Fix It Again, Tony! I joke (kinda) but, the original 124 sedan was a revolutionary car for it's day. The sirst small car with disc brakes, and, such extensive use of aluminum. It was VERY advanced for an affordable, family car in 1965.
The soviets bought the rights to that 124 sedan and it became the zhiguli 2101 and exported from russia under the lada brand. They made millions over 18 years and many are still on roads today. I surprised when wizard had a later model lada 2107, which carried over lots from the zhiguli 2101, in the shop a few months ago.
What Aluminum?? They Rotted out into the ground worse than any other car I worked on. yes 4 wheel discs and 73+ had a valve swallowing twin cam 1600. and a 5 speed.
I had a 1973 124 Spyder and had a blast with it. Absolutely crushed small country twisty roads I knew like the back of my hand. Absolute blast. Never had one problem with the twin cam engine. But the electrical system was crap. But I learned a lot about electrics working on it. Also replaced the clutch 2 times myself.
They are in another universe compared to an MG or Triumph. Not just an overhead cam, but TWO of them! Plus, an aluminum head! For the money, they were far ahead of the British cars. Even more exotic were the Alfa Romeos of the time.
The June 1970 edition of Road & Track Magazine did a 1250-mile comparision test of the 124, MGB, TR6 and 914. The Fiat came out on top by a considerable margin, despite its puny 1438cc engine. Pre-bumper cars with a later 1.6, 1.8 or 2-liter engines, like the one I restored, are fantastic automobiles well ahead of their time. Four-wheel disc brakes, radial tires, intermittent wipers, a one-hand top and more. I'm puzzled why the Wizard chose to do a walk-around on a car clearly destined for a project. Ten-year-old tires? Who cares? Does he not know that the 124 Spider in later years had a turbo option from the factory? And his comment about the primitive fuel injection? The Bosch K-Jetronic system was used on millions of cars, up until the 1994 Porsche 911.
@@kingcrimson254 Even more exotic were the Alfa Romeos of the era. I had a couple of them, but I don't fit because I'm tall. Still, I stuffed myself into them because they were really cool. All aluminum wet liner engine, sodium cooled exhaust valves, twin cam, mechanical fuel injection, baffled oil pan, and on and on. The rear axle had an aluminum diff housing too. I don't think he does his own work at all. This is all for show and likes here on U tube.
Back in the late 70's in the US my Dad bought 3 of these in various conditions for cheap and made 1 good working one, it was a fun car to zip around town in
I had one of these when I lived in Puerto Rico for about 9 months in 1995. 1980 model year, It was a rust bucket, it had skinny 155/80-13 tires and a broken sway bar link. Yet....Nothing could hang with that Fiat on the clover leaf entrance to the airport in San Juan! It had a blown head gasket which I fixed myself, but it was too late and a month after I fixed it (no more water in the oil...) it finally seized up. The pastor of the church my roomate attended wanted it so I just gave it to him. I heard he replaced the engine and drove it for years afterwards.
@@Fpvpilot928 At the time that I owned this car I bought it for $900. I lived on Ramen noodles and pasta. I was a regional airline pilot who earned about $15,000 per year; I simply couldn't afford to fix that part, and it took me 1 KM to and from the airport. It worked and that's all I was concerned wth.....
I bought one of these brand new, 50 years ago, & kept it for 8 years. The actual name is Fiat 124 Spider (there was also a 124 sedan, totally different body, didn't sell well). Body was designed by Pininfarina, just like all the Ferraris. Some called this the "poor man's Ferrari". Twin cam engine, aluminum head, Weber carb, 4 wheel disc brakes, electric fan, 5 speed manual, convertible top as easy to put down & up as a Miata. 1975 saw the US compliant bumper & increased ride height. Produced from 1966 to 1985, one of the last versions had a turbo which I rode in once, it was a ripper. BTW, the oil filter is for a tractor, biggest oil filter I ever saw on any car. The rubber drive shaft coupler made it tricky to drive, it would tend to make the car oscillate back & forth when starting out it first gear.
I spent two years in FIAT dealership service department. Any FIAT called a Spyder was a convertible originally. Lots of problems with wiring, alternators and master cylinders then. The emission controls really taxed the engines. Pre 1974 were the best ones. They handled curves like they were on tracks and were really fun to drive.
The emission controls in the 70's killed every engine. I had a 400M engine Ford from '76. Despite a 6.5l displacement, the engine barely made 175 hp. It would have been 400 5 years earlier. Totally ridiculous. Still got 12 mpg, too.
@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 For the 124 line yes, it was 8V. But for such a light car it was plenty. Though the US version lost a lot of HP because of regulations, sadly. For other applications a 16V was available in either NA, turbo charged or supercharged (Volumex).
@@romanpaladino Neat! I did not know about 16V's elsewhere. My maxim for little sports cars of that era is "Fun is not a number." I don't care about the gross HP rating or the 1/4 mi time, a car can still be enjoyable to drive even if it doesn't inspire mortal terror.
I've owned a 71, 77, three 79s, and 80, 81 and 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. I currently own a 79 and 2017. Once you undo all the owner screwed up stuff and return them to original, they're really fantastic and fun cars. I initiated and lead the local Fiat Club for years. They're easy to work on, easy to diagnose, and easy to fix! Once restored properly, they're quite reliable for the era in which they were built.
Yep. This looks like a second or third (probably teenage) owner who couldn't keep it running and held onto it for decades. One that looks nice and is fairly reliable seems to go for $15K, +/-.
My memories of my 1972, Fiat 124 are that the timing belts only last 27,000 miles and it’s an interference fit! And I think they used Rusty steel right at the factory
I own a 1977 124 Spider living in CA there is no rust perfect body perfect paint Love the car. The weber carb is plenty you don't need to put FI in it. If you waited for a 1980 they came FI and a bit bigger engine. Goodluck with your build.
These are worth restoring. That car is in great shape! What are you talking about? You have no idea what most of these look like after 45 years. They are usually so badly rusted that it's almost impossible to restore them. This one just needs rockers and probably the interior structures behind the rockers. There's some fender rust as well, no big deal. It sounds like you don't know anything about these cars. They have a nice twin cam engine, twin weber carbs, and other nice sports car things.
Yep. That car is totally worth restoring. Tne frame and body looks great for a 70's Fiat, the twin cam is a great little engine, and the shape iconic. It's not a junker, at all!
I've had one of those. Great cars, fun to drive with a motor that will pull for days. We'll worth fixing. Turbo it and you will likely blow holes in the pisyons and bend rods.
They don't do restorations. I'm sure when they are done playing with it and put it up for sale someone will pick it up. But it will take a lot of time/money/scraped knuckles to see it nice again. If I had to guess I would bet it would be one of those project cars that never gets done. If it was in the UK or Europe it would prob have a better chance.
@@johnstudd4245 Doing just the seats, carpet as well as a dash cover would go a long way making the interior look decent again. The door panels look salvageable as well.
I had a ‘69 124 Sport Coupe. For the time it was quite advanced, with twin-cam engine, five-speed transmission, four-wheel disc brakes. Basically the Spider but slightly longer with room for two in back seat. So fun to drive!
4 месяца назад+2
That Fiat 124 is actually in pretty good condition compared to most. It would not be very difficult to get it roadworthy. It's mostly routine mechanical things and most parts are still available. The engine isn't built to withstand a turbo; that would shorten the life of the engine considerably.
I had several of those starting at the age of about 18 I am 72 now my dad actually worked for Fiat so I wasn’t buying them off the roadside for $500 because somebody didn’t understand how to work on it. I’d fix them up and sell them a couple of Thousand. If you know how to maintain a fear, they’re very good car lotta fun to drive. My first was a 71 spider than a 78. That was a great year for them. 75. I bought a brand new X19 I put over 100,000 miles on that car, have fun with this one. It’s a survivor. Enjoy your channel, Mr. Wizard and Mrs. Wizard.😊
My brother owned one of these a long time ago. I can remember it was yellowish orange. Ragtop. We used to ride sitting in the seat on top of the trunk on the freeway 😂 She looks like she can be brought back to respectability. 😎❤️💜🧡
Bought an old Fiat Croma mk2 recently great car. Fiat make great cars don't listen to anyone who says otherwise, check the history! Beast of Turin and the Mephistopheles are awesome. This 124 you have is cute and would be great in summer.
@@fubartotale3389 Dont be ridiculous, we have distances & huge weather extremes in Europe too, & they last perfectly well, WHEN they are looked after properly, which is something Americans rarely do.
@@fubartotale3389 If I can drive a Fiat in Scotland and Fiat's can be driven in Eastern Europe as they are the right specced cars would do just fine, it's an anti Italian myth that seems to persist unfortunately.
I had one the last time I lived in Italy, it was a rust bucket but I drove it all over Italy and Switzerland even drive it to Paris by way of Monte Carlo never had one lick of problems with it. A great car.
My dad had one of those when I was a kid. I begged him to sell it to me when he wanted to sell it but he drove it to the junkyard and bought a Mercedes instead. If I can ever retire I figured I’d buy one of these and restore it. Thanks for the childhood flashbacks.
The Fiat 124 was manufactured by Fiat with the body being built Pininfarina. In 1980 Pininfarina took over building the car from Fiat. The engine was designed by ex-Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi. Weber carburetors were used until Petrol Injection showed up in mid 1980. You car looks like a fun project, but the engine should be fully rebuilt before going with injection and turbo charging. Have lots of fun!
I had exactly this model, except for the hard top (and I'd likely swap that for the ragtop... so much easier to drop or raise in a hurry). Mine was the same color, and I couldn't afford to change it. This was the single best handling car I've ever owned. It saved my life one night when an unrecognized danger had me zipping THROUGH and old-school gas station, squeezing between a fuel island and a tow truck at 70mph. I'd LOVE to have one again, and will be ready to bid when you sell this one. I had ongoing problems with the head gasket, but mostly because I didn't have enough money to get it taken car of. They guy I swapped with (for a GMC van lub machine) painted it a gorgeous saddle brown, and cowhide interior. I did the ragtop myself, hours of brutal work in a small space (and smelly glue) but it was under $200 in the day.
Thanks for the memories! I had a '75 124 Spyder, bought used around 1980. I was a greenhorn then, learned later car was actually in terrible shape and recently repainted highway department orange, the original color. ( Fiat had some wild colors then. ) I recall the top was an easy one-hand operation. It was a hoot to drive - when it ran. It was in the shop for about half the time I owned it. Parts apparently in short supply. I had to move on from that one - so much for impulse purchases! Enjoy the engine project...
They switched to EFI in 1980. All he needs to do is find that and install it. No "conversion" required. These are great cars. A lot of fun to drive. I had one many years ago.
@@CarWizard I would seriously consider NOT adding a turbo unless you also replace the pistons, the stock crank, rods and head will be okay, but the stock pistons would be iffy.
In the early 90's I owned a cherry red 1983 Spyder, which FIAT called the Peninfarina. It had BOSCH fuel injection; the local FIAT dealer had closed down, but there was still a mechanic nearby who could work on it, as well as their former service manager who had squirreled away a lot of FIAT parts in a warehouse. It was a super chick magnet which was fun as well. I kept it until my kids started driving, then got rid of it before they could wreck it.
Your car was not " called" the Pininfarina.... those badges were affixed on various Italian cars that were designed a/o built inside the Peninfarina design studio.... like the expensive/exotic VW's that had the " Karmann/ Ghia" badges.
@@Bigsky1991 When I got my '83 Spyder, it was missing several badges, so I called International Auto Parts (IAP) to try to order them. They are the ones who told me that FIAT, because they didn't want to comply with EPA regs, discontinued marketing cars in the US except for the Spyder & the X1/9. My title had the model name of Peninfarina on it; IAP told me that the X1/9 was being marketed as the Bertone. I'm no FIAT expert, just repeating what IAP told me.
It made me cringe when you talked about an engine swap. Keep and fix up that little engine, it sounded good when it got started up, historic sound for me, it was beautiful. I'll be watching this one.
Poor man's Ferrari . . . great drivers when dialed in. Interior parts can be found new online . . . so, besides the rust work, soft top, seats, will be a stunner when restored.
I didn’t have the spider Fiat ; but in 1974 while stationed overseas in the Army in Germany ; I bought a brand new Fiat 128 and had a blast with it driving on the autobahn at 90 MPH. Loved the manual transmission ; but 10 years later gave me all sorts of problems.
I was in nellingen germany , also in that year . I had a 200 dollar junk car [ ford ] drove it to Italy , that was a little scary . 16th dpu. motor pool .
I have a soft spot for the 124 Spider. I had one when I was 17. It wasn't in very good shape when I got her, but little by little I fixed her up. The Lampredi Twin Cam is a good engine, even in it's detuned US version (the 1800 lost about 32 HP in the US version). But they're very tunable and they're still the most succesful engine in WRC with 10 championships in Fiat and Lancia cars. They've been turbo charged and supercharged (Volumex) and in some rally versions they were both.
I own four of these back in the 80s took one from Ohio to Key West on my honeymoon. Had good trip fun little car is good on gas rebuilt one oversize, pistons, etc. if the doors are hard to close, the body may be swinging in the middle may need to reinforce make sure the valves are adjusted with the shims correctly or you’ll burn a valve.I was always glad I never got in an accident with one of them. good luck.
I had a '69 model I purchased new. It is a fun car, but there was a little too much body flex after having a "68 Datsun 2000 that was totaled around me. I love the smooth as butter transmission and the 4-wheel disk brakes could stop you on a dime and give you 9 cents change. This can be a fun car to drive once you get the bugs out of it.
Wizard!! You have to be a one of the coolest bosses out there. You bought this just for danielsan to practice on??? Man that's cool af!! You are the man!
Had a new 1975 Fiat 131. Has the same engine. Timing belt broke at 11 months old. Took it to a guy who worked on foreign cars. One of his employees did the job incorrectly and bent the valves when he started it. Took it to the dealer and fixed it. I added rear sway bar. Handled a lot better. Then the rocker panels rusted after 5 years. Had it for 10 years. Fun driving car.
Those are great little cars. Many years ago I was at the Fiat dealer getting my 128 fixed and they rolled a new one in to prep it for the buyer. Dark blue and they were adding some shiny bits to it. Beautiful little car, I sure would have rather had it than my 128. From everything I know about them those were great engines. I hope this car is saved.
One of my brothers had 2 Fiat Sport Spider, early 70's models. needed lots of tinkering to keep them running, easy to work on- for sure they are mechanics cars. You need to be to keep them running. Fun to drive.
wizard its a 4 cyl motor and if the timing belt brakes its done for the valves will fall straight into the pistons I sold and repaired them in the late 70s to early 80 it is a very fun car to drive Dan
Be sure to replace the timing belt. Schedule is 24k. I had done valve jobs on these with 28k because belt failed. Bends valves. Also the proportioning valve for hydrolic brakes goes bad causing front pads to wear out quickly. I have Never ever seen any other cars that had this failure. Fix It Again Tony = FIAT
When I was in high school, my buddy had one of these. He challenged me to a drag race in my '84 T-Bird (Essex V6), automatic and all. When the flag dropped, I took off, and soon saw my buddy 's '72 Fiat 124 stopped. I came back around to see what happened, my buddy was holding up the shifter, complete with the tail shaft of the 5 speed transmission 😂
Don't you know a body shop who has an apprentice who need something to work on? Take the engine out, leave it to Daniel san, send the body to the shop and have their apprentice fix it up and then join them together again.
I had a 1969 rusty(was there any other kind?) 124 Sport Coupe. I owned this from about 1972 and drove the hell out of it till while changing the timing belt my friend who was helping me didn’t quite get one of the cams in the right place. A valve head broke off and that was that. Still with only 1400cc’s and a five speed manual transmission it’s ability to run for hours at 4-5000 rpm it was a fun little car that rode well on the interstate as well as country lanes.
Regul tires were around for a long time. Part of Heafner Tire. My dad worked with a guy that sold them and they were the first "good" radial tires I'd bought in 1984. Prior to that, I bought cheap bias ply tires or recaps.
Had alot of Fiats, in 1978 had a 1976 124 spider, of course nothing rust out in Southern Arizona, so it is not like yours! Just put a Webber on it, like everyone else does! Also had a old Alfa spider with injection, run off the distributor, again, but a Webber on it!
3:14. I guessed $5,775 + tax. I used to sell these cars and despite the fact that this was the most expensive Fiat, the price was VERY reasonable back then, about $500 more than an MGB but for that extra $500, you got a thoroughly modern top with glass quarter windows, a twin cam motor, 4-wheel disc brakes, a wood dash, and a 5-speed. It was a bargain. Only lost 1 sale to an MGB and the guy told me he just had to have the classic British sports car. 11:16. Nope. It's a 5-speed. Great video!
These had a really nice twincam engine with double webers..the sound of these was reeeally nice..and what comes to the shape..that is near perfect..these rusted like nobodys business..owners could not sleep cause they heard the rust eating their car in the driveway.
A neighbor across the street bought one new in the late 1970's. It turned into a rust bucket in a few short years, as he parked it outside and we were close to the beach. John in Texas
Fantastic find. This one seems like a great project car with a lot of potential. Great job of documenting the initial inspection and outlining the car's history.
The Fiat Spiders drive really nicely when in good order. The Lampredi twin cam is an excellent engine and overall it’s a pretty raw driving experience.
Autoricambi, parts are out of texas. I drove a 71 124 wagon from Portland, to Los Angeles, to Oklahoma City last spring. Took three of us two weeks of work to make it drivable. Lost a rear wheel bearing by the time hit LA. Salvage axle shaft, new wheel bearing, couple of days later, back on the road. Followed Route 66 most of the way.
I've had my 77 for 35 years. Most of that time in the garage under boxes. I end up wrenching on it when I get bored of my other projects.Take it out occasionally when its sunny. :)
As a kid I used to hate these cars. Kept thinking what the hell were they thinking designing a car that looks like this. In my mid 30’s I got to drive one that a friend had. Fell in love with it. In my 40’s now, I really wouldn’t mind owning one. They are fun.
My father was friends with the US rep for Fiat back in the 1970's. I was looking for my first car and this fellow was over our house when my old man half jokingly asked if he (don't recall his name) could fix me up with a car. He said he didn't want to lose my dad as a friend and would if he fixed me up with a new Fiat. My dad asked him if they are that bad. He smiled and said that new ones actually had rust problems coming off the ship before being delivered.................
Should you choose to repair/replace the convertable top, you'll find it is the easiest you've ever used. One hand up or down. Looking forward to the vids on D's channel.
My dad and I are going to have a 1971 and a 1972 Fiat Spider for sale soon here in Arkansas if anyone is interested. One will be working with a title and one is no title for parts but also running.
I saw it about a week ago (Fri Nov 1) when we did a tour of the Wizard's shop. I think you boys were at lunch so Crazy D showed us around. I can"t wait to see how it turns out!
Really nice examples of these are worth $25,000 or so and, with the 2016 relaunch as a badge-engineered MX-5, interest in the much-praised original is rising. They were what an MGB should have become but are much rarer. It just might be worth restoring.
That's a great little car that should be restored after the engine has been upgraded, brakes, suspension etc. I'm pretty sure that if you get it painted, rust taken care of, clean the interior etc, this little sports car would be really easy to sell or keep it for summer days out
Had a 72 and 74 in early 80s. My time belt cover was yellow. The the air filter intake hole on right was for another intake tube that can be turned down. Therefore in cool weather, heated air can draw across the exhaust manifold. The rubber donut for trans to drive shaft, if be will hit the bottom of the trans shifter case and broke the case or shifter cover under. Know this because that was how i got it cheaper/broken
Love that hardtop with the portholes. A very '70's accessory. I see an earlier model Fiat Spyder driving around Santa Ana, Ca. all the time. Most were junked in the late '80's and '90's.
Used to be able to buy a brand new Corolla for 2900$ what is 15 000$ today not 28 000$. Car prices have double plus inflation customers get screwed. Parts cost 20 times what it was in the 70's
@@ChristianPareATLAS2900. Bucks for a yoyo? Boss bought a 73. Corolla for 600. Bucks in. 74. With a blown head. Got a new cyl head valves belts etc v for 100. Bucks from dealer. Brought new gasket set assembled and less than 1k. He had nifty Corolla for 1k during first energy crisis
@@gerry-p9x we are getting screwed with today's cars. Plus they put so many gadgets isn't even fun to drive with all the warnings sounds. I have troubles dealing with annoying sounds so buying a new car for me is almost impossible
Perfect for an as is mechanical upgrade. As gorgeous as the paint is, boot lid inner is amazing, I really like this as a ratty little open top. Perfect for an edgy literary type, or a Hank Moody (Californication) type.
My family were partners in the Fiat and later became the Fiat/Lancia dealership in Tulsa. Started working there in '72 when I got home from active duty and knew Fiats inside and out, Owned and rebuilt a bunch of 850's, 124 coupes and 124 spyders back in those days. Fun cars!
Classic old European sports car. GREAT engine, suspect electronics but a BLAST to drive if you live in an area with twisty roads. All in all this one looks to be in pretty good condition, rust proofing was just a dream for most of these cars so to find one that isn't rusted beyond repair is a bonus.
Wonderful little car....a guy I worked with at the Alfa dealership had two: a coupe and a spyder.....bulletproof little guys; Mike had switched over to some whacky Italian aftermarket pads and rotors; they really stopped the car, but wore out in about 3000 miles! We got really fast at replacing them: up on the lift, grab a corner, move clockwise til done. About 15 minutes....
It’s heartwarming to see you and Mrs.Wizard are helping Daniel with with his channel.
You guys are the best!
Fix It Again, Tony! I joke (kinda) but, the original 124 sedan was a revolutionary car for it's day. The sirst small car with disc brakes, and, such extensive use of aluminum. It was VERY advanced for an affordable, family car in 1965.
I seen that on king of the hill and said it ever since
The soviets bought the rights to that 124 sedan and it became the zhiguli 2101 and exported from russia under the lada brand. They made millions over 18 years and many are still on roads today. I surprised when wizard had a later model lada 2107, which carried over lots from the zhiguli 2101, in the shop a few months ago.
Beautiful Fiat 124…!!!
What Aluminum?? They Rotted out into the ground worse than any other car I worked on. yes 4 wheel discs and 73+ had a valve swallowing twin cam 1600. and a 5 speed.
I was going to post the same thing, Fix It Again Tony. LOL
I had a 1973 124 Spyder and had a blast with it. Absolutely crushed small country twisty roads I knew like the back of my hand. Absolute blast. Never had one problem with the twin cam engine. But the electrical system was crap. But I learned a lot about electrics working on it. Also replaced the clutch 2 times myself.
They are in another universe compared to an MG or Triumph. Not just an overhead cam, but TWO of them! Plus, an aluminum head! For the money, they were far ahead of the British cars. Even more exotic were the Alfa Romeos of the time.
Using a Painless wiring kit would go a long ways in making the electrical system all but bulletproof, especially with a GM 1 wire alternator.
Early 70s Spyders were über stylish.
The June 1970 edition of Road & Track Magazine did a 1250-mile comparision test of the 124, MGB, TR6 and 914. The Fiat came out on top by a considerable margin, despite its puny 1438cc engine. Pre-bumper cars with a later 1.6, 1.8 or 2-liter engines, like the one I restored, are fantastic automobiles well ahead of their time. Four-wheel disc brakes, radial tires, intermittent wipers, a one-hand top and more.
I'm puzzled why the Wizard chose to do a walk-around on a car clearly destined for a project. Ten-year-old tires? Who cares? Does he not know that the 124 Spider in later years had a turbo option from the factory? And his comment about the primitive fuel injection? The Bosch K-Jetronic system was used on millions of cars, up until the 1994 Porsche 911.
@@kingcrimson254 Even more exotic were the Alfa Romeos of the era. I had a couple of them, but I don't fit because I'm tall. Still, I stuffed myself into them because they were really cool. All aluminum wet liner engine, sodium cooled exhaust valves, twin cam, mechanical fuel injection, baffled oil pan, and on and on. The rear axle had an aluminum diff housing too. I don't think he does his own work at all. This is all for show and likes here on U tube.
Sir, this is one of those rare little gems that need to be restored and hung onto, PLEASE !!
Back in the late 70's in the US my Dad bought 3 of these in various conditions for cheap and made 1 good working one, it was a fun car to zip around town in
I had one of these when I lived in Puerto Rico for about 9 months in 1995. 1980 model year, It was a rust bucket, it had skinny 155/80-13 tires and a broken sway bar link. Yet....Nothing could hang with that Fiat on the clover leaf entrance to the airport in San Juan! It had a blown head gasket which I fixed myself, but it was too late and a month after I fixed it (no more water in the oil...) it finally seized up. The pastor of the church my roomate attended wanted it so I just gave it to him. I heard he replaced the engine and drove it for years afterwards.
Why wouldn't you replace the sway bay control link??? Probably 20 minutes of work and $100 bucks for the part!
@@Fpvpilot928 At the time that I owned this car I bought it for $900. I lived on Ramen noodles and pasta. I was a regional airline pilot who earned about $15,000 per year; I simply couldn't afford to fix that part, and it took me 1 KM to and from the airport. It worked and that's all I was concerned wth.....
That car came from the factory with 165 tires.
@@frankhoward7645 Mine had steel rims on one side and alloys on the otheer.....
I bought one of these brand new, 50 years ago, & kept it for 8 years. The actual name is Fiat 124 Spider (there was also a 124 sedan, totally different body, didn't sell well). Body was designed by Pininfarina, just like all the Ferraris. Some called this the "poor man's Ferrari". Twin cam engine, aluminum head, Weber carb, 4 wheel disc brakes, electric fan, 5 speed manual, convertible top as easy to put down & up as a Miata. 1975 saw the US compliant bumper & increased ride height. Produced from 1966 to 1985, one of the last versions had a turbo which I rode in once, it was a ripper. BTW, the oil filter is for a tractor, biggest oil filter I ever saw on any car. The rubber drive shaft coupler made it tricky to drive, it would tend to make the car oscillate back & forth when starting out it first gear.
The top was actually better than the one on the Miata. Not only did it have quarter windows, but they were glass!
I spent two years in FIAT dealership service department. Any FIAT called a Spyder was a convertible originally. Lots of problems with wiring, alternators and master cylinders then. The emission controls really taxed the engines. Pre 1974 were the best ones. They handled curves like they were on tracks and were really fun to drive.
The emission controls in the 70's killed every engine. I had a 400M engine Ford from '76. Despite a 6.5l displacement, the engine barely made 175 hp. It would have been 400 5 years earlier. Totally ridiculous. Still got 12 mpg, too.
it;s a 5 speed manual. Brakes cost NOTHING. Was used for ALL Fiats of that era. Good Car.
5 speed manual, 4 wheel disc brakes, and a DOHC engine for the late 60's and 70's was pretty unheard-of.
@@romanpaladino To get those features in a sports car, one had to spend 50% more for an Alfa.
@@romanpaladino DOHC but 8V, IIRC. Crossflow head, though.
@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 For the 124 line yes, it was 8V. But for such a light car it was plenty. Though the US version lost a lot of HP because of regulations, sadly. For other applications a 16V was available in either NA, turbo charged or supercharged (Volumex).
@@romanpaladino Neat! I did not know about 16V's elsewhere. My maxim for little sports cars of that era is "Fun is not a number." I don't care about the gross HP rating or the 1/4 mi time, a car can still be enjoyable to drive even if it doesn't inspire mortal terror.
I've owned a 71, 77, three 79s, and 80, 81 and 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. I currently own a 79 and 2017.
Once you undo all the owner screwed up stuff and return them to original, they're really fantastic and fun cars. I initiated and lead the local Fiat Club for years.
They're easy to work on, easy to diagnose, and easy to fix! Once restored properly, they're quite reliable for the era in which they were built.
Yep. This looks like a second or third (probably teenage) owner who couldn't keep it running and held onto it for decades. One that looks nice and is fairly reliable seems to go for $15K, +/-.
My HS friend bought 124Coupe. It was pretty cool. I had an 850spyder which I liked, but my wife spun it out on a freeway on-ramp and head-on'd a wall.
My memories of my 1972, Fiat 124 are that the timing belts only last 27,000 miles and it’s an interference fit! And I think they used Rusty steel right at the factory
The first car I ever drove that could handle, back in the day. I loved how they drove.
I own a 1977 124 Spider living in CA there is no rust perfect body perfect paint Love the car. The weber carb is plenty you don't need to put FI in it. If you waited for a 1980 they came FI and a bit bigger engine. Goodluck with your build.
These are worth restoring. That car is in great shape! What are you talking about? You have no idea what most of these look like after 45 years. They are usually so badly rusted that it's almost impossible to restore them. This one just needs rockers and probably the interior structures behind the rockers. There's some fender rust as well, no big deal. It sounds like you don't know anything about these cars. They have a nice twin cam engine, twin weber carbs, and other nice sports car things.
Yep. That car is totally worth restoring. Tne frame and body looks great for a 70's Fiat, the twin cam is a great little engine, and the shape iconic. It's not a junker, at all!
I've had one of those. Great cars, fun to drive with a motor that will pull for days. We'll worth fixing. Turbo it and you will likely blow holes in the pisyons and bend rods.
🎉
They don't do restorations. I'm sure when they are done playing with it and put it up for sale someone will pick it up. But it will take a lot of time/money/scraped knuckles to see it nice again. If I had to guess I would bet it would be one of those project cars that never gets done. If it was in the UK or Europe it would prob have a better chance.
@@johnstudd4245 Doing just the seats, carpet as well as a dash cover would go a long way making the interior look decent again. The door panels look salvageable as well.
I had a ‘69 124 Sport Coupe. For the time it was quite advanced, with twin-cam engine, five-speed transmission, four-wheel disc brakes. Basically the Spider but slightly longer with room for two in back seat. So fun to drive!
That Fiat 124 is actually in pretty good condition compared to most. It would not be very difficult to get it roadworthy. It's mostly routine mechanical things and most parts are still available. The engine isn't built to withstand a turbo; that would shorten the life of the engine considerably.
I had several of those starting at the age of about 18 I am 72 now my dad actually worked for Fiat so I wasn’t buying them off the roadside for $500 because somebody didn’t understand how to work on it. I’d fix them up and sell them a couple of Thousand. If you know how to maintain a fear, they’re very good car lotta fun to drive. My first was a 71 spider than a 78. That was a great year for them. 75. I bought a brand new X19 I put over 100,000 miles on that car, have fun with this one. It’s a survivor. Enjoy your channel, Mr. Wizard and Mrs. Wizard.😊
My brother owned one of these a long time ago. I can remember it was yellowish orange. Ragtop. We used to ride sitting in the seat on top of the trunk on the freeway 😂 She looks like she can be brought back to respectability. 😎❤️💜🧡
Bought an old Fiat Croma mk2 recently great car. Fiat make great cars don't listen to anyone who says otherwise, check the history! Beast of Turin and the Mephistopheles are awesome. This 124 you have is cute and would be great in summer.
They are NOT built for Anerican driving conditions.
Speeds, distances, temperature extremes, etc.
And yes, Ive owned them.
@@fubartotale3389 Dont be ridiculous, we have distances & huge weather extremes in Europe too, & they last perfectly well, WHEN they are looked after properly, which is something Americans rarely do.
@@fubartotale3389 Fiat Croma mk2 and Fiat 130 sedan are perfecto for American road's do your research buddy.
@@fubartotale3389 If I can drive a Fiat in Scotland and Fiat's can be driven in Eastern Europe as they are the right specced cars would do just fine, it's an anti Italian myth that seems to persist unfortunately.
I had one the last time I lived in Italy, it was a rust bucket but I drove it all over Italy and Switzerland even drive it to Paris by way of Monte Carlo never had one lick of problems with it. A great car.
My dad had one of those when I was a kid. I begged him to sell it to me when he wanted to sell it but he drove it to the junkyard and bought a Mercedes instead. If I can ever retire I figured I’d buy one of these and restore it. Thanks for the childhood flashbacks.
The Fiat 124 was manufactured by Fiat with the body being built Pininfarina. In 1980 Pininfarina took over building the car from Fiat. The engine was designed by ex-Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi. Weber carburetors were used until Petrol Injection showed up in mid 1980. You car looks like a fun project, but the engine should be fully rebuilt before going with injection and turbo charging. Have lots of fun!
I had exactly this model, except for the hard top (and I'd likely swap that for the ragtop... so much easier to drop or raise in a hurry). Mine was the same color, and I couldn't afford to change it. This was the single best handling car I've ever owned. It saved my life one night when an unrecognized danger had me zipping THROUGH and old-school gas station, squeezing between a fuel island and a tow truck at 70mph. I'd LOVE to have one again, and will be ready to bid when you sell this one. I had ongoing problems with the head gasket, but mostly because I didn't have enough money to get it taken car of. They guy I swapped with (for a GMC van lub machine) painted it a gorgeous saddle brown, and cowhide interior. I did the ragtop myself, hours of brutal work in a small space (and smelly glue) but it was under $200 in the day.
I had 2 of those, a 72 and a 79. The 79 even had power windows. They were 2 of my favourite cars, so fun to drive!!
"I drive through fields
I drive through lakes
I'd like to stop
But I have no brakes!"
Looking forward to seeing the EFI conversation on a car this old. Most of these I’ve seen are complete rust buckets so it’s a cool project.
Thanks for the memories! I had a '75 124 Spyder, bought used around 1980. I was a greenhorn then, learned later car was actually in terrible shape and recently repainted highway department orange, the original color. ( Fiat had some wild colors then. ) I recall the top was an easy one-hand operation. It was a hoot to drive - when it ran. It was in the shop for about half the time I owned it. Parts apparently in short supply. I had to move on from that one - so much for impulse purchases! Enjoy the engine project...
They switched to EFI in 1980. All he needs to do is find that and install it. No "conversion" required. These are great cars. A lot of fun to drive. I had one many years ago.
He wants to turbo it and tune it
Same here, also I can arrest that you can go over 1000 RPM above red line without the engine blowing up.
@@CarWizard It's not designed for that, but people do it. There are kits available.
@@CarWizard I would seriously consider NOT adding a turbo unless you also replace the pistons, the stock crank, rods and head will be okay, but the stock pistons would be iffy.
@@CarWizard danielSan gonna need Wizards help with this one
In the early 90's I owned a cherry red 1983 Spyder, which FIAT called the Peninfarina. It had BOSCH fuel injection; the local FIAT dealer had closed down, but there was still a mechanic nearby who could work on it, as well as their former service manager who had squirreled away a lot of FIAT parts in a warehouse. It was a super chick magnet which was fun as well. I kept it until my kids started driving, then got rid of it before they could wreck it.
Your car was not " called" the Pininfarina.... those badges were affixed on various Italian cars that were designed a/o built inside the Peninfarina design studio.... like the expensive/exotic VW's that had the " Karmann/ Ghia" badges.
@@Bigsky1991 When I got my '83 Spyder, it was missing several badges, so I called International Auto Parts (IAP) to try to order them. They are the ones who told me that FIAT, because they didn't want to comply with EPA regs, discontinued marketing cars in the US except for the Spyder & the X1/9. My title had the model name of Peninfarina on it; IAP told me that the X1/9 was being marketed as the Bertone. I'm no FIAT expert, just repeating what IAP told me.
It made me cringe when you talked about an engine swap.
Keep and fix up that little engine, it sounded good when it got started up, historic sound for me, it was beautiful.
I'll be watching this one.
I loved my 76 124 Spider. Lots of fun to drive and I turned a lot of wrenches on it. Great car to learn on wrenching on.
Cute little car. Well worth restoring! Italian cars from the 70s are typically rust buckets. Very few of them survived this long.
I understand buying a car for "training"! I bought a 1995 Renault R19 to restore on my own! And I'm having SO much fun!
Poor man's Ferrari . . . great drivers when dialed in. Interior parts can be found new online . . . so, besides the rust work, soft top, seats, will be a stunner when restored.
I didn’t have the spider Fiat ; but in 1974 while stationed overseas in the Army in Germany ; I bought a brand new Fiat 128 and had a blast with it driving on the autobahn at 90 MPH. Loved the manual transmission ; but 10 years later gave me all sorts of problems.
I was in nellingen germany , also in that year . I had a 200 dollar junk car [ ford ] drove it to Italy , that was a little scary . 16th dpu. motor pool .
Love to see a small turbo and FI on one of these. I have had three of them - and one of them was a California 1980 with FI. Pretty fast for the time.
I have a soft spot for the 124 Spider. I had one when I was 17. It wasn't in very good shape when I got her, but little by little I fixed her up. The Lampredi Twin Cam is a good engine, even in it's detuned US version (the 1800 lost about 32 HP in the US version). But they're very tunable and they're still the most succesful engine in WRC with 10 championships in Fiat and Lancia cars. They've been turbo charged and supercharged (Volumex) and in some rally versions they were both.
I own four of these back in the 80s took one from Ohio to Key West on my honeymoon. Had good trip fun little car is good on gas rebuilt one oversize, pistons, etc. if the doors are hard to close, the body may be swinging in the middle may need to reinforce make sure the valves are adjusted with the shims correctly or you’ll burn a valve.I was always glad I never got in an accident with one of them. good luck.
I had a '69 model I purchased new. It is a fun car, but there was a little too much body flex after having a "68 Datsun 2000 that was totaled around me. I love the smooth as butter transmission and the 4-wheel disk brakes could stop you on a dime and give you 9 cents change. This can be a fun car to drive once you get the bugs out of it.
Wizard!! You have to be a one of the coolest bosses out there. You bought this just for danielsan to practice on??? Man that's cool af!! You are the man!
You sold me on your workers RUclips Channel and I subscribed. I always wanted a Fiat Spider but never had the money for it.
Had a new 1975 Fiat 131. Has the same engine. Timing belt broke at 11 months old. Took it to a guy who worked on foreign cars. One of his employees did the job incorrectly and bent the valves when he started it. Took it to the dealer and fixed it. I added rear sway bar. Handled a lot better. Then the rocker panels rusted after 5 years. Had it for 10 years. Fun driving car.
Those are great little cars. Many years ago I was at the Fiat dealer getting my 128 fixed and they rolled a new one in to prep it for the buyer. Dark blue and they were adding some shiny bits to it. Beautiful little car, I sure would have rather had it than my 128. From everything I know about them those were great engines. I hope this car is saved.
One of my brothers had 2 Fiat Sport Spider, early 70's models. needed lots of tinkering to keep them running, easy to work on- for sure they are mechanics cars. You need to be to keep them running. Fun to drive.
wizard its a 4 cyl motor and if the timing belt brakes its done for the valves will fall straight into the pistons
I sold and repaired them in the late 70s to early 80 it is a very fun car to drive
Dan
Be sure to replace the timing belt. Schedule is 24k. I had done valve jobs on these with 28k because belt failed. Bends valves. Also the proportioning valve for hydrolic brakes goes bad causing front pads to wear out quickly. I have Never ever seen any other cars that had this failure. Fix It Again Tony = FIAT
When I was in high school, my buddy had one of these. He challenged me to a drag race in my '84 T-Bird (Essex V6), automatic and all. When the flag dropped, I took off, and soon saw my buddy 's '72 Fiat 124 stopped. I came back around to see what happened, my buddy was holding up the shifter, complete with the tail shaft of the 5 speed transmission 😂
I have a 1980 spider 2000 FI.
Good that you already have a mechanic.
I look forward to the next video.
Fun. A friend had the last of the last Spider that was turboed from the importer, I believe 1981. Perfect DIY car. Not perfect take to a shop car.
Don't you know a body shop who has an apprentice who need something to work on? Take the engine out, leave it to Daniel san, send the body to the shop and have their apprentice fix it up and then join them together again.
I had a 1969 rusty(was there any other kind?) 124 Sport Coupe. I owned this from about 1972 and drove the hell out of it till while changing the timing belt my friend who was helping me didn’t quite get one of the cams in the right place. A valve head broke off and that was that. Still with only 1400cc’s and a five speed manual transmission it’s ability to run for hours at 4-5000 rpm it was a fun little car that rode well on the interstate as well as country lanes.
In 1971 it was a Fiat 124 Sport Spyder. I fell in love with the Sport Coupe. Never could afford one because we were always too deep in debt.
Regul tires were around for a long time. Part of Heafner Tire. My dad worked with a guy that sold them and they were the first "good" radial tires I'd bought in 1984. Prior to that, I bought cheap bias ply tires or recaps.
Had alot of Fiats, in 1978 had a 1976 124 spider, of course nothing rust out in Southern Arizona, so it is not like yours! Just put a Webber on it, like everyone else does! Also had a old Alfa spider with injection, run off the distributor, again, but a Webber on it!
3:14. I guessed $5,775 + tax. I used to sell these cars and despite the fact that this was the most expensive Fiat, the price was VERY reasonable back then, about $500 more than an MGB but for that extra $500, you got a thoroughly modern top with glass quarter windows, a twin cam motor, 4-wheel disc brakes, a wood dash, and a 5-speed. It was a bargain. Only lost 1 sale to an MGB and the guy told me he just had to have the classic British sports car. 11:16. Nope. It's a 5-speed. Great video!
Love the 124. Nice move Wizard!
These had a really nice twincam engine with double webers..the sound of these was reeeally nice..and what comes to the shape..that is near perfect..these rusted like nobodys business..owners could not sleep cause they heard the rust eating their car in the driveway.
A neighbor across the street bought one new in the late 1970's. It turned into a rust bucket in a few short years, as he parked it outside and we were close to the beach. John in Texas
Fantastic find. This one seems like a great project car with a lot of potential. Great job of documenting the initial inspection and outlining the car's history.
The Fiat Spiders drive really nicely when in good order. The Lampredi twin cam is an excellent engine and overall it’s a pretty raw driving experience.
My Dad had a '73 Fiat Spider 124, sweet little car.
A good year for them.
Autoricambi, parts are out of texas. I drove a 71 124 wagon from Portland, to Los Angeles, to Oklahoma City last spring. Took three of us two weeks of work to make it drivable. Lost a rear wheel bearing by the time hit LA. Salvage axle shaft, new wheel bearing, couple of days later, back on the road. Followed Route 66 most of the way.
I've had my 77 for 35 years. Most of that time in the garage under boxes. I end up wrenching on it when I get bored of my other projects.Take it out occasionally when its sunny. :)
The Aussies are putting LS motors into og Mini's so efi on that old timer should be ez lol.
All that oil leaking kept it from rustn out xD
As a kid I used to hate these cars. Kept thinking what the hell were they thinking designing a car that looks like this. In my mid 30’s I got to drive one that a friend had. Fell in love with it. In my 40’s now, I really wouldn’t mind owning one. They are fun.
My father was friends with the US rep for Fiat back in the 1970's. I was looking for my first car and this fellow was over our house when my old man half jokingly asked if he (don't recall his name) could fix me up with a car. He said he didn't want to lose my dad as a friend and would if he fixed me up with a new Fiat. My dad asked him if they are that bad. He smiled and said that new ones actually had rust problems coming off the ship before being delivered.................
Yawn...
Should you choose to repair/replace the convertable top, you'll find it is the easiest you've ever used. One hand up or down. Looking forward to the vids on D's channel.
My dad and I are going to have a 1971 and a 1972 Fiat Spider for sale soon here in Arkansas if anyone is interested. One will be working with a title and one is no title for parts but also running.
Thank you Daniel for showing your faith.
Geez, what did your mechanic ever do to you?
Do great work. He loves this project. Exactly what he wanted. Go watch his videos on it. He is having a blast.
I saw it about a week ago (Fri Nov 1) when we did a tour of the Wizard's shop. I think you boys were at lunch so Crazy D showed us around. I can"t wait to see how it turns out!
Really nice examples of these are worth $25,000 or so and, with the 2016 relaunch as a badge-engineered MX-5, interest in the much-praised original is rising. They were what an MGB should have become but are much rarer. It just might be worth restoring.
Welcome to a new addiction Wizard! I'm on my 3rd.
That old ass musty folder is worth it's weight in gold!
That's a great little car that should be restored after the engine has been upgraded, brakes, suspension etc. I'm pretty sure that if you get it painted, rust taken care of, clean the interior etc, this little sports car would be really easy to sell or keep it for summer days out
Had a 72 and 74 in early 80s. My time belt cover was yellow.
The the air filter intake hole on right was for another intake tube that can be turned down. Therefore in cool weather, heated air can draw across the exhaust manifold.
The rubber donut for trans to drive shaft, if be will hit the bottom of the trans shifter case and broke the case or shifter cover under. Know this because that was how i got it cheaper/broken
14:50 magic smoke!
First Wizard scolds everyone for skipping through Mrs Wizards interior breakdowns, but then he finds a car where he can skip it too.
How does he know I skip the interior breakdowns ?
@@robertbeirne9813 yt analytics
No brakes, but lots of breaks!
Love that hardtop with the portholes. A very '70's accessory.
I see an earlier model Fiat Spyder driving around Santa Ana, Ca. all the time. Most were junked in the late '80's and '90's.
Driver and gas on an oval track making left turns, all the weight is on the left. That is smart. Fiat was my first car. I love that thing.
$5,865.87 in 1977 is worth $30,471.16 today.
Used to be able to buy a brand new Corolla for 2900$ what is 15 000$ today not 28 000$. Car prices have double plus inflation customers get screwed. Parts cost 20 times what it was in the 70's
I like your math. Sounds about right.👍👍
@@ChristianPareATLAS2900. Bucks for a yoyo? Boss bought a 73. Corolla for 600. Bucks in. 74. With a blown head. Got a new cyl head valves belts etc v for 100. Bucks from dealer. Brought new gasket set assembled and less than 1k. He had nifty Corolla for 1k during first energy crisis
@@gerry-p9x we are getting screwed with today's cars. Plus they put so many gadgets isn't even fun to drive with all the warnings sounds. I have troubles dealing with annoying sounds so buying a new car for me is almost impossible
This is so funny. My office is in my garage and I'm sitting next to my restomod Fiat Spider as I watch this.
I saw one of these at a car show this summer. It was the first one I had seen in about 30 years.
Man that thing brings back good memories, Love those old Fiats all the way up to the Fiat 2000!
We had two of those old yellow fiats parked down the street growing up. Crazy architect lived there.
Oh, man, if i could find one of these cars in that shape, I'd be all over it! That puppy is perfect for a resto-mod! ✌🏻❤️🙂🇨🇦
looking forward to this project .
Perfect for an as is mechanical upgrade. As gorgeous as the paint is, boot lid inner is amazing, I really like this as a ratty little open top. Perfect for an edgy literary type, or a Hank Moody (Californication) type.
My family were partners in the Fiat and later became the Fiat/Lancia dealership in Tulsa. Started working there in '72 when I got home from active duty and knew Fiats inside and out, Owned and rebuilt a bunch of 850's, 124 coupes and 124 spyders back in those days. Fun cars!
Classic old European sports car. GREAT engine, suspect electronics but a BLAST to drive if you live in an area with twisty roads. All in all this one looks to be in pretty good condition, rust proofing was just a dream for most of these cars so to find one that isn't rusted beyond repair is a bonus.
These are great cars. Great engine, suspension, and comfortable.
Wow that's really cool and nice of you to do for the shop.
Cute little car. Can't wait to see the progress on it. Inflation calculator shows that the price from '77 is about $31k today.
Bought a '70 in '76, already rust-ish. It lasted three more years until the bottom side rust evaporated. Great highway car with that twin cam motor!
Wonderful little car....a guy I worked with at the Alfa dealership had two: a coupe and a spyder.....bulletproof little guys; Mike had switched over to some whacky Italian aftermarket pads and rotors; they really stopped the car, but wore out in about 3000 miles! We got really fast at replacing them: up on the lift, grab a corner, move clockwise til done. About 15 minutes....
Fun! I remember working on those. IIRC, it had a dual point distributor and a staged 2 barrel carb
Owned a same period 124 handled like a dream, leaked like a sieve. Broke down entirely after a single year.
Super easy to fix as long as body underneath is not shot, like front shock turrets or rockers underneath the rocker covers you can see