From the seller's description:
1979 Fiat 2000 Spider with 20,000 Original Miles, Unrestored, Original ConditionI am selling this unrestored, untouched original 1979 Fiat 2000 Spider. I am the fourth owner of this unique classic sports car with 20,000 miles. This vehicle was purchased in 1979 in Wooster, Ohio. This vehicle has never left Ohio, all 4 owners have lived in Ohio. It’s never seen rain or snow. This vehicle when purchased had the original tires and the original ignition system. Both have since been replaced to make the vehicle roadworthy to enjoy. This car has all original sheet metal, interior, convertible top, matching numbers drivetrain. The vehicle is a time capsule as when produced in 1979. The vehicle is rust free and every system functions perfectly. There are no fluid leaks and all gauges and electrics work properly. The vehicle is surprisingly solid and quiet. This car is Concours ready with few improvements if you choose that route. This car is an ideal investment piece as it is now and can be enjoyed driving as it grows in value.))
The engine runs strong after an electronic tuneup. The five-speed shifts flawlessly. The interior is without any flaws. Every gauge and radio work perfectly. The top is a manual top and is without any tears or rips. The vehicle does have a few door dings which have been left unrestored. The next owner may choose to carefully have those removed? As is the vehicle runs very strong and requires no service or maintenance.
1979 Fiat 2000 Spider
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I had been into cars since childhood, so this was a magical job. I was part of a crew of six or seven that worked for tips, and we wore orange coverall uniforms so that we were easily seen at night. We routinely parked and returned more than 400 cars on a busy Saturday, with parties in the afternoon and then again at night, together with public dining.
Jockeying cars for position in shrinking lanes during return rush times made me a better and more precise driver. Another benefit was that I developed a higher appreciation for well-designed dashboards, budding smart controls, and quality upholstery. I preferred gauges to warning lamps, and I intensely disliked the flashing green and yellow dashboard fuel economy indicators that seemed unwelcome in luxury cars. The only way to make the annoying indicator stay green was to coast.
As a crew, we elbowed each other to park the hot imports, such as BMW’s 2002, Datsun’s Z variants, the first Honda Accords, Toyota Celicas, and less frequently, Volkswagen Sciroccos. These were all well-equipped, light, quick, and easy to park. It was also possible to shift them into higher gears for test drives by taking the long way around to the lower back lot. As far as I knew, none of us ever got a Porsche 911 out of second. Our boss knew the joyride risk, so we had to keep numbered dashboard tickets in sequence for assigned spaces that discouraged long drives around the property.
Photo: Hemmings Archives
I have many fond memories of the job. To start, the things people left in their vehicles were nothing short of amazing. There were open bills with private information in plain view, and mail of every other conceivable variety, as well as checkbooks, laundry, arts, and crafts in all stages of non-completion, sticky food wrappers, and other trash. I also quickly learned that a tip amount didn’t always correspond to the expense or condition of the car after one guest left a caged guinea pig in his 1967 Pontiac Le Mans when he arrived late for a wedding reception. Aside from needing to be washed and vacuumed, that car was quite fragrant. It was a dry day, so I lowered the side windows, and we took turns checking the pet as we ran to and from other vehicles. Later, the guest told me he was glad the party was over and was eager to reunite the guinea pig with his young daughter. Having noticed us checking on the pet, the car owner gave me the biggest tip I ever got to fetch a car.
Another unusual thing happened while parking a 1975 Buick LeSabre sedan. Two people got out and went inside for dinner and as I got in immediately noticed the aroma of freshly baked bagels emanating from two gigantic bags that took most of the rear seat, nearly reaching the headliner. After parking the car, I was spooked by a low voice from the far-right of the back seat that asked, “Howee doin’?” I had not seen the slight fellow partially hidden by one of the tall bags, and all I could ask was if he intended to go inside. He said he didn’t want a fancy dinner, just a nap. He offered bagels to the entire crew, which were delicious, and stayed in the car and slept for two hours.
Rare cars would roll up on occasion, including one almost everyone guessed was a Maserati, though I recognized it as a Facel Vega. The exhaust growl of the Chrysler Hemi V-8 was positively rhapsodic, and the grand tourer had polished wood throughout its interior. We parked it in a special spot on an outer aisle near the front door and overheard customers speculate what it was while waiting for their own cars. When the tweedy owner eventually came out, my boss, Ray, was determined to sound smart and amuse himself. He conspicuously and formally signaled, “Christopher, the Facel Vega, please.” Seeing where we placed his pride and joy, the owner gleamed. He may have enjoyed that moment more than his dinner.
Another story involved a regular customer’s Cadillac Seville during lunch hour, when Ray often let me work alone so he could get a break. Two County Sheriff’s detectives stopped to tell me they were looking for two inmates who had escaped from the local penitentiary wearing–what else–orange coveralls. They were last seen running on the neighboring golf course. Of course, we always left keys in the ignition of parked cars. The detectives asked how many cars remained from lunch, and whether I could account for each. To my dismay, the Cadillac (one of only three cars left in my charge) was gone! The owner was very classy when the detectives needed his license plate number and unselfishly said he was glad I had not run into the thieves. Luckily for me, the car was recovered unscratched at a nearby shopping center, but we never heard if the thieves were caught.
I rarely drove a car onto the open road, but one exception was a permanent resident’s 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. The luminous dark red sedan was overdue for its annual state inspection and the owner’s wife “volunteered” me to drive it to the inspection station in the next town. The engine was so quiet and vibration-free that I had to concentrate to hear it. The interior was beautifully appointed with the finest leather I had ever seen or touched. Intuitive controls were set in burled walnut. In my opinion the steering wheel was somewhat primitive and too hard for an ultra-luxury auto, but it was a minor nitpick since the car was a magic carpet. It literally floated when put in drive. As expected, there were no buzzes, squeaks, or rattles. It handled well and predictably with adequate road feel, despite its considerable weight. Power came immediately at the slightest touch, suggesting ample reserve, and the Rolls-Royce stopped on a dime.
Photo: Hemmings Archives
Admittedly, I was very nervous driving it, even when it seemed other drivers stayed out of the way once I reached a multi-lane avenue. The inspection station was in a not-so-nice area on a narrow, bumpy street, and being near closing time the station was busy. I had to get in a line that snaked around the block and all I could do was hope nobody hit the darn thing.
As I crawled to the entrance, the inspection staff was laughing and pointing at me, still wearing my orange coveralls: “Hey kid, how did you get out of jail and where did you get that car?” Fortunately, my uniform sported a company crest. Seeking mercy, I said it was the boss’ car. Then the Rolls failed its emissions test. Adding to the insult, the dented, oxidized Volkswagen Beetle behind me passed with flying colors. In those days, a sticker with a big red circle signifying failure was affixed to the windshield’s lower left corner. You couldn’t miss it.
I finally relaxed when I pulled the Silver Shadow into the familiar driveway without incident. To my surprise, the owner’s wife was happy to see that the car failed, because now she could get it tuned up without further debate. Apparently, her husband was always working and neglected his cars. We were reminded of that later when we had to jump the battery in his seldom-driven Jaguar XJ12. The next time I saw the Rolls it had a proper inspection sticker.
After parking cars for eighteen months, I transferred inside to become a bartender as my college days progressed. I missed handling the cars, but not enduring cold winter nights or donning those orange coveralls. Over the years I have almost always insisted on parking my own car, but when valet parking is unavoidable, particularly in a city, I tip in advance. It’s remarkable how a few dollars will often gain a spot close to the attendant’s booth, sometimes with a safety cone next to our car.
BMW
An active M differential automatically shifts power to the outside wheel in tight turns and also counteracts with the loss of traction during high-speed lane changes. In addition, BMW’s intelligent xDrive AWD system uses your driving data to automatically relay power to individual wheels for optimal traction and control.
In the new production model, cooling is further improved by using a 3D-printed cylinder head core. BMW also updated the oil system for better lubrication, which is said to provide more consistency when hitting high revs and driving around quick, tight corners. Speaking of racing around fast corners, BMW implemented plenty of chassis reinforcements for responsive handling. Further supporting superior handling is an M4 CS-specific adaptive M suspension system which offers adjustable damping settings. The forged alloy wheels can be wrapped with track tires or ultra-track tires at no additional cost.
BMW says the G82 M4 CS has a curb weight of 3,902-pounds; 77 pounds lighter than the M4 Competition xDrive. To achieve such a weight savings, the automaker used carbon fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic on as many components as possible, including the full-carbon roof and carbon-plastic hood, front air intakes, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler. Eight pounds was dropped from the exhaust system by utilizing a titanium muffler.
For the 2025 BMW M4 CS’s interior, BMW wrapped the steering wheel in Alcantara leather and fitted the driver and passengers with tight-fitting M Carbon Bucket Seats upholstered in Merino leather. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen displays all the information the driver needs via BMW’s iDrive 8.5 infotainment software.
BMW is on schedule to start building the 2025 M4 CS in July 2024 in Dingolfing, Germany. The 2025 BMW M4 CS is said to start at $124,675.
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