When Fiat decided to cease production of the Spider 2000 in 1982, Pininfarina stepped in to manufacture the car under its own brand. They named it the Azzurra Spider, and it remained on the market from 1983 until 1985. This 1984 Azzurra Spider is a tidy example, and it is looking for a new home. It is located in Flanders, New Jersey, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. This is a No Reserve auction, and the bidding is sitting at $8,075.

This is not the first vehicle that we’ve seen from this seller, with our own Bruce Johnson producing this excellent article back in August on a 124 Spider. Either this person is a true enthusiast, or he’s a dealer. Leaving that question aside, the Spider presents exceptionally well. The owner admits that the paint is new, and this would usually cause me to sound a note of caution on these cars when it comes to the question of rust. However, the owner provides a healthy collection of photos of the Azzurra, and the underside of the vehicle looks clean and structurally sound. I would still be inclined to check a few of the lower body extremities, but it does look promising. The car is fitted with a Beige convertible top, and this is in good order. The wheels look to be free from any form of damage, while the chrome, trim, and the glass all appears to be excellent.

Powering this little Italian classic is a 1,995cc DOHC 4-cylinder engine, which is backed by a 5-speed manual transmission. This should be capable of producing 102hp at a relatively high 5,500 rpm. However, with maximum torque available from 2,500 rpm, the Spider is a surprisingly flexible car to drive. Even though the power output is modest, the 2,359lb Spider is still a reasonable performer. A ¼ mile ET of 17.4 seconds might not sound that impressive, but it is not bad for a car of this size. The vehicle has been recently serviced, and the owner states that it runs and drives well. He does claim that it has a genuine 70,000 miles showing on its odometer but doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence to verify this.

There are two undeniable flaws with the interior of the Azzurra, but the rest of the trim presents well. The radio is missing, and the buyer will need to purchase something to fill that hole. The other fault is a significant crack in the dash. This might be able to be repaired, and I would probably be inclined to investigate that option before I considered searching for a replacement. They are available, but prices start at $470, and replacing them can be a complicated task. Otherwise, the upholstery on the seats and door trims looks good, while the carpet is free from appreciable wear or stains. The owner states that everything works as it should, which suggests that there are no electrical faults for the buyer to tackle.

I love small sports cars. They demand a reasonable level of concentration if a driver is to extract the best from them. When this happens, they provide one of the most satisfying driving experiences that you can imagine. It seems that I’m not the only person with this opinion because this little classic has already attracted an impressive 72 bids. The photos that the owner provides paint a promising picture, and when you combine this fact with the driving pleasure, it is easy to understand why the interest has been high. If it were feasible, then I would happily lay down the cash for this Azzurra Spider. Would you?