The Fiat 124 Sport Spider was by far the Italian automaker’s most popular car in the U.S., a stylish roadster designed by Pininfarina of Turin that offered premium features, and performance that outshone the (mainly British) sports car competition.
But as Fiat removed itself from the U.S. market in the face of declining sales, the 124 Spider was not yet ready to close up and head back home. The solution was for the sports cars to be marketed for the next few model years by the Italian coachbuilder that originally designed them.
Thus, we have the Pick of the Day, a 1984 Pininfarina Azzurra that is basically a Fiat 124 Spider under an assumed name. Although, the 1983-1985 Azzuras were known for better build quality and higher trim levels compared with their former Fiat selves.
“The last of the 124 Spiders had a multitude of upgrades making it the most desirable of all the models,” according to the Mooresville, North Carolina, dealer advertising the roadster on ClassicCars.com. “This gorgeous 1984 Pininfarina Azzurra is a perfect example why.”
While the Azzurra shows a significant 121,771 miles on its odometer, the dealer says the car received exceptionally good care and maintenance throughout its life.
“This documented 3-owner Azzurra needs nothing today,” seller contends. “Mostly because it has had 3-owners who cared for this car meticulously from its very drive off the showroom floor. Included in the sale of the car is every receipt that has been spent on the car since brand new, original window sticker, original owner’s manual, and a few extra spare parts.”
The Spider features a 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine that churns 105 horsepower fed through the 5-speed manual transmission, with independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. The car has had one repaint, the dealer says, and everything on board works as it should, including the air conditioning.
The asking price for this latter-day Fiat, which the seller calls a “borderline time capsule of a car,” is $19,995.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Anemic, unreliable and badly constructed had long been the mostly-true knocks on this car, so an improved build quality would need specific definition. When a car ends up being less reliable and lower performing than an MGB and usually cost more, "Pininfarina" had a mountain to climb on this one.
Sorry, but $20K for a Fiat? and a “borderline time capsule" ? Of what ? the 80’s? Seriously.
Solid rear axle not IRS
Doesn’t azzurra mean "blue"?
Azzurra is the name of Pininfarinas sucessful sailsboat. A wonderful 1984 version of a beautiful car.