Looking for a pre 1999 Barchetta Orange or Yellow with Air con? Or does anybody know whether it can be fitted retro' if so how much, and where? thanks Len

Retro fitting aircon is a pig of a job. Pipes plumbing and removing the entire dash. Not hard to do if you get the parts but shed load of work.

I got a B with aircon but it took a load of searching..The dash panel is different as well. Electic switches repacing the manual slider.

I'm also not sure that air con is worthwhile. I've driven in the summer in the south of France with the top down and was quite comfortable. In fact drove all the way home with the top down.

The only thing I think it might help with is if it blows out more hot air for those blue sky, cold winter, top-down days.

Its a nightmare job and just so much work. I looked into it as I had the chance to get all the parts for the aircon. In the end the only part I went for was the two rad fans so I could cool my engine faster if it gets hot.

Mine has air con and it's great for when it's really hot in town and you're stuck in traffic when you'd just bake exposed to the sun. Also in the winter it's great for demisting the windows in seconds. The barchetta air con system works really well but has a flaw - at the base of one of the refilling pipes, the pipe is prone to cracking from vibrations and costs about £130 plus fitting from fiat for a replacement.

I'd definately hold out for air con if you can find one. No idea how many have it though.

Check this link.

https://www.fiatforum.com/barchetta/97295-how-important-air-con.html

I added it and it made a world of difference for defrosting in the winter. As the B was my only car at the time, it was worth the steep price for very hot days in suits.

Anyone want more details, let me know.

If you are dead set on a b with aircon you might be better off looking for a car on the continent. Chances are that if you can find a car in Spain/France/Italy it will be in better condition (in terms of rust due to climate) and is more likely to have left the factory with aircon. Buying one, shipping it back and converting it for UK roads is going to be a lot less that circa 1.4k to retro fit!!!

Just an alternative view on the same topic..................

I beg to differ with B prices in Spain, you may possibly be correct with rust/condition etc, but being lhd abroad keeps the B price healthier than being cackhanded in the UK. Plus it's generally true too that ALL used cars in Spain (lhd) are forever more expensive than what we Brits are used to.
I expected all s/h cars to be generally keener priced, they're not. As expected though ex UK RHD stuff in Spain plummets in value, cos as in England who'll pay a premium for a rhd in a lhd country with the added inconvenience and extra ins. ???
I rest my case M'Lud