As I’m sure a few of you are aware, I own a 1974 Fiat 124 Spider project that I’ve been slowly restoring. I probably should put an emphasis on the slow part because it’s taking me forever! While my car had brand new mechanicals when I bought it, it had lots of rust that needed to be fixed. It’s been a ton of work to fix the rust, but it’s so much fun to drive that it’s worth the work! Reader Luther B and a friend recently found a ’71 Fiat 124 Spider and while they aren’t into these cars, they decided to buy it anyway given how solid it looked. They thought a Barn Finds Fiat enthusiast might like to have it before it deteriorates any further. If you’d like to make it yours, you can contact Luther via the form below!

Before I let Luther tell you more about this car, I wanted to cover some of the things to look for when buying a 124 Spider. For many American’s the Fiat name conjures up nightmares of engine troubles and a certain expensive mechanic that goes by the name Tony. Prior to starting the restoration of my Fiat, I daily drove mine and I never had a single issue with it. To this day, mine doesn’t leak any fluids and starts as soon as you turn the key. Now that isn’t too say that they can’t be problematic, but that’s in part because many owners weren’t used to the level of maintenance these car’s required when new. You have to check the timing belt regularly, replacing it at the first signs of fatigue or every 30k miles (whichever comes first), or you risk catastrophic engine failure. Keep up on the timing belt though and the engine should last a long time. They also can have electrical issues, but install a modern fuse box and you’ll get rid of most of the electrical gremlins.

The real issue with these cars isn’t related to the drivetrain or electrical systems, it’s rust! There are lots of stories as to why they rust so badly, ranging from poor quality Russian steel to the factory not taking any steps to prevent rust prior to painting. Who knows what the real cause is, it’s probably a mixture of things, but it’s something you will have to deal with if you own one of these. You do occasionally find ones that have zero rust and those are the ones to buy, but as long as the rust issues aren’t extensive and haven’t made their way into the front suspension mounts you can fix most areas yourself. Luther’s find actually looks to be solid, but there is some surface rust that should be treated now before it turns into a problem.

From Luther – This 1971 Fiat 124 Spider 1600 Sport (I’m not sure what the right order is there) was found by a friend and me in an older gentleman’s garage. While downsizing his life, he first offered a BMW and some tools to us, which we bought. We asked about the Fiat only after realizing he would be leaving town shortly. We picked it up to save it for a Fiat enthusiasts. We’re really heavily invested in BMWs and this car was too solid looking to let slip into the sands of time. But since it does not fit our collection, it is time to let it go to a more appropriate owner.

It was his wife’s favorite car before she passed a few years back. According to him, the car last ran six years ago and was parked with a failing master cylinder. He never got back to it after he lost his wife. The car appears to be solid and may have been previously restored or in progress. The red paint appears to be in decent shape and the rockers are solid. Floor pans are solid and rust free, as are the frame rails.

There are numerous likely hard to find detail items including badging, trim, emblems, and chrome plated parts that are in good shape and included. There is a brand new, yet to be installed soft top for it with a clear plastic window. Additionally, I am including the spare transmission with shift linkage and for a reasonable offer, I will include a set of five Lancia 4×98 aluminum wheels (in addition to the four steelies) that will complement the look of the car. The seats appear to be Toyota SR-5 seats and the hoop/roll bar is firmly bolted to the car but can be removed if desired.

The car sits on firmer suspension as told by the previous owner with good springs and shocks at each corner. He had it outfitted with sway bars as well. While the front bumper is gone (it looks better this way, especially with the aero parts included with the car), the rears are still in place.

As with most cars, early ones are more desirable than ones built after the introduction of smog equipment and that’s the case with 124s. Being a ’71 means this car is fitted with the 1600 twin cam engine, which produces a little over 100 horsepower. Currently, most collectors want early smooth hood cars and they really do look sleek, with or without bumpers. Luther is asking $5,000 or best offer for this one, which could be a decent price if the engine isn’t damaged and the car really is rust free. I would want to check the fender lips and the structure behind the rocker panels for rust/rust repair. With all the modifications and newer paint job, it could be hiding some questionable repairs.

Clean it up, change the timing belts, go through the brakes and you could end up having a fun little summer driver with a killer exhaust note. I can attest to just how much fun these cars can be if you keep up on the maintenance and stay ahead of the rust! I want to thank Luther for listing this Fiat as a Barn Finds Exclusive. If you have any questions for Luther, please leave them in the comments or message him direct via the form below.

Asking Price: $5,000
Location: Waynesboro, VA
Mileage: 4,752 (displayed on the odometer)
Title: Clean

And if you have a classic that needs a new home, please consider listing it here on Barn Finds!