Checklist

1968 - 1985 FIAT 124 COUPE/SPIDER

BODY & CHASSIS

At the kinds of values that 124 Series Fiats generate, any car that displays serious rust or previous repairs that need re-doing is uneconomic to repair. There is almost nothing made of steel in a Fiat that isn’t prone to rust, so tee up a professional inspection from an experienced restorer for any car you’re considering. Damage to Spider strut towers and the firewall is very costly to fix, as are the mounting points for rear trailing arms. Rust repair panels for the coupe and Spider are available overseas and Spider specialists offer a wide range of new and reproduction body panels. These include new front mudguards from overseas at around A$1400 each and early-design bumpers without rubber buffers that sell locally for $900

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Fiat engines aren’t the kind of device that the average hacker with a set of metric spanners can maintain, so look when buying for service history from a shop specialising in this kind of car. Different engines have different issues but common to them all is camshaft wear which causes start-up rattles and affects performance. Carburettor tuning and wear can make a Fiat hard to start and use more fuel than normal. The fivespeed gearbox is said to be durable but they can be noisy and send vibrations through the shift-lever.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES

Most significant is the condition of the front cross-member and attachment points for the lower control arms. New cross-members are available, however they are only viable if the mounting points are rust-free or have been plated to restore strength. The suspension used by Spiders and Coupes is different and parts to maintain a Spider will likely need to be specially imported. Springs are intentionally soft but re-rated coils are available and not expensive. Brake parts are available.

INTERIOR & ELECTRICS

Replacement console inserts and instrument surrounds for Coupe and Spider versions are available at reasonable prices from US suppliers, however adding freight, GST and duty can bring nasty surprises. Fiat seats are flat, simple affairs and easily refurbished by a motor trimmer, They aren’t awfully strong either so be wary of cracked frames. Also beware cars with damaged tail-lights. The ones used by Fiat Coupes were shared with some Lamborghinis and replacements cost around $600 each. Check the top on Spiders for fading and rips and make sure the frame moves easily and locks in place.