This time a more rare car for sale, namely this Fiat 1200 transformable spider. The Spider has been in the Netherlands since 11-04-1995 and was probably delivered new to the U.S.A.
When the Fiat arrived in the Netherlands, the car was equipped with a U.S. title
The Fiat has been in our possession since 10-03-2017 and before that it had been in storage for at least 10 years. The car was then 80% restored. Since 2017 to date, we have neatly finished the car under our own management. Since 16-02-2021 the car has a Dutch registration with registration PM-04-64.
According to the statement, the engine and gearbox have been overhauled, the body has been restored and the interior has been renewed. The chrome has largely been re-chromed and is in perfect condition. Soft top is new and well fitting, the tires are Vredestein sprint classic with 90% profile. The hubcaps are still the original and have some form of ageing. This Fiat spider also has a tear on the left of the window (see photo).
Of course the body is rust free.
All meters and other functions on the dashboard are working properly.
The 1200 Spyder was unveiled at the 1957 Turin Motor Show, along with its siblings, the coupé and sedan.
The 1200 Spyder was styled by Pininfarina Design Studio and that was the main reason why the convertible looked so good compared to other convertibles of the era. The only part Pininfarina couldn't change was the high front, which had to be this way to accommodate the radiator. . A novelty were the swivel seats, which turned outwards to make it easier to get in and out.
Up front, the round headlights were trendy and the Spyder kept them. The high radiator grille was split in two, like the sedan. It was a try-out for a common grille for the entire Fiat range. That plan was abandoned a few years later, mainly because some Fiat models had the rear engine, so the radiator grille in the front was useless. The A-pillars were slim and not very raked. At the rear, the quarter panels ended in slender and sharp fins. It was a new trend and Fiat found a way to install them. The oval taillights were mounted vertically in chrome-plated cabinets that were cut at the top to match the shape of the fender.
Inside, the 1200 Spyder could seat two passengers. A novelty were the swivel seats, which turned outwards to make it easier to get in and out. There were no seats in the back. Just the soft top under a cover. Unlike its sedan brother, the convertible version had a different dashboard, with a larger instrument panel and dials under a screen. The gear lever was mounted on the floor instead of behind the wheel.
Under the hood was a newly developed 1.2-litre petrol engine that produced 55 hp. The four-speed manual transmission was the only option. The car was rear-wheel drive, like most cars of the time.