Rust shouldn't be a problem on any Coupe that has been reasonably well looked after thanks to a galvanised body. If there is any corrosion on the visible panels, suspect crash damage and look for signs of overspray and inconsistent panel gaps. On cars at the bottom of the market, you may find the lacquer peeling from the paint, which can only be remedied with a respray.
You need to get on your hands and knees to check underneath the car for corrosion as this works its way from the inside of box sections outwards. This is due to blocked drain holes. Check around the rear lights where they are frenched into the panel as they can deteriorate. It's not a major problem but does spoil the looks of the car.
It's the same story for the chromed fuel cap, where moisture gets under the finish and gives it a milky appearance - not a deal breaker, but it spoils the looks. You should also keep the filler cap lock well lubricated to avoid it sticking. The seal around the filler neck can perish over time and let water in, so have a good look on any car you check out.
Pininfarina design for £3K? Yes!
Make sure the central locking works smoothly and quickly as the door switches can fail, which means you have to use the key to get into the car. You should also expect the car to come with all three of its keys, comprising a silver one for normal use, a blue back-up and the red master key that allows new keys to be coded to the car. Replacements from Fiat are expensive.
The distinctive headlight design of the Fiat Coupe is one of the major draws with this car. However, the plastic covers can become cloudy over time or the top layer can start to peel. New covers can still be found, but a £10 headlamp restoration kit is a better and cheaper place to start. As for the power of the headlamps, many owners have upgraded to HID bulbs for improved, brighter illumination over the below par original set-up.
PHer's view:
"I adore it for so many reasons, but I think my favourite one is how rebellious it appears in a field of bland German and Japanese metal, almost exclusively painted in grey, black, silver and white. It stands out both in terms of colour (bright yellow) but also its styling. I adore that it was clearly not styled by committee but by one man, almost like a bold sketch."
Rupert Dale