considering buying into the vintage Fiat Spider world

[MrBlimp]

But I'm not really a car show kinda guy anyway...I don't want to show off my car & accolades for it's aesthetics seem shallow to me.

I rarely do car shows myself, but when I do I like being the one who has the car in the shape I described.

I also seem to collect semi-vintage road racing bicycles and I race bicycles (modern ones)...I ride the vintage ones (often to the surprise of my friends) and they are nice but they all get ridden, meaning sometimes I get caught out in the rain & sometimes they get a nick on them.

My bicycle collection was close to 75 bikes but my wife said "Before you bring home another car you have to clear out space in the driveway - meaning get rid of some bikes!", so now I have under 60 (the garage on my main home is packed to the rafters and there are a few in the shed of my cabin). Almost all of the parts bikes are gone (I saved a few for a future tall bike project). I have 7 Raleigh 3 speed bikes dating from the early 50s to the mid 70s and a 80 Super Course reworked as a fixie. I have a couple of stretched bikes, a recumbent, an extremely expensive hand made Italian multi speed carbon fiber bike, a bunch of MTBs (from hardtails to full suspension), about 5 single speed (one dating to the 30s) and a bunch of fixies.

With most cars, I buy with an eye towards a scrap out exit strategy....and other than with paint and labor, most stuff can be reversed back out for cash if so desired.

Sounds like my monetized monthly method - when I get past the monthly dollar figure the car can blow up and I couldn't care - though that isn't what I am looking towards happening - in fact, what I am looking towards is years more driving fun!

[chrisg]

Sounds like with a level head your foray into the Fiat world will be rewarding. Have fun.

Btw, I have a soft spot for the 3 speeds & have a '65 Robin Hood and a '65 Schwinn Racer (or is it Speedster?)..great office errand bikes! The handmade American & Italian steel road bikes are the ones I love though. They take up much less space than cars, but even at good prices sure are more expensive by weight!

[MrBlimp]

Car is home - so is a giant pile of parts - just about everything but a rear end and another set of fenders.

FIRST INSPECTION OF ELECTRIC SYSTEM:
- Wipe-Wash steering column lever - non functional

- Tachometer and Speedometer - non functional (I believe the PO mentioned he removed the Speedometer cable)

- Horn - non operational - though while driving I occasionally heard a weak sound

- Toggle switches mounted in chrome dash stripe above section with the Hazard Light Switch and Map Light:
- 1. unknown function
- 2. Heater Fan/Blower toggle switch - operational
- 3. unknown function
- 4. Map Light toggle switch - operational (the little switch on the light itself is non functional)
- 5. unknown function

LIGHTS (there is a toggle switch on the dash left of the instrument cluster that turns them on/off)
- Key on dash lights:
- Emergency brake light - operational
- Fasten seat belt light - operational
- Oil light - operational

- Headlights - work when the steering column lever is in the up position, not in the down, nor on the DIP (pulling lever).

- Parking lights:
- Driver's side - front - operational
- License plate light - operational
- Passenger tail light - rear - operational

- Signal lights:
- Passenger side - Rear - operational
- Passenger side - Front - operational
- Dash Signal lights on all the time

- Brake lights - operational

- Hazzard lights -
- Switch - operational
- Flasher - operational
- Lights - did not check

[Texsardo]

I bought my 78/79 handles 3 years ago. Spent 1st year fixing previous owners American shade tree quick fixes. Spent next year completely redoing interior from metal floor, up. This year looking for a bit of minor bodywork and painting without taking out a second mortgage. I am trying to return it to as close to original as possible. Yes, I am leaving bumpers on.
Now as to Fix It Again Tony, I have the shop manual in book form and have everything set to shop specification and it runs like a well tuned engine (no pun intended). In fact, there were a lot of overheating cars pulled out of a recent cruise but with the Electric fan I finished without problems and drove home happy. Go for it. I only suggest the carburetor type and maybe the 1800 of pre fuel injection type.
Texsardo