An old Italian convertible for an old Italian

[wop]

Hello all from the Great White North (that would be Toronto, Canada)! I'd like to introduce myself and Francesca. She is a 1980 Spider 2000 that I picked up just over a month ago from an Italian guy in Windsor who says he brought it up from Jersey a few years ago.
She came with a hard top installed and a soft top frame and canvas top on the side. Canvas top was recently installed and so now she is ready to go.
She needs some electrics sorted out and a minor oil leak traced and stopped but has otherwise been very well behaved. I think she is due for paint this year, so colour suggestions are quite welcome.
This is my first Italian car, my first old car, my first classic car and my first 2 seater(sort of), so go easy if I sound too green.
Looking forward to a nice long relationship with both Francesca and this site.
Saluti a tutti!
Wop

[AriK]

Welcome! She's a bumperless beauty! Enjoy the open roads of Ontario!

[RRoller123]

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

Here is a link to a map of Spider owner’s locations. Many forum members have listed their locations.

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=191825

[ronarthur]

She looks very nice. Depending upon your budget for paint, I would suggest staying with the same color she is wearing. Changing the color correctly involves doing the door jambs, trunk, etc which adds up to $$$$$. No offense to all the red spider owners but, I like seeing other colors!

[btoran]

congrats on your new ride. she's a beauty.

[4uall]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

WHOO HOO ANOTHER 1980

Look up http://www.andyspiders.com/ in Toronto. I hear great things

[81SPIDERMATT]

dream color for me would be ... Ruthless Red” from BASF’s Carizzma Collection .... saw it on another post ..would go great with tan interior

[TX82FIAT]

The idea of repainting the original color has some real financial merit. Nice looking car! Welcome.

[courtenay]

Greetings from the left Coast (Vancouver Island). There is absolutely nothing wrong with that colour. It's the same as my '80. Don't change it. Period. End of discussion.

[focodave]

A few comments:
Keep the color as is.
I, too, have a 1980 in Grigio Fumo Metallic. It's a great color for these cars and it's fun to say the name of the color to your friends and family in an Italian accent. I get a lot of comments from people saying they think the color looks very classy.
You look like you belong in that car. With the hat, shades, and goatee -- you look like some cool Italian jazz cat who should have a tenor sax in the back "seat".
Nice car. Looks like it may have real Panasport wheels on it.
Is it carb'd -- or -- fuel injected?

[AdamPBG]

Congrats!
I'm preparing to repaint mine back to the original color, grey smoke metallic (same as yours) . Mine has the PO poorly executed red DIY job complete with runs and painted over pin stripes. Not horrible until you're within 20 feet. But I adopted her, love her and remain committed.
I just leased warehouse space for the project.
Several have recommended that I stay with original paint code...besides, as stated, there's the trunk, jams, engine bay/hood and fuel refill recess to consider.
Good luck and enjoy.

[ga.spyder]

I couldn't agree more with not changing the color.After Azzura Mettalica( ),the Grigio Fumo Mettalica is my favorite Spider color.

[wop]

A few comments:
Keep the color as is.
I, too, have a 1980 in Grigio Fumo Metallic. It's a great color for these cars and it's fun to say the name of the color to your friends and family in an Italian accent. I get a lot of comments from people saying they think the color looks very classy.
You look like you belong in that car. With the hat, shades, and goatee -- you look like some cool Italian jazz cat who should have a tenor sax in the back "seat".
Nice car. Looks like it may have real Panasport wheels on it.
Is it carb'd -- or -- fuel injected?

She's a fuel injected automatic. I live downtown in a constant traffic mess. I thought the Automatic would be easier. I'll save my 5 speed skills for rental cars in Italy this August!