Barbz@Torque Italia, moving on

It has now come time for me to hang up my oily overalls and move on.
However, Torque Italia shall continue under new management shortly. I would just like to take the opportunity to thank the FCCUK and its members for all the support they have shown over the years.

An extra special thanks to Hanny (for being the first),
John S (for pushing the tuning boundaries),
Taz (for being me ol mukka),
Leighton,(for keeping me on my toes),
Markus, (High boost hero)
Paul S, (for being patient ),
Sean C (no.1 test bed),
Ross aka H2ypr( I hear by crown you master of SPOOL and the list goes on…….

I will still be available for any advice & support on the usual email address.

Kind Regards

Barbz

Oi. you don't have time to post.. get back to work on that head.

Well I only had a superspool through you but thank you for the service and advice you gave me when I was struggling to fit it to the downpipe - it was very reassurring to be able to use someone who came with such glowing references and is held in such high asteem.

Thanks again and good luck

What you moving onto Barbz? New line of work altogether???

As much of a loss to the forum and the coupe community as it is to lose barbz, he always worked his butt off, sometimes too much. He deserves the change in circumstances.

Thanks for all the work and time you have put in over the years.

Ross

just want to say thank you to barbz for all the work and time he spent on my car. take care of yourself and enjoy life. good luck mate.
cheers bud.

Sorry to hear that you are moving on Barbz . Thanks for all the work and advice that you have given me over the past couple of years . Hope everything works out for you !

Phil

Barbz I wasnt expecting that, but then again I have to admit I'm not entirely suprised

I really dont' know how to thank you so so much for you dedication to Coupe tuning over the years,.. you did not earn the title

The Magician for nothing!!!!


I wish you 110% success in the future and hope to chat to you soon.

Good luck!

Joe

All the very best of luck with whatever path you choose to go down.

Thanks for your help and assistance with everything.

Mark

Thanks mate for your contribution to Fiat Coupe tuning, supplying best of breed quality parts and doing jobs that are a b*tch for bargain prices ... and still be happy to talk 'till the cows come home about the Coop. Best of luck for the future.

Your a legend Barbz and you always will be. All the best for the future. We are certainly going to miss you.

<Runs off and cries like a girl>

Chris

Ditto, you'll be sorely missed mate but good luck!

Barbz,

Best of luck for the future, reading the above I don't think I could of found a better person to sort out an engine for me

Good luck fella with what ever you do. You will be missed.

Barbz, what can I say ! You have proved you ARE the tuning MASTER for the coop.
What are we going to do without you ??
Who else can we call 24hrs a day for advice when we can't change the spark plugs, undo the the sump plug etc ??

You have made many friends the last few years and I am honoured to be one of them.

I sincerely wish you the very best for the future.

Sean

Barbz, all hail the man! Very sorry to lose all your well founded knowledge and like all the others you have helped me if it is possible save money whilst tuning/repairing my coupe though your extensive encyclopedic knowledge of all things coupe. My bank balance will no doubt be better mind you.

All the best for the future mate and if you are up here in Scotland make sure you get in touch as i'm sure i'm well due you a beer mate.

Marco

well, i maybe didnt deal with you barbz but we talked couple of times back. i will be 100% ur daily customer if i were in the UK though..Im sure that all mates here will miss your days…

I was planning to meet you during my visit to UK,, anyhow hope you all the best in your future business…

Cheers

Omran

Good luck barbz. Hope you can find time to give me a little how to guide on fitting gapless piston rings!!!

Barbz,

Well, nothing more than above to say..

During my couple of phone calls with you, I was really glad to find some one dedicated to Coupé like you.. I felt that Coupé is in your blood

Reading the forum for more than 4 years now, I consider your work as a complete engineering change in the mechanical design of the Coupé.. towards better & reliable power of course

I wish you the best of luck and hope to have the chance to meet you

Cheers,
Hani

Thanks for all your help Barbz, now who is going to take my late phone call to ask what to do Good luck in your next venture.

Being from the Midlands, I didn't get to deal with Barbz very much.

However, he supplied the head, pistons and clutch for my big engine rebuild and was very helpful with all the silly questions before I actually decided what I wanted. It would have been sooooo easy for Barbz to just supply what I thought I wanted, but he spent the time guiding me to making what turned out to be exactly the right decisions. Even before the rebuild, he promised 400bhp - it eventually gave 405 - not a bad estimate!

Pretty sure that he'll be succesful in whatever he chooses to do in the future - just pick something with less stress involved!

Cheers, and enjoy whatever you end up doing

A very sad day You're not just THE undisputed champion of all things coupe but an all round thoroughly decent bloke and good friend. I really hope that your new life works out and you get the quality of life you deserve.

For every tuning breakthrough Barbz has made in the last 4/5 years there were tireless hours/days/weeks of blood, sweat and tears he invested. There will never be anyone who can replace his dedication to taking the coupe to the next level - faster, more driveable, handle better, more reliable.

The mark you made on the Fiat Coupe world will never be forgotten.

Stay in touch!!

John

Oh Shite

Well put.

Good luck to you whatever you are up to Barbz.

I never met you but irionically was just thinking about making my first trip down there, after some of the posts regarding my local 'specialist' <cough> you wigan know paul who</cough>

what a shocker thanks for all your help barbz, i'll let you know how i get on with the ultraspool.

good luck with whatever you do next mate

Good luck to you and the family Barbz,

There are a few coops over in Dubai……

Absolutely top notch bloke who has always been happy to put up with me nattering while he’s working on the car, has lent me parts when I’ve needed them at short notice, given me endless advice on the phone…. The list goes on and on.

All the best for future ventures Barbz.

All the best - I had a Turbo off you - that's my only dealing, but the service you provided was excellent and the Turbo is still going great guns.

Sorry to hear that you are moving on Barbz
I have to thank you for all the advice, you have given me over the past couple of years. You helped me a lot and... you helped at every time!
You brought forward the reliable tuning of the coupe >>400HP in UK and in Germany as well.
Thanks a lot again!
With my best wishes from Germany for you future life!
Juergen

Got any of those stickers left matey??

Best of luck in the future - You have been an FCCUK Icon!

Chrissy.

Best of luck in the future Barbz

Yes, best of luck, tell us more of what you have planned (if you don't mind)

I only bought a downpipe from you, but was grateful of a couple of phone calls. Remember you describing Hannys driving when I met you!

Barbz is off to live in dubai. Lucky sod!!

Ross

Argh! A year too soon

Looks like I'm going to be moving too shortly... always fancied Dubai!

Best of luck!

only rang you a few times barbz never actually bought anything off you but best of luck anyway! lol

Hi, we've never met, but good luck with whatever it is you're moving on to

jez... bit of a shocker... i was wondering why you where trying to flog me some "old Stock" the last time i was on the phone!

Had a fair number of parts from you in the past.. and the service was great (altho email replying wasnt your best quality )

Anyway barbz.. dubai it is.. enjoy yourself and keep tuning

Best of luck to you Barbz, you've always been more than helpful to me in the past, I remember how you managed to fit me in for a quick (and I mean quick ) phase sensor change at a moment's notice, and I'm in awe of what you have achieved in a short time. I hope that whoever takes over TI will keep maintain your high standards and good values. Next time I'm ovr in Abu Dhabi I'll have to find an excuse to come via Dubai, and look out for the odd rare Coupe out there!

It's a great shame for us that you are hanging up your overalls in the UK.

But I'm happy for you, your lovely wife and your smashing kids.

There's not much on my car that you haven't tuning, tweeked or fixed and your advice has always been honest and of the highest standard.

Thank you Barbz, it's been a pleasure knowing you.

Andy

take care bud, it has been a pleasure working with you & watching you work

you would never even appreciate how hard he does work...

exchanged a gearbox, rad, timing variator, turbo actuator tweak, clutch check, crankshaft oil seal replacement, differential inspection ( all in 1 day !! )

Best of luck in the future, safe to say I am now stumped with the big jobs on the coop, best I learn myself

take care pal

This is starting to read like an obituary

shit barbz sory to see you go - who's gonna look after my coop now??????

you did seem a bit down the last time i saw you though.

so who's taking over??

wish you all the best in your new pusuit

andy

Barbz - Great work mate, will hope to keep in touch great work and dedication. I'm sure George, john, Alexis, Nareman would all agree.

Cheers Bro

Rich

Dubai, coool, then u wl be near

see you soon Barbz

its time to have fiat specialist in the region..oh god im always dreaming of that....right Hani

I suppose in a way it is....it certainly seems to be the end of an era.

I've never met or spoke to you but for the past 9 months that I've been on here, your name's been mentioned with great reverence and respect by everyone who's had dealings with you. Knowing how particular most of us on here are about who works on our coops makes that reverence and respect all the greater.

Good luck in whatever you and your family decide to do and never forget that things happen for a reason.

"Tourque" itala Dubai? you'd have Omran at leat

Damn, and there was me planning on having you fit me a new turbo

Never mind

Enjoy Dubai, Inshallah

Dubai - you might end up working on stuff like This GrahamL chip and a decat you'll have him down to 0-60 in 2 seconds

@ Zak, inshallah

@ pinin, i will use all his time

im sure that Jayel & age20vt will be happy for that (if they still didnt sell their cars)

im wondering if this guy will be his customer
he has a committee now check this

Barbz, your a sound guy. All the best in whatever you choose to do

What !!! where is my phone ? Top guy in EVERY manner of the word Sad day
But all the best to you

I actually told graham to tell ya, but obviously you've not spoke to him!!

Ross

Absolutely correct Omran..

Looking forward to meeting him sooooooon..

I,like a small number on here also have never met or spoke to you but wish you luck on whatever you plan to do in Dubai .

Baz

Good luck in your new life mate.
I remember our conversation when my engine went pop a few years back, even though you couldn't fit me in you still spent time explaining my options and how much it should all cost.
Your diagnosis and costing was spot on.
Andy

ive had no dealings with barbz at all as i'm quite close to motormech, but it's pretty obvious barbz has been something special to this marque of car.
having never met him it's hard to comment, but i've never seen or heard anything other than 100% positive comments. as such, it feels like the coupe community in general, and the "big bhp" boys in particular, are going to be much worse for his leaving. as such, i too feel sad and it feels like a backward step for fiat coupes in many ways.
i wish barbz and his family a happy and successful time in dubai, or wherever he finally ends up...

Good luck and all.

I love what you've done for the noise of my car atm. It's lengendary! lol

Honoured that you've worked on both of mine. Top jobs on each occasion, really appreciate your time, effort, knowledge - and enthusiasm for the car.

All the best for the future.

I is a big shame. also a top man to talk to on the phone and always happy to help.

good look in the future and all the best

Top bloke thanks for everything good luck for the future mate.

All the best Barbz to you and your family - Im sure that you will enjoy your change of life and change of scenery.

Will be in touch and over for a visit mate, just to keep a an eye on ya!!

Cheers for all you have done and experience that you have passed on to me and others that are far too many to list.

Now when do you want me to pick up your Coop to look after it for you until you get sorted????

lol@Hanny

What can I say?? End of an Era?!!

Its a Sad day for coop tuning

I wish you all the best barbz and many thanks for all the hard work you have put into my CARS over the years. All the tuning development and long hours doing various road tests

Good luck mate and I will see you soon

Markus

Hi Barbz, I have the polybushed wishbones you made for the last group buy, finally fitted 2 weeks ago at motor-mech, and they're running lovely, including a spin on the Nurburgring !!


All the best for your future plans !!!

Went round to Barbz' last night to see him packing up his workshop

Following on from that, Barbz is packing everything away. There is a couple of things that is being sent to me (small items) that i will post up if they are still available. Everything else is either sold or pending sale on ebay or the forum. If there is anything that you want, please pm me or phone barbz to arrange payment asap.

Ross

I must have just missed you John! I want a pro Kart now!

I've heard about this...

70mph?

Ross

will some one be taking over the business?? and carry on developing the coupe and new parts??

Doubtful. More likely it will be a continuation of supply of current parts and advice.

Ross

All the very best in your new venture.

You instigated various new methods of modifications and upgrades for the Coupe which in the "olden" days were quite often the trigger for some heated discussion.........this however was a real bonus for any enthusiasts using this forum as it allowed an insight in what was and wasn't possible from an engineering and performance perspective for the Coupe. Top stuff and something that is lacking a little these days.....too many experts! (In reality though real experts are few and far between.)

All the best,
Jules.

ps........you also knew how to drive the car properly......which is a big bonus in my book.

Not the only person to say this, who doesnt own a coupe no more.

Ross

Just wanna say thanks for all the work you have done barbz!
(sure you cant fit in a 2.4 conversion before you go )

Ive only had the coop 2 years, but it was always worth driving the coop 60 odd miles just for a service. Such an honest straight talking bloke.

I might have to get rid of her now :p.
Take care d0od and GL in what you do.

steve

Barbz,
Many thanks for the hard work and effort you've put into developing the coupe over the years, all the very best to you and your family for the future.

Good luck Barbz,
Top man, always on hand for any issue's/questions etc..
Hope you have a more relaxed life.

All the best,
Doug.

All the very best for you and the family.

You've been a gent and, like many others on her I can only say that it's been a privilege having your greasy fingerprints on my car!

Blimey - and here's me thinking it was just a 'holiday'!!

Thanks again for all the work, help and advice in rebuilding the coop.

All the best in Dubai!

Mark

Good luck Barbz,
Thanks for the turbine and all the advice you gave me and all the Fccuk members.
You will be missed.

I was lucky enough (Barbz was unlucky) to live close to Barbz so aswell as all my servicing and belt jobs he also got my coop paranoia jobs aswell.

"Car feels slow Barbz" Warm air

"Horrible banging noise, what is it Barbz?" My imagination?

Always able to fit me in so thanks a lot mate and good luck in your new adventure, thanks for the oil to.

silverinho, you had (imho) the best coop that ever got trashed - too bad it came to a crunchy end. What do you have right now?

Thanks freak it was a lovely car.

Old Plus.

I wonder how many forummers have got bits of my old car, it lives on!



Got a Honda S2000 now and am very pleased with it!

S2000

Still haven't taken a picture of it myself, my Nephew took this.

I was lucky to as I live 5mins drive away, what will I do now
To my suprise he just called and was still sorting out bits for me...top bloke!

Take care mate I know i've said it a thousand times already but thanks for everything! Owning the coupe won't be the same for me knowing you're not around i'll probably drive down your road now and then for memory sake (I know its in my mind but the car always felt like it drove better when leaving yours even if I just stopped by to say hi lol), I wont walk down the alley to your garage though...that would be freaky and I might get arrested! Chat soon and gd.luck.

Cheers
John Singh

May i ask, What does Mr Barbz want to do now ??. Another job or ?

He did tell me but I have a bad memory, um...something to do with importing American cars possibly, now where did I park my car again!

Thanks guys for all the supportive comments.

Transition to new management will take a couple of months, so in the meantime we are still offering most spare/tunning parts from our website, please send your enqiuries to torqueitalia@yahoo.co.uk.

Thank you
Barbz

Am i helping or am i dumped?

Good to see you arrived safe dude!

Ross

Torque Italia will still be around from what I gather

The new guys will make their presence felt I am sure.

Sure is a sad day Barbz to hear you leave the UK for a new life.

All the best for you & your family, as you said they have to come first

keep in touch, maybe I'll pop in when I'm back tracking soon

Taz

is the 500 bhpcoupe still for sale mate?tb

550 bhp for sale

and how many pennys wud sir be wanting for that,may i ask? thanks for quick reply bud