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Earlier than the Fiat 124 Spider was a Mazda, it was the 124 Sport Spider, the two-seat convertible model of the huge-selling (in Europe) 124 sedan. Bought in the USA from the 1968 by way of 1985 mannequin years (with the ultimate few years sporting Pininfarina badges, courtesy of Malcolm Bricklin), these fan and inexpensive vehicles have been as soon as all over the place on our roads and house owners have tried to hold onto them even after they break down. In consequence, I see about as many 124 Sport Spiders in junkyards nowadays as I did 40 years in the past, when you might nonetheless purchase them new. Here is somewhat purple satan of a ’78 Sport Spider, present in a San Francisco Bay Space automobile graveyard a number of years again.
This automobile’s foremost gross sales rival in the USA was the equally enjoyable and inexpensive MGB, and I nonetheless discover loads of these within the boneyards to at the present time. The MGB was sturdier however a bit extra primitive than the Sport Spider, and each suffered from maddeningly unpredictable electrical methods.
The worth tag on this automobile was $6,495, or about $30,780 in 2022 {dollars}. The 1978 MGB value $5,649 ($26,770 now) that 12 months. When you needed the a lot faster Alfa Romeo Spider in 1978, you needed to shell out $9,195 ($43,570 immediately).
Whereas the MGB’s antiquated pushrod straight-four made simply 62.5 horsepower in 1978 (sure, British Leyland claimed that half-horse), the ’78 Sport Spider put out 86 horsepower from its DOHC engine. The curb weight of the Spider was decrease, too (2,180 kilos versus the Brit’s 2,338 kilos).
This one has a much-faded 1990 San Francisco residential parking allow, for Zone C. That is the upscale Nob Hill neighborhood, the place this automobile should have appeared somewhat an excessive amount of on the proletariat facet.
These vehicles are likely to spend a long time sitting in a driveway or yard, awaiting repairs which will by no means come. Ultimately, actuality comes calling and so they take that last tow-truck experience to a spot like this.
Motorcars within the nice European custom.
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