Need advice: Fiat 2000--to buy or not?

[yackee]

I am looking at a 1981 Fiat 2000 tomorrow, an older couple that lives about 5 miles from me has owned it since 1986 is eager to get rid of it. It's all original. Like totally all original, 56k. Allegedly runs well.

Price is now at $2,000, they've had it on CL for a month or two but not getting bites. The couple wants it out of the garage to make room.

Thoughts? Pictures show it in good shape, no apparent rust. I've been looking for a convertible akin to my long-gone and much-missed Alfa Romeo Graduate.

[guzzisteve]

For $2K I'd buy it, I had an earlier model right before they turbo'd it. Antenna in front of windshield. 

[egschade]

I had a much older '68 124 Spider. Electronics were fiddly but that 'should' be much better on an '81. Rust in the fenders, rockers and trunk is always an issue. If it's as clean as you say it's worth $2K in body parts alone.

As with Guzzis, your best bet is to find a forum and hit them up for your particular year. You can also do some quick searches for parts to make sure they're available - esp stuff like fuel pump/filter, electronic components, etc.

Post the CL link if the ad is still up.

[sdcr]

If it’s this one, you can’t go wrong at $2000.

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/middleton-1981-fiat-2000-spider/7405519397.html

I am looking at a 1981 Fiat 2000 tomorrow, an older couple that lives about 5 miles from me has owned it since 1986 is eager to get rid of it. It's all original. Like totally all original, 56k. Allegedly runs well.

Price is now at $2,000, they've had it on CL for a month or two but not getting bites. The couple wants it out of the garage to make room.

Thoughts? Pictures show it in good shape, no apparent rust. I've been looking for a convertible akin to my long-gone and much-missed Alfa Romeo Graduate.

[jbell]

$2000 sounds like a great price, just be sure rust hasn't eaten away your good fortune. Hope it works out for you.

[guzzisteve]

I looked too, good deal I'd say.

[berniebee]

As has been mentioned pay close attention to the rust prone areas. I'd be surprised if you didn't find any rust on an unrestored car by now. Fiat simply left any out of sight metal unpainted. If I remember correctly, there was an issue that mostly affected high mileage Fiat spider's front cross member. Where the lower control arms are mounted, the cross member can crack and allow the arm to to pull right out. The cross member-to-body bolts can come loose and also pull right out. With loose bolts this can happen even at 50,000 miles.

These were great fun little cars. $2k is pretty cheap for a Spider these days, but I'd check it over carefully. Because after two months a Fiat aficionado has probably already checked it out and decided it wasn't worth the price.

[rtbickel]

For $2000 that is a great buy.  I had a 78 and they are a blast to drive.  Never had any of the fix-it-again-Tony issues and it was pretty reliable.  Check the lower a-arm bushings and crossmember like he said and for corrosion in the battery box in the trunk. 

[JJ]

The price almost sounds "too good to be true..." Be sure to ask the owner for any / all maintenance records as well...

Besides the RUST issues mentioned...if it has not been sorted and properly maintained all these years, it could be your worst NIGHTMARE!!





https://bringatrailer.com/auctions/results/?search=1981+Fiat+2000

[Deno]

Sounds like a heck of a deal. Hard to understand how it has not sold in a month at that price.
I am an Alfa guy but have had Fiats as well. Parts are plentiful, or were before the current shortage of everything. Lots of good support on the forums. Fun to drive.
Good luck.

[exiledrebel]

I had a 79 and an 80 way back when. They were both good, reliable cars. The Fiat reputation just didn't apply to either of mine. Rust would be the major issue. If that checks out, and it just might, given the low mileage, and it runs well, I would buy it. They're very fun little cars.

[LowRyter]

I loved the look of the older cars.  The later cars appear a couple of inches taller and have those ugly bumpers. 

I wounder if the newer ones could be make to look like the old ones?   

[sdcr]

Aside from severely faded surface paint on the trunk lid, hood and tops of the fenders, appears to be a straight machine. Probably will need some baseline maintenance to make it truly roadworthy.

[Groover]

I'd offer $ 1,995 so it's a clean $ 1 per cc 

Looks like a great deal to me.

[yackee]

If it’s this one, you can’t go wrong at $2000.

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/middleton-1981-fiat-2000-spider/7405519397.html

Yep, that one. My instinct too was can't go wrong.

[yackee]

I bought it, am picking it up tonight. No real rust issues I could see, just a tiny bit of surface on one of the runners, and the engine ran quite smoothly with good around-town power. It seemed pretty low risk for $2k. Family had owned it since 1986. Still had the original 40-year-old top. I'll have to decide whether to try to get it in to the shop for an initial inspection and any basic maintenance issues before the snow hits (always happens around Thanksgiving here in the Great White North) or whether to store it till spring. It will definitely need new shocks, and probably some brake work at a minimum, along with new (13 inch!) tires.

I did some research on parts availability, and, hard to believe, but everything you could want seems readily available from multiple state-side sources and inexpensive to boot.

[sdcr]

Congrats, that one looks to be worth saving. If you have any electrical gremlins, it may just be corroded connections and poor grounds. Start there, with DeToxit, and you should be OK.

The fact that it has virtually no rust is the most important thing.

I bought it, am picking it up tonight. No real rust issues I could see, just a tiny bit of surface on one of the runners, and the engine ran quite smoothly with good around-town power. It seemed pretty low risk for $2k. Family had owned it since 1986. Still had the original 40-year-old top. I'll have to decide whether to try to get it in to the shop for an initial inspection and any basic maintenance issues before the snow hits (always happens around Thanksgiving here in the Great White North) or whether to store it till spring. It will definitely need new shocks, and probably some brake work at a minimum, along with new (13 inch!) tires.

I did some research on parts availability, and, hard to believe, but everything you could want seems readily available from multiple state-side sources and inexpensive to boot.

[Groover]

I looked into those a few years ago, agreed all parts are pretty easy to find. The red interior pieces are a little harder to find as reproductions, but the beige, black and blue interior parts seemed to be easier to source.

[Deno]

Great deal and good luck.
The Fiat National convention will be in Houston in September 2022. This is a great club with all sorts of age groups.
Join the Mirafiori Forum. It is all Fiats but the main focus is the 124.