My funny Fiat Barchetta

My funny Fiat Barchetta

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Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
Do you mean the picture of the town or the pics of #18 and #81 ?

I'd been to Imola before a few times but had never ventured further than Rivazza ,the last corner ,along the start finish straight

and up to as far as the Ayrton Senna monument.

This time ,over the 2 days ,I walked all of the circuit that one is able to do.

Also I have never had to pay for entrance to any of the racing events I've been to there ,including access to the stand opposite the pits.

Its in the Acque Minerali park with multiple entrances and access ,which seem to be open 24/7 and also has public roads criss crossing inside

and under the track layout.

Final pics of the silly FIAT in Italy will have to wait as Thumbsnap is faulty.


Bobberoo99

38,686 posts

99 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
This one, really atmospheric with the brake disc glowing!!!

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
quotequote all
Not many got the discs glowing ,big spread of driving talent on show.


pits

6,429 posts

191 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
quotequote all
Pericoloso said:
I forgot about this post when I visited this yard a few weeks ago .he was closed ,didn't stop me taking all this lot.



Answer to the Lancia question is that it's a Beta Spyder..^^^^
Thank you, I have just spent ages trying to find it again, should have just scrolled down

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2019
quotequote all
pits said:
Thank you, I have just spent ages trying to find it again, should have just scrolled down
Funnily enough ,I've been back there again just a couple of weeks ago ,yard was closed again but I still took the same old

pics again ,mainly because I probably won't be visiting again.



Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Friday 29th November 2019
quotequote all
I never finished off the pics from the road trip.

Anyhoo ,in 2 days time I will have owned this car for 7 years.

I don't want to write an essay today ,there's very little to say anyway as all that has been done to the car this year was a new

pair of rear discs and pads ,one less MOT advisory then and come actual MOT ,NSR suspension arm was replaced due to a

huge amount of freeplay in a pin/bush ,although bizarrely the tester didn't fail it after consulting the online MOT manual but seeing

as that ^^^roadtrip was 2 weeks away ,the arm was definitely needing replacement ,cost 450 pounds.

I will just provide a few more statistics.
Over 12000 miles covered this year ,vast majority,over 10000, not on English soil.
About 72000 miles now covered by me out of 150000 miles car total..
26 times travelled to Europe on road trips.
9 weeks spent in Italy this year ,6 in summer ,3 in Autumn ,going to some of the best car events Europe has to offer.
Been to all the major circuits of Italy this year.Monza ,Mugello ,Misano ,Imola ,Vallelunga and 2 minor ones at Franciacorta and Varano.
Been to 5 major old car road events ,Mille Miglia ,Tour Auto de France ,Modena Cento Ore ,Coppa della Perugina and Gran Premio du Nuvolari.
5700 miles for the first trip to Italy ,3800 for the second ,completely reliably ,no issues whatsoever ,22yo FIAT remember.
The 3 other trips this year were only day trips to the Netherlands and twice to Germany.

This picture is the essence of this car.




Top down, early morning, in the hills of Tuscany ,on the SS610 twisty road between Firenzuola and Imola on the way to see million pound
Ferraris being caned all day.

bit of an essay after all.
I just like this car a lot......frown


Edited by Pericoloso on Friday 29th November 15:11

Bobberoo99

38,686 posts

99 months

Saturday 30th November 2019
quotequote all
Another good write up Peri, some interesting stats about Fabio, how much would it cost to "fix" all his problems, to bring him up to a decent level, not restoration but sorting out his problems???

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Saturday 30th November 2019
quotequote all
Short answer , far too much.

The leaking heater matrix ,which has got a little bit worse this year was quoted 16 hours to replace ,never even got to ask about

parts prices.

16 hours x 80 per hour is more than the entire car is worth.

The floor is likely going to need welding attention at 2020 MOT too ,will need to keep my repair budget for that.

I just want to take it to 25yo ,2 more MOT passes required for that.





another pic in a random middle of nowhere Italian hill village.

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 30th November 2019
quotequote all
Pericoloso said:
Short answer , far too much.

The leaking heater matrix ,which has got a little bit worse this year was quoted 16 hours to replace ,never even got to ask about

parts prices.

16 hours x 80 per hour is more than the entire car is worth.

The floor is likely going to need welding attention at 2020 MOT too ,will need to keep my repair budget for that.

I just want to take it to 25yo ,2 more MOT passes required for that.





another pic in a random middle of nowhere Italian hill village.
Have you tried Radweld? I had a hefty leak from a tractor rad so got a brilliant new old stock rad but reversed into it so had to dump it. Tried Radweld and it sorted it.
Or
Run it without a heater, no problem.
Or
Rig up some hoses and a cheap matrix off eBay and hang it in the passenger footwell.

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Saturday 30th November 2019
quotequote all
V6 Pushfit said:
Have you tried Radweld? I had a hefty leak from a tractor rad so got a brilliant new old stock rad but reversed into it so had to dump it. Tried Radweld and it sorted it.
Or
Run it without a heater, no problem.
Or
Rig up some hoses and a cheap matrix off eBay and hang it in the passenger footwell.
Garage put in some Radweld or similar a couple of years ago which did the job until recently.

I noticed occasional sweet smell of antifreeze on my last trip out and have now seen a slight trickle of coolant on the inside floor.

I have considered taking the hoses off at the bulkhead and connecting them up but I'm also not sure if losing the extra matrix might

cause overheat problems with the loss of capacity.

Its not too much of a problem yet.

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 30th November 2019
quotequote all
Roger that. Maybe try Radweld again then if it becomes a problem.

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Tuesday 31st December 2019
quotequote all
12743 miles is this year's total mileage in this car,only 1000 less than my highest ever in 2018.
There won't be any significant trips in 2020 as I'm just not planning any.
2020 mileage will probably not even exceed 1/10 of this year.
Might as well end the thread here,nothing of intrest to add.
Will repeat this pic.





11pm 12/10/2019.....deserted rest area,A22 Brennero,almost the most northern point of Italy .
The last ever pic I took of my car in Italy.
5 minutes later I had rejoined the Autostrada and driven through the short tunnel into Austria.
Never to return.
End.

daniel-5zjw7

602 posts

102 months

Tuesday 31st December 2019
quotequote all
Assuming you mean never to return to that place?? I'm guessing you will be returning to Italy however?! Great story with this car, you have so much to look back on in years to come and hopefully plenty of adventures still to make!

9xxNick

928 posts

215 months

Wednesday 29th April 2020
quotequote all
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading about your adventures with the Barchetta, and how saddening it was to hear that you doubt you'll be able to enjoy any more. I sincerely hope that your prediction on that point turns out to be hopelessly wide of the mark.

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Wednesday 29th April 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for that .
After saying that in December , I then looked at dates of my favourite events in Italy and could have been there now but for you know what happening.

Some of the events have new dates in the autumn but at this time I have no idea if I will be going.
If I don't go this year , it's even less likely I will go next year.


Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Wednesday 29th April 2020
quotequote all
This weekend there would have been a round of the Italian hillclimb championship in a place called Sarnano , in I think Umbria.
It's also near where the devastating earthquake occurred a few years ago , so would have had a look at that too.

9xxNick

928 posts

215 months

Wednesday 29th April 2020
quotequote all
We're all going to need to keep hoping and dreaming that we can get back out there in the not too distant future. And don't forget that your write-ups and excellent photos will have inspired many, many people to organise their own roadtrips to Europe. I would definitely count that as a success by any standard.

Bobberoo99

38,686 posts

99 months

Wednesday 29th April 2020
quotequote all
9xxNick said:
We're all going to need to keep hoping and dreaming that we can get back out there in the not too distant future. And don't forget that your write-ups and excellent photos will have inspired many, many people to organise their own roadtrips to Europe. I would definitely count that as a success by any standard.
yes

Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Sunday 10th May 2020
quotequote all
I realised i never posted a link to another thread i started with the full set of pics from the

Passo Giogo hillclimb from this time last year .

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...


Pericoloso

Original Poster:

44,044 posts

164 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020
quotequote all
Today the MOT ran out on this car ,it failed rather badly on July 30th ,with gaping holes in the inside rear arches ,holes in the floor

and it was all too much for a viable repair .

I drove it for the last time the day after the MOT and sent back a 1 month old tax for SORN all over again .

I could have carried on driving it until today but with the insurance due on August 8th , I just decided to stop straight away .

I bought this horror show for sub shed banger money .



My expectations were low but it actually drives okay for a 1100cc city car made from grated cheese .

Panels are galvanised so no rust there , underneath not so pretty .

The red wheels don't go on it ,I tried and fat spacers would be required ,not going there .

There will be some stickers , not too many but some .