1968 Fiat 850 Spider - Slow But Stylish!

It's a slow poke on the road but its styling is fabulous! Jerry Roth of West Cornwall, CT first spotted a Fiat 850 Spider roadster when living in France in the 1970s. He eventually bought a 1968 model. He took it for a spin for RIDE-CT. To read a print version of this story, visit classiccars.ride-ct.com.

[@greenNRGinit]

Nice, I had a 1971 Fiat Spider and such a cool car to drive. I still think of that car 🚗👍😎.

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

Having owned two of them, it's definitely a love/hate relationship.

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

I had a 1971 Fiat 850 sport coupe but it rusted away. Good to see your car in great shape.

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

I had two that rotted away as well.

[@johnstelluto9101]

I had a 67 red series one spyder with chromed headers and the dual chrome tipped Abarth muffler. Even with the larger engine, it was still slow but looked cool on the road-and it got great gas mileage. Sold it in the late '70's when the transmission went.🙂

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

I had a '68 in white and a '69 in green. Both were junk. Did love the styling.

[@DSC800]

I had one of these in 1980, I believe I had a '70 model, same color. Seller was asking $600 and I got it for $550. I just wanted a convertible and it fit my budget. True to Fiat's reputation this 850, and a 124 I had later, taught me how to work on my own cars although I didn't appreciate it at the time. I drove it up and down the coast and central California for about a year before I sold it. I remember that throttle lock lever too. It kinda worked like a cruise control 😀 Oh, and today I can say I used to own an Italian car with the engine behind me, if anyone asks questions I just say it was a Bertone design.

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

I had a '68 and a '69. Slow but fun. Of course, any two-seater with a drop top is fun.

[@theoldpcguy]

I owned that exact model, the engine was 843 cc, the 903cc was a later engine. It was common to swap out the smaller engine with the 903cc version. My 1968 850 Coupe has the 903cc engine along with four wheel disk brakes instead of the rear drums. I've owned a bunch of Fiats since I was a teenager back in 1974. I think I saw this very car at Lime Rock a few years ago and I pointed out the Roosevelt console since I have a couple myself. The car in the video also has the Roosevelt center armrest. They also had really nice wheels which are no longer safe to drive on due micro cracks in the castings.

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

I had two of them. My mother borrowed the first one (a 1968) and the driver's seat fell through the floor when she was driving it. She went to he dealer and demanded satisfaction. They replaced it with a 1969.

[@kevinhuber8723]

Love it! What a beautiful Fiat! No doubt the doctor is a man of immense patience as the motto, "Fix It Again Tony" is why you never see these cars on the road!

[@stevencote7951]

A friend had one in High School we would pick it up and move it around the parking lot on him.

[@relaxitsme_alex9104]

I honestly thought this was John Davis narrating for a second

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

I've met John a couple of times and I do enjoy watching Motor Week. His voice must be inspiring. Can't argue with his success.

[@relaxitsme_alex9104]

@@ride-ct-classiccars I love his ostentatious voice. He can somehow make any car weather it’s a super car or a sub compact commuter car sound spectacular

[@FennixGamingYT]

I have a clean 1972 with a Roosevelt console! Didn’t know they were that rare! I actually removed mine (don’t worry, I kept it and didn’t damage it) because I wanted more legroom lol. Is there an estimate of how many cars have that console? I can’t find much info on these cars at all!

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

No idea on the console. I'd never heard of it, although I did own two 850 Spiders as a teenager - a 1968 in white and a 1969 in BRG.

[@alharper1610]

I have been looking for one of these. Could you contact the owner and see if he has any interest in selling it ?

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

Let me call him. Nudge me in a few days if I haven't replied again.

[@alharper1610]

@@ride-ct-classiccars I sure will , thanks for your help .

[@ride-ct-classiccars]

@@alharper1610 I've finally spoken with the owner. If you could please email me at [e-mail] and I can tell you what he said and put you in touch wih him.