1978 FIAT Other

Convertible

1756cc

Manual

124CS10137926

Clear

GAS

1978 Fiat 124 Spider w/48K Miles Up for sale is a very presentable and fun-to-drive 1978 Fiat 124 Spider. It is a sharp looking roadster that is looking for a good home. It is an affordable, classic Italian sports car, which when compared feature-for-feature to any other mid-70s roadster, the 124 Spider is found to be more spacious, better handling and more affordable to maintain or improve. Fiat 124 Spiders have traditionally been under-valued against other makes, but those prices are now starting to rise due to Fiat's return to North America. This vehicle has been owned, serviced and driven for a few hundred miles prior to sale by Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto, a parts and service specialist for Fiat and Lancia cars. The odometer shows only 48K miles. In short, it is now ready to become someone's reliable rag-top summer fun-car. The crossflow DOHC 1800cc engine runs great and has excellent performance. The chassis rides comfortably around town or on the highway. It has a very presentable exterior and interior, with a simplified engine bay. This is a reliable, 'unhacked', mechanically sound car that has a few minor cosmetic blemishes. With a little elbow grease, it could be a show winner. It is a great starting point for a first-time Fiat owner, or existing Fiat enthusiast. Body The car is in its original Giallo color. It has an older respray, and features black painted pin-striping. The body is straight, and does not have evidence of previous collision damage. This car was driven in the elements for a period of time, and repairs to the fender arches have been made. A few very small spots of surface rust have been spot-finished over, and two small bubbles are present in lower fender arches. Brightwork is in great condition, bumpers are solid, all ends intact. The floorpans are PERFECT and unrepaired. Engine : This car has an extremely clean engine bay with 1800cc engine DOHC engine, rebuilt 32 ADFA mechanical carburetor, mechanical fuel pump, fresh valve lash adjustment, new timing belt, tensioner and v-belt. This car has the desirable single-plane intake manifold and a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold for increased performance. Motor runs great, starts easily every time, no smoke or knocks. Note that this is a hard-to-find 49-State car that was not originally fitted with a catalytic converter! Air injection system has been >neatly< eliminated. The car has a single-muffler 2" sport exhaust that sounds great. Fuel System and Electricals Fuel tank has been inspected and cleaned, and filler neck hose replaced. Fuel level sending unit works correctly. All new hoses up front, along with new fuel pump and filter. All electricals are in great shape. Original Marelli 55A self-regulated alternator with fresh battery. This car's wiring is all original and has not been hacked. Headlights are bright, all accessories and lights work. Ignition system tune-up has been performed with new cap, rotor, points, condensers, plug-wires and plugs. Transmission / Clutch / Driveline The 5-Speed manual transmission shifts flawlessly up and down. Clutch has just the right feel. This is a late 1978 car which was issued with the more robust 2.0 Liter style rear differential. It is more reliable than the early-style diffs and shows no signs of leakage or bearing issues. Rear trans mount, driveshaft, flex joint, center support and U-joints are in good condition. Steering / Suspension / Tires / Wheels / Brakes Front steering system tie rod ends and steering box have been completely refurbished. The steering is tight with no slop at center. Ball joints, bushings, and wheel bearings are all in good condition with no noise or issues. Rear suspension checks out, with no worn components. The car features period 5.5" slot-style aluminum wheels that have hub-centric centering rings in the front, with matched BF Goodrich 185/70/13 tires all around. This car drives straight as an arrow, with no vibrations or shimmy at highway speed. Brakes are extremely effective and quickly pull the car to a stop in a straight line without drama. New hand brake cables in the rear. Interior / Top Black interior is in GREAT shape, with one tiny abrasion on the driver side headrest. Original UNBLEMISHED soft padded dashboard with correct, original wood insets. Center consoles are in good shape with a simple AM/FM radio. Original loop carpet. Window regulators and handles work smoothly, door seals are good. CLOTH convertible top is in good shape with no tears or repairs, but showing a little age. The rear plastic window is a bit hazy. A black vinyl top boot is included. Top frame articulates smoothly and latches easily. Three-point seatbelts function correctly. Trunk is clean, and includes spare tire, jack, tools and battery cover. Additional photos or details are available upon request. $1000 due by PayPal within 24 hours, balance due by cashier's check within 5 days. Local pick-up, or buyer-arranged shipping.