1968 Fiat 850 Spyder Convertible from North America - Comments

When I got out of the Army in July '69 was the first time I saw the 850 Spyder. I didn't know much about Fiat, but I really loved the styling of it, and it was my chance to experience a convertible. My dad, always a Ford man, told me if I bought he would never work on it. That didn't stop me at all; it was more like a challenge. Naturally I bought it; all 817cc's.

Compared to my pre-army car, a 1965 Mustang, it was really slow, but it cornered great, and the mileage was twice as good, plus I was likely to get fewer speeding tickets with this car.

Drive-thru car washes were a problem. I always needed two large rags, one to stop the water from leaking at the driver's window, and the other to stop the leaking from the passenger's window. Luckily, the car was narrow enough so I could reach both windows at the same time, but I still got wet.

My dealer was lousy because the car usually had more problems after I got it back, than it did before I took it in. For example, my clutch was working fine, until one service visit, then it started slipping a few days later.

It was hard to carry one a conversation over the roar of the engine at speeds over 70 MPH, but who cared, not me. In 1974, while waiting at a freeway offramp for a light to change, a huge cadillac rear ended me with the tip of his bumper, then, noticing no damage to his car, he just drove away. After that the oil and radiator coolant decided to merge, but the Fiat and I knew it was time for me to split.

I missed that car, and never thought I would find anything as fun to drive. However, 40 years later, I now drive a Honda Fit, which gets better mileage, is just as much fun to drive, and a heck of a lot more reliable. I still think fondly of the Fiat. Aren't memories selective?

I traded a new 1968 Pontiac LeMans for a new 1968 Fiat 850 Spyder because I hated the Pontiac so much and was looking for something that would be fun to drive.

I wasn't disappointed. It was perhaps the most fun of any in a long line of vehicles owned. At a time MGs had an erector-set convertible top, the Fiat top was slick and folded away under the metal cover.

Good fuel economy, great handling once you got the hang of it, a bit under powered, for sure, but among my favorites of all time.

What a great site! I bought a 1/64 scale model 850 from Minichamps last year; in lime green like my 1971 no less; which has reminded me of my 850.

A couple of comments...

First of all, the only reason I have any idea how to fix cars today (at least the older, more simple ones) is my year or so as a teenager with my Fiat and a toolbox as my only means of getting back home.

Secondly, does everyone know that the Fiat 850 was (as far as I know) the only car ever to be recalled? As in the whole car? Back in the early 1980s apparently Fiat was obliged to offer to buy back all Fiat 850s because of the well documented tendency of the cars to suffer so much rust that their floors would literally fall off. I paid $350 for my 1971 Fiat in 1980 (I was 16 and it was all I could afford), and got $375 from Fiat when they recalled it a year or so later.

In 1969 I had a blonde girlfriend with a yellow 850 Spider in Ontario. She'd let me drive it but would keep hollering "shift shift" because I loved to rev it.

I married the blonde. Today she is buying a 128 BMW. Some things stay the same. She has learned to live with high revs.

I am considering buying a 68 Fiat Spider and I really appreciate all the stories that people have shared on this site. I'm a little apprehensive to buy this car, but it seems like too great of an opportunity to let this car escape my grasp.

There is a 72 Porsche 914 on E-bay right now powered by a Fiat 124 engine.

In 1970 I bought a new 850 spider - with the luggage rack, am-fm radio, tags and taxes was just under $2k. Out of the 50+ cars I've had, this one was probably the most fun. I'm 6-1 and had no problems with headroom nor legroom, yet could sit inside and reach out and over the door and touch the ground.

It wasn't fast off the line, but had sufficient speed and car really hugged the curves.. only consistent problem I had with it was on hot days sometimes it just wouldn't start - cure was to pull plugs, regap, and voila, it started right up.. with 45 mpg, sure wish I still had it!! Never had top leak problems, but lived in so. calif and it didn't rain that much..

Wow!!!

Just found this page and I love it.

My first car was a blue 1968 850 Spyder. I agree with the "under-powered" statements made here. However, I had many an experience of leaving German and English "technology" in my wake flying down the backroads of New Hampshire and Vermont. On these roads that little car just flew. The "twisties" is a great equalizer power-wise.

I miss that little car. Would love to have another one.

I still have the manual to my 1972 Spider, and it made me laugh to read my handwritten notes on the wiring diagram attempting to follow the wire colors in Italian.

The first thing I did after buying that car was to saw off the gearshift lever to about 2 inches and put a big walnut knob on it. I was Mario Andriette in my own mind, baby!

Remember that there were separate keys for the door and ignition. LOL.