Fiat Coupe: You (Didn't) Know You Want To
We had a Shed one lined up but it sold; here's a 20V Turbo proving why they're in such demand
That should tell you something about the fanbase for these and perhaps give you serious pause for thought about the idea of getting into a decent one. Like this You (Didn't) Know You Wanted To example. The dwindling supply of good 20V Coupe Turbos means the price of 'decent car' entry can easily be three or (as in this case) even four times Shed money. Is it worth it?
Can never accuse Bangle of playing it safe
The Tipo platform is a front-driver, which would be a shame were it not for the presence of independent suspension all round plus Fiat's highly-rated and extremely reliable Viscodrive slippy diff. Grip is excellent, which is handy as the brakes probably won't be unless previous owners have gone to the expense of like-for-like OE parts replacement.
Now, the styling. Like Chris Bangle or loathe him, his designs conjured up a unique spark that eluded almost every other mainstream car. The individual elements of the Fiat Coupe - discontinuous swage lines, square wheelarches, and a body too long for the wheelbase - aren't what you'd expect to read on the list of must-haves. But, banged together in the metal, it somehow worked. The Pininfarina interior was both brave and lovely, and remains so to this day.
Coupes go counter to expectation and stereotype by being pretty well built. Admittedly, the list of consumables is potentially longer than on other cars: front wishbones and rear springs are fragile, exhaust manifolds crack, clutches blow, oil cooler pipes burst and the rear calipers will seize if debris from crumbling park brake pads is allowed to infiltrate. Wheel bearings, track rod ends and turbo seals need close monitoring too.
When you go through that lot, this car does seem like big money, but it does have the benefit of low miles, the same owner for the last nine years, and an overhauled brake system. The full stainless exhaust is a wise addition on one of these too, as it would have cost about the same price as a Fiat mild steel one and will certainly outlast it. Those Turbo backboxes are famous for dropping off. An aftermarket replacement box would rush you £300.
Start off with a strong mechanical base and you can pump a Turbo up into a genuinely mighty tool. Chipping will take it to an easy 240hp: a more comprehensive tuning plan will reward you with 300hp and more. It's said that nearly 500hp is possible. Camshaft lobes on the Turbo are more durable that the ones on the normally aspirated 16-valvers, and the crank is the forged unit from the Integrale. It goes without saying that with a car like this, it's worth blowing a few quid extra on decent oil. Never, ever run it low.
Pretty stylish on the inside too
So, weighing it all up, this car could be a keeper. However, there must be room for negotiation based on one critical and unavoidable upcoming service item. Unlike many humbler Fiat cambelts, the 20VT belt is an interference type, so you can't run it till it snaps. Annoyingly, it's on a three-year/36k schedule. Working from the owner's annual mileage claim, a new one is horribly overdue here. This is not a pleasant DIY job unless you actually enjoy the sight of blood streaming from your knuckles. To keep your garage floor clean, Fiat dealers will insist on removing the engine and over a grand from your wallet. Fortunately there are plenty of specialists around who'll do the dirty deed for half that. In addition there's a great forum resource for this model to help you through the difficult times.
It all sounds a bit risky, but for the right price it shouldn't be. When the Coupe was born, it looked outlandish. When it was pensioned off in 2000, it looked outlandish. 15 years later, it still looks outlandish. In mainstream motoring, the smart money will always be on outlandish over non-outlandish, as long as the dynamics are right. Which, in this case, they are.
FIAT COUPE 20V TURBO PLUS
Price: £3,950
Why you should: Tuneful engine, fast and distinctive
Why you shouldn't: Stiff money, especially with a new cambelt
See the original advert here.
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Like the Alfa 156, it was so right the first time around subsequent fiddling and facelifting doesn't really work.
I think at least one person has said they regretted moving onto a 3.2 Alfa GTA from one of these. The Coupe 20V Turbo always beat the GTV V6 in comparison tests.
The 3.2 GTAs need a Q2 LSD? The 20V Turbo has Viscousdrive as standard.
The Alfa Busso may sound like cream poured over silk, but the 5 pot warble sounds pretty good to my ears.
The advert isn't too forthcoming and the Wimbledon Football Club Reg. No. wont do it for many. Ideal for Vinnie Jones fans?
the whole assembly weighs less then 400Kg which gives me over 850BHP / tonne, Its scarily quick!
the whole assembly weighs less then 400Kg which gives me over 850BHP / tonne, Its scarily quick!
A Coupe and 156 are a cracking pair!
the whole assembly weighs less then 400Kg which gives me over 850BHP / tonne, Its scarily quick!
Its bent straight through scaffold tube exhaust sounds amazing too!
A Coupe and 156 are a cracking pair!
Between the Alfa, an 18 month old, mental work and a classic Mini in the garage I haven't touched it except to put into storage. Recently come back out and I've got all the parts for a repair so hopefully Fixed and MOTed for the summer although it's probably going to have to be sold to fund a clutch/cambelt on the Alfa!
3 years later I managed to find the money to buy one - a 16v turbo in red. Loved it. Distinctive, beautiful interior (with Pininfarina on the dash). Integrale engined too. How much Italian thoroughbred heritage do you want?
Electrics were a little touchy - the sunroof motor needed replacing, the electrically adjustable headlights had a mind of their own.
But more importantly the cambelt snapped with only 27k miles on the clock. Fiat UK handled it very well and stumped up the repair bill. Just as well as the whole of the top end was rebuilt with new parts!
Still love the shape, the Sprint blue ones look the best, preferably with the optional air con but not the standard leather which was a bit slidy for a supposedly sporty car.
A few have been converted to 4WD so thats where the 500 goes.
Funny how they have an Integrale engine and the 4wd gubbins fit and can be turned into a coupe Integrale it seems but are still relatively worthless ?
Didn't the Owner's Club forum work on a magazine article for PPC or Practical Classics on what to check for when buying Coupes and whichever magazine it was then omitted to mention the Coolant Hose of Death that they had been informed of?
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