I have sold my Coupe

Hi All,

It is with some sadness that after seventeen years of owning my 1996 16VT, I have sold it to another Fiat Fanatic. I have certainly enjoyed my time as a Coupe owner and it would have to be my favourite, just ahead of the Bertone X1/9 which the Coupe replaced.

The new owner is a fellow member of the Fiat Car Club of Queensland, and, for those "Downunder" you would have met him at the Fiat Nationals. And yes, he is already a member of this Forum as he has been looking for a Coupe for a while.

Thanks to all for the advice that I have received over the years from my fellow owners and I was also glad that I could pass on my advice on occasions; after all that is one of the reasons we belong to the Forum.

I have placed an order for a new Series 4 Abarth 595 Competizione and it should be delivered later this month as it is already on the water, with a build date of 30/3/2021.

I thought a new Fiat would be a great way to celebrate my 50th year of exclusive Fiat ownership, having bought my first one, a 1969 125 in 1971. For the last 38 years, we have always had 2 Fiats in our garage so the Abarth will reside beside our 500X, both white and both with a 1.4 turbo under the bonnet but with a slight difference in power!

And just a piece of Trivia, with the release of the Series 5 Abarth 595 here in Australia in a few months time, Fiat Australia, in their infinite wisdom, is discontinuing the 595 and only offering the 595 Competizione version. Why?

Congratulations on the abarth. Great spec and good fun to drive. I have a love hate relationship with mine, its lovely to drive, sounds fun, and has a great sound system. I also hate it because i feel every pothole, lump and acon on the road
Hopefully the new owner of the coupe will keep it alive and in as good a shape as you did!

Really sorry you've parted company with her Graeme, I'd actually heard this news a week ago from one of our Dutch spies friends when we were having a conversation about numbers of 20vt's in Australasia.

No doubting your Fiat loyalty though - I recall when my parents' eyes were opened to Fiats in the 1960's they managed to get through 11 in about 8 years! Pa had an 850, 1100, 850 coupé, 124 x2, 125, 131 x2 and Ma had a 500, 600 and 850. Dad and I used to drool over the 124 sport coupé but he never went that far - he would have definitely slavered over my 16vt then 20vt.

Hope you'll drop in on here from time to time, especially when you lot start worrying about the Ashes later this year

Hi Possum - mucho respecto after seventeen years of ownership but good to see the coupe staying within the enthusiast fold

Sam - I assume you know that the harsh ride on the 500 Arbath's can be fixed with fitting Coupe bump stops as they are shorter in length and offer more travel? Quick and cheap fix and a popular mod apparently.

I didn't!!!! This is why this place is great

Don't have one myself but may buy an early model next year but the harsh ride was a particular turn off hence doing some digging on the subject. I think some independent Abarth specialists have also made more driver friendly bump stops so worth doing a bit of Googling.

I think that many people fit the same bump stops as used in the Coupe, that seems to have driven up the price, I'm not sure how else to explain why Partsworld are selling a pair for nearly £60 when they used to be under £20

Sorry to hear you've sold your 16VT after all these years, but glad it has gone to another enthusiast and will stay here in Brisbane!
Look forward to taking a peek at the 595 when it arrives!