Hello from the Great White North

[phaetn]

Hi all! I've been lurking for a few days as I'm very interested in buying a local 1981 Spider 2000.

A quick intro: I'm in Canada but was born in Italy (parents weren't Italian but were both art historians and lived there). While I may not have Italian blood, I do have an Italian heart and my family still has property there that I visit once in a while.

I've always loved Alfa and Fiat Spiders and any Italian engineering/aesthetic. I had a 1978 Vespa Super 150 for years that had four gears and a clutch; after many, many upgrades, I finally sold it a couple of years ago because I kept blowing up the engine that I had souped up and reliability went out the window. I was just asking too much from the little two stroke. Since then I have stuck with riding a vintage Honda CL350K4 that I turned into a bit of a café racer. I'm no stranger to turning a wrench or working on engines, but it has mainly been small displacement vehicles with drum brakes and carbs. Discs and fuel injection will be an interesting foray...

For a number of reasons, I'm finally deciding to stop riding but still want a bit of an open air experience. An Italian convertible definitely fits the bill! Alfas seem nice (if a bit pricey) but I really like the 2+2 versatility of the Fiat since I have two young daughters.

I'm keeping my eyes open and hoping to get a Spider by the spring of 2014.

Cheers,
phaetn

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Here is a thread on how to post pictures directly to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21014

And here is another picture-posting thread:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 12&t=23084


Pete

[vandor]

Welcome!
Be sure to check out several cars and get a good one. It's easy to fall in love with a pretty face that may have some horrors laying underneath.

[phaetn]

Thanks for the welcome, gents.

Welcome!
Be sure to check out several cars and get a good one. It's easy to fall in love with a pretty face that may have some horrors laying underneath.

Uh oh. I think it may already be happening...

I can't help but think of a Rod Stewart lyric from "Maggie May":

The morning sun, when it's in your eyes, really shows your age
But that don't worry me none, in my eyes you're everything

The first part is almost certainly true, it's the second part that worries me.

[narfire]

Hi there.
Where do you hang the hat. Canada is kinda a big place... There was one around here for sale but I think he is doing an engine re-build this winter(was blowing a lot of smoke)
If you want a nice one, check out surfingfreema's down in California. One closer and looks good is in or near Meadow Creek( up from Nelson)
A tip from one that went the fix a cheap rusty one....DON"T get as rust free as possible as the mechanicals are relatively easy on these cars and parts are plentiful.
Just smile when you see the adverts that say "ran when parked"
Chris

[phaetn]

Hi there.
Where do you hang the hat. Canada is kinda a big place...

Freezing in Ottawa at the moment. I literally have some of those iPhone type gloves on to type at the moment since we have a very old house and the addition in the back where the computer is located isn't very well insulated. DAMN it's cold! (And I'll ride my motorbike right to the freezing mark in December, so I know what cold is!)

Just smile when you see the adverts that say "ran when parked"
Chris

Ha! Yup, I'm avoiding those for sure! I think the biggest area anywhere near me to get cars is Montreal, a 2 hr drive away. Lots of Italians there with style so I'm sure they'll be some as spring rolls around. Toronto is a bit further afield (~5 hrs) to go hunting for cars and to have to trailer it back if it's not in good shape, but again, probably some good choice...

[kilrwail]

Welcome to the forum - and the addiction. There's an active group of Italian car enthusiasts in Ottawa (Italian Car Club of Ottawa - http://www.italiancarclubottawa.ca/ICCOindex.shtml) and a large number of Spider enthusiasts. I don't know of any cars for sale, but it wouldn't hurt to get plugged in and ask. Once spring arrives, there will be monthly ICCO pub nights at the Pub Italia on Preston St. plus a calendar of events on the web site. Good luck!

[spiderdan]

Hi phaetn
Another frozen Ottawan, welcome.
I agree with Pete, we have a great group of Italian car owners here. There are usually a few cars for sale around here. but they only come out once the salt is off the roads.
If you can. come out to the spring ICCO pub night. It would be a good place to start your search for a classic italian.

Keep warm and I wish you luck in your hunt.

[4uall]

fyi

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles ... Z515019227

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles ... Z544197693

[phaetn]

Thanks, all.

4uall, I've already been in contact with the (co)owner of the Spider and will go take a look-see. I definitely need a 2+2 b/c I have two daughters under 10 and need to take both of them at times so the X19 is out. With all the ice/salt there's no chance for a test drive of the Spider, but I might leave a refundable deposit if I like what I see.

Cheers,
phaetn

[4uall]

That's awesome, keep us posted

[kilrwail]

Here's another one just posted to the Ottawa crowd - a '74 Spider:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ebaymotors/1974-Fiat ... 500wt_1156

[phaetn]

Thanks for the heads up, Peter.

Today the ebay page says: "This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."

...

...

...

...

That's because I just put a deposit on it!!!!

Looking forward to the test drive in March/April, depending on when the salt is gone and hopefully it will all be a go at that point.

Thanks for your time today, Marcus (slickitalian on these boards).

Cheers,
phaetn

[4uall]

Congrats I am sure it will all go great Looking forward to seeing you in the Spring at the ICCO events

[phaetn]

In for a penny, in for a pound. Weather is finally warmer so I bought the car today.

I already have an engine question.

Need to get a leak at or near the exhaust manifold looked at before it can get safetied (hoping just a weld or gasket can do it and that I don't have to buy headers), then insurance, then plated, then on the road.

At that point I'll start fiddling with engine bits.