New member, new Spider

Darsellla · Post by **Darsellla** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:14 pm

Just wanted to say hi, introduce myself & a little background. I am excited to be a FIAT Spider owner again. I owned a 1980 Spider in 1989, my father made me sell it after owning it less than a year. I bought it without telling anyone (and at a dealer before I was eighteen) so he was furious from the beginning. Heâ€™s an Italian car nut and he got me hooked on them so itâ€™s 100% his fault. I bought a reliable Honda instead for college. He always said â€œyou can get another one when you have your own garage, your own mechanic and another car to driveâ€.

So this year hubby wanted a â€™67 Camaro so I wanted my Fiat again. 17 years later things are really different. The internet is a great tool for Fiat nerds

So I looked for months and found a 1981 LE #214 on craigslist locally. It was filthy, 55K miles and in serious need of a tune-up, but it still runs. The small repair shop it was at had no idea it was an LE. After I got it home and cleaned it up- it has very little, if any rust. I got a great deal on it and always wanted an LE and it was a low number to boot. It was haunting me that I had to save it as it even has the original radio, wheels, top & stickers all in perfect condition. I was having nightmares someone would buy it and paint it red & pull off all of the badges!

I have more questions on the LE so Iâ€™ll post on the regular forum.

Now I have a bunch of clubs to joinâ€¦..

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:53 pm

welcome. please post pictures.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:05 pm

Great story. Welcome to our community!

Darsellla · Post by **Darsellla** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:23 pm

mbouse wrote:welcome. please post pictures.

It's been raining so sorry for the garage pictures. We moved recently so are still putting stuff away! No before pictures but this is after I got off layers of grime, yanked out the floor mats and soaking wet pads underneath. I drove it home in the sleet/snow and it took a beating being outside for weeks. It needs new paint, muffler, carpet & some restoring here & there. It's going to the Fiat guys on tuesday for a major tune up.

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Darsellla · Post by **Darsellla** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:57 pm

Here's another one.

spidernut · Post by **spidernut** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:16 am

When I bought my first Spider in 1981, I really debated between an LE just like yours and the red one I ended up purchasing. Really nice looking color combination! Glad you're back in the seat!

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:48 am

that is a gorgeous color! love those wheels too.

Darsellla · Post by **Darsellla** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:53 am

Now I just have to find a GOOD place to have it painted. Any recommendations in the Seattle area? I love the color so it has to be an exact match.

I will be looking for a 1985 eventually as well. Email me if you plan on selling yours!

Michael N. Marcus · Post by **Michael N. Marcus** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:54 am

>>Heâ€™s an Italian car nut and he got me hooked on them so itâ€™s 100% his fault. I bought a reliable Honda instead for college. He always said â€œyou can get another one when you have your own garage, your own mechanic and another car to driveâ€. <<

Pop definitely knows Italian cars and gave you good advice. Fiats are fun, but definitely should not be the only car in your garage... unless you live near a bus stop.

I briefly owned THREE Fiats at the same time, and it was unusual for them all to be working properly.

I waited 30 years between my first Fiat and most recent Fiat. I'm glad you didn't have to wait that long. Welcome to the asylum.

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:12 pm

Great looking car!!

What does the LE designate? Haven't heard of it before.

Gerard Del Monte · Post by **Gerard Del Monte** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:10 pm

LE means Limited Edition. There was a limited production run of 1981 Spiders to commemorate the 50th year of alliance with Pininfarina- gold color, special wheels, special interior.

Darsellla · Post by **Darsellla** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:44 pm

I actually have the ad/POS for the LE (thanks to eBay).

Basically in a nut shell-

"Commemorating 50 years of Pininfarina design and coach building achievement".
"The Fiat Limited Edition Spider 2000 is a fitting tribute to the Pininfarina influence in Fiat history".

Special numbered badges w/ 50 year logo. 14" Iron cross wheels (vs. 13"), partial leather consoles & seats, brown dashboard, champagne color, leather steering wheel & power windows. Although I have found quite a few with the same interior that was not an LE. I was told they were offered as options or could have been an LE in the beginning.

The main thing for me is the gorgeous unique color that these cars came in and there were only 1000 built. Probably not worth a whole lot more (and already costing me a lot to restore it) but why not have something a little different?

bruce bennett · Post by **bruce bennett** » Tue May 01, 2007 10:00 am

Darsellla wrote:Here's another one.

Cool!
now I know what model my wheels came from!

I Bought them from someone locally and have been looking high and low to find an exact 5th spare. but never could figure out what model they came from.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Wed May 02, 2007 1:24 pm

Darsella, wasn't your car picked to be one of the Fiats in the North American Fiat Spider challenge? I believe congratulations are in order.

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Wed May 02, 2007 5:20 pm

I recently started putting together a list of Vin # and LE badge # . Only have 7 so far but would be happy to add yours. Could you post your Vin or serial #
Thanks
Dave

New member, new Spider

New member, new Spider

Re: New member, new Spider

Spider LE