New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Discuss everything about the "new" 124 Spider here! The good, bad and ugly, anything goes. But keep it clean please!
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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by v6spider »

I've driven by several new spider owners and not one of them recognizes or acknowledges the classic 124 Spider. I doubt the even know what it is..At any rate, I find it quite humorous.. maybe mine is too modified. Lol 8)

Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
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johndemar
Posts: 716
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:12 am
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Phoenix

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by johndemar »

Guess it's because we know our cars and assume others would as well, at least those driving the same marque.

When FIAT first returned to the states I drove my spider to the dealer and didn't receive a single comment, and my car looks pretty good for being 40+ years old.

I've only noticed a couple of new spiders on the road out here, so I question how well they're selling.
76 Fiat 124 Spider
One owner since July 20, 1976
Amadio Motor, Jeannette, PA
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spidernut
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by spidernut »

We got lots of attention at the Fiat dealership when we brought our car club to the unveiling of the new 124!
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by v6spider »

I tell ya... people think my car is a sunbeam tiger because of the v6 that sounds like a v8 and has a big cam in it. If i received a dollar for every time someone asked me that I'd be rich! :mrgreen:

Cheers!
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
jandarah
Posts: 113
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 1:52 am
Your car is a: 1977 124 Spider
Location: Mount Hallen, Queensland, Australia

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by jandarah »

Here in Australia, FCA Australia don't advertise the new Spider anywhere, so it seems. They don't seem to give a damn and are more interested in the Chrysler and Jeeps etc. As far as new owners recognizing the old Spiders, most would not be aware of its existence. They never sold RHD versions, so the only ones here, like mine, were privately imported and converted. They are a pretty rare beast out here.

John
John in Oz
First Fiat: 1970 124 sedan 1970 - 1976
Then horse float towing vehicles up to present.
Current Fiat: 1977 124 Spider 1756cc with twin Weber 40 IDF's
1970 124BC coupe; 1756cc with twin Weber 40 IDF's, used for sprinting
Jimb
Posts: 740
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 1:03 am
Your car is a: 1985.5 Volumex

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by Jimb »

jandarah wrote:Here in Australia, FCA Australia don't advertise the new Spider anywhere, so it seems. They don't seem to give a damn and are more interested in the Chrysler and Jeeps etc. As far as new owners recognizing the old Spiders, most would not be aware of its existence. They never sold RHD versions, so the only ones here, like mine, were privately imported and converted. They are a pretty rare beast out here.

John
But can you not just drive them without having to convert? I ask that because I saw another Volumex for sale in New Zealand a couple of years ago and it was still left hand drive.

Jim
Shadoobie
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:07 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Pininfarina Spider 2000

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by Shadoobie »

In my personal experience I have found that most new Spider owners are quite aware of the old here in Alabama. I get a swarm at the dealers and the only time I've ever seen a new spider at a car show, the guy immediately jumped out of his car and ran over to look at mine lol. In fact, I find that most people who are aware of the old Spiders didn't even know they came back!
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by RRoller123 »

Just saw the first new one I have seen on the road today in Plymouth MA!
'80 FI Spider 2000
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RKSutterMN
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:49 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider
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Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by RKSutterMN »

I have seen exactly one new Spider on the road, a blue one in downtown Minneapolis. I pulled up and told the couple that I liked their Spider and that I had a blue '78 at home. The guy driving seemed surprised that there was such a thing as a 1978 Spider, raised his eyebrows and said "There were Fiat Spiders back then?" and I confirmed that, yes, there were. He smiled and then said, "Well, I love the new one, this thing is great!" and drove off. I figure if he's enjoying the new car, what's the harm? Still, the real Spider looks SO much better...
Ryan
---
Spiders:
'78 Fiat Spider 1800 (donor to the resto)
'80 Fiat Spider 2000 (resto project)
Others:
'69 Triumph Spitfire Mk3
'08 Ford F-350
'09 VW Tiguan
'13 Mazda 3
baltobernie
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Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by baltobernie »

In the first nine months of 2017, FCA sold a whopping 3675 new Spiders in the USA. MX-5 Miata sales were 9717 units.
DropTopTees
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:33 pm
Your car is a: 2018 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by DropTopTees »

Drive by me and I will wave! I love the classics, too! I grew up wanting a 124 when I was young and when they were reintroduced in 2017, I was all in.
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kilrwail
Posts: 1100
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by kilrwail »

I recently passed a new Spider going the other way on a country road. He gave me a big wave before I realized what it was. Surprised the hell out of me!
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor
SteinOnkel
Posts: 1000
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: New Spider owners oblivious to the original 124 Spider.

Post by SteinOnkel »

I think the new 124 is by far the absolute prettiest new car you can get. They are absolutely gorgeous and it is not easy to re-imagine a classic and have it look that good. In my opinion, 95% of all other new cars on the road are the same dreary, loveless suv/pickup/crossover junk.

That being said I drive a classic 124 because the dealership in 2018 wouldn't play ball with my at the time non-existant credit history. So I bought a used Focus instead and a year later a '78 124. In my hometown there are quite a few other spiders on the road (old and new) and we all wave at each other enthusiastically.

Rumor has it that in part due to Sergio's untimely passing, Fiat will be closing up shop in the US shortly. Doesn't surprise me, the new 124 isn't really selling all that well.
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