BF Auction: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
- Seller: Lora B
- Location: Erhard, Minnesota
- Mileage: 74,239 Shown
- Chassis #: 124CS10091535
- Title Status: Clean
The Fiat 124 Spider is a truly undervalued and underappreciated Italian sports car. They are fun to drive, well-equipped, and look fantastic! For the money, it’s tough to beat a 124 Spider. The example being offered here has been off the road for about 5 years, but the seller was able to get it started. It was their late husband’s restoration project, so it will need work, but it could be a great place to start or a parts donor for another Spider. Rather than just let it sit, Lora has decided to auction it here on Barn Finds, so if you’d be happy to have it, be sure to bid below.
Before going into storage 5-years ago, the original engine was replaced with a used but running unit. The seller doesn’t know why the engine was replaced but knows that the current engine will start. After pulling it out of storage, washing the car off, and installing a new battery, she attempted to start it. It requires starting fluid to start and keep running, but that’s a good sign. It likely just needs a new fuel pump, but the entire fuel system should be cleaned and serviced. The Lampredi-designed Fiat twin-cam is a surprisingly durable engine, as long as the timing belt doesn’t fail.
The interior is complete but needs restoration. There was a time when you wouldn’t have been able to get the parts required to restore this Fiat, but as interest in these classic Italians has increased, the parts supply has dramatically improved. Now, you can buy everything from a brand-new dash to all the trim and anything else you might need to restore it to like-new condition.
The seller has some spare parts for the car. The parts that were removed when the seller’s husband started the restoration process are present and included. For an affordable sports car, the 124 Spider was surprisingly well-equipped. You got a twin-cam engine, 5-speed manual transmission, disc brakes all around, a stereo, and a convertible top that could be raised with one hand from the driver’s seat!
Like most Italian classics, these cars tend to rust. While this one shows some rust in the quarters and rocker panels, it looks pretty solid. The floors have some dings, but they don’t show sunlight. It seems like it could be a fun project for someone wanting to get into Italian cars on a budget! So, who here has fond memories of the 124 Spider?
Bid On This Auction
Vegas Tom bid $500.00 2024-04-01 20:13:15
Louie bid $100.00 2024-03-29 11:02:22
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Comments
I had an identical car in the same color around 1980 and later a rare ‘82 turbo. Fun cars to drive. One day the ‘77 started blowing white smoke, the head gasket was blown. Luckily the neighbor across the street was a mechanic and fixed it on the cheap. At the time I was still living at home and sold it as it wasn’t practical as an only car in the Chicago winters. The ‘82 was a low mileage example. Took it to get the annual safety inspection at a shop and swore I could hear it being revved up in the back. Shortly afterwards it exhibited signs of a blown head gasket also. I couldn’t prove that the shop was at fault, ended up selling it as-is. Wouldn’t mind having another one.
sorta off topic; took my hi millage Buick to a Chicago safety dept. I hid outside the garage door! maybe he was taking his anger out on my car? it passed; he smiled. i’m glad I didn’t have to take a bus home.
Great project for the mechanically minded. My memory of my ‘73 124 Spider? Sitting at a red light at the county courthouse with the top down a gorgeous brunette walks to the passenger side and gets in! What luck!!! She thinks I’m a cool dude! Nope. She’s trying to get away from someone who’s also crossing the street. She had me circle a couple of blocks and take her back to her car. No name. No phone number. Just a fleeting moment of excitement.
Good story, happened to me once in Cocoa Beach in front of a strip club that advertised 23 gorgeous ladies and one ugly one. Of course it was the ugly one i was in an old CJ2 flatty she had a hard time getting in despite her profession.
both of you have me beat. as a punk I had a 66 MGB, used to drive around with my humongous Shepard. lets not forget my Ma. we drove on more sidewalks in my Chicago hood than the streets.curb service our Ma……had a dog and a stick then. no jackin’ me! LOL
I remember that feeling when the timing belt leaves this mortal coil. Priceless.
I’ve owed an 850 Spyder, two x1/9s, two 124s and a 2000. Of all those I think the 2000 was the best. It was a refinement of the 124 Spyder. With its fuel injection and 5 speed ‘box it was a nice package.
Buddy of mine bought a ‘74 X1-9 new. Red with tan interior. He added some wider wheels, a smoked top and a couple of things to give it a bit more pep. Cool car at the time, we had fun cruising around in it as they were rare and turned heads.
Friend of mine bought a non runner he saw for sale in someone’s driveway. He had it towed to my place to check it out. It had sat for 4 years. I cleaned out the fuel tank and installed a new Bosch electric pump and keyed power relay as the wiring just crumbles in your fingers. I did get it running, but the frame is rotten. Buyer beware.
In 1966 I had just returned from Vietnam and was posted in Athens, Greece. On a long weekend I flew to Italy on a USAF courier flight with the intent to purchase a used Ferrari, I was unable to find a good one within my budget, however the broker had three Fiat 124 Spyders that were not yet available for sale to public. I bought the first 124 Spyder exported from Italy. Drove it for 2 years and sold it for more than I paid. I understand it was passed from from GI to GI for 17 years until it was totalled in an accident. That sexy red sports car was perfect magnet for a young single Airman!
Thank you for your service.
They are fun cars. A blast to drive, and an exhaust note that is worth the price of admission. I agree that they are currently under appreciated and undervalued. They do require more maintenance/tinkering than a typical American car, however.
Fix It Again Tony 😉
A buddy had a new 1970 he referred to it as Fix It Again Tony every 124 miles, and swore he could hear it rusting in the driveway at night lol 😂!!!!!!!!!!!
Bought brand new a73′ Fiat 124 Sport Coupe,at 30 k miles I was done with it ,sold it and bought a used 72′ Nova.
I bought a ’75 124 Spider in 2008, the seller said that the engine had been rebuilt….it didn’t last at all, so I parked it in the backyard for a while. Eventually, I ignored the horror stories, rolled up my sleeves and went to work on it. Sent it out for paint and body work, when it came back it looked gorgeous! I installed a fresh power plant, rebuilt the trans, suspension, brakes, fresh interior, worked out the wiring bugs and it turned out to be a great sports car. It was a terrific project, fairly simple, good parts and technical support. The car has won many trophies at local shows and I still enjoy driving it weekly on the local mountain roads listening to that Italian motor sing its opera.
Their junk. Where’s the hood & the rest of the parts? When I look at a potential project car, I asses 4 areas, the outside appearance (does it have good, rust free body & nice paint? Nope. Is the interior nice? Nope. Does it have run well and have a good motor? Maybe/Maybe not. Can I get parts readily & are they cheap? Nope & really nope. So on the “Doug Scale” of potential projects this is a “Quad No”
You are correct! Just look at how many are around, especially from 1966 to 1973 . Also from 1970 to 1979 you could get a Datsun Z a far superior car for less money $ and more reliable and better resale value. That’s a no brainer!!!!!!!!!
40 years ago I worked at the last Fiat dealership in New Mexico (but they were called Pininfarinas and Bertones by then. Fiat is the only car in history subject to a total recall of the entire car due to rust. Of course Fiat had worked long and hard to perfect the rusting process and finally developed (with help from the Soviets) steel that not only rusted when exposed to salt and water but also bright sunlight, clean air, paint, oil and various musical tones!
I honestly wouldn’t compare a 124 to a Z car; one is a sports car, and the other is a GT. And where can you buy a Z for less money than a 124?
The hood and the rest of the parts are with the car and in the photos.
And where are you getting that parts that aren’t readily available? There are multiple parts suppliers for these now. You can get every nut, bolt, and screw to restore one.
Parts are readily available in the US from Midwest-Bayless, AutoRicambi, and Vick Autosports, just off the top of my head.
Thank you Sub and Josh for your replies. It’s so true, I’ve found many parts suppliers in the US and Europe, they have reasonable prices, and even RockAuto sells parts for these Spiders as well as X1/9 Fiats. Often times an owner can call any of these parts suppliers for great technical advice. In addition, there are several websites that also provide technical support. The best part is that I’ve made a lot of good friends who share in the classic Fiat hobby.
In 1966 I was transferred from my first tour in Vietnam to Athens, Greece. After settling in, finding an apartment, learning my duties, I took leave and hopped an Embassy courier flight to Italy. I was looking for a good used Ferrari, however, unable to find one within my budget. My Italian friend and interpreter told me he had a friend I should meet, so we went to Turin where the broker had 3 new bright red display Pininfarina124 Fiat Spiders to be shown at the Turin Auto Show.. As the car had not been announced, they were not for sale to the public, However, being Italy and a cousin of my friend, and with a small baksheesh I was able to purchase the first Fiat Spider exported from Italy. I was the upgraded sport with the 1.6 engine,chassis # 000031. It was the perfect magnet for a young single American serviceman. I sold it after 2 carefree years to another newly arrived Lt.. Under the status of forces agreement which meant we paid no taxes it had to be sold within the military / diplomatic community. The car was sold from GI to GI for the next 17 years until being totaled in a collision with a donkey.
Great story, thanks.
Nice cars. The 1300s are slow, though; I was staying in Italy for a while, was out on a Guzzi V35 (also not that quick) and found myself blitzing past my host’s boyfriend in his 1300 on a twisty country road. Maybe he wasn’t trying, but it had a loud pipe on it (ENSA?) and you could hear it a mile away.
He wasn’t best pleased.
I owned the 124 from 1960-70. Timing belt slipped once so had to work on it and replace the valves. Happened again so I traded it in on a 70 Chevelle Malibu 350. The Fiat was a death trap anyway.
The first Fiat 124 was released in 1966
I had a 1968 Fiat 124 but not the spider, the coupe. Handled great, no rust (at the time) and a fun car. But all the little reliability problems prompted me to trade it in on a Karmann Ghia convertible. Even trade at a dealership no less.
I had a blue 74 I used to auto cross with I reworked the suspension to lower it and wider aluminum turbine rims and low profile tires roll bar and front air dam what a fun car
It was not trouble free but the fun quotient over ride the trouble
Took a girl o a first date to a movie weather turned into a blizzard while we were in the theater on the way home the car just died I could not figure it out but an officer stopped helped me push it well off the road and drove the girl home then me. When I got back to the car the next day I opened the door and saw one of the ceramic fuses on the floor. Put it back in its place and it started right up and I drove it home. Worst date ever though!!!
I seriously wish this was not so far from me in SC because at anything under 1k I would come get it
Bought a 1974 124TC and I’ll never forget that upon delivery from the dealer, the exhaust system was rusty. Brand new. Dealer could never get it to run right and always one excuse or another. It did handle well, but that’s about it.
A friend’s father restored one of these for his daughter, my friend’s sister. Did the bodywork himself and painted it in his driveway. The daughter drove it before she lost control in the rain and wrapped it around a tree! She wasn’t badly hurt, but the car was totaled! We were all in high school at the time.
“… has fond memories of the 124 Spider?…”
yes, they are. Cut my wrenchin teeth on these car’s fathers/grandfathers (1200, 15, cab.s & similar in lancia & alfa models as well. 1, a ’54 alfa twin cam was the 1st DOHC I ever saw). As a teen know-nothing it was fun. Gota cheep car and made it into something I’d never be able to drive/own. Sell for the nxt flash that caught my eye.
rusty frame…most likely and it looks like someone thinks Bondo is a way to fix rust, so is there rust…you can take that to the bank. I see the latest bid is $500. and that’s about what it is worth.
JD. There is no frame buddy it is a monocoque but if the rockers which are structural rot it takes a lot of welding to make them right
The reserve is off!
Never owned one. A friend had an 850 Spyder. Reliable? About as reliable as my two ex wives. If only they weren’t so damn good looking. Pininfarina I hate you. I eventually bought my first Alfa Romeo Spyder veloce. Now that was a car. Ended up with 3 of them. That said I think this a worthy project. Go ahead. They’re getting rare and heck it looks like a Ferrari. Go ahead you brave souls pull the trigger on this one . Nothing says true friendship like guys who’ll come over and drink your beer while you disassemble.
Looks like a good place to start