Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

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michaelgough
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:50 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spyder 2000

Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

Postby michaelgough » Thu Mar 15, 2018 1:20 pm

I have a 1978 fiat spider that I bought new when I was 21 years old. I have always dreamed about restoring it to original grandeur, and my wife dreams about getting it out of the shed! I haven't cranked it in a while, but when I quit driving it, it was running great. Since it's been in the shed varmints have destroyed the interior and there is considerable rust in the kick panels from when we lived in Georgia.

So I am asking the experts -should I sell it whole or part it out?

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SP3
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:56 pm
Your car is a: 1966 Ducati 250 Monza
Location: Canton, Ohio, USA

Re: Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

Postby SP3 » Thu Mar 15, 2018 6:43 pm

Depends on how much space, time, and effort you are willing to expend to (attempt) to get max money out of it. The 850 I am parting out was hoped to be made into my son's first car knowing that it was a complete gamble. I got it cheap and have gotten far more out of it than I paid. But, I'm on year three and still have too much of it left for my liking. I would love to have (more of) my garage back.

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spidernut
Posts: 1905
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

Postby spidernut » Fri Mar 16, 2018 12:16 pm

The car as you describe it is a $500-$750 car. The real issue is regarding what good parts are left. Parts like original inner door panels, arm rests, upper and lower consoles, dash pad, dash wood, tail lights, sun visors, steering wheel, clock, certain gauges, certain chrome pieces, rocker panels, mirrors, etc., can earn you about the same.

If you're in an area where there are enough local people looking for parts, the doors, certain wheels, hood, trunk, windshield, transmissions, differentials, and the early style header bow will add to what you'd earn for parts. Shipping is always a problem on large items.

The worst part is that you have to disassemble the car, clean up the parts, take photos, list parts for sale, answer questions then box and ship the parts to others, and still have to deal with the hulk left behind.

Honestly, it is all a matter of what good parts you have left.
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)

TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

Postby TX82FIAT » Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:29 pm

Seems like the answer should also be based on the last time you cranked the car. If the car has sat for more than a couple years without being cranked the buyer would most likely will need to clean out the entire fuel system and may need to replace some rubber bits. Chances are the buyer will have a lot of other items on the to do list as well. An informed buyer will never get the money out of it that they put in to get it running and looking good. If you can find someone to pay a couple thousand dollars for it then I would sell it whole. Parting out a car is a PITA and you still have a carcass to dispose of.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban

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johndemar
Posts: 716
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:12 am
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Phoenix

Re: Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

Postby johndemar » Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:52 pm

I'm guessing that if you don't have time or the inclination to bring the car back to life, you may not have the desire to part the car.

I had a good time parting out a "parts car" about 10 years ago and selling things off of it I would never have guessed would sell. The rubber nubs on the heater control levers went for stupid money in my opinion. I made money on the effort, if my time and labor were excluded.

But the thing is, I enjoyed parting the car almost as much as I did restoring mine.
76 Fiat 124 Spider
One owner since July 20, 1976
Amadio Motor, Jeannette, PA

michaelgough
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:50 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spyder 2000

Re: Should I sell whole or part out 1978 Fiat?

Postby michaelgough » Wed Mar 28, 2018 6:57 pm

Thanks for all the great input. Still undecided. I think I will drain the fuel system and see if I can get it running well. Stay tuned.


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