The original Fiat 124 Spider was the product of some awesome Italian designer…oh no..that’s not correct. Oh yeah, it was designed by legendary Dutch designer Tom Tjaarda…who was not Dutch, but American. That’s right, while Tom Tjaarda was the son of Dutch immigrants, he was born in Detroit and was as American as Dutch apple […]
This next car comes as a tip from Cory who writes: someone please save me from this tempting 1991 Alfa Spider. DT: Don’t look at me, I’ve got enough problems without having a straight piped 90s Alfa in my driveway. Find this 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider offered for $6,000 in Pawtucket, RI via craigslist. From […]
This next car isn’t the most desirable Alfa Romeo or those still alive, but it is a proper Alfra Romero and not some crummy rebadged Fiat. The Series 3 version of the Spider Veloce was launched in 1983 and survived with minor changes through the 1989 model year when it was replaced with an uglier version known as the series 4. Anyway, today’s example seems like a decent way to get into pretty Italian classic for cheap. Find this 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce offered for $6,500 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.
Turbocharged cars are a dime a dozen these days. But way back in the early 80s 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. The Fiat Spider Turbo was as close as a factory installation as you could get and it even came new from a Fiat dealer with a factory warranty and today’s example needs nothing, except a new owner. Find this 1981 Fiat Spider Turbo offered for $14,990 in Edgewater, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The Alfa Romeo Spider had a number of updates over its thirty year production run but the basic formula stayed the same over that time (1966-1994). The late series 3 spiders are not one of the more desirable versions with their rubber bumpers, porky curb weight, and smog-throttled engines, but this next example looks cool in black-on-black-on-black. Find this 1987 Alfa Romeo Spider offered for $4,400 in Miami, FL via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
This next car is expensive. Mighty expensive. More than a reasonable person should spend on a car…but, it isn’t that much more than the average person spends on a new car. Yup, the average new car price just crossed $40k for the first time last year. Which is insane. But you know what’s not insane — is owning a piece of Italian history for a few more bucks. Because gated shifter equipped Ferraris without turbochargers and electronic motors are a thing of beauty and, regrettably, a thing of the past. The best part is that you can own uno Ferrari for less than the price of a modified MkIV Supra Turbo, and that ain’t bad. Find this 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider offered for $64,980 buy-it-now or make-offer in Beaumont, TX via eBay.
Exclusivity isn’t everything, but sometimes you need a car that can hang with the fancy $50k+ crowd of ’50s Vettes, ’60s Benz SL Coupes, Big Healeys, Porsche 356, and Shelby Cobras…at least in the parking lot. This next thing might not be able to keep up with anything faster than a Beetle on the highway, but it exudes a sense of charm and stateliness of the best European sports cars from the 1960s…and it just looks like it costs a lot more than $20k. A lot more. Find this 1962 Fiat 1200 VT Spider offered for $22,000 in Deerfield Beach, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
This next car comes as a tip from Erik202 who writes: I previously owned a series 3 version spider and I think outside of Duettos these S4 cars are the best looking generation. I don’t know if these cars are ever going to be worth anything but in the meantime they must be in the running for best value going, at least when it comes to fun for the money. Find this 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider S4 offered for $4888…now $4600 in Marin, CA via alfabb.com forums and craigslist.
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.
Today’s next car isn’t something that’ll win some fancy prize at the next Amelia Island Concours D’Corpulence, or get you the front valet spot at some Michelin starred restaurant…but it could get you the front valet spot at your local Salsa Dancing spot (is dancing allowed during COVID19 crisis?) or spark a conversation with random […]