Want a red Italian convertible, but don’t want to break the bank? Then you might consider this 1972 Fiat 850 Sport Spider. Located just about a hundred miles due west of Miami in Marco Island, Florida, this pint-sized classic is advertised here on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $6,500.

Foreign sports car manufacturers universally struggled in the mid-Sixties with U.S. emissions regulations. While British car makers de-tuned engines, Fiat took a different path. On careful reading of the law, it became clear that engines smaller than 50 cubic inches weren’t subject to it. As a result, Fiat lowered the displacement of the 850’s rear-mounted engine from 843 cc to 817 cc while increasing compression to maintain performance. This necessitated the use of high octane fuel, but the Italians had neatly skirted the offending regulations.

The model was revised in 1968, however, rendering “850” nothing more than the number on the rear. Displacement was increased to 903 cc, with horsepower climbing from a sprightly 49 to a jaw-dropping 52– more than justifying the addition of “Sport” to the model’s name. Performance upgrades aside, the re-worked front end lost the glass over the headlights and gained a somewhat more froggy appearance. The Sport Spider would continue in production until 1973, when it was succeeded by the mid-engined X1/9.

This example shows little of the rust that was so bad that it forced a government recall between 1978 and 1983. The pictures reveal an unusually clean undercarriage and what appears to be only surface rust near the spare. The current owner reports that the car “runs very strong,” though there’s no word on whether it’s ready for the road. Yet, from what one can see of the engine and interior, there’s nothing obvious that would keep the new owner from driving it home. Given the condition of the car, the 50,541 miles on the odometer may well be accurate; regardless, the car shows every indication of having been extremely well cared-for over the past forty-odd years. Boasting a new soft top and the original tool kit, this little red Spider may be the nicest example of a second-generation 850 on the market right now.