Hello from the central coast of Cali.

[reg71]

Just joined. As a matter of fact it's not officially mine yet, but I'll be buying it in a couple weeks. I have been driving a friends 75 Fiat Spider for a few weeks. I borrowed it once before and loved it. He decided he no longer wants to mess with it. He recently rebuilt the engine, redid the wiring to make it better, tidied it up a bit and made it run real nice and dependable like.

It was ready for the cosmetic stuff, then he came and got it back from me for a trip and accidentally hit a dog. A large dog. It smashed up the front pretty good. Poor dog. I don't think he faired well. The car sure didn't. Well my friend bought another car to use the straight parts on the 75. I think the other is a 78. Anyway, in Cali, you don't have to smog a 75 so we are gonna stick with it and use the best parts then sell the 78 for whatever it will get.

Right now I'm driving the 75 dents and all. It works for me. I love driving the little thing with all it's rattles and noise and stick shifting. I don't think there's any place more fun to drive it than here either.





We will have to stick to the distant photos for now. Hopefully, within a few months a closeup will be tolerable.

[baltobernie]

Hello and Welcome!

A PO must have swapped out the heavy "federal" bumpers for the nicer blade versions. Probably wouldn't have saved the dog, however

Yes I agree there may be no prettier place to drive a Spider. Someday I'd like to drive mine along PCH - now must pretend with rental cars . Maybe next trip I could poke a hole in the muffler and spill some gasoline on the carpet to create a Fiat Spider Experience .

You're fortunate to have several Spider.com members within striking distance; Ventura, Pasadena, etc. Hope you get your car sorted, and if you see an oncoming crappy econobox waving at you, it's probably me ...

[reg71]

thanks, Bernie.

I have actually seen a couple spiders on the road. Yeah my friend took off the heavy front bumper and just left it cleanwhich resulted in the smashing. I'll probably still leave it off, though. I like the front better without it. I'll get some pics up soon of before-during-after professional intervention.

[vincesavoldi]

I'm new here also.. that road looks awful familiar seems like Carmel Valley or perhaps even River road, where ya from?

Vince

[reg71]

I'm originally from Missouri but now living in San Luis Obispo County, CA. That road is actually Peachy Canyon Rd outside Paso Robles. The wife and I decided to take the convertible out cruising through all the vineyards and stoppedat one for tasting and had a light lunch. It was a nice day. I'm a pretty avid motorcycle rider, but the convertible is about as close as you can get to riding a bike but still have a cage around you. The wife likes not having to wear a helmet and all the other gear that I require to ride also.

[SergeantSavage]

Welcome! Lucky you. Living the dream, haha. I lived in Contra Costa County for four years in the early nineties. For all of California's problems, it just has to be some of the best driving anywhere!!

[reg71]

True, we do have some great rides. Mostly I like to do them on my VFR, but the convertible is fun, too. I used to live in CC cty. I was in Walnut Creek working at John Muir Hospital. Nice town. Much less traffic down here, though. I do miss the east bay on occasion but I have friends in Oak-town I go visit every once in a while.