Fiat Barchetta - Pictures and Restoration
Discussion
stoocake said:
Bit slow to post but got here in the end. I promised pictures of some lovely rust - I'm sure you're dying to see it.
I had a feel round the arches to see if there was anything worth looking at, and a large panel just dropped out :-S
And from the brake disk, looking directly up:
Is it just me or do those slots to the right of the rusting hole look like angle grinder cuts?I had a feel round the arches to see if there was anything worth looking at, and a large panel just dropped out :-S
And from the brake disk, looking directly up:
I'd be checking for poor accident repair damage elsewhere.
Megaflow said:
Is it just me or do those slots to the right of the rusting hole look like angle grinder cuts?
I'd be checking for poor accident repair damage elsewhere.
Yes that was me - testing what metal was good and what's not. I'll be removing it in a slightly neater fashion when a) I get time and b) I get over this throat infection I've come down with. The fun. I'd be checking for poor accident repair damage elsewhere.
There's no accident damage elsewhere - it's very clean underneath apart from this bit.
Megaflow said:
Fairy snuff...
Odd for that bit to be so bad then. Are they know to rust there or could it be connect to the blocked roof drain?
I've no idea - the blocked drain was on the other side, and it wasn't actually blocked - just loose silt. Stuffing welding wire down both sides confirmed that the drains are clear. I can only imagine this side might have had water getting in via the arial hole and allowing it to sit on top, but as this is the highest point and water is free to run down the front, I'm a bit stuck. Maybe cutting it away will reveal something and help diagnose it. Odd for that bit to be so bad then. Are they know to rust there or could it be connect to the blocked roof drain?
Either way, new panels will be welded in and covered generously with underseal and sill-wax. I might leave an inspection hole and plug with a rubber bung so I can keep an eye on it.
PSBuckshot said:
Shame these were not RWD, lovely looking cars.
Thing is, they are reported to handle rather well and like a RWD car; obviously there can be no under-steer correction by spinning up the rear wheels as you would in a RWD but the general feel and handling is said to be very RWD like.I can't speak from experience with the Barchetta but I know having owned its stablemate, the Alfa Spider - that car has similar handling characteristics to those I have read about with the Barchetta.
Did the Barchetta and Spider share a platform?
Kentish said:
Thing is, they are reported to handle rather well and like a RWD car; obviously there can be no under-steer correction by spinning up the rear wheels as you would in a RWD but the general feel and handling is said to be very RWD like.
I can't speak from experience with the Barchetta but I know having owned its stablemate, the Alfa Spider - that car has similar handling characteristics to those I have read about with the Barchetta.
Did the Barchetta and Spider share a platform?
The barchetta platform is Mk 1 Punto based. It handles very well indeed, like a well sorted hot hatch. Lift-off oversteer is available if you're pressing on. Lovely little cars to drive. I believe they made it into EVO magazine's top handling front wheel drive cars of all time.I can't speak from experience with the Barchetta but I know having owned its stablemate, the Alfa Spider - that car has similar handling characteristics to those I have read about with the Barchetta.
Did the Barchetta and Spider share a platform?
Sorry for the complete lack of updates. The weather has obviously stopped me from being able to make any progress - still loads of welding to go but constant rain makes it impossible.
I've actually just got rid of my project car and made enough room in the garage to fit the Fiat in - so I may be able to make a start on this in the coming days. Stay tuned
I've actually just got rid of my project car and made enough room in the garage to fit the Fiat in - so I may be able to make a start on this in the coming days. Stay tuned
Funnily enough, I had a look round my mates one this morning.
It needs a cambelt sorting before anything else, its been sat for a few years!
He said its done 1k miles in the last few years.
Interior is MINT, it just needs a damn good wash and wax externally.
Ive offered to detail and machine polish it properly, so will get some pics up when its done
It needs a cambelt sorting before anything else, its been sat for a few years!
He said its done 1k miles in the last few years.
Interior is MINT, it just needs a damn good wash and wax externally.
Ive offered to detail and machine polish it properly, so will get some pics up when its done
djdestiny said:
Funnily enough, I had a look round my mates one this morning.
It needs a cambelt sorting before anything else, its been sat for a few years!
He said its done 1k miles in the last few years.
Interior is MINT, it just needs a damn good wash and wax externally.
Ive offered to detail and machine polish it properly, so will get some pics up when its done
Please do! Will be good to seeIt needs a cambelt sorting before anything else, its been sat for a few years!
He said its done 1k miles in the last few years.
Interior is MINT, it just needs a damn good wash and wax externally.
Ive offered to detail and machine polish it properly, so will get some pics up when its done
Wow! Always got something holding me up - this time it was moving house 
I've now moved in with the girlfriend and before vacating the old house, I was in a bit of a rush to get the welding sorted.
Sadly I completely neglected to get any pictures, but it's taken me a good 20 hours or so to recreate the awkward shape of the arch by bending 1mm thick steel by hand. Worth it in the end - not perfect and I've used a skim of bodyfiller to make it smooth but I'm pretty happy with it
Underseal still drying:
It's booked in for an MOT tomorrow! My fingers are crossed but I noticed the ABS cable to the front NS brake sensor has been cut, and noticed that the bulb has been removed from the dash! Wasn't flagged up in the MOT before I bought it but either way, it's something I'd like to fix.
Wish me luck!
I've now moved in with the girlfriend and before vacating the old house, I was in a bit of a rush to get the welding sorted. Sadly I completely neglected to get any pictures, but it's taken me a good 20 hours or so to recreate the awkward shape of the arch by bending 1mm thick steel by hand. Worth it in the end - not perfect and I've used a skim of bodyfiller to make it smooth but I'm pretty happy with it
Underseal still drying:
It's booked in for an MOT tomorrow! My fingers are crossed but I noticed the ABS cable to the front NS brake sensor has been cut, and noticed that the bulb has been removed from the dash! Wasn't flagged up in the MOT before I bought it but either way, it's something I'd like to fix.
Wish me luck!
MOT failed...but only on effort provided by the handbrake. It's 15% and the pass is 16% apparently! Bit annoying :-s
I've had a quick play with the cable and it appears to be a caliper problem rather than cable/pads/disks etc and reading around, the rear brakes are notoriously useless on these cars.
Stand by for a further update - after 4 months it'll be good to finally drive it!
I've had a quick play with the cable and it appears to be a caliper problem rather than cable/pads/disks etc and reading around, the rear brakes are notoriously useless on these cars.
Stand by for a further update - after 4 months it'll be good to finally drive it!
Finally got the MOT done! Back brakes needed the compensators removed and I'm going to have to drive it a lot to get the back brakes bedded in a bit better but I'm delighted.
Just taxed it and the DVLA site there's been a gap in the tax and it's neither been taxed nor SORNed since 1st May :-S I bought the car on the 18th May so had no idea! Oops - hope they don't come after me for it.
Just taxed it and the DVLA site there's been a gap in the tax and it's neither been taxed nor SORNed since 1st May :-S I bought the car on the 18th May so had no idea! Oops - hope they don't come after me for it.
Nice one Stu!
I was very pleased to read this thread about you saving the little Barchetta.
It is one of the cars on my list to own at some point and I did look (unsuccessfully) for a good one a few years ago but bought an Alfa Spider instead at the time, which I too enjoyed very much but the little Fiat is a great car and I will have one oneday.
I was very pleased to read this thread about you saving the little Barchetta.
It is one of the cars on my list to own at some point and I did look (unsuccessfully) for a good one a few years ago but bought an Alfa Spider instead at the time, which I too enjoyed very much but the little Fiat is a great car and I will have one oneday.
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