This car comes fully restored in 2011 and is now driven at least once every week. In excellent condition. CD documents in 281 pictures the total restoration process to verify that this is car #403 of the Fifty (1930-1980) Pininfarina Anniversary edition. Car was owned and used in California but is now in Nevada. Radio was replaced with a Kenwood phone, CD, Sirus, FM, AM system that gives hands free driving with a bluetooth phone connection.
In 1980 FIAT celebrated the GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY of the Pininfarina designed 124 Spider by manufacturing 1000 champagne colored and individually numbered FIAT 124 SPIDER 2000 cars. About 700 were sold in the US.
#403 of the 1000 Fiat 124 Spider 2000 is now for sale.
Running great. Looking great. Price includes a car cover for storage.
1980 FIAT SPIDER 2000 ANNIVERSARY EDITION & PRODUCTION INFORMATION
The Fiat 124 Sport Spider was never a cheap car. In 1977, it cost $6,250 or more than twice that of a base Fiat 128. For perspective, an average car was about $4,300 and a Corvette was around $9,000.
Designed by Pininfarina and debuting in 1966, the Fiat 124 Spider looked good then and still looks good now, some fifty years later.
One handed convertible top operation was a revelation in 1966. This car set the standard for convertible top operation we use today.
In 1978 Fiat upped the engine size from 1756cc to 1995cc and the Spider 2000 was born. While the exterior looks nearly the same, Fiat significantly upgraded and enhanced the trim, functionality, and performance of the Spider for the next decade.
The Fiat Spider 2000 featured many upgraded systems like a modernized electrical, and available electronic fuel injection. An automatic transmission was also offered as well as power windows.
http://www.fiat500usa.com/2015/12/fiat-124-spider-brochures.html
The 1979 model year saw a major update of the 124 Spider. To denote the larger engine size the name was changed to Fiat Spider 2000. The larger engine produced noticeably more torque, but no more power because of the emissions controls. The entire appearance of the car was modernized both inside and out and an automatic transmission plus power windows became options.
The revised exterior included larger bumps on the hood and new taillights, the side markers were now flush with the body, the exterior mirror was a modern black plastic unit, the wiper blades were larger and black, a ‘2000’ badge appeared next to the right taillight which incorporated the trunk lock, the hood sported a chrome trim at the leading edge to match the grille opening, and the wheels were styled steel affairs in a four-leaf clover pattern. Metallic paint colors were finally available and all Spiders had a stylish front spoiler.
Inside the seats were more modern, the dash and the upper door panels were color coordinated, the steering wheel became a sporty threes spoke design, the shift knob was made of wood, shoulder belts were standard and lost the dual reels of the previous model year. The vent window latches were of a more modern design, the hazard switch became round, and the defroster vents on the dash were now fixed. Blue and burgundy were new interior colors.
For the first half of the 1980 model year Spiders were identical to the 1979 ones, save for different style steel wheels, but the cars made from the second half of that year had a great upgrade: they sported Bosch fuel injection. Power and fuel economy increased, while the engine was smoother than ever before. To announce this the rear ’2000’ badge now also said ‘fuel injection’. The only change in the interior at this time was the relocation of the round hazard switch from the dash to the radio console. See picture of dash and radio panel on this listing.
During the 1980 and 1981 model years Fiat made available a limited edition 50th anniversary model (of Pininfarina). These cars had a tan leather interior, a brown dash and steering wheel, a special metallic color, plus special badging on the side and the dash, (see pictures on this listing) which also had the car’s number. There were one thousand made, but some cars were damaged at the port, so fewer were actually sold. Around this time one could also buy a standard Spider with leather option, which had identical interiors to the anniversary Spiders but came in regular exterior colors. The anniversary cars came with 14-inch “iron cross” alloy wheels, the same design as the optional 13-inch alloy wheel on the regular Spiders. See picture of wheel on this listing.
