1984 Fiat Spider

[adam17]

I saw what appears to be a very good condition Fiat Spider 1984 for sale. I have owned a 1979 and know very little about the 1984 year.

The price is $6,800 it has about 40K miles.

Questions are as follows on the 1984.

Do you think this is a decent year?

The one I am looking at as minor things. Clock does not work (I know this is common but hopeful it's a fairly easy fix) put power windows I think do not work very well. They work but I think it just does up and down very slow. So they might be off track. I can imagine this will cost a bit to fix.

It does have a tiny rust spot. Should I be concerned.

Muffler has to be replaced. To be perfect it needs a paint job put paint is good.

I think there is a heater/fan issue.

AC never worked on the car. I think I can live with that.

But overall is the 1984 a desired Fiat? I am looking at the dash i like the 1979-1981 dash more...but I guess I can learn to love it too.

Any feedback on hard this stuff is to fix? And

[narfire]

40,000 miles is a low mileage car. Consider the odometer has gone around once or can the mileage be verified somehow?
This is a fuel injected car. More power compared to the 79.
As you mentioned the clock is not an issue, Mark the moderator here sells replacements.
Drips from the engine, If you can drive it for a bit and park it over some cardboard and see if anything is leaking...
Rust issues under the floor mats, rockers, shock towers? Not sure where you live but the rust belts ( NE or NW) on either coast can wreak havoc on these cars.
Brakes? car stops or mushy, noisy, or all of above.
Seems like a good price for that vintage if there is no or very little rust and the car can be driven and a "rolling/weekends restoration can be done.
Chris

[RRoller123]

Chris's advice is good. It sounds reasonable but you should be concerned about whether it really is 40 or 140K, and about rust in general. Check every nook and cranny for rust, and confidently verify the 40K, or else assume that it is actually 140K, and that is high mileage. Depending on your state, the Title may give some evidence. In MA, the Title for my car showed ~66K when the car was purchased by prior owner in 2000. It showed 68K when I bought it 11 years later. So had they actually driven 102K miles in those 11 years? Given the mechanical state of the car, maybe, but it would have been done with them pushing it all that way. (but absolutely no rust so I bought it. ) The mileage chain as indicated by Title is pretty reliable. If not reasonably verifiable, I would then be wary, unless it has had some major cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Pete

[spider2081]

I could be wrong but I believe after 1980 the odometers can indicate beyond 100,000 miles. Does the odometer have a blank dial for a digit to the left of the 40,000?

[adam17]

Thank you so much for all of these responses. I will have a mechanic help verify best as we can the mileage. I do "trust" but I will verify. The story goes he bought it from neighbor and he is second owner. I do believe him at face value. The 40K seems legit. I just feel like the 1984 is not a REAL FIAT Spider. I just do not like those dash's on the 83-85 with the big AC in the middle. I like the wood in the middle like the 79-83. But like I said maybe I will get over this and maybe overall once I driver it the 84 might actually be more reliable and drive nicer? I have never driven one nor do I know much about the 84-85 models. But I appreciate and will be sure to check on rust and on mileage. Are AC's on these things worth even to get running? Are the power windows even possible to get running?

[adam17]

Also I did just check. They do have a "Auto Check" as part of "experian" for verification of the miles. So although i need to verify this is a positive sign.

[Boris61]

I bought an 84 Azzurra in similar condition about 4 years ago and have not been disappointed. Paid $4500 on CL at ~062000 on odometer (around 65k now as you can see from pic if you enlarge). Body work (small bubbling rust on wheel wells, rockers and door panels (that when cut out left holes to patch about as big as a smartphone), paint (to address horrible past respray), various spare parts and improvements later--about $5k more and a lot of my time in it. Still some things to do but mostly finished. Even after complete disassembly/lubrication windows and wipers still are slow. AC works but I've only used it when it is humid to clear the windshield and it's not great for that because the cold air blows from below the dash. The vents in the center are much more functional than a 78 I had IMHO since they actually blow on you when the outside air is directed in or heat is on unlike the round ones. See Pininfarinaazzurra.com for list of improvements and other info specific to the late models. These have Fiat 2L engines but are not Fiats, although built in the same factory (along with the 84 Ferrari Testorosa BTW). And unlike Fiats, they are rare since the substantial price increase reduced sales. Just took the icy pick shuffling cars around in driveway this morning and saw this post and figured it was fate that I reply to your thread. See this link for some applicable Flickr pics. Good luck! https://www.flickr.com/gp/139268650@N04/5N1nb0

[Surf65]

Adam,
I agree with the other members that at 40,000 miles that would be excellent value at $6,500. You could drive it, work on it and likely make a profit in the years to come. I also agree that there is perhaps some incremental value on 83-85 vehicles....not sure yet, time will tell.

Not sure what color this car is but a friend and experienced forum member here just bought a brown 81 and had it repainted in guards red at my friends place in Montclair, NJ for $2400, it came out excellent. I bought a broken in two Ansa dual exhaust muffler and had a local "payless muffler shop" weld it back together and replaced the single pipe plus welded a few other feet of exhaust for $95.00. Check those rust spots Chris & Pete mentioned and also the left top door hinge, cracks are common but it's not too expensive to have re-welded and then you'll have to obviously have paint touched up. If the rust is not too bad, I'd go for it. A complete paint strip, done in show condition in an expensive red paint could be completed for approximately $4500 and I am sure that can be negotiated. The electronics are mediocre at best on these cars but somewhat simple to work on and Allison Automotive and Ricambi guys are knowledgeable and helpful for all parts as you may already know.

Cheers, Matt