Highlights
- Documented 39,806 miles from new
- Maintained by Italian Classic specialists Italicar of Norwich
- Recent new roof and brakes overhaul
- 2024 £1,000 service including cambelt
- Great history including original purchase receipt and manuals
- Underside independently assessed as ‘excellent’
- Very well presented car in silver with fetching blue trim
The Appeal
When it came to creating their respective two-seater sports cars, MG and Fiat started in the same place: by using existing suppliers and raiding their parts bins. Which is where the 124 Sport Spider gained an immediate advantage.
Styled by Pininfarina, Fiat’s go-to design house, and engineered with Lampredi’s superlative twin-cam engine and a 5spd gearbox, the 124 could only ever be very, very good. No wonder it remained in production for several decades.
This pretty 1979 ‘CS2’ North American-specification car proves the point. It looks resplendent in silver metallic with its blue trim and roof, the interior neatly accented by some upmarket wood features. Despite the undoubted appeal of that 2L engine, it has been used very sparingly, wracking up less than 40,000 documented miles in 44 years. The extensive history file includes the original bill of sale. Desirable improvements include carburettor, air filter, exhaust and manifold upgrades by the previous keeper restore performance to at least that of European-specification models according to the seller.
The car arrived in the UK in 2021 and has been maintained ever since by specialist Italicar. Recent work includes a new, high quality Sonneland hood and a brake overhaul involving new calipers, hoses and discs. The car has also just been serviced and the cambelt replaced at a cost of £1,000. It presents at a very high standard.
A good 124 Spider is one of two-seat motoring’s classic gems. Don’t miss this one.
History and Paperwork
- First registered in 1979
- First UK registered 1st July 2021
- Single UK keeper since arriving here
- Historic Vehicle that is MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
- ‘CS2’ car with correct 132C3040 engine number
- 1 set of keys
- V4C in current keeper’s name
- Original Canadian history lost during transit but photographs of Canadian history available
- Vendor advises that car is supplied with original registration documents
- Factory handbooks as shown in photos
- Maintained in UK by Italicars of Norwich
- Low mileage verified through Canadian registration documents
- Brake overhaul since arriving in UK
- Hood replaced since arriving in UK with OEM part supplied from Germany
- Roof professionally fitted by Topjob Conversions of Norwich since 2021
- Video inspection of underside by an Italian car specialist which rates it as ‘excellent’
- We are told that the low displayed mileage is verified by the history file
- We are told the car has lived its life under cover in heated garages including in Canada
- Canadian keeper never used the car in winter or on wet roads we are told
- Vendor confirms that the mileage is verified by previous registration document showing mileage at 30,000 in 2020
The Condition
- Very attractive and highly presented car in silver metallic with blue coachlines
- Paintwork presents well with only minor paint chips reported by seller
- Bodywork in similar order with straight panels and no accident damage reported
- All hinges, sills and door undersides wax treated to ensure they are rust free
- Vendor tells us it is rare to find an unrestored Spider 'this clean and spotless'
- Vendor reports that the car has ‘no rust or corrosion’
- Sills, arches and underside in good order with independent verification of latter
- Underside has been undersealed to provide protection
- Vendor believes that the car has likely been resprayed some years ago
- Dark blue fabric roof in very good order and fitted since 2021
- It was sourced from Germany and features Sonneland material and professionally fitted
- Sits on correct Cromodora factory four spoke alloys in good order with only light marks
- Blue vinyl interior in very good order with well kept seat materials showing no damage
- We are advised that there are no cracks or damage to the seats or dashboard
- Clear Veglia dials which are in fully working condition
- Wooden veneers and wheel in very good order with no fade or varnish peel
- Fitted with modern Kenwood stereo
- The vendor emphasises the unblemished nature of the interior fittings which you can view in the photographs
- Retains the original factory labels for the indicator stalks, indicating the car's sparing and caring use
- Headlights have been replaced for halogen units
The Mechanics
- 1,995cc twin cam ‘Lampredi’ 4cyl engine with catalyser
- Carburettor, exhaust, air filter and manifold upgraded to minimum European specification
- 34/34 twin choke Weber carburettor with K&N filter
- Ansa exhaust
- Manifold, carburettor and exhaust upgrades improve breathing and drivability
- Manual transmission with 5 gears
- Recent major service including cambelt costing £1,000
- Vendor advises that the displayed mileage is documented and genuine
- Ansa exhaust produces a lovely rumble according to seller
- We are told that the gearshift has a gated action with positive engagement
- New brake calipers, discs, pads, and hoses installed after import in 2021
- Engine is reported to be tractable, pulling cleanly from low speed in higher gears
- All-round disc brakes which we are told work correctly
- No reported running or driving issues
- Well maintained by Italicars, the Italian car specialist
- Vendor tells us that the mechanical running of this car reflects the very low use and mileage
- We are told that the engine spins, gearbox functions and running gear operate 'like new'
The vendor tells us:
"The mechanical upgrades really free up the twin cam Lampredi and give it its head. Now it really comes alive above 3,000rpm with the opening of the large second choke. Then the engine takes on a purposeful deep growl as it delivers the next level of power.
"A car this clean and spotless in all the usually vulnerable places is virtually unheard of for an unrestored Fiat of this age and has only been possible because of the level of care and because the car has lived its life under cover. This includes heated garages that are quite normal in Canada where its previous owner kept it wrapped up throughout the winter months and never out on wet roads. There is unlikely to be an unrestored Spider this clean in the country."
"The mechanical upgrades really free up the twin cam Lampredi and give it its head. Now it really comes alive above 3,000rpm with the opening of the large second choke. Then the engine takes on a purposeful deep growl as it delivers the next level of power.
"A car this clean and spotless in all the usually vulnerable places is virtually unheard of for an unrestored Fiat of this age and has only been possible because of the level of care and because the car has lived its life under cover. This includes heated garages that are quite normal in Canada where its previous owner kept it wrapped up throughout the winter months and never out on wet roads. There is unlikely to be an unrestored Spider this clean in the country."
BEFORE YOU BUY
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