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Bravo (Classic) 1996 Fiat Bravo 1.8 HLX - Ink Black

Introduction

Thought I should finally post a few pictures of my new car. My goal is to keep it very tidy and well maintained. Keep the looks standard while improving the small details. And uprate mechanical parts as I go.

Specification
-1.8 16v 113BHP Mk1
-Metalic Ink Black 820
-HLX. Fog Lights, Heated Seats, Heated Mirrors, Electric Sunroof, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Remote Central Locking, Alloy Wheels, Immobiliser, Alarm.

Mods/Extras
-Fiat Marea Poly Elliptical Headlights With modified wiring
-Ipod/cd changer tricker interface to OEM stereo
-Leather Steering Wheel from HGT
-Vinyl Handbrake Gaiter
-K&N Panel Filter
-Brava Mk2 Passenger air vent Black
-Cap that reads 12V rather than a lighter
-Full Leather Interior
-Leather Squeak Fix
-Aircon cabin filter
-Lockwood Stainless Steel Kick plates
-Bravo 2007 Washer Jets
-Sound proofing on the rear wheel arches
-Front Mud Flaps (Fiat original PN:5908473)
-Rear Mud Flaps (Fiat original PN:5908745)
-Dark In-Pro Side repeaters (E marked)
-New totally plane number plates
-European rear right cluster for extra symmetry
-Polished and Painted lip round rear light clusters
-De-badged boot
-2007 Fiat 500 Door Handles Colour Coded
-Shaped Grey Floor Mats
-Passenger Wiper wind deflector (Modified/Fiat original)
-Bosch AeroTwin AR551S 22"20" Wiper Blades
-Original Fiat CD-Player AD1802H4
-Polyurethane anti-roll bar drop links.
-Flip Key Fob with remote central locking/alarm fitted (original keys untouched)
-Longlife Stainless Steel Exhaust System.
-Optima Red Top Battery
-Various engine bay bolts changed for Stainless Steel bolts
-Powdercoated Camshaft cover in crinkle Red
-Direct Replacement Pioneer TS-575 80W Speakers and Tweeters
-Original wheels refurbished and powdercoated. Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 195/50/R15V tyres. All 16 wheel bolts use an internal key.
Stick on balance weights.
-Brava Mk2 Black Instrument Cluster Surround
-Dynamat Sound deadening over rear quarters and rear floor area.
-Powder coated Battery Tray and Fuse Box
-Re-trimmed Leather Steering Wheel In Dark Grey


When I bought the car it was filthy with a few minor problems. The boot had been debadged. A Alpine stero had been installed in the process someone cut of the loom plug for the stereo, cut a hole in the glove box. The radiator had a small pin hole leak, someone had cut the brake pad wear sensor (loom side) and drivers check strap broken. All fixed now.

I bought it with 44500 Miles on the clock. If you average that over its age it has done 3423 Miles a year! 3 previous owners.

Some of the good points though, its very low mileage, every panel is good and original, has an undertray, new clutch slave cylinder, brand new tyres and tracking had been re-done.

For sale add picture
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Pictures 12-04-2010 - Car Unfinished.


Pictures 30-08-2010 - Car Still Unfinished.






My leather interior













Engine bay needs a lot more cleaning








Lockwood Stainless Steel Kick Plates


Left hand drive rear cluster


Audio
I really liked the original Head Unit. I found a small device that makes the Head unit think the iPod is a CD-Changer. It charges the Ipod I can control the music through the head unit or iPod.

The connects2 CTAFAIPOD007 iPod adapter is fixed inside the dashboard. I have used velcro.



I found some direct replacement Pioneer Tweeters TS-575.





The sunroof was leaking, this wiring harness clip was pushing the gutter down a lot, also a drain tube was blocked.


Here is a picture of how I have sealed the sunroof shut forever. I put masking tape on the metal edge with the roof open I put silicone all around the inside edge. Then closed the roof and unplugged it, then filled it from above with silicone.




Before;




After;






The 500 door handles are stylish and quality and fit the Bravo perfectly. New guide;
https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-brava...iat-bravo.html



The 1.8 engine is lovely it flys along effortlessly. The 1.8's anti-roll bar and suspension is a really nice improvement over the 1.4. I am very happy with it :) The only thing I do not like is the sunroof, from a looks point of view it really ruins the Bravo's roof line. One day I plan to start a project Bravo that will be an all wheel drive car, the Bravo I base it on must not have a sunroof :)


Plans - March 2012;
-Abarth/Eibach progressive suspension springs or coilovers.
-Marea Centre Console.
-Stainless Steel Brake pipes.
-Supersprint Exhaust Manifold from Punto HGT.
-Powdercoated subframes with poly mounts.
-Marea smootherd fuel cap with cabbin release.
-Larger front callipers/discs.
-HGT rear anti-roll bar.
-Quaife LSD Diff.
-Alfa twinspark engine oil cooler (dont know if it will be a direct fit) Or generic.
-Renew as many parts as possible on each job, replace as many bushes as possble with polyurethane bushes. Replace as many engine sensors as possible.
-Maybe a strut brace.
-Front GT bumper (one with no washer jets)
or -Marea headlight washer jets colour coded.

Thanks for looking,

The 1.8 1747cc Bravo's bhp and torque graph from factory. I like how linier the graph is on this and the 20 valve engine.
I just followed the link here from your classified advert.

I was going to offer similar money to what I just paid for my Broom Yellow HLX but it would frankly be insulting looking at the work you've put into the car.

If you'd like me to do the welding and paint for the MOT let me know. I prefer the HLX to the HGT and mine was cheap for good reason. :)
 
I drove the 20V Coupe' and Bravo HGT back to back when they were new and the Bravo felt wayward, top heavy and under steered like Bambi on ice. I didn't drive the HLX until I was looking for a GenIII 128 donor for my X-1/9 a couple of years ago.

The idea was to get a Punto HGT and swap the engine in there but the Bravo HLX has real power steering and AC so I could bin the pump and compressor, fit a supercharger and use injectors from a 16V or 16V Turbo Coupe' to get the air/fuel ratio back on track.

I drove the Punto HGT and it was as disappointing as expected but when I drove the Bravo HLX it was a different league and far too good to us as a donor. I didn't buy the Bravo and shelved the whole idea in the end after looking at a Punto HGT loom.

How much are you after ballpark-ish for your Bravo?
 
Liquid Knight now owns my 1.8 Bravo. You can see his progress with the car here; I am really enjoying his updates https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-brava/436186-broom-yellow-hlx-10.html


I had the 1.4 Bravo for over two years and this 1.8 Bravo for over six years. The 1.8 was a truly great and completely reliable car. With it being an older car that was in good condition it impressed everyone that took an interest in it.


I came very close to buying a Toyota GT86 but instead I went for this; a 1999 Alfa Romeo GTV V6 3.0











 
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Hello Adrian, I know you sold your Bravo, but I have a quick question:

What's the purpose of that button (with the red dot) under the hazard lights button?
I have my Bravo for 10 years now, but I have a blank button there and it has no function.

Can you help me (or someone else that knows the answer)?

Thanks in forward!
 
Hello Balanar, welcome to the Fiatforum.
The part you mention is just a blank button with a red LED light. It is part of the factory alarm system for UK cars , the red light flashes when the alarm is armed.

I miss the Bravo.
Hello Adrian, I know you sold your Bravo, but I have a quick question:

What's the purpose of that button (with the red dot) under the hazard lights button?
I have my Bravo for 10 years now, but I have a blank button there and it has no function.

Can you help me (or someone else that knows the answer)?

Thanks in forward!
 
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