How to Buy a Classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider
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The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a highly sought-after compact convertible produced by the Italian automaker from 1966 to 1982. Its classic design combines sporty performance with a sleek European look, making driving as fun as…
The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a highly sought-after compact convertible produced by the Italian automaker from 1966 to 1982. Its classic design combines sporty performance with a sleek European look, making it not only attractive but also fun to drive.
The Fiat 124 Sport Spider has used several powertrain combinations over the years of its production. Engine options included:
- 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 89 hp
- 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 108 hp
- 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 86 to 126 hp
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 82 to 133 horsepower.
You could choose between a four-speed manual transmission, a five-speed manual transmission, or a three-speed automatic transmission.
Regardless of the transmission that your Fiat 124 Sport Spider will be equipped with, it will be a pleasure to drive. Also, since the 2016 Fiat 124 Spider is in production, the popularity of the classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider has skyrocketed, driving up its value.
Here are some tips on how to buy a classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider.
Part 1 of 2: Find your classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider
The most time consuming part of buying a classic Fiat is finding a potential car that suits your needs. The Fiat 124 Sport Spider was sold in large numbers during its lifetime, but many of the vehicles available are not original or in mint condition. It can take weeks or months to find a Fiat 124 Sport Spider in excellent condition at a reasonable price.
Step 1: Visit Online Forums to Check for Listings. In the United States, there are several forums dedicated to the popular Fiat model, and almost all of them have a classifieds section or a "For Sale" section with cars for sale.
Popular forums include:
- Fiat Spider
- 124 spider
- fiat-forum
- Fiat Club America
Find the classifieds section of each site and browse ads for Fiat 124 Spider.
Listings are available nationwide and possibly even other countries, so be prepared to travel to buy your Fiat 124 Spider.
Step 2: Check car shows for the classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider.. During warm weather, classic car owners gather at car shows to showcase their cars.
Visit car shows and pay special attention to the classic Fiat 124 Sport Spiders at the show. If there is one that catches your eye, go up to the car owner and ask if he would like to sell his car.
Classic cars are a source of pride for classic car owners, so show some respect if the owner refuses your request.
Step 3: Check out the ads for the Fiat 124 Sport Spider.. Check your local newspaper regularly for Fiat 124 listings.
It is unlikely that there will be many in your area, so if you find a Fiat 124 for sale, contact the owner immediately to check it out before anyone else.
Also visit classic car sites on the internet for listings of the Fiat 124 Spider.
Sites like ClassicCars.com and Hemmings will offer the best chance of finding classic Fiat 124 Sport Spiders for sale.
Sort the listings to show only Fiat vehicles for sale.
Go through the listings and write down any ads you want to respond to.
Step 4. Make sure the sale price is reasonable.. Use the appraisal tool at Hagerty.com to check the value of a vehicle based on its condition.
Click "Price Your Vehicle" in the "Appraisal" tab on the top bar.
Select the model you are interested in, year of manufacture and equipment of the Fiat 124 Spider.
Review the valuation results and compare the Fiat's advertised price with the valuation.
Compare car condition with different condition categories.
FunctionsA: Most show quality vehicles are in excellent condition, and daily commuter vehicles are in good to fair condition. Only 1% of the best cars meet the competition requirements.
If the listed price is close to Hagerty's estimate, continue the selling process with the seller. Even if the valuation is close, it's always a good idea to try to negotiate a better price.
Part 2 of 2. Complete your purchase of your classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider.
Once you have found the vehicle you would like to purchase, you will need to complete the sale and return the vehicle to your home.
Step 1: Complete the bill of sale with the seller. Fill in the buyer and seller information, year, vehicle make and model, odometer reading, and sale price.
Both the seller and the buyer must sign and date the bill of sale.
If you are buying a car that is far away from you and you are not making the sale in person, fill out your part of the form and scan it to the other party or fax it back and forth.
Step 2. Arrange payment to the seller.. Agree on a payment method that is safe for both parties—usually a certified check, bank transfer, or an escrow service such as PaySafe Escrow.
Step 3 Determine how you are going to get your Fiat 124 Sport Spider home.. If the car is within the range you are willing to travel, arrange either a flight to the city where the car is located or a friend's ride to the car's location.
You can also send your Fiat to a new home. USShip.com allows you to advertise for the shipping service you need and receive offers from shippers to deliver your vehicle.
Step 4: Pay for your Fiat 124 Spider. If you are driving home, provide payment to the seller when you pick up the car.
If you are shipping the car, send the payment to the seller. The seller will not release the vehicle to you or the shipping company until full payment has been received.
Your classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider is no longer a new vehicle and may require frequent repairs. Always try to buy a Fiat that is in mint condition, complete and original. It can be difficult to find modified car repair parts because they are not original equipment and will not be listed as suitable for your vehicle. If you have any doubts about the condition of the Fiat you're buying, have a mobile mechanic like one from AvtoTachki do a pre-purchase inspection to make sure you're getting the value you pay for.
