Fiat boneyard

[wetminkey]

Wow! Tomorrow I head for the Fiat boneyard at Aspen Import Autos in Englewood, CO. I've got my salvage-yard toolbox stocked, and my Sony ready for pics/video. I'm excited!
Wish me luck!
Todd.

[RRoller123]

Nice! Take a few pics!

[johndemar]

Have fun. It's been a number of years since I've seen anything spider related at a salvage yard.

[chrisg]

a CS1 showed up at the local Pull-a-Part earlier this year. A bit of a trip. I heard about it from a local Fiat enthusiast friend AND from a friend who works as a security detail at PaP sometimes. I stopped in a few days after it's arrival & found rear lights, hood, wheels, the carburetor, instruments and a few other unlikely bits were already gone. I got a complete head w/ intake, throttle pedal & a couple other things I figured i could use for other cars. It was a sad sight. Obviously, the car had JUST BEEN rebuilt mechanically (can't say whether well or not) with a head & spark plugs that had never been fired, had new, nice plug wires (I would have gotten them also, but my buddy did a gorilla move & ripped on apart trying to "help"), fairly nicely reupholstered seats, etc....I always wonder what happened when that stuff shows up. Divorce? death? finances? jail?

[wetminkey]

Whoa! I had to research Fiat models after today's education!
Remember this: TOM at ASPEN IMPORT AUTOS in Colorado. Check his webpage for more.
NO, I didn't even get a REALLY great deal today, but I am happy, and Tom is happy.
I SCORED a good used hood (and underhood pad), upper grille and surround. Good transactions.
I post these pictures only so that others can benefit from the fact that Tom has accumulated an amazing amount of Fiat parts and cars since 1985. He ships! Shipped to Ireland today! You all just NEED to see this:





Believe me, there's LOTS MORE!
Todd.

[wetminkey]

A bit more:




A VERY small idea of what is stored upstairs:



And there is full floor to ceiling storage of engine parts/glass/etc,...downstairs that I did not EVEN try to take pictures of!


I SURE hope this helps someone/anyone!
Todd.

[81SPIDERMATT]

glad that worked out .. Matt

[wetminkey]

Geeze, Matt,...I had all of Tom's contact info recorded on the inside cover of my shop manual,...from June of 2000, when I got my Spider! All I had to do was look at my sources! Anyway, THANK YOU for reminding me.
And Tom is a really nice fellow to work with. He seems quite knowledgeable about all older Fiats, is eager to help with removal/recovery, and I feel he really wants to save the cars and parts that he has collected/protected for all these years. These cars are not hollowed out shells,...most of them have pretty extensive interiors,...and you can see the exteriors.
Several cars are quite restorable. I understand that the Spider Coupes that he has are rare,...is that right? One is restorable.
Anyway,...what a fun time! My wife has taken a fancy to the 850's suddenly,...the white '71 (I believe), and the tiny brown/white top 850 in my photos. First spark of real automotive interest,...cool!
Todd.

[wetminkey]

No. I had not included the photo of the tiny 850. Here you can just the the butt of it (CO license SYV-310):

I am unfamiliar with, but really like, this rear engine car,...long tube header, etc,...Can anyone give me an idea of what year it is from only a photo of the rear?
Hard top, too!
Thanks, Todd.

[RRoller123]

NICE! Looks to be some good candidate restorable cars in there. Particularly a couple of early X1/9's.

[riverdadd]

my guess is a 1970 model.........850 spider

[DieselSpider]

Check this one out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1tGFRaInc4

[wetminkey]

MAN! What cool cars.
My father test drove a couple of cars, with the intent of buying one of them, in 1966. One was a new Fiat Spider.
I thought that it had been an 850, but somehow, I don't remember angled, oval headlights. I believe that the car may have been one of the first 124 Spiders.
Brand new, red, 4spd. Dad took me out in it, said "hang on" and, without tire squeal, took that Spider around a 90 degree corner at a full 40 mph! I about wet my shorts! What a great car! I loved it.
Damned if dad didn't decide to buy the two year old, navy blue/white interior, hardtop/conv Stingray! Probably due to the FI 327, 4spd, and the fact that it would leave rubber for blocks without really trying hard,...(sold it two years later because it was impractical with three kids, expensive, etc,...). I loved it, too.
Ahhh,...
Thanks for the nice video. I too, like cars, like Padja (not ALL cars, I'm afraid, but anything that is fun to drive and is 'aesthetically pleasing' to me). Fun to watch that Spider!
Todd.

[wetminkey]

I did want to reiterate the fact that this place in Englewood, Colorado,...Aspen Import Autos,...impresses me as more of a car and parts DEPOSITORY than a salvage yard. And I have been to A LOT of junk/salvage yards in my time!
The cars that you see have not been picked through. Tom locates and removes the parts,...
After I helped Tom remove the nice hood that I brought home, Tom brought out one in poorer shape and we installed it to cover the exposed enginebay. And you can see that the cars that do not have intact tops, are covered with tarps. The inside of his shop consists of pathways through the parts and shelving units,...it is truly amazing. And Tom knows Fiats,...
Anyway, he's a good, honest resource! I sure got some very nice used parts, in great condition, for a fair price.
Todd.

[RaneeHobbs]

I think I could go crazy in that boneyard.... RaneeHobbs own a 76 Fiat Spider