early model covered headlight version Series 1 Calif car solid body roll cage

1967 Fiat 850 Spider

These early covered headlight models are the most desirable of the 850 Spiders, and this one, originally from the southwest, is very solid. This body shell could be used as the basis to restore back to an original configuration or to build a street hot roadster. The roll cage was not constructed to comply with the specs of any race sanctioning body, so no claim is made as to its conformance, although it may comply. The firewall between the rear engine and the fuel tank has been removed to allow more room and flexibility for other motor/transaxle options. That firewall piece will be provided with the car. There is no fuel tank as I planned to utilize a fuel cell to be mounted in the front luggage compartment protected by the roll cage structure that extends into that area.

I bought this bare body shell from Greg Schmidt in San Diego many years ago and transported it to the midwest with a vague plan to build a streetable roadster possibly using some more powerful motor than the Fiat motor. I had it media blasted and then had a roll cage installed and then had it painted using single-stage urethane paint. The roll cage was patterned after the one on a rusty VSCDA vintage Fiat 850 Spider I owned at the time. I tabled the project several years ago and have had it sitting around in my climate controlled shop having done nothing to it but loosely bolt on some suspension parts and wheels just to be able to roll it around.

The paint has not had its final finish sanding performed. It has an orange peel texture to the surface. My painter’s technique was to apply the urethane fairly thickly to allow finish sanding without abrasion through the color coat. The yellow spots which can be seen on some areas are adhesive residue from the duct tape that held the various panels in place during transport; unfortunately that old adhesive has hardened on the paint surface and will take some elbow grease or solvent to remove it.

This chassis is being sold as shown in the photos with the silver colored steel wheels shown in most pictures. The wheels are mounted with vintage Pirelli Cinturatos that are very old. The tires are for rolling the chassis around and should not be used on the street for normal driving although they might serve for display/car show purposes since they are the original type that would have been fitted to this model.

Of the title descriptions that eBay allowed me to select, the "rebuilt, rebuildable & reconstructed" seemed most descriptive even though I have no title. The car is being sold on a bill of sale; it has no title as I bought it as a bare chassis originally and have never gone through the bureaucratic process of obtaining a title. Mileage is unknown.

I can provide additional parts to the buyer of this car at a separate cost from the sale price of the vehicle such as headlight buckets, trim pieces, low back seats, 850 rebuildable motor, transaxle, windshield, wiring harness, dash, instruments, as well as a Suzuki GSX motor and all its accessories that I had bought as a possible motor for the car.

• Condition: Used
• Make: Fiat
• Model: 850 Spider
• Type: Convertible
• Year: 1967
• Mileage: 999999999
• VIN: 100GS0015709
• Vehicle Title: Rebuilt, Rebuildable & Reconstructed
Want to buy? Contact seller!