Fiat Spider, Gary's 1969 Fiat 124 Sport Spider

[Bag0fRats]

The earlier Fiat 1438 cc engines ran pretty decent and were faster than the later 2000 cc US emissions engines

[firesphotons]

I sent you a photo Gary and my AFST number, now run along and tell some more sweet lies about your spider with the gawdy side mirrors and honorary corvette status due to copious use of fiberglass.

[trwsandford]

@firesphotons you never sent a photo, and don't try to grab one from the various online sources of photos of fiats, you will probably choose the wrong year anyway.

poser

[BuxWV184]

@trwsandford Got some questions if you don't mind: How difficult is it to get these cars serviced entirely by a dealership (unfortunately, I'm not a gear-head). Are parts hard to find for 80s models? Is there sufficient leg room for both rear and front passengers of the same side to sit comfortably? Saw this car on internet and just fell in love with it. I was interested in finding a sporty little car with decent gas mileage, very fun to drive with room for 4 and this seems to fit perfectly.

[abcman3000]

-06:40min- what is painted underneath the seat ? the date of production ???

can someone confirm this ????? :-O

[trwsandford]

@abcman3000

That is what Gary said. There is nothing written under the seat in my 1974, but that doesn't mean someone at the factory didn't write the date with a grease pencil (or something similar) on Gary's car.

I had a 1968 Mustang when I was a kid, and under the carpet there was a little factory graffiti. Someone named John and the date 12/10/1967.

:)

-Ryan

[abcman3000]

@trwsandford

he he :-)

THX

[pushpull76]

So glad to see these pieces of art alive in your country. :-)

I have a Bs1 1971, working on trasmission.

Alex

[firesphotons]

Poser? Let me know when you want to see a spider that doesn't have the wrong side mirrors and as much glass as a vette..

[trwsandford]

get some video of this wonderful car of yours up!

Share it with us!

Until then you are just annoying, Poser.

and my car is all metal, wrong mirrors or not. This isn't a competition, its a car.. a really friggin' cool one.

[firesphotons]

sorry dudes but I have a dealer owned, AFST member serviced, flat hood 71 with 62K original that blows all those away..

[trwsandford]

Why are you sorry?

did you wreck it?

...lol

honestly I thought that all the posers bought Alfas. hmmm...

[dcatpc]

Great car, nice to see that the Fiat Spider is still popular in the US. I have a 1980 model 2.0i Spider for over 21 years now, still in original condition.Great driving car. It has been imported from the US Texas. More video's please!

[firesphotons]

Wreck it? It just had new control arms and ball joints, brakes & lines, calipers, rotors, tires, tie rods, timing belt, tensioner, and tune up. I pity the MG's that might be out the same day, poor bastards...

[firesphotons]

Oh and I didn't see where you called me a poser, that's funny because with all the glass in that shitbox you're squawking about you cold be posing as a corvette...

If you want my AFST number just say so, otherwise bring that incorrectly mirrored POS east and I'll hand you your ass.

[trwsandford]

@firesphotons you are welcome to run a magnet over my car. No bondo...

and yes you are a poser.. still haven't seen even a photograph yet. much less a video.

I'd be happy for you if you weren't such a tool, here in response to a video of Gary's awesome car.

speaking of my ass, I already have it. why would you want to hand it to me?

gay much?

[openeyes1984]

Beautiful. My dad got a '69 in 1973 and as a master mechanic maintained it himself and modified it quite a bit. After putting 430,000+ miles on the original engine and transmission, he put in a late model 2 liter Fiat engine, which almost didn't fit. I'm still getting used to the fact that he gave it to me a few months ago, and for the moment it's just sitting in his garage waiting for me to play with it.

[trwsandford]

Go play!

[abcman3000]

hi there :-) great car :-)

I'm soon to be the owner of a '67 Ruropean version :-))

how much do you rate such a car in the USA ?? the market value of the yellow one ???

[trwsandford]

They will always be worth a bit more in Europe, as they are rare there. Gary's car will never hit the market, so trying to establish a value for it is a moot point... However, was I appraising it for insurance purposes.. I would peg it in the 16-20k range. If the last respray matched the original paint on the front more precisely, I may rate it higher... but the value of that car is not the value it has to the man that owns it.

My 1974 I think is realistically worth about 6.5k.

[trwsandford]

That being said. It is worth far more to me than the 6.5-7k I could get from selling it.

The reason these cars are finally starting to climb in value, is precisely that. The majority of people that have them do not want to sell them.

[abcman3000]

thx :))

anyway....beautiful cars...I see you're into it and I'm always glad to find a Fiat spider lover :)

[Indigolden]

Beautiful! I had a '76 as my first car. These older ones were even better. I absolutely love the lines of the FIAT 124Spyder. I now drive Chrystler PT Cruise and I keep hoping, now the FIAT has bailed our Chrystler, that they will do a retro version of this car.

[cap12man]

gary  is my dad! :-D

[robsvibe]

Wonderfull car and great little inteview. I have a 1970 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe in the same condition. I love it,I love Spiders just as much.I have friends with Spiders that are as good as yours.Needless to say,I am a Fiat fan for life. Keep enjoying that little jem !!

[foucle]

The 124 Spider has become immortal. Great beauty and purebred Italian sporting nature—the 124 just transcends its price and humble underpinnings.

Wonderful video. Thanks!

[trwsandford]

wow, that is some high praise! My video's are crap.. lol

The car however, yeah.. wow...

there is no better bang for the buck sports car on the planet.

But my video's are getting better as I learn... stick with me!

I'm gonna do a lot more!

[foucle]

The Spider has become immortal, a genuine classic. Great beauty and a purebred sporting Italian character. I miss my '73—but I think that problem is fixable.

Fine video!

[enzom124]

The Fiat 124 Spider is one of most beautiful cars ever produced in the history of world car.

Enzo Marino Fiat 124 2.0 America 1979

Greetings from South Italy, Gary.

[trwsandford]

I agree. lets list them.. my list is as follows 1) Jaguar E type 2) Ford GT-40 3) 1973 Fiat 124 Sport Spider (yes, I drive a 1974, and I didn't pick it) 4) 1962 Lincoln Continental 4 door. 5) 1968 Chevy Camaro SS 6) 100/6 Austin Healey (any big Healey to be honest, but I love that tilt down wind screen) 7) MGA 8) Ferrari/Fiat Dino 9) Alfa Spider 10) Studebaker Golden Hawk I'm cutting the list short. I could go for hours.. hehehe -Ryan

[urrutiaca]

Great Video, never seen so many Spiders together. I have a 85 Spidereuropa since 1995 I love these cars!!!

[oywidapoodles]

Well kept up or time traveler? Hmmmm.

[trwsandford]

both actually. the problem according to Gary is that only the front clip of the car would fit into the time machine... The rest of the car had to live through the decades.

Personally I'm just happy that after all these years the front clip was successfully reunited with the rest of the car!

and if you ask the front clip about how old it is, it will proudly state that it is 2 weeks old.... not realizing that it is a time traveling Fiat front clip!

[oywidapoodles]

LOL!

[shaynebraid]

Another great video, thanks! Also what is the song at the end?

[trwsandford]

That's one of my songs!

Its called "Wrong Side of the Moon" My online "Stage Name" is Jack Jokerst.

If I ever hit the radio, or produce an album. ... I'll have to give some real thought to my stage name persona... hehehe

[celovskya]

Nice story. Always nice to see orginal cars

[67Healey3k]

Well done!

Nice car Gary!

[pjnats]

Very nice Spider! Makes me want to take mine out of hibernation for a top down spin! (It's still in the 30's, so that's wishful thinking).

[genx75spider]

not only is this an awesome car, but more importantly it has a wonderful story behind it.... Just soo cool!

[Dills124]

Nicest 124 Spider I've ever seen!! Truly beautiful.

[kustomkucha]

Awesome Car.

[MagTheOinker]

Nicely done. Very nicely done. That was sweet.

[AlvonElrod]

Great video Ryan! Super car, Gary! Rather perfect, I must say . . . though I sense a hint of a restricted fuel flow when you reved it a couple of times - maybe a fuel hose that needs replaced. ;>)

[trwsandford]

or maybe a used fuel pump......

lol

[joelbert510]

Love it!!!!

Thanks for sharing, Gary

[alburrito3]

A beautiful specimen to be sure! Thanks for taking the time to do the interview and post the video.

[JackVrooder]

Oh man I love it! It needs the Michigan short shifter!

[Makikaro]

Nice Spider! and video.

[rdrtech]

What a great car! Great interview/video.