Buying a Coupe... Maybe - Advice needed

Hello All.

Your opinions please Ladies and Gentlemen:

I'm a seasoned old Fiat person now, 7 Cinqs, 3 Seis and 2 Puntos are in or have passed through the family. All have had knocks, bumps, knackered bushes, handbrakes, seized brakes, rads, fans (no point in doing the rest of the 'built in Poland' list) so I'm not intimidated by the usual stuff.

So, whilst casually browsing my favourite local insurance recovery yard, spot a red Coupe they've had for a while, and I pondered on buying it for a fun weekend type thing. It has a clamshell that needs replacing, front bumper wrecked and HORRIFIC mileage - 168K! It's bright red, Coupe 2.0 16v on a P plate. It's peanuts - under £500 on the screen, I can get it for less than peanuts, maybe £300 as I've had a few Fiats from them.

So.... a few questions. Is there any way it could have made it to 170k WITHOUT major surgery? Like a new engine? - which obviously would be good, or is it likely to be such a horrible nightmare there's no point touching it? Are clamshells a million quid? Coupes Nightmares to work on? (but what could be worse than getting your hands stuck down the back of a 899cc 120k old Cinq engine?).

Is the message, 'forget it Nik'? It's okay if it is... just want a range of opinions... thanx everyone!

nik@nikcoleman.com

i don't know about the rest of the stuff, but i do know the bonnets are like hens teeth and can very very expensive if you do find one in decent condition.

used to be a guy on fccuk forum, carlt..he had many bonnets stockpiled and was a well renowned coop breaker...

Ouch, sounds like it could be a right money pit! I mean, you could get it going for a few hundred if you're lucky, but then again it could take a LOT more! I've have experience of a problematic 16V engine and it would make Bill gates sweat it was that expensive! saying that though it WAS a turbo
As for the bonnet, Countrycruising's yer man on the fccuk forum, really nice chap too and should have them in stock you never know you may pick up a bargain but just walk into it with your eyes wide open!

Last time I spoke to Carl he wasn't doing Fiats anymore, said he was going to start either RS's or TVR's, think he's had enough of 'em... I'll give you his phone number if you want to ask him?

yeah Carl packed in the Fiat game, contact Countrycruising instead

Thanks everyone on that - decided life is too short for that project! The yard is breaking it though- www.gowing.co.uk

Thanks all!

Nik