This 1962 Fiat Abarth Allemano Spider poses an interesting question: Is it a good project that’s worth putting lots of time, effort, and money into? Or is it good for nothing but parts? It has been been raced a little and the doors look like they are welded shut. Still, it could be a cheap way to get into Abarth ownership. Find it here on eBay in Richland,Washington with bidding at $2,850 and no reserve.

The Allemano Spider was conceived by Carlo Abarth and it is like most of his other creations: very small sports cars based on Fiat components but with coachbuilt bodies and tuned engines. Abarth is best known for his coupes, but to extend his marketing reach he also produced Spiders like this one. Bodies were by Carrozzeria Allemano of Turin, Italy, and one source claims that only 750 of these Allemano Spiders were built between 1959-1962.

This car was stripped for auto-crossing, so it’s not surprising that there’s not much left inside. Fortunately the instruments remain, but the steering wheel is long gone. Sourcing original seats, controls, and trim will likely be a long process unless the buyer has a stash of Allemano parts laying around. There’s very little information in the auction listing, but the seller has included more details on AlfaBB. There he talks about spending 3 months doing repairs and making a fiberglass hood on a steel frame. Since the car was being modified for racing, he replaced the passenger’s door with a metal panel and ‘Bondo’-ed it into place.

The seller describes the power train as coming from a 1962 Fiat 850, but the Fiat 850 was not produced until 1964, so the model year for the engine and transmission is not accurate. However, the engine was started last month and it does run. There is no word on whether the 850 engine is modified or whether the interior or passenger’s door are available. In fairness, the modifications and parts removals were done because the car was to be used for racing only, with no intention of putting it back on the street. Unfortunately it isn’t clear whether the body carries its original VIN, since the seller did not supply one in response to a request made through eBay.

This similar but fully restored Allemano Spider was offered by Gooding & Company auctioneers at their recent Amelia Island auction. It failed to meet the low estimate but nevertheless sold for $57,200. This suggests that while rare and attractive, these Allemano Spiders do not bring the kind of money that the more sporting Fiat Abarth models command. What’s your verdict? Is this ex-racer worth the effort and expense to save, or should it donate what’s left to the cause of saving other Spiders?