Is it worth it?

General chat about the car goes in here.
Jontheconnman
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:56 am
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 850 sport spider
Location: Stillwater, OK

Is it worth it?

Postby Jontheconnman » Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:05 pm

I have a 1969 fiat 850 spider that I just recently purchased for pretty cheep. The car is all there, 100%. Today i pulled it out of the weeds and the Motor is seized, rag Top is trashed, floor pans are rusted and there is some bondo work throughout. This car has been sitting in a field for at least 15 years. Is it going to be worth my time and money to fix this car or look for a new spider?

User avatar
lglade
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 327
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:05 am
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Mukilteo, WA

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby lglade » Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:33 pm

If you do all the work yourself, and if you need only minimal new parts, then you'll be lucky to break even. If you farm out a lot of work to professionals, then you'll lose your a**. That can change in a very short period of time, but the reality is that the values just aren't quite there yet to support doing these projects for a profit.
Last edited by lglade on Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS

mscafide
Posts: 330
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:59 pm
Your car is a: 1974 124 Spider
Location: Pompano Beach, Florida

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby mscafide » Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:44 pm

I don't think so. Sell any usable parts.

Mike
1974 124 Spider
1964 500 D
2012 500 Sport
1948 Ford 8N tractor (restored (don't drink and ebay))

Jontheconnman
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:56 am
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 850 sport spider
Location: Stillwater, OK

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby Jontheconnman » Tue Oct 03, 2017 5:47 pm

The car isn't to build and sell, it's for me personally, my first build. I absolutley love the look of this car. but if it doesn't hold value I don't want to be disappointed in the end that I put all this money and time into a car that's not worth anything. It needs a lot of love.

User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby RRoller123 » Tue Oct 03, 2017 7:19 pm

It sounds like it would not be a sound decision, from a financial standpoint. From your description it will cost way more to bring it back than a good one would cost to purchase.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

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

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby Odoyle » Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:43 pm

In short, your better off looking for a better starting point. Just examing some of the strucutral differences between my 77 and 79, I can see several places where the 79 chassis has been improved. Where are located?

Jontheconnman
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:56 am
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 850 sport spider
Location: Stillwater, OK

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby Jontheconnman » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:36 am

I'm located about 40 miles outside of oklahoma city. In stillwater oklahoma. However the car hasn't made it here yet, it's sitting at a shop about 1.5 hrs away still.

TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby TX82FIAT » Wed Oct 04, 2017 10:29 am

Since it is sitting at a shop you might want to ask them (the shop) if they want it and just sign the title over to them for minimal consideration. The fact that the shop is 90 minutes away is of concern and can only cost more time and money. Also, is this a shop that wants to do the work on the car (possible conflict)? If so, consider letting them tell you that value is and how they can fix it. Then turn the table on them and ask them to put up cash to buy it since your money is green just like theirs.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban

baltobernie
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby baltobernie » Wed Oct 04, 2017 10:40 am

There are far fewer parts available for the 850 Spider than the 124. Scarcity = $. I agree with you that the 850 Spider is a cool car, we have a few in our local club. In stock trim, however, the car is seriously underpowered for today's roads and drivers. Just my $0.02

Jontheconnman
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:56 am
Your car is a: 1969 fiat 850 sport spider
Location: Stillwater, OK

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby Jontheconnman » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:24 am

I appreciate everyone's honest opinion. It Kinda sucks though, I was hoping for a little bit of a different turn out. But. That's why I asked. keep the comments rolling, I do appreciate the input

TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby TX82FIAT » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:07 pm

Don't want to put a negative spin on it with my "leave it be commentary" previously. I agree there is some money to be made parting out the car. However, I view that as chasing money. At some point the car will need to be towed unless you work out a deal with the shop where it is parked. If your intent is still to restore a classic then you will have two cars at your premises. The one you are restoring and the one yo are parting out. This may be a huge benefit if you buy another 850 with a solid body that needs work. If car is towed to your place to strip parts and sell you will do a lot of work pulling, cleaning and sending pats all over the place. At the end of this sales process with a carcass of a car taking up space at your place you will still need to have it disposed of somehow. If you have space or a barn to store the car as well as a forgiving wife then parting it out is not so bad.

Me, I'd sell it and chalk the loss up to learning. I'd then buy the best affordable example of the car I want in running condition with minimal rust. From there I'd start to put money into a batter car, my guess is all that will be less expensive, more enjoyable and take up less space.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban

User avatar
SP3
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:56 pm
Your car is a: 1966 Ducati 250 Monza
Location: Canton, Ohio, USA

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby SP3 » Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:23 pm

Odoyle wrote:Just examing some of the strucutral differences between my 77 and 79, I can see several places where the 79 chassis has been improved.


he's got an 850 not a 124.

User avatar
SP3
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:56 pm
Your car is a: 1966 Ducati 250 Monza
Location: Canton, Ohio, USA

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby SP3 » Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:33 pm

When I got mine, it was either I save it (attempt to) or it was going to scrap. I bought it hoping it was salvageable but, knowing it likely wasn't from experience roughly 20 years earlier with my best friend's.

The further I dug into it, the more rot I found. Floors are easy enough to repair. Once the cross brace is gone though, it gets more difficult and expensive. Look at that first. Mine even had holes above the footboxes.

If you really want an 850, and yours isn't worth repairing, keep it anyway. Once you find a better starting point, you have some amount of spares already sitting there, pair for. Toward the end, when you have a much smaller list of needs, sell any extra parts off to keep the funding coming.

Keep in mind, over the last few years, more and more 850s have gone the part-out route and things don't go for what they used to. You'll have to determine how much time/effort is worthwhile in selling. Ebay takes 10% on the final value, 10% on the shipping charged, paypal takes their cut......

User avatar
Nanonevol
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 828
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:17 am
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Medway, Massachusetts

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby Nanonevol » Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:55 pm

1977 Fiat Spider
1985 Jaguar XJ6
1967 Triumph Bonneville (hard-tail chopper)
1966 BSA Lightning

DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Is it worth it?

Postby DieselSpider » Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:05 am



Return to “Fiat Spider Related”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 55 guests