The local Pick ‘n’ Pull junkyards 9excuse me, automotive recycling centers) up in western Washington seem to be having a good run of Fiats lately, so it’s become worthwhile to highlight some of the offerings. Fiat spiders are still a great bargain compared to other comparable cars, and as a result, the earlier ones with small bumpers and more elegant detailing are becoming harder and harder to find. This 1971 spider should have the 1608cc twincam engine under the early smooth hood, and is available in Olympia, WA for $1100.
The green paint looks remarkably good, and the body seems straight. There’s a bit of damage to the driver’s side turn indicator lens, and possibly a ding/scratch next to the headlight. It will need a new top at some point, as the current one has been patched with duct tape. The tires look pretty good, and have a modern tread pattern, so there’s a chance they’re usable.
The car has suffered an engine fire, which resulted in the soot on the driver’s fender, and is probably why the car landed in the junkyard in the first place. Is that bird dropping on the passenger fender, or damage from the fire? The seller says a rewire is needed, but you will want to plan for damage in other systems as well. Whatever it is, it probably won’t be all that crazy if the body is as good as it looks. The interior shot below shows a reasonably decent interior, barring some damage to the driver’s seat. It will also need a thorough cleaning and a new glove box door.
If chrome bumpers and 1960s styling are too old-school for you, how about a 1970s wedge? This 1986 Fiat X1/9 is available for $1499 in Vancouver, WA (just north of Portland, OR). It appears to have had a blue repaint at some point, and the bumpers were redone in body color at the time. However, the body looks remarkably rust-free. The driver side rear wheel is the spare, but the standard 3-spoke wheel is in the passenger seat. Of course, it would have been crazy to put it in the trunk.
As with the other Fiat, the driver’s seat has been attacked, which is unfortunate since these have a super-cool but somewhat complex 1980s pattern. The rest of the interior just looks like it needs a good cleaning. With a hint of rust (or are you lucky and it’s just dirt?) in the front corner of the door frame, this is hopefully a usable car with not much work required.
Rusty But Trusty 
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