Calling any barchetta owners in SE
Discussion
Hello barchetta owners!
I'm seriously considering one of these cars for the summer. They seem to generate a lot of affection from owners, I also greatly appreciate their looks and rarity. I had forgotten these even exist until I saw one on the street in Italy over Christmas.
I am trying to get a feel for what they're like but so few on sale. Plus, I'd prefer to know a bit more before I bother a genuine vendor with test drives and other requests.
Was hoping that maybe a kind PH member in London or North / West of London be open to showing me their car and talk about the ownership experience? Beers / coffee on me, of course!
I'm seriously considering one of these cars for the summer. They seem to generate a lot of affection from owners, I also greatly appreciate their looks and rarity. I had forgotten these even exist until I saw one on the street in Italy over Christmas.
I am trying to get a feel for what they're like but so few on sale. Plus, I'd prefer to know a bit more before I bother a genuine vendor with test drives and other requests.
Was hoping that maybe a kind PH member in London or North / West of London be open to showing me their car and talk about the ownership experience? Beers / coffee on me, of course!
I haven't got one but did a lot of research into buying one before I restored my Alfa 916 Spider plus I know an owner with 2 of them and failing anyone else answering at least I can give you a couple of steers. There is an excellent book out there if you look on eBay, gives you a real flavour of the car.
There is a lot of similarity and general read across from the Twin Spark 916 GTV/Spider especially with engine/front suspension and braking system. Rear suspension is simpler and more or less Fiat Coupe. Parts availability for read across parts from 916 is OK bordering on getting difficult for some.
There's a breaker in Doncaster area who seems to be the only real UK parts specialist for them although DTR Sportscars in Coulsdon were the UK experts, not sure they do much with them now. The best parts availability seems to be from Holland or Germany, from experience it isn't as easy as it used be importing parts now. Beware N/P/R reg cars with Bosch 2Si ABS as the ECU is unrepairable, very sensitive to being spiked and almost unobtanium but note you can get a base version with no ABS as standard.
Rust in floor pans with the Barchetta is a significant problem and the guy I know with 2 has both off the road with this issue. Rest of the car is usual Alfa/Fiat from this period so not too bad.
Lots of different specs including a facelift that (IMHO) ruins the car plus an ugly brake light was fitted to the boot from circa MY 2000/1, lots of grey imports too with very basic spec.
They're small inside and a snug fit but drive very nicely as they are fairly light, I really like them. Sweet spot car for me would be an N reg in orange or steel grey with no ABS, cloth seats, steel wheels and no frills.
Great car and I still really want one .
There is a lot of similarity and general read across from the Twin Spark 916 GTV/Spider especially with engine/front suspension and braking system. Rear suspension is simpler and more or less Fiat Coupe. Parts availability for read across parts from 916 is OK bordering on getting difficult for some.
There's a breaker in Doncaster area who seems to be the only real UK parts specialist for them although DTR Sportscars in Coulsdon were the UK experts, not sure they do much with them now. The best parts availability seems to be from Holland or Germany, from experience it isn't as easy as it used be importing parts now. Beware N/P/R reg cars with Bosch 2Si ABS as the ECU is unrepairable, very sensitive to being spiked and almost unobtanium but note you can get a base version with no ABS as standard.
Rust in floor pans with the Barchetta is a significant problem and the guy I know with 2 has both off the road with this issue. Rest of the car is usual Alfa/Fiat from this period so not too bad.
Lots of different specs including a facelift that (IMHO) ruins the car plus an ugly brake light was fitted to the boot from circa MY 2000/1, lots of grey imports too with very basic spec.
They're small inside and a snug fit but drive very nicely as they are fairly light, I really like them. Sweet spot car for me would be an N reg in orange or steel grey with no ABS, cloth seats, steel wheels and no frills.
Great car and I still really want one .
Thanks for that Wal, some good tips and background knowledge to consider.
It makes sense that the Spider shares a lot with the barchetta, they're from the same "golden era" of Fiat. I still recall the big news with the Alfa GTV/Spider and its multi-link rear suspension, quite a thing back then!
I do wonder how many of the shared parts across the models are 100% interchangeable. For instance, will the brake discs and pads be the same between any of these platforms? No doubt al Alfa (or barchetta) specific part will carry a substantial premium...
Do you recall the name of that book you mentioned? Is it the Brooklands test book? This is the only one I can find from a quick search on eBay right now.
Hopefully I'm off to see a barchetta next weekend. This should give me an idea of size as well as of its character. I'm expecting it to be good fun to drive along lanes, nimble, feeling like a classic car. This will be an occasional use car, so I need it to be easy to keep in good condition and enjoyable to drive.
It makes sense that the Spider shares a lot with the barchetta, they're from the same "golden era" of Fiat. I still recall the big news with the Alfa GTV/Spider and its multi-link rear suspension, quite a thing back then!
I do wonder how many of the shared parts across the models are 100% interchangeable. For instance, will the brake discs and pads be the same between any of these platforms? No doubt al Alfa (or barchetta) specific part will carry a substantial premium...
Do you recall the name of that book you mentioned? Is it the Brooklands test book? This is the only one I can find from a quick search on eBay right now.
Hopefully I'm off to see a barchetta next weekend. This should give me an idea of size as well as of its character. I'm expecting it to be good fun to drive along lanes, nimble, feeling like a classic car. This will be an occasional use car, so I need it to be easy to keep in good condition and enjoyable to drive.
The book is indeed the Brooklands one, it's lots of road tests of the car from various magazines throughout the life of the car. Some useful back to back test versus the usual suspects too, definitely worth a read.
I forgot to mention the Barchetta is based on the Punto floor pan rather than the Tipo the Fiat Coupe/GTV/Spider is derived from, it's not a bad thing though as you'll hopefully find out when you test drive one. The engine was also used in the Punto GT but when you look at one the read across to the Twin Spark is very clear (bar the Twin Spark Head). It's good news as if you need parts they are still very much off the shelf. Cambelts are every 3 years on these rather than the 5 yearly periodicity the Fiat Coupe has.
If you've had an Alfa or Fiat from this period before you'll recognise all of the brakes, they are the same (apart from the really early 1995 cars) and parts are still very much available. I did struggle with getting some brake flexis for quite a while but TRW appeared to do a run just at the right time for me, these are the sort of things that can be a pain.
One other place to look for rust is the boot under the spare wheel, they can go here.
Hope you enjoy the test drive and please post some photos if you buy it. I absolutely agree with your view that this really was a golden era for Fiat and Alfa, some really interesting fun cars came out from Italy around this time. Just hoping there are at least a few left when I have the opportunity to restore a Barchetta in the future.
Good luck
I forgot to mention the Barchetta is based on the Punto floor pan rather than the Tipo the Fiat Coupe/GTV/Spider is derived from, it's not a bad thing though as you'll hopefully find out when you test drive one. The engine was also used in the Punto GT but when you look at one the read across to the Twin Spark is very clear (bar the Twin Spark Head). It's good news as if you need parts they are still very much off the shelf. Cambelts are every 3 years on these rather than the 5 yearly periodicity the Fiat Coupe has.
If you've had an Alfa or Fiat from this period before you'll recognise all of the brakes, they are the same (apart from the really early 1995 cars) and parts are still very much available. I did struggle with getting some brake flexis for quite a while but TRW appeared to do a run just at the right time for me, these are the sort of things that can be a pain.
One other place to look for rust is the boot under the spare wheel, they can go here.
Hope you enjoy the test drive and please post some photos if you buy it. I absolutely agree with your view that this really was a golden era for Fiat and Alfa, some really interesting fun cars came out from Italy around this time. Just hoping there are at least a few left when I have the opportunity to restore a Barchetta in the future.
Good luck
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