1972 1608 in Alameda, CA

[ssnick]

Hi, I've been looking for a while and finally found the Spider I've been wanting for the last couple of years now. It's a red 72 with the 1608 engine. The paint's a bit oxidised but the chrome and interior are in good shape. It has a hard top, 4-2-1 exhaust and is a blast to drive. I have a rough idle due to it sitting for a few years before I got it. I'm planning on a carb upgrade so should have that dealt with soon. I also just bought some rubbing compound that will help with the paint.

The search started with a Miata that I took in trade for another car that I was selling. My then 9 year old daughter just about had a conniption when I first picked her up in it. Screaming and jumping up and down; that she loved the Miata is a bit of an understatement. I had to pick her up from school, drive her to friends houses, she was dissapointed if I showed up in any other vehicle. The problem with this was that my wife also loved the Miata and I couldn't drive the two of them around together.

They were both very upset when I sold it.

At that time, I started looking at what inexpensive, interesting convertibles were out there that had a back seat and "spirited" performance. I've always liked the Spiders and had owned one for a short time when I was in college. Beautiful design, fun to drive, easy, or at least simple, to maintain, readily available parts. The best part, they are still under the radar, although that seems to be slowly changing.

It took me a while but I found the year, condition and price that I wanted and couldn't be happier with it. It even fits perfectly in our tiny driveway that none of our other cars will fit in. And we can still open the garage door!

My daughter now asks to be picked up in the Fiat. She wants me to drive her when she needs a ride, shows her friends the car when I pick her up. She's excited when she sees it which is a lot of fun. My wife also loves the new car and has insisted we take it when we've gone out to dinner a couple of times this last week.

As soon as I can find one, I'm installing an 1800 intake and 32/36 DFEV to go with the exhaust and am going to look at a set of cromodoras this weekend. Then I'll be ready for some twisty mountain roads with the family.

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Post some pictures! They help a great deal when trying to help diagnose problems, inquiries, etc that you may have.

Here is a thread on how to post pictures directly to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 13&t=32169

And here is another picture-posting thread:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 12&t=23084

This short instruction covers how to resize pictures so that they don’t get cut off at the right side:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30441

And here is a link to a map of Spider owner’s locations. Many forum members have listed their locations.

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=191825


Pete

[georgeramos]

Congrats on the find. Pics would be most welcome. I am bummed to say that my son, at 14, who is now taller than me, hates sitting in the back seat. He ALWAYS has to comment on how uncomfortable my car is.