RE: Fiat Cinquecento 'Abarth': YKYWT
Discussion
Having owned a Seicento with just shy of 150bhp (from a similarly engine, just a bit more "breathed" upon) I can vouch for just how much fun these are.
Just remember that these cars weigh in at about 700kg, nearly two thirds of a Panda 100hp - the formula adds up to a lot of fun. Auto Italia went a bit nuts over this sort of thing (admittedly some 15 years ago) because it really is just a big laugh. Old school hot hatch with a level of performance that we expect from a modern hot hatch.
I do know of one example with only 130bhp that uses the 16v engine (and it revs to about 12k), possibly one of the best examples of budget hot hatchery I've seen. Where mine was built for the road this one is focused on track and it certainly feels like it. I dare anyone to try one of these and not walk away with a huge smile.
Just don't crash it (or even lean on it) as the outer skin is rather on the thin side (I dented mine bouncing the front suspension).
Just remember that these cars weigh in at about 700kg, nearly two thirds of a Panda 100hp - the formula adds up to a lot of fun. Auto Italia went a bit nuts over this sort of thing (admittedly some 15 years ago) because it really is just a big laugh. Old school hot hatch with a level of performance that we expect from a modern hot hatch.
I do know of one example with only 130bhp that uses the 16v engine (and it revs to about 12k), possibly one of the best examples of budget hot hatchery I've seen. Where mine was built for the road this one is focused on track and it certainly feels like it. I dare anyone to try one of these and not walk away with a huge smile.
Just don't crash it (or even lean on it) as the outer skin is rather on the thin side (I dented mine bouncing the front suspension).
Having spent 4 happy years thrashing my Cinque to within an inch of it's life everywhere I went, I can only imagine how much fun this one is. Doesn't need the Abarth badges though - they just make it look naff, so would pop those back to the originals with the 80's FIAT logo.
And to those who have an issue with the 6x9's the Cinque has no rear speakers from the factory, and nowhere to really attach any other than in the middle of the parcel shelf - and the standard stereo is that terrible (couldn't hear it on the motorway for instance) you need a solution like this. As an aside, the boot is the perfect shape to act as a bass box, so with only a pair of 6x9's you can get a pretty impressive sound out of them.
And to those who have an issue with the 6x9's the Cinque has no rear speakers from the factory, and nowhere to really attach any other than in the middle of the parcel shelf - and the standard stereo is that terrible (couldn't hear it on the motorway for instance) you need a solution like this. As an aside, the boot is the perfect shape to act as a bass box, so with only a pair of 6x9's you can get a pretty impressive sound out of them.
I had a red R-reg Cinquecento from new and always fancied getting it breathed-upon to about 90-100hp, would have been a lot of fun. Sadly, I looked into the cost (including brakes, bushes, ARBs etc.) and it was pretty silly.
You'd have to be insane to spend nearly £4k on this as well I'm afraid to say.
You'd have to be insane to spend nearly £4k on this as well I'm afraid to say.
loudlashadjuster said:
I had a red R-reg Cinquecento from new and always fancied getting it breathed-upon to about 90-100hp, would have been a lot of fun. Sadly, I looked into the cost (including brakes, bushes, ARBs etc.) and it was pretty silly.
You'd have to be insane to spend nearly £4k on this as well I'm afraid to say.
I can vouch for how much more than £4k it would cost (with tuned engine) - in comparison this would be a bargain. Assuming it has all been done properly, sadly I've seen plenty of half-hearted, DIY, bodge-jobs that are just death traps so the buyer really does need to look carefully.You'd have to be insane to spend nearly £4k on this as well I'm afraid to say.
On the plus side because it is all using parts that just swap in it shouldn't feature the sort of butchery that you see on other conversions. The 6-speed swap needs a tiny bit of surgery in the remote housing but the rest is simple stuff. Brakes can come from any of the bigger (pre-evo) Puntos and just work. It's only when you start trying to improve the rear suspension that it gets a bit convoluted thanks to the beam design.
If anyone here does buy it I have a nice set of 15" rims (with nearly new tyres) that will fit (4x98 PCD) and correct the 10%+ mis-read on the speedo. I also have a 6-speed box with a close-ratio set (allegedly a mix and match of Fiat and Maserati parts). It won't make the car go past the original top speed but you'll notice the difference getting there. Then there's the Hayabusa ITB set and inlet manifold ready to bolt on...
jimbro1000 said:
I can vouch for how much more than £4k it would cost (with tuned engine) - in comparison this would be a bargain. Assuming it has all been done properly, sadly I've seen plenty of half-hearted, DIY, bodge-jobs that are just death traps so the buyer really does need to look carefully.
On the plus side because it is all using parts that just swap in it shouldn't feature the sort of butchery that you see on other conversions. The 6-speed swap needs a tiny bit of surgery in the remote housing but the rest is simple stuff. Brakes can come from any of the bigger (pre-evo) Puntos and just work. It's only when you start trying to improve the rear suspension that it gets a bit convoluted thanks to the beam design.
If anyone here does buy it I have a nice set of 15" rims (with nearly new tyres) that will fit (4x98 PCD) and correct the 10%+ mis-read on the speedo. I also have a 6-speed box with a close-ratio set (allegedly a mix and match of Fiat and Maserati parts). It won't make the car go past the original top speed but you'll notice the difference getting there. Then there's the Hayabusa ITB set and inlet manifold ready to bolt on...
Yeah, I discussed it with Middle Barton Garage mainly who seemed to have a good grip on what would work well/reliably, but the £££...On the plus side because it is all using parts that just swap in it shouldn't feature the sort of butchery that you see on other conversions. The 6-speed swap needs a tiny bit of surgery in the remote housing but the rest is simple stuff. Brakes can come from any of the bigger (pre-evo) Puntos and just work. It's only when you start trying to improve the rear suspension that it gets a bit convoluted thanks to the beam design.
If anyone here does buy it I have a nice set of 15" rims (with nearly new tyres) that will fit (4x98 PCD) and correct the 10%+ mis-read on the speedo. I also have a 6-speed box with a close-ratio set (allegedly a mix and match of Fiat and Maserati parts). It won't make the car go past the original top speed but you'll notice the difference getting there. Then there's the Hayabusa ITB set and inlet manifold ready to bolt on...
Easy just to jack in a bigger motor and go ditch hunting I guess, I presume many people ended up doing just that!
I had a Seicento, years ago, it was alright back in the day. It was really just a facelifted Cinquento and was not a car with a chassis that I felt could handle more power.
On Youtube, there is a crash test, where a Smart car is run head on into a Seicento. The Seicento folds like it has been hit by a train, yet the Smart remains intact.
In short I think that this is an expensive death trap with more power than it can handle. You could get a Swift Sport for that kind of money
On Youtube, there is a crash test, where a Smart car is run head on into a Seicento. The Seicento folds like it has been hit by a train, yet the Smart remains intact.
In short I think that this is an expensive death trap with more power than it can handle. You could get a Swift Sport for that kind of money
Not sure how they came up with the sale price, but good luck to them. We have our own Cinq Abarth, though back then Abarth amounted to cosmetic stuff like the front and rear bumper extensions and side skirts, no performance stuff. They all came with 1108cc 8V engine from the FIRE range with all 54bhp and 60lb ft. Other sizes include the early 999cc 8V, later 1242cc 8V & 16V, 1368cc 8V and 16V and 1368cc 16V Turbo applications from the current cars.
Ours runs a 1368cc 16V and 6 speed gearbox from a Panda 100HP, with Quaife LSD, CANEMS ecu, AVO suspension with poly bushes where applicable, Sparco cage, short shift gear change, rear anti-roll bar. It is good fun and has a surprising turn of speed.
Ours runs a 1368cc 16V and 6 speed gearbox from a Panda 100HP, with Quaife LSD, CANEMS ecu, AVO suspension with poly bushes where applicable, Sparco cage, short shift gear change, rear anti-roll bar. It is good fun and has a surprising turn of speed.
My Bother-in-law had a Cinquecento SX as a daily many years ago, and my nephew later got one. Then my sister was given a Sporting as a courtesy car so for a week or so they had 3 of them parked around their house. Sadly white, black and red - black one should have been green to do the Italian flag!
They were pretty nippy, especially the Sporting, but nothing special. I remember changing the alternator drive belt on one - f****r of a job even with OSF wheel removed!
The advertised one has undoubtedly had loads spent on it, but that doesn't make it worth that sort of money. I bought a 325ti Sport for about half that last year! It may be about twice as heavy as a Cinquecento but then it is about twice as powerful as this one and if you crash it you will probably survive!
Silver one above does look rather tasty though!
They were pretty nippy, especially the Sporting, but nothing special. I remember changing the alternator drive belt on one - f****r of a job even with OSF wheel removed!
The advertised one has undoubtedly had loads spent on it, but that doesn't make it worth that sort of money. I bought a 325ti Sport for about half that last year! It may be about twice as heavy as a Cinquecento but then it is about twice as powerful as this one and if you crash it you will probably survive!
Silver one above does look rather tasty though!
Bladedancer said:
crostonian said:
If that was the only choice I'd go for the Fiat, I wouldn't be seen dead in that Toyota. I must be insane.
Choosing Fiat Coupe over Celica suggest insanity :P but I wonder, why so much hate for the Toyota? It is a brilliant little screamer.Back on topic, we've had our Panda 100hp for a bit over a year now. 2007 car with <20k miles and cost £3k. Makes this look proper expensive imo.
I wonder how much hassle it'd be to get the 500 Abarth turbo in the Panda, plus brakes etc..
RoverP6B said:
You'd have to be suicidal to drive one of these. Vile little death-traps.
I did 65k in 4 years in one - only died 3 times. Seriously though, I know a few people who managed to drive their Cinques off the road into trees and other assorted vegetation - and they all lived to tell the tale. The cars didn't, but the passengers were unhurt.
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