1998 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo *Sold £6,300*

Description

• Only 69,500 miles 
• Registered 1998 and stored away for 16 years 
• One previous owner 
• Service History  
• New cambelt 
• New turbo 
• All the keys including Red Master Key 
• 2.0 20v 220bhp Turbo engine 

The Head of Fiat, Paolo Cantarella, had a pure Italian passion for cars, He wanted to put Fiat back where it belonged, making beautiful, stylish, fast Italian automobiles. He believed the return of Fiat to its rightful spot in the automotive pecking order would not be done by re-modelling an existing Fiat. He wanted a brand new car. He commissioned styling house Pininfarina to design one and told his engineers to work out mechanicals. Paolo got what he wanted. Some crockery probably got smashed along the way, hey-ho. 

When Fiat launched the Fiat Coupe in January 1994, complete with engines from the World Rally Championship winning Lancia Delta Integrale, it quickly became a major success. 

In 1998, Fiat took the Coupe to the next level, by adding a 2.0ltr 20v turbo engine producing 220bhp. With a 0-60mph of just over 6 seconds it was the fastest front wheel drive car.  Even today, the Coupe 20V Turbo can still hold its own. 

Background 

This particular Fiat Coupe Turbo was previously owned and cherished by a mature gent from the Fiat Coupe Owners Club. In 2006, he parked it in his garaged and it hadn’t moved until our vendor came rescued it. 

Our vendor is very well known in the Italian sports car community. It was transported into his workshop and he set about a full recommission, which turned into something else entirely, as you’ll read below. 

Engine and Transmission 

Open up that unique clam shell bonnet and underneath you find a superb 20v five cylinder engine turbo, pushing out 220bhp with an incredible 310nm of torque. For a front wheel drive car that is rare even today and unheard of back then. To make sure all that powers transfers, Fiat fitted a limited slip diff via a viscous drive unit. This counters the enormous torque steer that some front wheel cars suffer from as you hit the throttle and the steering wheel flips wildly like a great White Shark having its dinner. 

Replacing the 2.0 16v Turbo engine with the 20v, Fiat introduced the blown version of the 2.0 20v 5 cylinder block. The 2.0 20v Turbo, came equipped with a state of the art Garret Turbo.  

It produced an eye-popping, 220bhp, 6.5 seconds from 0-60, and a top speed of 155mph… what a car! As the fastest Fiat of all time and the fastest front wheel drive production car when it was launched, the new 20V Turbo is a piece of Fiat history. 

Due to the design set-up, the 20v Turbo has great road holding capabilities. The safe choice of front wheel drive, meant this car was easy to drive extremely hard. The 20v Turbo gobbled up Porsches and made the odd Ferrari driver of the day think twice. 

This 20V has a service history backed by a stamped service book. 

During the recommission our vendor replaced the cambelt. The turbo unit was also replaced. The gearbox was removed to investigate a notchy gear selection, that was stripped and rebuilt. Before it went back in, a new clutch was fitted. The engine was fully serviced 

Exterior 

In original 20V Turbo colour of 258 Giallo Ginestra (Yellow Broom, in English, doesn’t sound quite so good does it) the galvanised body looks very good. 

When the car was new, it was spec’d with a sunroof which is a lovely and very rare feature. 

Our vendor is refreshingly honest. He tells us the Giallo coachwork is “good”. His close inspection revealed a “few stonechips” on the front bumper which is common on the Coupes, but he advises us “it’s not bad”. On one corner of the massive clamshell bonnet he advises us he has detected some “deterioration of the lacquer” coat. A similar discovery was made on a corner of the rear bumper. 

He is very particular. Our vendor’s vehicles often make magazine appearances. Next month’s edition of Auto Italia features a front cover of his Fiat Uno Turbo. It looks marvellous! 

This Fiat Coupe is a remarkable shape and today will draw a small gathering (not a party) when you park it up.  

At the front, the exterior lines defined by a low muzzle with curvaceous headlight housings give the Coupe that low down stance making it look like its ready to pounce. Along the sides, the dramatic slashes above each wheel-arch, lead your gaze to the squared-off tail, with those beautiful round, supercar-style, recessed tail lights that are a design dream few have been able to emulate. It was exactly what Paolo ordered.  

Interior 

Well, the Italians do know how to build a sports car interior.  Pininfarina’s design flair is all over the cabin space with the deep-set dials echoing the look of those tail lights. It is such a subtle and clever touch. 

We have all the keys with this Coupe, including the Red Master Key. If that is not available it could spell trouble. It is the mark of a decent car. 

The seats have been out as part of the re-commission by the vendor – he doesn’t do anything by half – the carpets professionally were cleaned and dyed. Our vendor describes them as “amazing now”. 

This Coupe is spec’d with the optional factory leather seats. As you’d expect they are fine fettle. 

The previous owner cared for this car. Sixteen years of storage has preserved it well. Our vendor’s careful and expensive re-commission has taken it to another level. 

Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and Other 

The 20v Turbo featured independent suspension all round. Up front, MacPherson struts and lower wishbones anchored to an auxiliary crossbeam with offset coil springs and anti-roll bar keep everything under control and make for a sporty but comfortable ride. 

At the rear, we have trailing arms mounted on an auxiliary subframe fitted with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. With the  engineering team following Paolo’s instructions “ to get Fiat back where it should be” the weight distribution and balance of the Coupe are near perfect. 

In typically Italian style only one braking system would do for the 20v Turbo. Brembo’s were fitted all round, then painted and lacquered in matching body colour. 

The cross-drilled front brake discs do make a difference. Bite is better, and the vents letting out the gas formed when braking prevents fading which adds a bit more power. They’ve thought of everything. All of these original items are there and look good.  

The wheels have been freshly refurbished. Our vendor tells us that additional work includes, new brake linings, new brake pipes and the car comes with an MOT dated February 2023. 

Our view 

This 20V Turbo was first registered 13 May 1998 making it a very late model Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. The factory stopped producing them about 12 mpnths later. This Coupe has had just one previous owner in all that time. 

Fiat Coupe 20V Turbos are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.  When the few that are around come to market there is usually considerable interest. 

What do we have here. A car with very low ownership that has been in safe storage from many years. In fact, when you work it out, the car is 24 years old. The Coupe has been in storage for 16 of those years! 

Now recently and expensively re-commissioned, clutch, turbo, cambelt, undertaken by a professional vendor. 

As we mentioned above, it’s interesting to note, our vendor is well known in Italian automobile circles. He knows a thing or two about Italian sports cars and Coupe’s in particular, having had a small collection of them alongside the odd Ferrari. His Fiat Uno features on the front cover of Auto Italia. 

We’ve had the pleasure very recently of marketing and selling another Fiat Coupe from his collection. He set the reserve at an extremely reasonable number. It smashed that reserve by 30%. His cars are ‘good’ cars. 

We’d expect this late, low mileage 20v Turbo to finish the auction at somewhere between £4,000 – £6,000. That really does represent a proper bargain. 

Vehicle Location: Bedfordshire– it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor

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