What are the of the few cars for sale here in the Uk being reasonably rust free as I have seen a few requiring welding?

I’m thinking of getting one that I could tidy up over winter as a project but want one that’s basically sound and need tidying rather than a weld and respray. Any thoughts on what year/colour combo is best, as I have seen some Jap imports advertised with leather, but wonder about their provenance.

Are the parts still fairly well available?

I’m looking for something fun and LHD that I can take to the continent Next year with work, or just use back home in the UK. So I was also looking at how reasonable it might be to add aircon using a kit from CBS or Fiat parts?

Any thoughts on what I should pay? Many thanks for the advice!

Some come with aircon. The Grigio Steel Barchetta is difficult to match the paint if you need some patch repair, it’s never right. Spares are cheap, just shop around, Eurocarparts, eBay,Henk Barchetta, lots of places. Good luck.

Wouldn't bother with adding AC ,I don't ..[didn't] have it and never bothered me driving around top down instead for hours and hours .

Silver /grey or Grigio to give it FIAT's name seems to be the most common colour ,I much prefer one of the non metallic ,orange ,yellow ,red ,blue and the rare mauve colour.

The black car with red top and Turbine alloys is :worship:

Second hand spares are easy to find ,too many cars are currently being broken due to rust....mine included .

Thanks, I originally wanted aircon because the car might spend quite a lot of the year in Europe. In Athens right now where I am it’s 35C, aircon is essential during the day at least. In the cooler months, it’s great to put the roof down.

Coming back to the Uk i want something Uk registered that I can enjoy here as well. I do prefer the colours over the silver cars, just think it brings the shape out more and liked the Riviera models. I saw one for sale on the bay that looks ok, but ideally I’d like to have a good look for rust.

Barchetta Bloke 440 said:

Wouldn't bother with adding AC ,I don't ..[didn't] have it and never bothered me driving around top down instead for hours and hours .

Silver /grey or Grigio to give it FIAT's name seems to be the most common colour ,I much prefer one of the non metallic ,orange ,yellow ,red ,blue and the rare mauve colour.

The black car with red top and Turbine alloys is :worship:

Second hand spares are easy to find ,too many cars are currently being broken due to rust....mine included .

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Sorry you’re having to scrap yours, always hurts to do it to anything. How serious is the rust issue?

TimS321 said:

Sorry you’re having to scrap yours, always hurts to do it to anything. How serious is the rust issue?

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MOT tester found / made 6 holes ,1 I already knew about ,the inside of the rear arches the metal is like paper and it would have cost way too much to put right and I'm not sure structural strength would be retained.

I reluctantly had to draw the line at this point .

There's pics of it in my thread here....."The much travelled Barchetta "

Still looking around and saw this import with aircon. Price is quite and obviously some concerns with imports in general regarding lack of history etc, but what do members think?

Is it worth a look, or are there other questions over models shipped to Japan?
Although it has aircon, there is no leather and are the wheels non standard?
For a top price car, there’s not even a wind deflector.

Just realised I can’t post the link yet.

Looks nice, but personally I'm not a fan of the pale roof. Price is all down to condition, esp bodywork. That one looks straight enough, but horrors can lie underneath. Does it have any service history? Very few UK-registered Bs came with a wind deflector, but they pop up on eBay every so often, and are fairly easy to fit.

Barchetta Bloke 440 said:

MOT tester found / made 6 holes ,1 I already knew about ,the inside of the rear arches the metal is like paper and it would have cost way too much to put right and I'm not sure structural strength would be retained.

I reluctantly had to draw the line at this point .

There's pics of it in my thread here....."The much travelled Barchetta "

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Oh no! One of my favourite Bs on here! Will you be replacing her?

Hi, looks reasonable, wheels are larger than standard so ask if the suspension has been changed to suit (just a thought outload). Small crushed areas of rubber sealing under the roof cover lid, not sure the drivers window is sealing correctly tothe hood rubber on one of the photos. All these are smal comments.
Ask when. The lastcambelt/water pump was changed and if more than 5 years ago get it included in the price.
Steve

gar074 said:

Oh no! One of my favourite Bs on here! Will you be replacing her?

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No replacement plans .

I don't want another Barchetta as I know I will just be disappointed if it isn't
as good as the first one .

My car was 15yo when I got it ,now the youngest car is 15yo .

I don't have the cash to buy a top end one at the same price point or more than I paid for Fabio the FIAT .

TBH ,I don't even need a car currently ,road trips are down the pan if Europe gets the virus again , I had one final FINAL trip pencilled in for October .

I even looked closely at a 1997 Cinquecento, not a "500" on Ebay but no
I don't want it despite mileage below 30000 and a good MOT history.

Tim,

I sent you a DM

Cheers,
Stum