Sampling Good-Win Racing’s transformation of the Fiat 124 Spider

Tom
By Tom Suddard
Jul 31, 2024 | Fiat, Fiat 124 Spider, Good-Win Racing | Posted in Features | Never miss an article

Photography by Tom Suddard

At one point, the Fiat 124 Spider seemed poised to knock the Miata off its pedestal. Back in the summer of 2016, the Fiat offered a brand-new, sharply styled, turbocharged platform-mate to the ND Mazda Miata that, at the time, still ran its lower-revving, lower-fun engine. 

We got even more excited after we compared the two cars on track at the …

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Comments
maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
7/31/24 9:46 a.m.

Despite my typical Italian car ownership experience, the Fiata has a certain charm of its own that I miss sometimes. Especially paired with the Goodwin System One exhaust, which mine also had, it's quite possibly the best-sounding four cylinder engine of all time. And the non-Abarth body (like Goodwin's car in the article) I think is better looking than the blacked-out angry-face Abarth. Maybe one day they'll become collectible.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
7/31/24 10:00 a.m.

Yeah but what's it's lap time at the Firm?

jk

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
7/31/24 10:36 a.m.

In reply to maschinenbau :

I'll be surprised if they don't become collectible, even if it's the Bring A Trailer/Cars & Bids kind of collectible.

I'm by no means a market expert, but I'd say it's the kind of car worth buying sooner instead of later if you have an interest.

Msterbee
Msterbee Reader
7/31/24 11:00 a.m.

I prefer the way these look compared to the current Miata.  I'd swap the motor though.  laugh

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
7/31/24 11:12 a.m.

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

Taking a stock 124 Spider to the FIRM isn't a bad idea.

Anyone have one we can run? (I'm only half-joking.)

BA5
BA5 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
7/31/24 12:24 p.m.

Cool.  I have always liked the Fiata.

Although $14,000 in parts feels like... a lot.

I'd probably lose all the carbon fiber aero bits and it'll be a lot cheaper and a little more sleeper looking.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/31/24 12:34 p.m.

On track, the Fiata feels like an ND with 100 lbs strapped to the nose and softer throttle response - because that's what it is. I don't know if we still have lap times for our in-house development car, but it sure would be interesting to see the traces from the FIRM.

Greg414
Greg414 New Reader
8/1/24 3:37 p.m.

Yes, quite the extensive (pricey parts list).  While the result is something unique and fun, you're well into 987 Boxster S price territory at this point...

Jerry
Jerry PowerDork
8/1/24 7:13 p.m.

I remember test driving one when they first came out, while the Abarth 500 was in for scheduled maintenance.  I'm not a convertible fan, even if I still want another Miata, but I also agree I thought they looked better than the ND.  I was disappointed to learn the Abarth version didn't have the same angry exhaust.

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