1979 cs2 - Some advice please

[jstanj]

Hi,
so there's this 1979 CS2 for sale right ... and I'm looking for some advice ... looking to chat with the owner next week.
Looks as though it's in the last third of the cS2 production given the serial number.
Having looked around on the different other websites & at information and compared with
what I see, it's a US spec car imported back from US to Germany (did it ever leave the EU I wonder ?)
Has a California emission control sticker on windscreen - so I presume must have been a CA car if it was in the US.
So ...
** Leaded gasoline is pretty hard to come by in the EU. Will the 2000 engine run OK on Unleaded without additives ? I think I'll probably cause valve damage if I do.
It is missing the rear bumper. Looks good without but I think I'll need another to get through the administrative hoops
in respect of conformity to EU (French) regulations. also looks as though rear number plate lights have been rotated 90 deg to be both pointing vertical down (not horizontal opposing).
** Anyone know of a good EU 124 parts supplier ? What should a decent condition rear bumper cost ?
Looks as though it's been Ziebart'd but can't tell when. Think this may hide rust as some paint bumps adjacent to Ziebart
** Anyone have any experience of this ? Like bad surprises ?
Seats need redone - leather is prettty much kaput on both front seats. Looks at though it's in the low 30's x thousand miles. Don't see any of traces under the car where it stands right now, so assume engine in good order (no idea about cam-belt replacements).
Feeling the asking price is too much ... in the 7000 euros range - bit high imho. Any hints here ?
Hope this is of interest.
- jstanj

[mdrburchette]

Hello jstanj. We've been using unleaded fuel here in the US for many years and it doesn't seem to affect our cars. Make sure you look at the shock towers, and underneath the car for rust problems. The crossmember should also be checked for any cracks. If you can get the service records, it would be nice to know what has been done recently. You say there are bumps in the paint where it looks like it was treated for rust? Remember, unless the paint is damaged or cracked, rust usually starts from the underneath and pushes the paint up. $7000 in American money is on the high side, so the car would have to have great interior and exterior to justify the price. Any pics?

[VAS]

What a great car you have found.

One note: Cars conforming to California emissons requirements circa 1980 were also sold new in states outside California. Certainly you are hopeful that as a "California" car that it may have existed for the past 30 or so years in California's dry environment. Also, consider that given the age of the car, even if it were initally sold in California, that does not mean it stayed in California. You may wish to gather more history on the car and, without question, a thorough inspection would be most helpful.

Best Wishes,

-Jerry Lee Phillips, owner Vick Autosports

[james124]

Hello jstanj. You are very wise to get guidance from this forum before deciding to purchase this car. Over time I have made the following observations:
There are far fewer Fiat spiders in Europe than in USA. The prices of Spiders are generally much higher in Europe, however the overall condition of the cars is also superior. The European cars tend to be better kept, more original and complete. In my opinion, the car you described would not fetch more than $3-4,000 in the US. 7,000 Euros seems very much on the high side even for Europe.
As far as spider suppliers are concerned, the US guys have more parts and at much better prices, but you will have to take into account shipping costs. I hope this has been of help. Good luck and I hope you are able to ADOPT a Spider. James

[So Cal Mark]

spider-point in Germany should be able to supply any new parts you need. The other advice you've received is all good. Unleaded started in the US in the mid 70s, so no issues there.

[stefhahn]

I wrote that before but it is hard to find
ok, Spider-Point is not the worst place to buy but also not the best, if you want to buy from a german company - but you have the advantage as they are very close to the Alsace where you live.

Very good quality can be bought at http://www.axel-augustin.de (excellent parts, also used by him in his shop) and O&S (http://www.schiminsky.de/) - they also run a garage, very nice. Next is Del Priore, more expensive but they stock mostly OEM parts (replica parts are tagged) - see http://www.del-priore.com/xtcommerce/in ... anguage=en -- the next in quality is http://www.holtmann-niedergerke.de/ Holtmann&Niedergerke, a brillant shop, existant for 21 years now. Spider Point would be next but actually (being German, owning a Spider since 1991) I rarely order anything from them as the other vendors either have superior quality or better (cheaper) prices for the same stuff. If you are in doubt, ask me and I can help you. Actually there are several more vendors, but I hardly ordered from them - one exception: http://www.gb-motorentechnik.de - as I know Hansi (the owner) and he has excellent quality and rare performance parts.


Re the price for your car you can verify it via the biggest German car online portal - see: http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/searc ... g=&lang=de - so 7k is not so much for a Spider in GY. But check a bit through the forum before you buy because 1979 in stock condition is not the best performer and not really nice to maintain - but easy to upgrade. Where is the car located and when do you need/want to decide? Strasbourg is 1.5h from my place and I might be able to help you looking at it.

ciao,
Stefan

[jstanj]

Thank you all for the replies.

Yes indeed, I've planned a visit next week so all of your tips are very welcome.

For mdrbucrhette - I do have a couple of pictures already, the care standing out on a forecourt, but not sure where to post them. For paint - yes, I should have said blisters - three inch-square blister clusters just on the limit of the ziebart rear RH between door and wheel arch. I suspect having been to look again at the car that it may have been resprayed.

For stefan - I'm closer to Basel than I am to Strasbourg & the car is in Weil-am-Rhein ... that's a good 3h drive
from Stuttgart - thanks anyway.

I'll be happy to provide an update next week.

Salutations, jstanj