Fiat Barchetta Question
Author
Discussion

bewbsmakemesmile

Original Poster:

10 posts

204 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
Does anyone know if UK reg Barchettas have RHD OR LHD headlights and if the speedometer is in MPH or KPH.

I bought a smart car in uk and registered it in france and had to change the headlights and the speedo to legally register the car here.
Am planning on changing for a Barchetta but the extra cost of getting those things changed might make it impossible for a few more months at least.

Thx for any info

Pooh

3,692 posts

275 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
I had a barchetta, it had British spec lights and the speedo had MPH readings added too it but i cannot remember if it was British registered or not. I am sure that most second hand barchettas in the UK would be fitted with UK lights and an MPH speedo.

Robert060379

15,754 posts

205 months

Saturday 5th September 2009
quotequote all
No Barchettas were ever made right hand drive it would have cost to much to have developed the car that way. It would have require a new bulk head, steering rack, shorter collum, exhaust system and gear box. I don't even recall anyone attempting the conversion as the parts bin would have come up short.

Pooh

3,692 posts

275 months

Saturday 5th September 2009
quotequote all
Robert060379 said:
No Barchettas were ever made right hand drive it would have cost to much to have developed the car that way. It would have require a new bulk head, steering rack, shorter collum, exhaust system and gear box. I don't even recall anyone attempting the conversion as the parts bin would have come up short.
You can get converted cars(DTR do/did them IIRC) but they are not recommended, partly because there is a lack of space for the pedals in the RH foot-well.

isuk

1,522 posts

238 months

Saturday 5th September 2009
quotequote all
DTR built 6 RHD conversions. There's a pic at the bottom of their "Waht's in our workshop" page http://www.dtrsports.com/

bored-of-coding

1,292 posts

219 months

Tuesday 8th September 2009
quotequote all
My barchetta is a UK supplied car, and it has the speedo in MPH and the correct headlights for the UK.

Most of them here (UK) seem to be personal imports though, with speedos in KPH. The headlight conversion to UK may or may not have been done.

Edited by bored-of-coding on Tuesday 8th September 16:42

Whatty

598 posts

203 months

Tuesday 8th September 2009
quotequote all
Good question.

Back in the day - 1999 - I bought a 1997 Barchetta, ex-Fiat UK car with mph speedo, subsequently failed its first MOT due to incorrect headlight dipping. Several phone calls to Fiat UK resulted in them fitting the correct units FOC. Pretty good I thought bearing in mind that I bought it outside of the dealer network from the second owner. I asked the dealer who fitted them how much it would have cost me if Fiat UK hadn't stepped up and was told circa 600 quid.



Edited by Whatty on Tuesday 8th September 20:33

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

277 months

Wednesday 9th September 2009
quotequote all
Robert060379 said:
No Barchettas were ever made right hand drive it would have cost to much to have developed the car that way.
I don't see anyone either asking or suggesting they were?