Fiat 124 Sport Spider

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Launched at the 1966 Turin Motor Show, the Fiat 124 Sport Spider became such a runaway success that it remained in production right up until 1985, with some 200,000 made in total.

The classically Italianate bodywork was not only styled but also manufactured by Pininfarina and had more than a whiff of Ferrari about it, looking like a scaled down version of a 330GTE with a roof chop. More masculine than the rival offering from Alfa Romeo, it had an air of chunky stubbiness which made it look like a solid daily driver rather than a high strung weekend mistress.

The platform and running gear was based on the excellent Fiat 124 Coupe (an example of which you can find elsewhere in this sale) but with a shorter wheelbase. Power initially came from Fiat’s sweet, free-revving 89bhp 1.5-litre twin cam with an aluminium cylinder head, designed by ex-Ferrari chief engineer, Aurelio Lampredi, although by 1979 this had grown to 2-litres in capacity (104bhp), fuel-injection being added from 1979.

Suspension was by coil springs all round (independent double-wishbone front / Panhard rod-located live axle rear) with four-wheel disc brakes and worm-and-roller steering.

With a roomy cabin and features like an optional five-speed gearbox, intermittent wipers and a hood that could be raised in under twenty seconds, the Spider was a thoroughly practical and usable car that took many sales from the likes of MG and Triumph in America, where some 75% of all Spiders were sold.

Indeed it sold so well in all left-hand drive countries that Fiat never thought the expense of a right-hand drive version was justified, hence why it was never officially available in Britain or any other RHD markets, although around 1,500 examples have since been imported to UK.

This metallic silver example dates from 1980 and has the fuel-injected 2-litre engine. Said to be an older restoration, it apparently spent over ten years in storage before being unearthed by the vendor who has since thoroughly recommissioned the car and has covered around 1,000 miles in it over the last 18 months.

Said to drive very well with a good engine, gearbox and axle, it has had a high capacity radiator fitted at some time. The vendor states that the bodywork and structure is exceptionally sound with no evidence of any significant corrosion. The leather interior, tiger wood dash, clocks and brightwork are all said to be in good condition with a lightly used patina. The hood is described as ‘not new but works well’.

Altogether a nice usable Spider that is ready to enjoy right away.