by far was putting in the electronic ignition
2) Custom mahogany dash
3) Proline seats
4) Custom rear bench w/ built in speakers and custom side panels to wrap around the roll bar (see pictures in custom forum)
5) Cromodora Daytona wheels
6) New mahogany steering wheel
7) 3 point seat belts bolted onto the roll bar

But really, I think what I love most about the car is not anything custom, but more that it has a pretty stock look to it. I love the car the way it was built to look and I love driving it. But I have put a lot of time and money into it to replace old or worn parts/paint. It has a new paint job in the last year plus:

1) New trunk mat
2) New map pockets
3) New trunk rubber seal
4) Re-upholstered door panels and visors
5) New chrome strip along arm rests on both doors
6) New carpeting
7) Painted the grill
Restored the driver side tailight assembly (couldn't be happier with how this turned out - see info in the restoration forum)

and much more. Currently trying to finish restoring my Pininfarina hardtop, get the windshield wipers working again (motor on order) and then get the windshield washers working for the first time in over 25 years.

[baltobernie]

Great looking car! I'd love to see pictures of your mahogany dash; mine are posted in "more good wood" thread. The OE "hula hoop" steering wheel sure looks neat, but it really killed my hands on longish drives. The IAP/Nardi wood wheel is much more comfortable, plus gives a little more legroom.

I may have a solution to the limited (in my case, worthless) field-of-view of the Vitaloni mirrors used in these early Spiders. I found a guy who's making me a convex replacement glass, and will let you know if/when I get it and test.

My new 1974 131 4-door was orange, and I've always liked that color on Fiats. Welcome aboard.

[courtenay]

Leg room was a big deal for me, both with my first '72 124 and my current '80. A 12" MOMO wheel solved the problem. I can shift gears without having my knee hit the wheel!

[JohnnyRaggs]

Lol, my washers aren't working either , the wipers also need a new motor I think, they don't swipe when the wipers are on the glass, but move fine when they are pulled up. Whats involved in switching over to electronic ignition? I may be interested in that. I got it running quite well (other then choke issues) and should be good for the rest of summer, but the #4 cyl is not at full compression and I will most likely re-build or replace the engine this winter. I have the 1438 in it right now, but am thinking of upgrading it to a larger one.