It is easy to forget today how important and unusual the Fiat 124 Sport Spider was at the time of its introduction. No mere Italian competitor to the MGB—although it ably served that purpose—it boasted unique styling and bodywork by Pininfarina, with an efficient five-speed manual transmission and excellent four-wheel disc brakes. The most important feature could be found under the hood, where there resided a twin-cam engine designed by former Ferrari engine expert Aurelio Lampredi. The 124 Sport Spider—later succeeded by the updated Spider 2000—was one of the first mass-produced automobiles built anywhere in the world to have a twin-cam engine.

Today, this model occupies a special position in Italian automotive history. In many ways, it was the sexy equivalent to the famed Topolino as an automobile which opened up a new segment of motoring to the public at an affordable price. Even today, it is an evocative and thrilling automobile to pilot.

Recognizing the historical significance of the model, the U.S.-specification Spider 2000 offered here was purchased new for the Quattroruote Collection in 1983 and has remained on display ever since. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it remains in excellent original cosmetic condition throughout, with only 25,291 miles covered at the time of cataloguing. It is equipped with leatherette bucket seats, a redesigned dashboard console, a power-operated trunk lid, and three-speed wipers, as well as the 124’s wonderful top, which can be opened and closed from the driver’s seat in only 10 seconds.

For entertaining, low-cost summer fun—or as a good original example of a significant Fiat model—this limited-mileage, one-owner Spider 2000 would be difficult to match.