UPDATE – Last night, George B and his wife came to take a look at the Fiat. I had a huge amount of interest in the car, George was one of the first people to contact me and he just happens to live a few miles down the road so he was the first to make it over to inspect it. After looking it over, he decided to pull the trigger. He paid me my full asking price. After firing it up, I drove it one last time up onto his trailer. George is a long-time Fiat fan and has restored several 124 Coupes. He’s going to be retiring soon and is planning on putting all his newly found free time to good use restoring this Spider. It was sad to see it go, but I can’t wait to see it once he’s done!
This past March, I decided to give myself a deadline for completing the restoration of my 1974 Fiat 124 Spider. If I didn’t have it done by the end of the summer, I’d list it for sale here on Barn Finds. Well, I managed to get a little work done on it, but between losing my workspace and with a baby on the way, I’ve come to accept the fact that I’m not going to get it done before summer officially ends. So, it’s time to find a new home for it. It’s definitely a project, but it’s a great little car that has a lot going for it. It’s currently sitting behind the Barn Finds HQ in Boise, Idaho and I’m asking $2,500 or best offer. You can contact me with any questions or offers via email or the form below!
I purchased this little Fiat while still living in Wyoming, during my college days. It only saw use when I was home visiting my folks during the summers. Prior to me purchasing it, it had spent most of its life in Casper but jumped around between there, Denver and Sheridan, Wyoming. I have paperwork from the previous owner, which includes receipts for much of the work that they did to it during their ownership.
At some point during its time with the previous owner, the original engine was replaced by a brand new 2.0-liter block. A local shop did the work to install it. While putting the engine together, they installed a fresh 1.8-liter head. The combination equates to a nice boost in power and makes for a great driver. The engine runs very nicely, with a lovely exhaust note. It’s due for a new timing belt, as it’s been about 5 years since it was changed. There’s a small oil leak at the oil filter housing, but it looks like it might just be the oil filter seal. It starts right up and idles great, even after sitting for long stretches. I drove it around the block just a few days ago and there weren’t any odd sounds. The brakes felt great and it shifted through the gears as it should. I didn’t get on it, as I didn’t want to risk damaging anything. I wouldn’t feel comfortable driving it long distances at this point, but it will drive onto a trailer without any problems.
The car’s biggest issues are mostly cosmetic. The paint is pretty bad and the interior needs lots of work. I have all of the trim and parts that came off the car. Obviously, everything Fiat that I own goes with it, including a set of original Fiat steel wheels, a pair of later style lower quarter extensions, a spare windshield frame with windshield, spare chrome time, and a spare trunk lid. I also have the original bumpers and seats, although they are in need of restoration. To make this car look its best, a new paint job is probably in order. The previous owner repaired rust in the floors, their work isn’t pretty, but it’s welded in and has held up well. I replaced the rear fender lips, as those were showing rusty when I got the car. I cut out the fender lips and welded in new ones. I haven’t found any other rust issues, but there might be surface rust hiding in the hard-to-see places. Overall, the body is pretty straight, although there are a few dents and dings here and there.
We had a set of fixed back rally buckets sitting here in the garage and since the original seats needed new covers, I decided to mount the rally buckets. The seating position is a bit high with these seats, but they do hold you nicely and I’m happy to include them with the car if you want them. If you don’t, I can reinstall the original seats for you. I tested the gauges and they all work except for the clock. I’m not sure if the fuel pump relay is bad or if something is unplugged, as the fuel pump doesn’t come on when you turn the key, but I wired a switch in the trunk to turn it off and on.
Clearly, this one’s a project that’s going to need work before you can really enjoy it, but it’s already a runner that you can drive around the block, which is definitely a plus. I would have loved to finish restoring it, but I’ve owned it for over 10 years and it still isn’t done, so it’s time to move it along. I have a clear title for it, a folder of receipts for the engine, and a repair manual for it. Hopefully, the next owner will finish and enjoy it! I’m definitely open to hearing offers, so don’t hesitate to message me with offers or questions. Additional photos can be viewed here on Google Drive.
Price: $2,500
Location: Boise, Idaho
Mileage: 60,740
Title Status: Clean
That is a very fair price.
1974 is the last year for the chrome bumpers. My old man must have had a mid life crisis in 74. Went to a not so local dealer to look for a econo car. He had a clean 71 Formula he was dumping. The dealership sold Pontiac/GMC and that was a start and also…..Fiat. He settled on a 124 Fiat Sedan of all things. True WTF moment.
He negotiated with them for what seemed hours and left without a car. As I remember he called while at work the next day and wanted the OTD price on the Spyder that was sitting on the showroom floor. A complete 180. He had not showed interest or drove it. After school we went back to the dealer in the Formula and was riding home in the Spyder. $4800. Just like that.
I can still remember the interior smell. Wasn’t like the cheap GM we had. It was a rich smell of fine upholstery. Wood steering wheel was impressive as the Pirelli tires. The old man lugged the hell out of the clutch but was short lived. It smoothed out fine by the time we got home. First thing in order was to ditch the factory restrictive muffler. The exit was routed out the passenger side in front of the rear wheel. It was loud and would pop and crack like an SRT4 with a three inch exhaust.
An amazing little car. The time to enjoy was certainly when it was new. Man to drive this would have been a thrill. He was proud. It had an impression on me for sure. Was hoping/dreaming he would hang onto it long enough for me. Wasn’t the case, The kind of guy he was and is would have sold it to me. All about the dollar, Doesn’t matter who you are. Sold it to his buddy in 1979 and he quickly flipped it. Never saw it again.
Have to say if this was the midnight or dark blue (not sure of the correct name) I would be on it. No questions asked. Very nice car.
Sold my 1982 fuel injected 2 ltr last year , wish i still had her . She could climb the steepest hill in fifth gear , incredible torque . It held the road like a crab on a sandy beach . If you never experienced this little gem then its your loss.
It’s good to see a reasonable restoration project at a reasonable price. This is a car the DIY wrench turner can turn into a gem. Even a paint job is in the skill set an owner can take on. Wish it was closer to me.
We had a ‘74 Fiat Spider my dad. Ought new. I believe it was the last year with the chrome bumpers. 1800 – 5 speed cars and they got good mileage. We restored it and my sis wrecked it. Insurance screwed us on book value of $1k.
Nothing fun about a car whose claim to fame was an acronym for ‘Fix It Again, Tony’.
Speaking from experience , its hard to believe , mine was a very reliable stead!
a wive’s tale of the uninformed
Lovely little cars. As I remember, that 5-speed is butter smooth. If it were mine, I’d definitely leave the bumpers off.
I sent in a message/offer with the contact seller form above yesterday but haven’t heard anything back yet. Like a lot of the commenters, my dad had one as his first car growing up in California. It was a red 1975 that he bought brand new, but it got totaled in a snow storm a few years later. And has wanted one ever since. I’d be fixing it up and giving it to him.
I remember test driving a 124 spyder and the Triumph TR-6, the 124 out handled the TR-6 and fro what I recall braking was better too.
I liked the TR-6 but the 124 was the clear winner in my book!
Wish I had one of each pre big bumpers!
I owned both and agree with you.
I have a neighbor that has a twin to this car sitting in his garage. It has been sitting there since the mid 1980’s. I should go see if it is in any shape to fix up & if he wants to sell it.
After reading all of the positive feedback about this one, now I want one too.
I’ve had 3 spyder s 2 in red, and one in silver, after the second tune up on my first one $300 bucks back in the 80’s and only one guy locally that even do it, he reluctantly told me the reason I was fouling plugs was I wasn’t driving the car right, you don’t lug these motors there’s a red line for a reason, you take it close to the red line every shift, and down shift if you have to, but keep it close to that red line and you won’t have any more fouled plugs, he was right, he was also right about never go anywhere with out a good selection of fuses
My neighbor just parked his 77 Spider in my garage as his garage was being rebuilt. He and his wife purchased the car new in Europe on their honeymoon. We rebuilt the engine before I closed my business last year, and he is happy as can be.
In my opinion The Fiat 2.0L twin cam engine was as good as the Alfa with the added bonus that it was much simpler to maintain … as long as the cambelt was changed every 50 000kms. Huge power can be extracted from these little powerplants.
This powerplant was fitted to many Fiat models but the one that stands out to me was the Fiat 131 Super Mirafiori, peculiar to South Africa, that was the first road car to break the 30 second standing 1 kilometre sprint in under 30 seconds as tested by Car Magazine. Impressive.
Great sale and good deal.
I’ve loved these cars and they are getting harder to find!
Idaho. Isn’t that where you can’t cross the street without catching something deadly? I mean, deadlier then an Italian car.
That’s a bummer but now I know it’s sold. After looking at the pics I sent several inquiries but didn’t get a reply. I believe it would have been in the sellers best interest to offer in auction format to the highest bidder. Normally some cars get beat down but the 124 Spyder has commanded some good comments from the posters. I believe it would have brought a lot more. This is the first 74 I have seen in a very long time.