Fiat Spider Formerly Owned by Car Talk Co-Host Tom Magliozzi to be Sold for Charity on Cars.com

Fiat Spider Formerly Owned by Car Talk Co-Host Tom Magliozzi to be Sold for Charity on Cars.com

Proceeds to Benefit Chicago NPR Affiliate, WBEZ - FM

CHICAGO, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Are you in the market for a 1979 Fiat Spider with a little history? More than 10 years ago, Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder was in the market, and decided to purchase Tom Magliozzi's 1979 Fiat Spider and drive it from Cambridge, Mass., back to his hometown of Chicago.

Tom, Ray and the staff of "Car Talk" had a good time betting on the point during Joe's drive back to Chicago that the car would break down. The event was chronicled during a funny bit on the show that can be heard here.

Joe has decided to donate his beloved Fiat through Car Talk's Vehicle Donation Program to help raise money for his local public radio station, WBEZ. The car is being auctioned on Cars.com from Sept. 4 through Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.

"Joe Wiesenfelder's generosity and that old Fiat are symbols of the eternal hope of the public radio community," said Daniel Ash, WBEZ's vice president of strategic communications. "We sell old jalopies to help pay the bills. Seriously, WBEZ is deeply grateful for the thousands of Car Talk fans who help power public radio. It's gestures such as this one that make our brand of media truly unique."

"If you would like a nicely appointed -- well, I should just say appointed -- Fiat convertible just in time for winter, this might be the car for you. And you would be helping raise money for National Public Radio affiliate WBEZ," said Cars.com senior editor, Joe Wiesenfelder. "I make no claims about the car other than it is, indeed, a car. It started the last time I was in it, and nothing has fallen off of it for at least a week."

Asked about the auction of his old Fiat, Tom Magliozzi was, briefly, speechless. "You mean it's still running?" said an incredulous Magliozzi. "I never should have given him that fire extinguisher."

"Most of his cars simply burn up, or turn to rust and blow away," explained brother Ray. "If I don't crush them first."

To place an offer on the 1979 Fiat Spider, visit Cars.com here. Or visit Car Talk.

About Cars.com

Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible, easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With comprehensive pricing information, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE:BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO).

Source: Cars.com

CONTACT: Jackie Brennan, Associate Public Relations Manager, direct,
+1-312-601-6229, mobile, +1-219-577-6106, jbrennan@cars.com, or Steve Nolan,
Public Relations Manager, direct, +1-312-601-5163, mobile, +1-630-310-2468,
snolan@cars.com, both of Cars.com

Web Site: http://www.cars.com/

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