AutoArt 1:18 Fiat 124 Spider After winter's lengthy stay in much of the east and midwest, spring is finally in the air. Time to put away the SUV and think about open roads and nimble cars that look their best with the top down. Review by Patty Henderson

Overview

AUTO art has always been at the top of its game when reproducing European sports cars. This new release of the Fiat 124 Spider roadster in Cream merely re-enforces that claim. Introduced in 1966 in Europe, the 124 Spider didn’t hit American soil until 1968. In an unexpected twist, the little Italian sports car became more popular among the American young than in its native land. More LHD Fiat Spiders were produced than the European RHD. An impressive performer and attractive roadster, they were superior to some of the other, more popular British, Italian and German counterparts of the time. It never got the respect it deserved. Even today, fine examples of the 124 Spider are undervalued and underestimated. You can find sports car excitement with a Spider for half the price of most sports cars in its field today.

The Pininfarina body underwent little change from the short history of the car, 1966-1985, with alterations mainly to the bumpers and the addition of hood bulges in 1971. Firepower under the hood came from an inline 4 cylinder designed y ex-Ferrari engineer, Aurelio Lampredi. It offered dual overhead camshafts powered by a tooth, rubber belt. The horsepower in the peppy Italian sports car ranged from a not-to-shabby 90 hp to over 120 horses. Both 5 speed transmissions and automatic were offered in the life span of the Fiat 124 Spider. A good driver today can be had for $3,000 or so while a fully restored beauty can reach $6,000 or more. This little Fiat won’t get you noticed like a Ferrari, but it sure will provide tons of fun in the sun.

When Rusty offered the AUTO art 1/18 version of this Fiat Spider for review, I jumped at the chance. The newest incarnation of AA’s Fiat 124 Spider roadster comes in a refreshing Cream. A mix of yellow, lime and ivory, the color is right for a European sports car. Throw in the Black interior with wood grain and you have the recipe for a beautiful addition to anyone’s shelf of Italian sports roadsters. I’ve reviewed many diecast cars with wood grain interiors, but this one is probably one of the most realistic I’ve seen in 1/18. The steering wheel, dash and shifter really look like fine Italian wood. Delights were the moveable sun visors and on-the-money, fabric seat belts. The five-speed shifter looks and feels like the real thing. I wanted to shift away in the car, enjoying the plume of sand the little Fiat would leave behind.

AA has not let its fans down with the attention to detail. The Fiat logos look exactly like the emblems on the real 1:1, right down to the wheel emblems. The tires, although not bearing brand names, are true to life with realistic tracks. All headlights and rear lights remain high marks for Aa. Beautifully replicated, they show no mounting pegs. The trunk has carpeting, but surprisingly, the interior does not. I don’t know if the real 1:1 cars had carpeting or not. I still remain disappointed that Aa does not change the hard plastic seats. At this price point, collectors are expecting more realistic detail and folding seats. While the seats are exceptionally realistic looking, they are static and hard plastic. While there is no up top, the convertible boot shows realistic folds

I think the most pleasant surprise for me was under the hood. The hood opens from the windshield and back toward the front and stays up. But it was what I found under the hood that got me excited. The engine is fully plumbed and wired, creating a very realistic and authentic looking Fiat Spider engine. AA didn’t spare any detail here.

I come away delighted with AUTO art’s Fiat 124 Spider roadster in the yummy Cream color. I think I would like to own a real Fiat 124 Spider. It is the kind of European sports roadster I can see myself in. The next best thing is to owning one would be to add the AA 1/18 to your shelf of unique and thrilling Italian sports cars. It’s as exciting on the shelf as the real thing would be hugging tight curves down a country road.

Legacy Motors has AUTOart's splendid Fiat 124 Spider in stock now.