1970 SEAT 850 Spider

WHO? Johnny Stredwick MILES 108,000km PROVENANCE Owned 30 years MODS None HOWMANYLEFT? HOW MANY LEFT? Only one in UK

HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED THE CAR?

I bought it in 1990 in poor condition for £400. I owned a Lancia Beta Spyder, and my friend’s dad, who lived in Spain and knew I liked convertibles, owned the SEAT Spider and asked me if I wanted to buy it. I imported it from Spain in 1990, used it for a summer and then dry-stored it until two years ago, when I recommissioned it and ran about in it again. I don’t think there are any other SEAT 850 Spiders in the country, only Fiat ones. I am going to sell it in the next few weeks but have no idea what to ask for it.

HOW MUCH HISTORY?

Not much, but it did come with old Spanish MoTs that confirm the mileage, along with some other car-related paperwork, but all in Spanish. I replaced the kingpins, front and rear brakes, sorted the electrics, and got it MoT’d and registered in the UK when I brought it home in 1990. It got a new brake master cylinder, rear wheel cylinders, brake hoses, gearbox drive shaft boots and four new tyres when it was recommissioned the year before last, and the engine and gearbox oils were changed.

HAS IT BEEN MODIFIED?

No – it’s all original, as far as I can see, apart from the period ‘bullet’ wing mirrors.

WHAT’S LEFT TO DO ON IT?

The 40-year-old re-spray isn’t top quality. It’s perfectly usable as is, but could do with the hood frame and supplied double duck hood being fitted for bad weather use. There are also holes in the doors from where previous mirrors were mounted, and the odd small dent.