Where's My Car?

[Site Owner]

Hey folks,
We all have done things that we later deeply regret. I've got my share of those instances and one of them is selling my Spider. I know this is a long shot, but I'd like to know where it is now. Shucks, who knows, maybe the owner is even a member of this forum! That wouldn't be a long shot at all.

In 1996 I purchased a 1983 Pininfarina and that's when I started this site because at the time there was very little out there on the web. When I bought the car, it was in Midlothian, VA. In 2002, I decided to sell it. I think I sold it for around $6,000. I had put a new top on it, new seat covers and carpet. Took those big tube bumpers off of it (they went with it when I sold it) and put a little spoiler up front, also added the Ansa exhaust system. It had the original Cromodora wheels on it. I also added the aftermarket mirrors you see on it. I live in Richmond, Virginia so that's where I sold my car. The gentleman that bought it came to my house and bought it on the spot. I may have advertised it on Craigslist I think, if memory is correct. The purchaser was from the northern Virginia area, maybe near DC. Pretty sure it had about 110,000 on the odometer when I sold it. This car was in fantastic condition and the paint was original. Unfortunately I can't find any record that I have of the VIN, and I realize the hunt would be much easier with that. So, if any of you know of this car, I sure would love to know where she is. And if by some stroke of luck, you think this is your car now, please reach out to me. I'd just like to know where she is. I miss it bad! Pics below.

Thanks!
Evan

[scusi]

Wow, was that ever clean. The new owner got a deal

[Site Owner]

Indeed Scusi

[AriK]

Very nice car! Story of most ex-owners of these cars, nostalgia comes back one day and bites you. Does this mean you may have the itch to look for another one?
I have the opposite problem, I bought it from a guy who bought it off a Montreal Qc. Mazda dealership who used it as a showpiece on their floor in 2003. No history other than a receipt of an oil change, a pair of wipers and a phone number of parts supplier Caribou Imports. In contrast to your scenario, i’d like to know historic details.

[Odoyle]

Lovely looking 83, looks to have been kept in good condition. There is something about the refinement of the pininfarina-style interior that really elevates the car.

[bonsaiwino]

What material did you use for the "grills" covering the rectangular openings at the front of the car....I think they look great! Thanks

[Site Owner]

Thanks Bonsaiwino,
Kinda funny on that one. I used some of that gutter screen material that you can pick up at a hardware store. Painted it black and attached it with a few spots of JB Weld. Turned out exactly the way I wanted it.

[focodave]

Evan,

Ahh -- so that is the car we see on the top banner of the website.
What a beauty.
I do hope you can track it down...

Dave

[chrisg]

I hate that feeling. Maybe DMV can search the VIN by the tag #? Looks like it was a nice car. In 2002 that was pretty stout money for a Fiat/Pininfarina Spider 2000.

[Site Owner]

Yep Chris, the more I look at my pictures up here, the more I regret selling it. Probably would have to shuck out around 10K to get one as nice as this one was today. Just can't do it now. Things ain't what they used to be here, gettin' old

There's a few cars that I've owned that I regret selling in addition to my Pininfarina - '68 Camaro, '74 BMW 2002, '72 BMW Bavaria 3.0, 2000 Mercedes E430 and the list goes on. I might could find the VIN at DMV or even my insurance company. Gonna look into that.

Evan

[AriK]

Good luck with that. If the DMV is anything like what we have in Quebec they will do nothing to be helpful in any way. Especially, we are in a day ‘n age where it’s all about #privacymovement
#dataleak
#protectmydata
#endVINconspiracy
#donthackmyfiat
#notmyserial#
...you get the message

[scusi]

There's a few cars that I've owned that I regret selling in addition to my Pininfarina - '68 Camaro, '74 BMW 2002, '72 BMW Bavaria 3.0, 2000 Mercedes E430 and the list goes on. I might could find the VIN at DMV or even my insurance company. Gonna look into that.

Evan

I had a 76 2002, the factory carb crapped out and a friend who was racing them at the time got me a Weber set for less money than the fctory carb. That meant the smog pump and stuff went, which led to a new exhaust header and pipes, a front air dam and having the wasteline chrome all removed and a custom race car clone paint job. Probly, the one car that I wish i still had, even over the Porsche I owned.

[baltobernie]

Evan, I checked with the membership director at DC Fiats, and he says this car is not currently owned by one of our guys; sorry. Did you check the VIN on that German site?

[Site Owner]

Thanks for doing that Bernie -
No, I have not done that because I don't know what the VIN is/was on my car. I don't have any record of it myself.

[chrisg]

How about a photo that shows the rear tag?