Hello everyone.

Thought I’d finally share some pictures of my recently acquired Fiat Coupe 20vt. I joined this group a few weeks ago in the hope I’d find a decent car as you usually find well looked after ones owned by enthusiasts on here. But after posting a message on a Facebook forum, I got a message from someone who was ready to part with their coupe.

When I saw the pictures ( portofino blue) and the service history,
I was interested in a potential buy. The only issue was that this coupe was based just south of the Cairngorms in Scotland and I couldn’t have
been further away ; Southampton🤦🏻🤣.

I did a little research using the search engine on here and found out it was for sale back in 2019 by a very nice chap named bill who had bought it from new back in 1998 and had owned it for 21years. Managed to get in contact with him and had a chat about the car and he told me the history of his coupe. So after a lengthy chat I made up my mind to buy the car.

Made a deal and bought the car but now was the issue of collecting it. Was planning to fly from Southampton to Edinburgh and the owner Robert was kind enough to offer me for him to pick me up from the airport and drive back to his house and then for me to drive all
The way back to Southampton. But costs and time, I went down the root of having it trailered using Shiply.

Now I have never bought a car blind, and never used Shiply before but I thought sod it, let’s take a gamble. Finally got a deal on Shiply thought cost £485 which I thought was a bargain. This guy picked it up at 2pm and arrived at my place at 12.30am the next morning.

Anyway, really happy with the car and here is a list of what work I have done to her..

Front brembo callipers, rebuilt with new seals, removed corrosion behind sliders as pads were binding, new discs new pads.
Replaced both front lower arms and drop links
New rear discs and pads and new off side rear caliper
New Cybox car back system as original stock was rusty.
Removed rusty bolts and replaced with new stainless bolts to front undertray.
Removed sticky residue on centre console and handbrake tray.
Fitted alloy rings to dials.
Complete body detail, removing some overspray on roof using claybar and polished all panels with da polisher.
15mm spacers all round with new bolts.
Fixed passenger wing mirror ; now works in all directions.
Detailed the engine, replacing most rusty bolts with stainless.
Installed new speakers as factory are garbage.

Jobs to do.

Fix non returning indicator stalk

Replace oil cooler pipes.

I have also spent the last couple of days stripping the rear seats, rear quarter trim, all trim in the boot to locate an annoying rattle
( metallic sound like something tapping on a panel )It definitely behind the rear seat about head height. Checked everywhere, for loose cables, loose bolts but can’t find anything. I’m at a loss with that one.

Anyway, always loved the look and sound of the 20vt coupe. I also own an Alfa 156 GTA for the past 13 years and an Alfa spider ts.

Here is a link to my Coupe. This was kindly set up by Bill the original owner who allowed me to update with my current work in progress pics including his from the past.


Link to pics

Cheers

James

Delighted you have found your coop James

Re your annoying tapping sound, there's not a lot loose around that area in the rear tbh, not internally at least.

You've no doubt checked the 2 x 10mm nuts on the rear of the main seat squab; also that the ski-hatch is fully clonked shut - this can sometimes mean pulling the material loop as you close it.

Then there is the aerial amplifier mounted on the n/s C pillar...

Perhaps the centre brake light mounting....two knurled screw-wheels underneath accessed from the boot.

Or maybe one of the roof-liner bolts is loose.

Another place you are sure to have checked is around each rear 3/4 panel, this means the inner studs as well as the outer bolts; and of course the speaker mountings. While you're there, check the condition of the inner sills and rear of the pininfarina badge to make sure the two pin-holes aren't leaking.



The non-self-cancelling indicator issue is endemic, there is a good howto on here. My own take is to reduce the play around the central white plastic/nylon cylinder to make the teeth engage more efficiently by removing it and putting a couple of O-rings around it by trial-and-error; you could also file the teeth a bit to improve the 'bite'.

Hi James

Hope to see you on the road anytime soon, I'm in Winchester.

Jon