1968 Fiat 850 Spyder review from North America
"Bellisima!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Intermittent electrical problem with the battery. Not bad for a 40 plus year old car.
One oil seal on timing case.
General comments?
This little car handles great and can take corners with precision and predictability. Sure, it is a bit (well actually very) slow on the acceleration, but boy does that little engine want to rev up and do its business. Like every other Italian car I have owned, it is fantastic in the mountains, and the more curves and narrower the roads, the better it performs.
The styling is right on. Younger people assume it is some type of old Porsche design. It's too bad the flush headlamp lenses had to go for US standards. I believe this was the last year for the simple bumpers and the round marker lights. It has a great cabin layout for a small car and the boot retracts easily. The Italianate driving position may not suit everybody.
Recommended reviews
| 1968 - 850 Spyder Convertible 850cc Not a classic |
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| 1968 - 850 Sport Coupe 4 cylinder in line Great memories, great little car in its class |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1968 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 835 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 85000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 100000 miles |
| Previous car | MG Midget |
| Date of Entry | 19th March, 2009 |