Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Surprisingly Solid: 1971 Fiat 850 Spider

As many of you are aware, I’m a bit of a Fiat Fan. I know, that sounds crazy, but they really are tons of fun to drive when they are in good shape. And that’s the issue, finding one that isn’t rusted beyond hope and has a decent drivetrain. Thankfully, more and more people are discovering that the are actually fun and affordable alternatives to their Alfa and Lancia relatives. As a result, parts supply has steadily been improving. With that in mind, this 850 Spider looks quite tempting to me! Find it here on eBay in Rio Vista, California with a bid of $1,259.

The previous owner claimed to own this Fiat for well over 30 years and that it had been parked under a mountain of junk in their garage for nearly as long, but the seller quickly discovered that this owner has a tendency to exaggerate. It was last registered and on the road in 1995, but that doesn’t change the fact that this car is incredibly solid and appears to be quite original. This is actually one of the least rusty 850s I’ve seen! It’s a Fiat, so I’m sure it isn’t completely rust free, but it doesn’t look bad.

This one does have one issue, the engine seems to be stuck. Well, at least that’s what the seller thinks. They tried turning it over via the key, but it only clicks. It could be that the engine is seized, or it could also be as simple as the starter needing to be replaced. I would recommend trying to turn it over by hand to make sure it is free. I honestly think with a little work, this could be a nice little driver. The interior isn’t in bad shape, the body isn’t rusted out and parts are getting easier and cheaper to find!

Comments

  1. Avatar SteveW Member

    As 71’s do not need to be smogged,or inspected in CA the owner could have registered without moving it out of the garage. May have just gotten tired of paying. May want to verify back DMV fees.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Edward

      They copied porshe but they even look better back then than now

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Steve R

    It took 41 bids to reach $1,259. Fiat enthusiatsts are cheap.

    Steve R

    Like 0
    • Avatar Oingo

      Or know how much it will cost to fix.

      Like 0
    • Avatar jwinters

      why are there 15 bids in a row from the same bidder? that’s probably the seller trying to drive the price up.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Jeffrey Johnson Member

    A Checker wagon tow car, awesome!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Loco Mikado

      And a wagon none the less.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar John B

    Any time you can fit a car on a trailer designed for a lawn mower, that is what I’d call little!

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Ben T. Spanner

    I had a 1968 850 Coupe and my friend had a 1966 2 dr Sedan. I traded a dead VW for mine. Car was solid but exhaust was rusted. Got a header for $20. Had to re drill all the holes to make it fit. My wife drove it every drag racing the city buses. Sometimes she won. Her key broke off in the cylinder but still worked and mine did too. Put kingpins in it, parts were like $25.

    Gas went up and somebody had to have it. He parked on a one way the street
    and a hit and run driver took out the whole right side. End of Fiat

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Greg Member

    I’ve owned an 87 X1/9 and a 80 Spider. But I’ve always really wanted one of these. It’s a beautiful design, and even looks good in yellow! It’s within a couple miles from me. May have to check it out….

    Like 0
  7. Avatar bob

    It’s a 1970. It has the 1970 specific one-year-only marker lights

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Rex Rice

    My wife’s ’72 850 Spider ran for years. At 130,000 miles and one clutch job, she sold it because she thought it wouldn’t last much longer. It’s probably still running somewhere.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar MikeK

    I had a blue ’72 Spider somewhere around 1984-ish. Paid 200.00 for it running and driving, and 100 for a parts car to go with it. Drove it for about a year, and sold them for the same money.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar STEVE jesus

    Used to work for a Fiat dealer in the early seventies. Remember the day that we filled the exhaust manifold with oil while it was off the engine in the shop. You never seen so much smoke when my mechanic mate fired her up!

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Rex Rice

    These are good cars if driven hard and often. They have a bad rep from owners that didn’t beat them hard enough.
    Keeping a gallon of sulfuric acid & some marine bondo around doesn’t hurt either.

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to bob Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.