Pretty much everyone I've talked to about Fiat Coupes has told me to join up, as you're not only friendly, but also very knowledgable about this misunderstood and often maligned cars.

A good friend of mine used to have one, he also pointed me here, his was a broom yellow car affectionately nicknamed turbo custard, and aside from a coolant pipe issue and a cracked manifold was actually pretty damn reliable, even though it was pushed hard and modified a fair bit from standard; I believe he used to post under the pseudo name skate2create

Anyhoo, after reading a copy of Practical Classics Magazine recently, I decided I wanted a Coupe. Knowing my Cousin in Letchworth has one off the road at the moment I decided I'd send him a quick message and ask if he'd part with it.

The short version is that he's planning on expanding the family and wants a 7 seater, the coupe just isn't practical any more and although he's had a new cambelt, service and suspension work done recently at power italia (400 miles ago)as well as a Gtec 2 Chip, due to spiraling insurance costs in the area, the car has sat dormant for a year, but I'm not stranger to cars in general, I've recommisioned a number of old cars, so I'll rebuild the brakes, check everything over before I use it.

So, it looks like I'm the new owner of an S reg Portofino Blue 20v Turbo .

My other cars include a 1988 924S (restoration in progress) and a Eunos Roadster V Special in Black (daily driver).

I think it'll look right at home in the stable.

Welcome to the forum, might be worth joining the club; look to your left for details, you'll get discounts, access to a decent workshop manual, loads of other benefits too

^^^What he said. This time, ignore him any other though....

Welcome to the Forum, it's definately the place to be, even if you don't have a Coupe.

Welcome to the Forum, +1 on the above ^^^^

Welcome to the forum!

Glad to hear that the Practical Classics article helped persuaded you

Lovely introduction. Welcome!

Hi and welcome

Thanks all for the warm welcome.

Joining the club is something I'm keen to do once I've got the car back to my house

I'll try and keep a rolling record of the work as it goes on and start a thread on here regarding it.

From what I've seen you've got some lovely looking cars on here :), and some monsters in terms of power!, I'm actually shocked at what is possible with a relatively low spend and a few choice modifications.

Already building up a list of parts in my head to finish the work my cousin had started!

Welcome to the f ccuk'ers Dave, there's never a boring moment here

The coupe is still the only previous car I miss.

btw, i maybe selling our 03 reg zafira GSI. an excellent compromise for the petrol headed family man let me know if your cousin is interested

Welcome to your new life Dave.

Someones got to save the porto-pinkos !!

Hello to another Porto fan may I say that I think we have the BEST looking colour coupe and yes your in the right place for info cars meets and madness, as soon as you get your Murple gets some pics posted up

You do still get the odd eccentric on here Dave_D

Welcome to the coven of the rest of us ol' gits

Nice collection. Just in case you didn't spot it here the Practical Classics article didn't mention the coolant hose of death or CHOD.

Hi and welcome.

Another member of the Lavender Hill Mob.

Welcome.

Funnily enough every former Coupe owner I've spoken to has told me that it's their biggest motoring regret, even taking into account the bills, including Joe.

Infact we've had to come to a compromise, I'm not allowed to sell the car ever!, if I'm ever short of money he's going to buy it back, making sure I'm not out of pocket

I must carry on with the work he had planned, the GTec 2 Map and fueling was set up at AutoItalia, however he had planned a hybrid turbo, FMIC and SIP. It's going to be so difficult to convince myself that this is the way forward .

I've had a lengthy chat with my cousin about how he's going to replace the coupe and he's said that if he has to drive a van, it's got to be a nice one with the right note, so he's looking at fully loaded sharran VR6's, although to my mind he needs a grand voyager.. they're awful on paper but they work really well as a vehicle, even if they do like to drink.

Thanks again everyone for your words of wisdom and your warm welcomes, I've arrange delivery of the car to my house on or around the 14/03/2012, so expect updates around then.

In that time I'm going to sit and digest the forum guide and build up any spares I might need.

Any suggestions for my shopping list?

Welcome Dave!

"Any suggestions for my shopping list? "

OIL !

Welcome to the Forum

Hi and Welcome to the forum .

Lots of money and car cleaning products