Regards from Calgary, Canada
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Milan
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:07 pm
- Your car is a: No car yet
- Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Regards from Calgary, Canada
Searching for Spiders. Getting close to get one. Any specific advice?
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aj81spider
- Patron 2020
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:04 am
- Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
- Location: Chelmsford, MA
Re: Regards from Calgary, Canada
Welcome aboard. My advice is to get one with the least amount of rust you can find. Definitely avoid anything with rust in the shock towers or the structural parts of the body.
The mechanicals on these cars are pretty straightforward and there are good suppliers, so almost any mechanical problem is fixable. However unless you weld and do body work (and I do not) then rust is a much larger and more expensive issue.
The mechanicals on these cars are pretty straightforward and there are good suppliers, so almost any mechanical problem is fixable. However unless you weld and do body work (and I do not) then rust is a much larger and more expensive issue.
A.J.
1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
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18Fiatsandcounting
- Posts: 3799
- Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
- Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: Regards from Calgary, Canada
I definitely agree with aj81spider about rust issues.
Although I haven't bought a used Fiat in a number of years, here is the general approach that I used to use:
- Mechanical things can be fixed, unless it's a blown engine or transmission, bent rear axle, etc.
- Are all the interior parts there? Carpet can be replaced, but other items can be costly like the dash and consoles.
- Are all the exterior lights and lenses there, and not broken? These can get pricey as well. Try finding a '71 rear taillight...
- Straight bumpers
- Decent wheels and tires. I know they can be replaced, but again, $$$. C$ in your case!
- Bent front shock towers are a deal breaker for me.
- I try to look past dirt, clutter, even faded paint. All this can be dealt with.
- Hoods (bonnets) can be pricey, so a straight hood is a plus. The same is true of the trunk (boot) lid, but a bit less so.
-Bryan
Although I haven't bought a used Fiat in a number of years, here is the general approach that I used to use:
- Mechanical things can be fixed, unless it's a blown engine or transmission, bent rear axle, etc.
- Are all the interior parts there? Carpet can be replaced, but other items can be costly like the dash and consoles.
- Are all the exterior lights and lenses there, and not broken? These can get pricey as well. Try finding a '71 rear taillight...
- Straight bumpers
- Decent wheels and tires. I know they can be replaced, but again, $$$. C$ in your case!
- Bent front shock towers are a deal breaker for me.
- I try to look past dirt, clutter, even faded paint. All this can be dealt with.
- Hoods (bonnets) can be pricey, so a straight hood is a plus. The same is true of the trunk (boot) lid, but a bit less so.
-Bryan