- Seller: Sal S (Contact)
- Location: Addison, Illinois
- Mileage: 106,000 Shown
- Chassis #: ZFRAS00B4F5505958
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 2.0-Liter Twin Cam 4-Cylinder
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
UPDATE – The seller has reduced their asking price.
Offered here is a 1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra, one of the final and most developed iterations of the iconic Fiat Spider, produced under the Pininfarina name. This example shows 106k miles, benefits from substantial recent restoration work, and presents a rare opportunity to acquire a largely sorted car with excellent provenance and clear needs.
From the Seller – I am the third owner, and I’ve owned the car for the past three and a half years, during which time it has been the focus of a comprehensive restoration. Even more notably, I’ve known this car for approximately 40 years, as it has remained in my family since 1987–1988. Few Spiders can claim this level of long-term familiarity and continuity of care.
Mechanical & Restoration Highlights
- 106,000 original miles
- Completely rebuilt engine
- Clutch service performed
- New exhaust system
- Fresh paint with new exterior trim
- Air conditioning converted and properly charged
- Upgraded starter
- New battery
- Runs and drives very well
- Restoration completed using OE, direct-from-Fiat parts
- Extensive service records, receipts, and documentation
- Includes a large collection of new and original parts that accompany the car
Interior and Cosmetic Condition – The interior remains largely original and honest, showing typical age-related wear and presenting an excellent candidate for refurbishment:
- Seats need recovering
- Dash has a crack
- New carpet included, but not yet installed
- New convertible top included but not yet installed
- Various interior pieces require deep cleaning and/or replacement
To fully complete the restoration, the following items remain:
- Wheels need refurbishing and new tires installed (new tires included)
- Brake pads needed
- The electrical system needs sorting
- All electrical components were functioning when the car was delivered to the body shop — including the digital clock. I believe some wiring was disconnected during reassembly.
According to the seller, the next owner could, “finish the restoration properly using the included parts, or install tires, brakes, and the top, address the electrical, and enjoy it immediately as a reliable, classic Italian driver. With its rebuilt drivetrain, fresh paint, strong mechanical foundation, included parts, and decades-long family history, this Pininfarina Spider Azzurra represents a compelling blend of investment, usability, and enthusiast appeal.”
Fiat Spiders are fun machines to drive, they are easy to work on, and parts are plentiful. If you are going to own one, these latter Spiders are some of the best to have. Build quality was greatly improved, and the fuel injection improved starting and driveability. This example needs to be finished, but it comes with a clean title, has been stored indoors, and has had the heavy lifting completed! Make the seller an offer today.
Current Photos
Before Restoration
Fiat? A 124? What is the story of these, I don’t remember. I drove an X19 once, really liked it but seemed a little cramped, never had the pleasure to drive one of these. AN Italian Miata without the reliability?
These arrived decades before the Miata. More the argument that a Miata is a Japanese Fiat….
Usual Japanese behaviour. After Fiat ceased production of the X1/9 (1972 to 1982) they produced the MR2, as my mechanic said for one MR2 he had on the lift, the floor was similar to the cm to the X1/9. To their credit they waited until Fiat abandoned the project and Bertone took over.
I don’t think so. Unlike the Fiat, Miatas don’t break every other time you drive one.
In 100,000km of spirited driving, i had only to change the battery and the distibutor with a better unit from Magnetti-Marelli (a more expensive M-M than the one Fiat put in X1/9). Later an aluminum radiator of double capacity, a bigger alternator (131 unit) and an Abarth exhaust. I have to watch over my (excellent) mechanic because he loves to drive it fast, as i coinsidently witnessed in two occasions! Now a 500,000km vintage (officially) car. It’s open car transformation is second to none.
It’s typically the people that never had a FIAT that go on and on with the old “Fix It Again Tony” drivel… Owned three X1/9s over a 25 year period and I still have my 124 Spider I’ve had for 30+ years… and outside of normal wear-out items they’ve been quite reliable. And I really laugh when people talk about FIATs and rust… I’ve owned a string of American pick-ups over the years, and every single one of them died of frame rot…
Rustproofing was done after i bought the car in Jan 1981 with Waxoil i applied beneath the car only. I later was informed (from the mechanic in a bodywork repair shop) that the metal thickness was that of a Ferrari, the top thickness (they have medium and low) the Italians reserve only for their top machines.
Nice
No engine pictures? Fun and reliable cars. Just keep the timing belt fresh. (Interference engine)
Actually, unless the engine has been modified with higher compression pistons, larger valves or really hot cams (which you can’t run with L-Jetronic), the 1995cc engine was not an interference motor.
However it is good to keep the timing belt up to date. No one wants to be left by the side of the road.
Interference yes… but not in the way most will think. Valves hitting pistons is not an issue, but the lobe on the auxiliary shaft hitting a connecting rod resulting in a hole being punched in the block definitely is. The lobe was left over from the car’s carbureted / mechanical fuel pump days…
Still lots left to do. Once this car is sorted,it would make a nice driver.I owned a 82 spider and they are fun cars to drive, also parts are plentiful still and inexpensive compared to other cars of this era. I believe the ask for this is rather optimistic. But who knows, let’s run it up the flag pole.
Never saw a reliable Fiat.
I think the owner is a little confused about the Pininfarina Azzurra. 1985 1/2 was the final production run of the Azzurra. Around 150 were made with the significant upgrades: rack & pinion steering, larger front brakes, leather interior, distinctive wheels (not the ones on this ad). 1984 1/2 models were all the same as the Azzurra’s before and after it up to the 1985 1/2. The last 150 are the rare ones, and in similar shape as this one, would be worth the $20K asking price. Unfortunately a 1984 1/2 is just not close to that ask price. I’ve owned my 1985 1/2 Azzurra for over 30 years and have read just about everything out there about them.
Correct. However, as an owner of a 1981 Fiat Spider I hope he gets every dollar of that! And for those who have never seen a reliable Fiat, I can send you a picture of mine
Heard a story from a mechanic friend in the 70s, he worked in a Fiat/Something Else dealership. Lady bought a new 124. Brought it back complaining of the poor gas mileage. They could find nothing wrong, told her to bring it back if the problem persisted. A few weeks later she was back, same complaint. Mechanic asked her to drive it with him so he could see what it was doing. She got in, pulled out the choke and hung her purse on it. He asked her why she did that and she said “I pulled it out and it didn’t seem to do anything, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt anything if I used it for my purse!”
Maybe I’m missing something, but based on the pics, that $20k ask seems waaay more than optimistic… …Either that or I better get on the phone with Hagerty and raise the ‘agreed to’ value on my ’81…
Well, with the added photos and video things make a little more sense… I now think the ask is just a bit optimistic… however I will admit I haven’t been paying attention to sales on these in recent years.
came over as it looked like my 124s (cept a long trunk? IDK, it has been yrs since I owned them, may B a fish eye lens shot? chrome in da grill makes it look different too). It looks like my 1200 and the1600s too LOL
My 47 y/o Kawisiki 750B still gets new parts. I wonder how much of this 4 wheeler got Fiat parts on its way to the… now
We owned an 1985 Pininfarina Azzurra 2000 which we sold on BAT about 4 years ago. The car was totally restored by a friend in central Florida (a real Fiat Fanatic) that had automatic and A/C. Great driving vehicle. Lots of fun to drive. True, there are lots of parts to be had, but you need the right mechanic to put the car in top shape. Wishing the seller and buyer only good things as the auction proceeds.
$20k seems a bit much when you can buy the recent (2016-19) “Fiata” 124 for under that these days — sometimes well under. I’ve seen high-mile base “Classica” models advertised for as little as $10k or so. Parts availability could be a concern, though.
just saw my 1st. I like this w a y better than the Lusso. Even
in its poor condition. There is something to be said about the
ol pininfarina designs (I even like their ’58/60 Rambler).
Fiat Spiders arer very common and have survived very well when taken care of. Thus parts are readily available from several vendors.
I had a 124 when I was in the Navy in the 70s. Liked it a lot, but didn’t have enough leg room. If seller had done the needed repairs he listed this might be worth close to his asking price, but as it is…don’t think so.
If the seller would just finish his ‘restoration’, install the new stuff still in boxes and do all the repairs, then he’d have an argument concerning price. Otherwise, too much, even at $16K.
As to comments about rust and interference….my buddy bought a new 124 Spyder in 1973 for around $3500. He bought it in the RTP area of North Carolina and it lived there all of its life until he moved to Atlanta in 1979. It never saw snow or salt, yet the rockers rusted out in about 5 years. In the mid 70s, he was driving it to Raleigh to get to work and the timing belt let go. The head and valves had to be replaced (I don’t think that the cams were ruint). I worked on any number of the Fiats (128s, 124s, 131s, 850s). I still have the valve shim kit and both tools (128s used a different tool than the 124s). I even owned (for $75) a 72 124 sedan (no rust at all) that needed a head and #4 piston replacement. I like them for the most part (well, the 124s…the 850 and 131 were miserable and cheaply made and the 128s weren’t fun to work on), but they did have electrical issues, rust problems, and interference issues.
The devil is in the details kids… the later 2.0L version of FIAT’s DOHC (Aurelio Lampredi design we are discussing here) was not an “interference” engine in the classic sense (pistons hit valves). However, they do have the auxiliary shaft issue that I mentioned in an earlier comment. I’ve been told, the earlier smaller displacement versions were interference… however, I’ve never owned or worked on one so I’ll just pass that along… and this could explain your experience with the ’73 124. And… my ’81 Spider spent its first 16 years in Colorado, then its next 29 years in New England… there is not a spot of rust… but the paint is really tired.
FIX YOUR GLITCHY SITE! I’m done writing and rewriting comments just to have the screen go blank. 😖
Henry, that joke’s been collecting a pension for years. First heard it 60 years ago.
If you’ll do the arithmetic Pete, you’ll see that the time period I’m talkin’ about IS about 60 years ago! :-) And yes, I AM that old!
Now that I think about it, the story may have ben presented to me as a joke in the first place.
Indeed! Thanks for the heads-up.
I owned a 1982 Pinninfarina 2000 for 35 years. My restoration was way beyond this one! Sold it to an Italian car collector in Australia for $12,000. This seller is way too optimistic considering the terrible condition of the interior and the other “needs”. Kudos for their honesty. And I loved my Farina all those years. Very reliable folks if you have a bit of backyard mechanic in you.