Advise me on this MGB!

[Rupert]

Haha, there's an X1/9 for sale on the 'list. It's $7500, though. But, check this out:

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/913433221.html

1973 Fiat spyder convertible w/hard top - $1 (emmett)

This is a 1973 Fiat spyder convertible that is in good condition... Not only does it have the soft top but it also comes with a hard top too.. It has new tires, brake pads, brake calipers, fuel pump,Rebuilt carb, air filter,Battery alternater, clutch cable, sensors, all fluids have been replaced front to rear.. It is a 5 speed and a blast to drive.. The interior could use a little work but everything works on the car and it runs like a champ.... The soft top is complete bu needs to be replaced.. a new too runs between $179.00 for Vinyl up to $380.00 for cloth. Originally bought car for wife but she is too short to reach the pedals with the seat all the way forward so bought her a different car so now we have too many vehicles in a sub division (7 inc. motorcycle trailer) Have to liquidate this and snowmobiles..
I will post more pics here in the next few days
If you have anymore questions you can e-mail me or call me

$2000.00 o.b.o.



Emailed.

[Rupert]

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/908138712.html

This would be pretty cool to make into an off roader:

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/898418489.html

Too expensive, and I have a truck.

[Cookie Monster]

Too expensive, and I have a truck.

Oh.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Fiat X1/9

[Rupert]

Dude's still got the Fiat, so I'm gonna look at it, hopefully today. If it's as nice as it sounds in the ad, there's no reason not to buy it...

[Eye of the Tiger]

Dude's still got the Fiat, so I'm gonna look at it, hopefully today. If it's as nice as it sounds in the ad, there's no reason not to buy it...

just like there's no reason not to buy this:

[Rupert]

Ha! That would be awesome to have.

ChrisV always said how good a car his Fiat was, so it can't be too terrible (unless it's in bad shape, in which case, it ain't worth no $2k).

[Laconian]

Take that with a grain of salt. ChrisV has a very hard time saying anything bad about any car.

Are there any Italian auto mechanics around that can inspect the car?

[Eye of the Tiger]

If the ad is all true, it sounds like a wicked deal. I'd buy it.

[Raza]

And, since we're on the topic, I have a preliminary list of cars to keep an eye out for: MGB, 2002, old GTI, 914, Miata, MR2, (Beetle, Saab 99-- not quite the right kind of car for the moment), various Fiats, various Datsuns, Alfa Spyder (or is it Spider?)...

What else should be on there? You can tell that my criteria are small, sports car or GT, light, cheap, has character. The aforementioned Opel doesn't make it because, though there is lots of character in a car like that, parts are kind of hard to find (I think) and probably expensive.

I believe it's "Spider" for Alfas. 

Keep your eyes open for the MkI and MkII GTIs, as Evo says the MkII is even better than the first generation.  I'd also look at Sciroccos and 924s.

[Onslaught]

Take that with a grain of salt. ChrisV has a very hard time saying anything bad about any car.

Are there any Italian auto mechanics around that can inspect the car?

[Rupert]

Take that with a grain of salt. ChrisV has a very hard time saying anything bad about any car.

Are there any Italian auto mechanics around that can inspect the car?

Haha, true. There might be a mechanic nearby, but I'm not too worried. I'm willing to fix some stuff.

[Rupert]

I talked to the guy. Looks like tomorrow is the day.

He says the soft top is shot, but it's got a hard top, so whatever. The interior is in rough shape. There's a little bit of rust, of course. Apparently, the starter is kind of crappy (so he's taking a couple hundred off the price... I can probably get another hundred off). He says he drove it all summer. It sounds like the car is worth about what he's asking, which is more or less fine. Definitely worth looking at and test driving.

[Laconian]

Mama mia! Good luck.

[Byteme]

As with the MGB, check for rust, compression, heck about the same things as the MGB.  I restored a 68 124 sport spider and a 78 124 sport spider.  Earlier years are better than later IMHO.  Most parts are still available and fairly cheap. 

Given the choice I'd take the Fiat over the MGB.  It's a prettier car, is more practical, and a bit more fun.  It has an Italian Flavor.

And, you can strip and pull the engine without a hoist.  Pull off everything, head, starter, water pump everything and you can straddle the block and pick it up out of the engine bay.  Probably why I have back problems today. 

[Rupert]

Thanks Byteme!

I think I'd take the Fiat over the MG, too. Good thing...

As far as the compression goes, I don't have a tester. Is there another sufficient technique? (Park on a hill in gear with the e-brake off and see if it rolls, etc.). Seems to me that the larger issue would be even compression through the cylinders...

'73 seems to be a good year, with a larger engine than the earlier cars, but without the larger number of unique parts as those cars, and no stupid emissions stuff to take off like the later cars. I've done some reading.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Thanks Byteme!

I think I'd take the Fiat over the MG, too. Good thing...

As far as the compression goes, I don't have a tester. Is there another sufficient technique? (Park on a hill in gear with the e-brake off and see if it rolls, etc.). Seems to me that the larger issue would be even compression through the cylinders...

'73 seems to be a good year, with a larger engine than the earlier cars, but without the larger number of unique parts as those cars, and no stupid emissions stuff to take off like the later cars. I've done some reading.

A compression tester is like $30, and not a bad investment.

[Rupert]

Well, maybe I'll pick one up before I head out.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Well, maybe I'll pick one up before I head out.

Maybe. It might also be a PITA. If the engine runs smoothly, has good power and doesn't smoke, I wouldn't even bother. But that's just me. If you do get it, make sure it has the right size adapter to fit a Fiat spark plug hole.

[Rupert]

It occurs that I don't have my tools here, and I don't wanna count on this guy to let me use his...

[Eye of the Tiger]

It occurs that I don't have my tools here, and I don't wanna count on this guy to let me use his...

Should be fine if you can just look at it and tell whether or not it's running well. I have a compression tester, but I've never used it specifically for buying a car.

[Rupert]

And look at all the awesome cars you've owned.

[Rupert]

I checked the Fiat out today, gave it a test drive and all. The rust isn't too bad, just on the rocker panels and a couple of half dollar spots on the rear quarters. The interior is not so great, with a munched console, worn seats, formerly white panels, and a two crappy tops. The soft top is gone, no bringing it back, and the hard top is kinda funky with the door-window interaction. There are some places where it would leak. There was water in the trunk that he blamed on having the trunk partly open while he washed it yesterday, and there was some water in the spark plug wells that he blamed on the hood being partly open. That struck me as a bit fishy. Leaks and interior things aren't a huge deal, and neither is the rust.

The car runs fine and drives fine, though there's a slight pull right. The brakes are fine (since they're new, I sure hope so). The engine doesn't make any odd sounds, and it's pretty smooth. There's some leaky and rattly exhaust stuff going on, though. There's a bit of an oil seep from the head gasket (I think it's the head gasket; the one below the camshaft cover gasket). The rear diff seemed to be leaking a little bit from the seal where the driveshaft goes into the diff case. The clutch was very stiff, but I think that's OK. The biggest problem, though, was the shifter. I'm not sure how it's supposed to feel, so maybe it's not really a problem, but the shifter was really sloppy. Kind of hard to find gears, lots of play (almost as much in a gear as in neutral). I'm not buying a car with a shitty transmission, so any ideas?

I think, avoiding the shifting issue and maybe the rear diff issue, that after the new soft top, new seats and interior panels, new console and dashboard veneer, and some other assorted things (trunk lock doesn't exist), the car would be pretty good. The tires suck, but they have plenty of tread. Oh, and the starter issue, which didn't happen for me, so I have no idea about it.

[Soup DeVille]

The only thing I would really concentrate on is the body work being solid. All else can be fixed.

[Rupert]

I magnet checked around the wheel wells and other typical rusty areas, and looked under the car pretty well. I think the above mentioned places are the only ones.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Get it.

[Soup DeVille]

I magnet checked around the wheel wells and other typical rusty areas, and looked under the car pretty well. I think the above mentioned places are the only ones.

Then I'd get it. Unless of course, you find something better, but it sounds like a good deal to me.

[Rupert]

I likely will. My parents, whom I'm living with for the next few weeks are the opposite of thrilled, but I basically told them tough shit. Not the greatest adult thing to say, but, well, tough shit.

[Soup DeVille]

I likely will. My parents, whom I'm living with for the next few weeks are the opposite of thrilled, but I basically told them tough shit. Not the greatest adult thing to say, but, well, tough shit.

S'oK. Adults say a lot of childish things when they don't think there are kids around.

[Onslaught]

I likely will. My parents, whom I'm living with for the next few weeks are the opposite of thrilled, but I basically told them tough shit. Not the greatest adult thing to say, but, well, tough shit.

My dad would put me through a wall if I said something like that. And then I'd be homeless.