De Turbo’d: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider Turbo

Turbochargers seem to be installed on half the cars in the showrooms these days, but there was a time when a turbo was a rare thing to find in a car. In fact, in 1981 there were only a few cars with the snail shaped glowing/spinning things under the hood and they were mostly American cars like the Monte Carlo, Trans Am, and Buick Grand National…but if you did some research you could find a little company on the East Coast called Legend Industries that would turbocharge your Fiat Spider for a few bones. Years later those kits are hard to maintain and parts are scarce, so many have been de-turbo’d but could be restored to their original boosted glory. Find this 1982 Fiat 124 Spider Turbo Not Turbo’d offered for $7500 in Medway, MA via craigslist. Tip from Cory.

From the seller:

1982 fiat 124 spider
VIN: ZFAAS00B7C5000138
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 105822
paint color: red
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: convertible
This is the time of year to buy a red, Italian, convertible touring car. Have all of the head turning appeal of a classic penned by Pinnaferina but without the Ferrari price tag! The car currently has nearly 106,000 miles but you could not tell from the looks of it; clean title, in hand. Car has been in my family for 3+ years, brought to New England from the salt-free roads of Tennessee, has been stored inside since purchased and has never seen a rainy day.

This is one of roughly 700 Fiat Spiders modified by Legend Industries from naturally aspirated to Turbo. Unfortunately, the turbo setup was a bit crude due to limitations of the day so this car had the turbo removed long ago in favor of reliability and longevity. While the turbo and manifold might have been removed/replaced, the car still sports the original, rare, Cromodora CD134 “Turbo” wheels along with the turbo boost gauge, turbo oil drain port, related wiring for fuel control under boost along with wiring/plumbing diagram sticker.

Car is mechanically in good working order, fires up every time, good compression (135+) on all cylinders. Made a 1,000 mile road trip after spending a year in storage!! Car recently had worked done (by owner) to ensure it stays reliable including timing belt, water pump, spark plugs/wires, thermostat/hoses, fuel filter and some brake work. Brand new tires were just installed, zero miles on them. There is some surface rust on some suspension components but otherwise a fairly rust-free car. Receipts available for the recent work plus some from the previous owner as well.

Cosmetically, the car is in good shape given its age and mileage. It does show signs of a respray but the paint is in good condition. There are a couple of bubbles in the left and right rear fenders that need to be repaired. The door edges show some nicks and chips but overall the car is dent/ding free. Car has a recent soft top and dashpad. Seats appear to be original and are in good shape, no tears or rips. All gauges work (except Boost obviously).

This car is in great shape, ready to be a solid seasonal daily driver and for a little more money it could be a taken to show car status. With prices on the rise as these cars start to be more appreciated for their heritage; this one is a solid investment that can be driven every day.

See a better way to drive a red Fiat? tips@dailyturismo.com