Project -whadya think?

[pluktv]

This guy lives very close to me. I haven't looked at it. He describes his ad locally as:-

"I bought this car in 2006 with the intention of restoring it. I paid $2500 for it and it has been sitting in my garage for the last nine years. Once a year I would take it and drive it around the cul de sac but this year it would not start. If I don't sell it for $1000 or best offer I'm going to start to sell it by parts...etc"

Bearing in mind that a decent Spider up here goes for around 6 to 10000 bucks Canadian, do you think that it's even worth a look? What would be the key points that would make this particular Spider just a parts car as opposed to a good starting point for a project? I know I'm asking a lot from this but ant input in any shape or form will be welcome! I'm not trying to make money out of this or anything, more thinking of a 5 year project, no plans to make a show queen, maybe a half way Abarth lookalike. What would stop YOU from buying this car?

Phil

[RRoller123]

take a look at the one in Attleboro MASS on Craigslist, for less money, 80FI and looks in really good shape, just dirty. This one looks like it has badly rusted rocker panels, a very bad sign in general.

[toplessexpat]

It looks like the driver's side rocker is in the driver's seat..... instinct says avoid.... but post pictures of the front shock towers for entertainment value!

[pluktv]

I took a good long look at her today. The good news is that nothing apart from the bumpers is missing. Everything is there and mechanically looks in good shape. No battery so It hasn't been heard running although the seller says it ran good and that the gearbox was rebuilt before he bought it - I can't obviously vouch for this though. Unfortunately the bodywork is as rough as I expected. I doubt it's restorable, which is sad.

For entertainment value, here are the pics of the shock towers!

[pluktv]

So I'm still thinking of buying it just for a parts car. It's only 10 minutes away from where i live so getting it home is not an issue. It is a 1800 American spec Spyder. Interior is pretty good and the top looks good condition. Wheels look good shape too.

What do you guys think it's worth? The seller was looking for $1000, now down to $700

[mscafide]

DON'T DO IT!!!

No, no, no. Not even the parts.

[klweimer]

Agreed. Don't do it. And extra one or two grand on the purchase will save you several times that down the road.

[SoFlaFiat]

Phil,
Sadly, that little beast is gone...
I would gladly give the guy 2 or 3 bills for the parts if you have another car that might need spares but the others are very right, save yourself a lot of trouble and start with a better car.
Cheers!

[pluktv]

Well thanks for your brutal honesty guys! I feel like the kid whose told I can't have a new train set! You're right of course, it's just too far gone...

I emailed him today to let him know I am interested but nowhere at that price, just breaking it up for parts would be a major job for me and really, I don't need that many used parts right now.

I do have my own Spider which is running mostly fine right now, it's just that any parts after they have been sent up from Texas are two weeks and bloody expensive by the time they get up to Nova Scotia, the postage is crippling. It would have been nice to have my own parts bin on tap. You guys are very lucky to live down there. Cheers anyway!

[SoFlaFiat]

I have heard of some who keep a post box in the states to minimize shipping issues. Maybe you could have one in Maine?

[narfire]

I have heard of some who keep a post box in the states to minimize shipping issues

I'm about 45 miles from the border and in the small community just across the line is a VERY busy or was(dollar exchange has reduced cross boarder shopping) a mail drop. They received shipping via UPS for Canadians and we would drive down, pick up the goods, tank of gas and a 6-pack or two and bring the stuff back. If it was for personal use then NO brokerage was required. If manufactured in the States then no duty either. We just pay our provincial and Fed. taxes and off we go. Sometime I've been fortunate with a small order and a long lineup behind me the boarder officer will send me on my way.

It is recommended by us Canucks that if anything can be sent Via the post,(USPS) then have your parts sent that way, a fraction of the cost of UPS from the States.
Chris

[SoFlaFiat]

I didn't want to just toss your name out there so thanks for chiming in Chris!!
I am from Maine myself and have friends and relatives who may be able to take shipment for you if that helps? Maybe on large orders at least...

[toplessexpat]

I'm just waiting for the "new owner" to pop up on here....

"Hey there - I've just found and bought a steal of a car up here in Canada. Some surface rust......."

[pluktv]

TBH it would be nice to have a Canadian arm of one of the suppliers like AR. Just to stock the faster moving items if nothing else.

[AriK]

Unfortunately the sad reality is that there are so few of these cars in Canada that it would hardly benefit anyone to make it worth becoming a vendor even if he specializes in different auto parts. A topic from Sep 27th 2015 indicates a total of 171 Spiders in all of Canada. That's less than what's reported to be in the entire state of PA. While these numbers have may have an error margin, even being 100% off still doesn't justify moving inventory for profit to Canada.