Is there a trick to getting into reverse gear, I can't seem to find it. Do you need to pull up or push down 1st to get it into reverse (dont want to force it). Thanks.

Also just got 1981 Spider 2000 yesterday and dont have basi owners manual, anyone know where I can find a pdf of same on web? Thanks.
Joe

Yes you need to push down. I have seen lots of manuals on Ebay

Hi,
I have owned a 1972 124 spider in the late 70's and now I own a 1982 Fiat 2000. I have been bringing back to its more glorious state for the past 2 years. I have a great Italian mechanic in Burbank, CA who chastised me for pushing down on the gear shift to get in reverse. Apparently, at some point between the 2 model years, Fiat redesigned the transmission so that you no longer need to push down and you should not because it will break a plastic mounting piece where the gearshift lever connects to the transmission...which is what I have done and for that I have extra rattling in the shift lever.

I need to correct my last reply. My mechanic told me not to push down on my gear shift to get into reverse not because of a change in the engineering of the transmission but because mine was so worn out. He replaced the transmission gear shift to tranny mount today and now I must push down to get into reverse. He did tell me that on the early models you needed to pull up on but I do not know the year that that change occurred. Sorry for the confusion.my mistake.