Canadian Spider info '83

[evm1024]

So my car was originally a Canadian one. Speedo in KM, The stickers reference Canadian emissions laws etc.

It has a 3/83 build date if I recall correctly.

I am assuming that it was from early in the transformation to Pinninfarina badging.

- Pinninafarina side emblems
- Spidereuropa onthe center console
- Round Fiat emblems on Hood and trunk

At what point did Pinninfarina switch over to the round F emblems? How about to the Sail emblems?

Can we call it a Spidereuropa or should it be a Spider Azzura?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Thanks!

[evm1024]

OK, Now I'm really thinking I'm getting old and forgetful.

I asked this same question back in 2009.... And then got sidetracked on other things (my dad passed away and such) and the car sat in the garage for years.

Look here for the thread: http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?t=5025

[rridge]

I think you have a Canadian Spider Europa. IAI (Malcolm Bricklin) had U.S., not North American distribution rights. Bricklin liked the posture that he had saved the Spider but I believe Fiat and Pinin had already come to a deal on the Super Europa and production was underway before the IAI deal was even inked. The question is who was the actual importer of record in Canada? It may have been Fiat North America.

One of the differences between U.S. and European Spiders in 1983 was the wheel caps. Look at the red '83 Azzurra Spider on the header of this forum. See the silver colored wheel caps. Fiat did not want their name on cars sold in the U.S. Your car probably has the same wheel caps used on '82 Spiders and on Spider Europa's in Europe with a silver wreath on a red background and the Fiat name. More info here:
http://www.pininfarinaazzurra.com/fiat- ... is-in.html

[BCK1]

I have owned my 83 Pininfarina Spidereuropa since new. I alwaysthought that Malcolm Bricklin was the Canadian importer as Fiat had pulled out of the North American market. As far as the hood ornaments goes they are round like the Fiat ones before but have a stylized f for Farina.The wheels are the same as those same mentioned and the centre caps are silver with just a black surround. 1983 was the only year that the Spidereuropa was imported to Canada I am not sure why but could have been the price as they listed at over seventeen thousand dollars. By the way the build date on my car is October 82. Hope this helps. Brian K

[rridge]

One of the visual details that separates the SpiderEuropa from the Azzura is the side marker on the front fender. The cars intended for the U.S. market continued to carry the large rectangular lights that had been used for some years. The SpiderEuropa reverted to the small button lights that had been used on early Spiders.

In the first IAI brochure for the '83 Azzura you can see one of these small European fender lights along with a body color that was never available in the U.S. Apparently a SpiderEuropa which was already in production stood in for the brochure shoot.

Richard

[Europa]

I have a Canadian 1983 Spidereuropa as well. Gauges in KM, bars, and centigrade. Spidereuropa badge on console. F badge on hood and trunk. English/French sticker by the fuel filler door. Original wheels (Turbo wheels) had fiat badge on the center cap.

[evm1024]

I took some photos for the badges on my car. The thing that puzzles me is the Fiat front badge. I wonder if it originally came with an "f" that was replaced of if they ran out of "f" badges in production and substituted the Fiat badge. Likely we will never know.

I'll have to buy 2 "f" badges sooner or later. Which vendor has the nicest and do I need to worry about the diameter?


Oh - here is the link to those photos

http://www.morganlefay.org/?q=spidereuropa

[evm1024]

I came across an ad from 2009 where someone in Canada was selling their '83. They claimed that only 286 were imported to Canada that year and that the turbo rims were magnesium...

Is this true (magnesium)?

Here is a link to the ad and some of the text:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... iderEuropa

Very rare 1983 (Canadian) Pininfarina SpiderEuropa for sale.
In Canada, it was only available in 1983 and 286 cars were imported.

All Spiders from 1983-1985 are referred to as Pininfarina SpiderEuropas ( Canada and Europe) and Spider Azzurras (USA). This model came with the best features which include factory 14” Turbo Cromodora magnesium wheels, electric windows, digital clock, exotic rubber wing window mirrors, improved dashboard layout, and overall better quality body construction.
Materials used by Pininfarina were of much better quality than that of Fiat Spiders from 1966-1982. The sheet metal used was stronger, quieter and offered a much better all around rust protection. You will find that all Fiat Spiders from 1966-1982 had mirrors bolted to the doors and this caused rust to form around the mirrors and was thankfully eliminated starting in 1983.