1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

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mattman079
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:53 am
Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider
Location: Maryland

1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby mattman079 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:38 am

Hello Everyone,

Hope this would be the best place to post. I wanted input from others who have more experience with these wonderful/beatiful cars. I am close to purchasing one of two cars. As the title says, one is a low mileage (about 40k) 80 fiat spider 2000. The other is a 83 Pininfarina Azzurra spider with about 80k mileage. The 1980 is in better shape and has only had one owner, however, from what I have read (and couldn't find) it looks like the 83-85 Azzurra's are much more rare. The Azzurra is in great shape with three owners.

I wanted to get input on what everyone thought would be a better choice. The 1980 a little more expensive, only by about $2,000, and both cars have no rust.

Thanks in advance!!

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Odoyle
Posts: 440
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:06 pm
Your car is a: 1983 Pinafarina Spider
Location: CA

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby Odoyle » Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:35 pm

Go with the 83, there were only 2,480 made compared to the 1980 spider, of which 14,435 cars were produced. Also,most have power windows, power trunk, and slightly thicker sheet metal for all the body panels.

rridge
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 11:59 am
Your car is a: 1981 Turbo Spider

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby rridge » Mon Jul 17, 2017 6:06 pm

There are easier ways to make money than investing in "rare" Fiat Spiders. Almost 200,000 were built over a period of 18 years with only small differences year to year. Is the red car in the header above an '80 or an '83? Not many people know or care.

The '83 had a better quality interior when it left the factory but it also had many unique interior parts that are difficult to track down and expensive to replace. If the 1980 model has the optional fuel injection, the driving experience in both should be identical.

If you are buying to car to keep and use for a few years, the car in better condition will give you more miles with less downtime and expense. On a forty year old cars, the one in better better condition is usually the one that has been driven more regularly, not necessarily the one showing the lower miles or the better paint.

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spidernut
Posts: 1905
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby spidernut » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:29 am

The 80 Spider was available with an ADHA carburetor and also with the Bosch fuel injection. The 80 carburetor is a pile of garbage and robs the car of power and fuel economy. The fuel injected version is far superior to the carb'd model. Make sure you're looking at the EFI version.

I agree about the 83 Pininfarina. It is much more rare, but imminently harder to find parts for as rridge noted already. I personally don't care for the dash modifications to the Pininfarina but it is a very nice car and quite rare.

Are you planning on keeping it all original as a future collector's car, planning on driving it daily, or something else?
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)

mattman079
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:53 am
Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider
Location: Maryland

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby mattman079 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:39 am

It should be a weekend car, driven really only during the summer on short trips. I would like to keep it as original as I can. I'm leaning towards the 83 because of how good of shape the previous owners seemed to keep it. The 80 is in great shape but it's also barely been driven.

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby klweimer » Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:10 am

Sounds like both cars are pretty close. It does seem to me that interior parts are harder to find for the "rare" 83. Does the 83 have rack and pinion steering? If the 80 has a carb and the 83 has rack and pinion, I'd opt for the 83. If the 80 has FI and the 83 does not have rack and pinion, I'd go with which ever one you spouse/partner likes better. :-)

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lglade
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Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Mukilteo, WA

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby lglade » Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:48 am

I have an '84 Pininfarina, and with the exception of a handful of parts, it's just like the other years. So spare parts are generally plentiful. Rack & pinion didn't show up until mid-1985, so those cars are extremely rare. The standard Spider steering is kind of difficult in the parking lot (according to my wife), but at speed it steers very well.

If you're handy with tools, then pick whichever one you like the best. If you're going to pay others to work on your car, then pick the one that needs the least. Parts are pretty cheap, but professional labor is not.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS

mattman079
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:53 am
Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider
Location: Maryland

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby mattman079 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 11:48 am

I have family friends who take care of their classic cars, although they are all american from the 60's, so I was planning on doing as much as I can myself with help. Anything serious or clearly out of my league I would trust to a professional.

I'm going to see the 83 this weekend and will possibly be coming home with her as well. I've read almost any article online that references the late year spiders, but if anyone has last minute advice on things to double check let me know!

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lglade
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Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Mukilteo, WA

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby lglade » Tue Jul 18, 2017 4:28 pm

These are easy cars to work on, and if you're motivated to do your own work then you'll no doubt be successful. And once you get a Fiat whipped into shape, it's not that hard to keep it there. You'll also find them to be as reliable as any other European car from that same era.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS

mattman079
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:53 am
Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider
Location: Maryland

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby mattman079 » Wed Jul 19, 2017 10:44 am

Thanks, I am hoping to learn a good deal just by working on preventive maintenance. I'm hoping its in decent shape I go see it. I'm having the owner take it to a auto shop without me to get it inspected before purchase to be safe.

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MattVAS
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Your car is a: 1976 Fiat Spider 124

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby MattVAS » Wed Jul 19, 2017 4:22 pm

Everything that everyone else has posted is on the button.
The biggest button being the 83 having some harder parts to find. Those parts are actually only the interior consoles. Pretty much every other piece is the same as the regular Fiat version.

Also I agree with the car that gets driven more tends to be the one in better shape mechanically. Here at Vick Auto we get a lot of calls from people getting low mile cars and man do they have the longest list of needs. This is due to the simple fact that when it is driven so little people forget that age damages parts just as well as miles do.

My personal choice would be the one with the better interior so long as the car has fuel injection. And weigh that against what shape the paint is in. A good paint job costs far too much money. So if the cheaper car has the worse paint then it really won't be cheaper for long.
Matt Phillips
Vick Auto - Manager
http://www.vickauto.com
Stock parts or Performance parts we've got what you need.

mattman079
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:53 am
Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider
Location: Maryland

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby mattman079 » Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:56 am

Thanks Matt

I wasn't sure if I would even get a reply since I was going to see the 83 this Saturday. This is my first and want to thank the community for being so involved. I'm excited to get a nice profile picture up and dig a little deeper in some of the topics.

PhillySpider
Posts: 325
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:51 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: New Hope, PA

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby PhillySpider » Thu Jul 20, 2017 6:46 pm

There's a guy in my area with an 83 that has a big sign that says "THIS IS NOT A FIAT SPIDER" and lists all the diffs. Funny it references fuel injection and power windows...I pointed out our 1980 has both :) . A year later the sign wasn't changed for the same show. For this reason I'd tell you to join the FIAT club lol! In all seriousness, if the 80 is fuel injected I'd go with the 80. I love ours.

One major difference between the two is the FIAT is 2+2 and the Azura deleted the back seat for a package shelf. Personally I have two young boys that love the backseat. My wife has actually had 4 adults in our 1980...not overly comfy, 4 petite women, but a quick trip to main street for shopping and lunch puts smiles on everyone's faces. What I don't understand is why a $2K difference?

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joelittel
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Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby joelittel » Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:23 pm

Too funny!

We've had four adults in our '80 as well and years later that short trip still comes up in our circle of friends.

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aevansgatech
Posts: 346
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:51 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000

Re: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 vs 1983 Pininfarina Azzurra Spider

Postby aevansgatech » Tue Jul 25, 2017 11:04 am

As many others have said, pick the one which strikes your fancy and run with it. There are differences between the two, but if they are both rust-free good condition cars then there's not a lot of difference in maintenance/upkeep.

I've personally owned an '84 and now unfortunately I"ll be receiving my late father's '82. Both are exceptional and fun in different ways. I've grown accustomed to the "creature comforts" in the '84 and honestly it is a more luxurious car. The power windows are handy and the power trunk is laughably fun to operate. I'm a fan of the updated dash and after having the '84, pre-83s almost feel bare bones. Okay, okay, it's not that drastic but you do notice a difference when going back down to the earlier Spiders.

The other two factors I would consider are mileage and rust. The '80 you're looking at is at half the mileage! In my opinion, a car this old needs maintenance regardless of the mileage, but it sure is a better starting point to work with. The rust deal could go either way. As I'm sure you know the '83+ models have thicker sheet metal, were dipped and coated. That may be added insurance for you if you plan to keep it long term.

You can't make a wrong decision here, so good luck with whichever one you get!
1979 Spider 2000 (gone)
1984 Pininfarina Azzurra (for sale)
1982 Spider 2000 (here to stay)


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