Have Our Spiders Reached a Turning Point?

[DUCeditor]

My very first car was a Fiat 1500 -- the 2 seater precursor to the Spider. That was in 1968. Then, after some years of boring family cars, when my son went off to college I got another and had it ever since. My 1977 (bought used in `88) 124 Spider.

She was a pretty clean car when I got her and over the course of about 4 or 5 years I made her into what she is to this day. A sweet looking, great driving, seasonal fun car.

I mention all of this as a prelude to my subject line: "Have Our Spiders Reached a Turning Point?" The realization that something has changed. No, not the car, it is what it has always been. But how she is seen and viewed by the public.

Both when I had my 1500 in the late `60s and all the years I have had the 124 she was generally viewed as a pretty car. A sporty car. Much as most people back then viewed MGs and Triumphs. Nice cars, but little more. Certainly nothing special.

Now that seems to have changed. This year like never before my Spider is eliciting comments. "Wow, what a beautiful car! Is it an antique?" "Nice Fiat!" "Hey, what year is that? She as beauty!" "Great Fiat! Is it mostly original?"

Those four comments, each asked by a different passer by, were among many made within less than ten minuets as I sat in my Spider this morning waiting for my wife to come out of a shop.

Another couple, themselves driving a classic `90s Mercedes SL, stopped to admire her. The gentleman wanted to talk classic cars, the lady colors. Both were totally enamored by the Spider. (She, I got the impression, was ready to make a trade. "She likes yellow" was her husband's explanation.)

No more, it seems, is my 124 just another "foreign job" as people often referred to cars like the Spider back in the `60s and `70s. Now she is seen as something very, very special. A rarity. An eye-catching jewel. A privilege to even view, much less actually own and drive.

Are others here experiencing something similar?

-don

[binster16]

Small world...

My first car was a 1978 Fiat 131 sedan. Followed by a 1978 X/19. Then, an 81 Spider.
Of course, other transportation crept in...Dodge Colt, VW GTi, Maxima, Rodeo, A4 Avant, 328i.

Bought a 1982 Spider in 1994...still have. I must like yellow too. (I messed up negotiation on a black/tan 1982 with few miles...)

Turning point...perhaps. New Fiat Spider coming soon this summer!

[Dawgme85]

I was just mentioning to my family how almost every time I take my Spider out for a drive I get positive comments on it. I have come to the conclusion, however, that most owners of contemporary Fiats are not particularly aware of the classic Fiats.

[RRoller123]

I get far more positive than negative remarks the past year or two than I did before, and it seems to always relate to two (three actually) things:

The release of the New Spider has created a little buzz, many people ask about it and my opinion on it. But also, and I think maybe more importantly, each observer notes the "Timeless Design", and the beauty of the Pininfarina/Tjaarda body. He really did an amazing job on this car. It looks sleek, somewhat modern even 50 years later. As the cars continue to age and the design continues to look beautiful and new, this positive effect takes on even more weight, and they will become more and more "classic". I rarely get the Fix It Again Tony stuff, but when I do, I tell them that it actually stands for Feline Italian And Topless.

Another thing that I have noted, this year particularly, is how much a clean engine bay with a little fix up can change the attitudes of the various observers. It is like a threshold has been crossed in their minds, and you are now a real car guy.

Pete

[DUCeditor]

"Feline Italian And Topless" Love it! That I will need to remember.

I get the sense from your comment, RR123, that you spend a lot more time with motorheads than I currently do.

Back when I lived in Boston I regularly visited, and participated in, lawn events at the MOT (Larz Anderson Museum). There the Fiat camaraderie was wonderful, but the way Fiats were viewed among the Italian car crowd was abysmal.

As long as the Museum itself was running the show that did not matter. We Fiatistas had our regular place on the lawn -- right at the base of the grade that leads up to the museum itself -- and were seen to be, and felt, a valued part of the show.

Later, when the Ferrari club took over the show that changed completely. We were then cast off the main field into a secondary area. (That is when I stopped participating.)

I understand that has been corrected and if so I'd love to again be a part of that wonderful group. (Alas my health, at least for now, makes that impossible.)

But back to the theme, I am interested to hear that even among the motor-loving (and knowledgeable) population there is some evident change. My observation dealt more with the general public, and there the change in attitude towards the cars seem to be enormous.

The name "Fiat" again has some meaning (about half those who commented about my car yesterday morning specifically included the make in their comments), but no one made any mention of the newer cars. What I sensed and heard seemed more a reflection of a growing appreciation for the Spider's classic Italian design. "Beautiful" was the single most often used expression in the many comments.

And there I must concur. For classic and beautiful it truly is.

-don

[Frog2Spider]

Back in the later 70ties and very early 80ties, I had owned 2 Spiders, a '74 and a '78. At the time, the cars got very little attention, and I simply felt that I was part of that 'sports car' drivers group.

Today, I very seldom drive my '81 anywhere without getting a 'thumps up' from a fellow motorist, or an outright positive comment when stopped. This doesn't surprise me, after all, they are a beautiful car!

What does surprise me is the number of people who, after paying me, and the car a compliment, comment that they used to own one, or that they knew someone who did. Followed by, "what a great car it was". Although there are very few Spiders around my area (Van, WA./Portland Or) people know the cars! I never get asked, "what kind of car is that", only "what year is your Fiat"?

So these cars are not forgotten, and after 35 plus years, they still hold good memories for many. This, in spite of the fact that they were produced during the American Car dominance.

[johndemar]

I don't think the new attitude has much to do with the new 124. I honestly think if we didn't have the cars we currently own, we wouldn't pay any attention to the limited pre-release information on the new version.
Maybe that will change when the new cars become more visible on the street.

It's the 40 year old car that's maintained and clean that attracts the attention, for me at least.
Most that give positive comments have no idea what it is anyway. Those that do say they had one in college, etc.

[phaetn]

Definitely a bit of confirmation bias going on: We care about our Spiders, so we notice them more than others would do. Most people have absolutely no idea that a new Spider is on the way: I've seen almost no marketing about them anywhere; that will change at some point, presumably.

That said, I do get frequent comments about my car, and it's not even a looker because of all its clear paint blemishes. It's not just personal nostalgia -- lots of people in their twenties comment on it who never had an original. They get seduced by the lines, too.

Cheers,
phaetn

[baltobernie]

... lots of people in their twenties comment on it who never had an original. They get seduced by the lines, too.

I agree completely. These old roadsters, whether they are British, Japanese or even French, have so much more character and originality than new designs. Without the pie-plate-size emblems on the front of new cars, you can't tell 'em apart.

Perhaps we will get a little more brand recognition with the new Spider, but I'd be surprised if it's significant. Today's Washington Post had a review of the new car, mostly positive, but only gear-heads will be able to distinguish it from a Miata.

[Nanonevol]

I first became aware of the Fiat Spider only a year and a half ago when I bought mine. I was looking for an Alfa like a friend has. I remember walking around it several times with the seller trying to decide what it was, ie, was it trying to be a fast looking car, or was it more a simply functional design, or ... what? Finally, while viewing it at a 3/4 angle, I remember I said, "That's...a...sexy...car." By then it was already sold in my mind. I think it's an wonderful, understated design and I've gotten lots of thumbs up.

[RRoller123]

DCU Creditor:

Don, sorry to hear about your health challenges, Good Lord that seems to be the theme these days. My wife's dad just coded out a few days ago and they brought him back; it has been quite a week.

Anyway, The Larz is great, and the Tutto show the first weekend in August is well attended by Fiat enthusiasts. There are a few here from the Forum who regularly attend. We usually get anywhere from, I would say, 10-15 Spiders and a couple of X1/9's, and we are back on that slope that you mentioned by the entrance, overlooking the main lawn. I didn't have a Spider back when the Fiats were treated as "second class citizens", but it seems to have been rectified now. Hope to see you there this year if you can make it!

Pete

[DieselSpider]

I was hit with the "Do you know what Fiat stands for?" at the barber shop last Saturday by a gent who bought a red 2000 something Corvette convertible that he found he does not really like and was trying to unload. I told him "Certainly - Fine Italian Automotive Technology". He stopped trying to sell me the Vette. My barber liked that and thankfully he didn't have a straight razor or the shears on me when he started laughing.

Since I started driving my 124 Spider to work daily more of my coworkers have started pulling their convertibles out of storage and started driving them to work. We have a parking garage with high security so now we have number of older American, European and Japanese convertibles being driven to work every day. Some have asked for rides in the Spider while others have thanked me for prompting them to get their ragtops back on the road.

Never thought I would be such a trend setter or that I could possibly have set off such a chain reaction with my humble little red car.

[DUCeditor]

DCU Creditor:

Don, sorry to hear about your health challenges, Good Lord that seems to be the theme these days...

Anyway, The Larz is great, and the Tutto show the first weekend in August is well attended by Fiat enthusiasts. There are a few here from the Forum who regularly attend. We usually get anywhere from, I would say, 10-15 Spiders and a couple of X1/9's, and we are back on that slope that you mentioned by the entrance, overlooking the main lawn. I didn't have a Spider back when the Fiats were treated as "second class citizens", but it seems to have been rectified now. Hope to see you there this year if you can make it!

Thanks Pete.

I remember my inlaws talking about their generation. Now for some of us it is our turn.

I sold my last Ducati last Summer. That was a major transition for me. But having the Spider makes it acceptable. At this point the style had become more important to me than ultimate performance -- that and the camaraderie.

This year I am driving it a good deal more. Did a hundred miles of back roads yesterday.

Now this is a far cry from the dawn-thru-dusk rides/drives my good lady and I used to do. But one reason we moved to NH was to be near the roads we used to drive a couple of hours just to reach. Now two favs -- NH Rts 137 and 101A -- start right at the end of our street.

I think it unlikely that I could make it through the whole day that a Larz event requires -- especially now with us living in NH. But you sure do make it sound tempting! Back on the lawn! WooHoo!

Next Saturday they are holding a "Cruz-In" right in my town -- Peterborough. I'm thinking of taking the Spider there and showing it if the weather is good. That'll be my first time showing the car in years.

I have about a half dozen or so "trophies" from Larz events. Won by the Spider (and some for the Ducatis too).

Those are great memories!



-don

[Mattt123]

I drive my 81 nearly every day, and it is very rare that I don't get a positive comment.