Posted By: Lee_k
Rolling Restoration - Coupe 20v Turbo - 29/10/2018 19:34
So about time I got a thread going on here, for moral support or understanding.....
I'd wanted a "toy" for years then the arrival of a company car provided opportunity. I then just needed to decide what it was going to be! I have a thing for "marmite" cars (some of my previous cars include Citroen C2 VTS, C4 VTR+ Coupe & a E87 1 series) so i managed to discount the "popular" classics like Golf/Corrado VR6. I then pretty much decided on a Subaru Impreza and started looking around for the earlier model (90's was where I was looking) but never quite clicked, I then started looking at old skool cool hot hatches like a GSI Astra. Then that passed and there were 3 cars I just kept coming back to. The Alfa Romeo GTV V6, Toyota Celica GT4 & Fiat Coupe 20v turbo. After many hours looking around online I just couldnt shake the want for something full of character and the italians were shining through. That was it then, the GTV or the Coupe - ironically 2 cars on the same chassis, one a lovely V6 and better suspension and the other a 5 pot turbo, limited slip diff helping things along. A friend of mine years ago had a sprint blue 20v turbo (Nige his name was, he was a member on here too) years ago and the noise and looks had left a memory. The alfa...was a Alfa i'd had a JTDM2 Giulietta for a few years prior and the thought of the badge and a V6 was good so i was going to be happy with either. Alfa probably had better future value but everyone loves an underdog!
Few weeks passed and after a few mails etc and decisions around spending more on a "Good one" or less on a "Rolling project" and put some money in me and a mate jumped into his Focus ST and set off to Bedford to view a car.
Not quite as good as the ad read but fitted its price bracket well.
Looked ok rust wise - rear arches starting to go but 20 year old!
Low previous owners and a life in scotland should of warned me of the rust to come but it had its advantages the centre dash hadnt gone all sticky, the laquer wasnt peeling (This should of warned me of the rust im going to find!!)
Test drive in hand - first thing .... 4 pot brembo brakes.... hmmm, doesnt feel like it, brakes were poor to say the least! Straight bit of road... that noise - SOLD!
Then the 120 mile journey home was to begin. This flagged a few "italian charms" first and most annoyingly with the drive to come.... cd player didnt work! powered up but wouldnt change from "CD" and wouldnt eject a CD stuck in there... great. Fueled up and the drive starts with just the exhaust note for company. Indicate onto a roundabout, straighten up...indicator still on - Turn off manually, fine - back on, turn...no self cancel! - Ok... 2nd item on the list - The brakes were poor and not really getting any better with use - item 3. Then the drive of watching the gauges for the incoming breakdown showed the opposite of expected... it wouldnt get hot! - Stuck thermostat.... 4th - hmm this list is growing!
Other than that temp taking forever to get warm she drove without a hitch and got home without problem.
Arrival!
I'd wanted a "toy" for years then the arrival of a company car provided opportunity. I then just needed to decide what it was going to be! I have a thing for "marmite" cars (some of my previous cars include Citroen C2 VTS, C4 VTR+ Coupe & a E87 1 series) so i managed to discount the "popular" classics like Golf/Corrado VR6. I then pretty much decided on a Subaru Impreza and started looking around for the earlier model (90's was where I was looking) but never quite clicked, I then started looking at old skool cool hot hatches like a GSI Astra. Then that passed and there were 3 cars I just kept coming back to. The Alfa Romeo GTV V6, Toyota Celica GT4 & Fiat Coupe 20v turbo. After many hours looking around online I just couldnt shake the want for something full of character and the italians were shining through. That was it then, the GTV or the Coupe - ironically 2 cars on the same chassis, one a lovely V6 and better suspension and the other a 5 pot turbo, limited slip diff helping things along. A friend of mine years ago had a sprint blue 20v turbo (Nige his name was, he was a member on here too) years ago and the noise and looks had left a memory. The alfa...was a Alfa i'd had a JTDM2 Giulietta for a few years prior and the thought of the badge and a V6 was good so i was going to be happy with either. Alfa probably had better future value but everyone loves an underdog!
Few weeks passed and after a few mails etc and decisions around spending more on a "Good one" or less on a "Rolling project" and put some money in me and a mate jumped into his Focus ST and set off to Bedford to view a car.
Not quite as good as the ad read but fitted its price bracket well.
Looked ok rust wise - rear arches starting to go but 20 year old!
Low previous owners and a life in scotland should of warned me of the rust to come but it had its advantages the centre dash hadnt gone all sticky, the laquer wasnt peeling (This should of warned me of the rust im going to find!!)
Test drive in hand - first thing .... 4 pot brembo brakes.... hmmm, doesnt feel like it, brakes were poor to say the least! Straight bit of road... that noise - SOLD!
Then the 120 mile journey home was to begin. This flagged a few "italian charms" first and most annoyingly with the drive to come.... cd player didnt work! powered up but wouldnt change from "CD" and wouldnt eject a CD stuck in there... great. Fueled up and the drive starts with just the exhaust note for company. Indicate onto a roundabout, straighten up...indicator still on - Turn off manually, fine - back on, turn...no self cancel! - Ok... 2nd item on the list - The brakes were poor and not really getting any better with use - item 3. Then the drive of watching the gauges for the incoming breakdown showed the opposite of expected... it wouldnt get hot! - Stuck thermostat.... 4th - hmm this list is growing!
Other than that temp taking forever to get warm she drove without a hitch and got home without problem.
Arrival!