I have been on this forum for a while now but only recently has my Fiat Grande Punto Active Sport 1.4 8V *breathe* been on the roads. I know Abarth enthusiasts won't like what I've done but it does have genuine Abarth parts...i.e. the badges! haha. I also own a Fiat 126 which sadly had to be taken off the road, but I fully intend to restore him 
I bought Bart in September 2013, but with the cosmetic changes I wanted doing, and the hard work of my dad and uncle very kindly did (with me only being charged for parts, not labour!) it wasn't until very late April of this year that I got Bart here with me at university. Totally worth the wait. The car had some dints here and there, and only really needed an oil sump replacing mechanical wise. Here's some photos of the start to beginning!
When I first bought him you can probably see a couple of dints, there were some bad ones on the other side too, and the front bumper was literally nailed on :S
Got these lovely sporting alloys, got them painted white and they've come out gorgeous.
A small example of just some of the bodywork repairs carried out.
Primed
A new front bumper, sprayed with the black centre piece.
And Bart presently, apologies for the car-sales-brochure-esque picture, but how could I not when I was driving around the lake district
Future plans? Well, at the moment I'm still mesmerised at having a working handbrake, a synchromeshed 1st gear, no condensation dripping on your head from the roof, no draughts as there is no hole in the floor (these charming, if canny annoying qualities are those of Bert, my 126). But, abarth centre caps will be bought in a few months, once I have uni in September again and therefore student loan! Also, as the exhaust has a very slight blow to it, so for the next MOT I'm considering buying a louder one, chavvy I know, but this engine is so quiet compared to my little 704cc one that sometimes you don't know it's on! Also the headlights will be replaced with Abarth ones at some point next year.
I bought Bart in September 2013, but with the cosmetic changes I wanted doing, and the hard work of my dad and uncle very kindly did (with me only being charged for parts, not labour!) it wasn't until very late April of this year that I got Bart here with me at university. Totally worth the wait. The car had some dints here and there, and only really needed an oil sump replacing mechanical wise. Here's some photos of the start to beginning!
When I first bought him you can probably see a couple of dints, there were some bad ones on the other side too, and the front bumper was literally nailed on :S
Got these lovely sporting alloys, got them painted white and they've come out gorgeous.
A small example of just some of the bodywork repairs carried out.
Primed
A new front bumper, sprayed with the black centre piece.
And Bart presently, apologies for the car-sales-brochure-esque picture, but how could I not when I was driving around the lake district
Future plans? Well, at the moment I'm still mesmerised at having a working handbrake, a synchromeshed 1st gear, no condensation dripping on your head from the roof, no draughts as there is no hole in the floor (these charming, if canny annoying qualities are those of Bert, my 126). But, abarth centre caps will be bought in a few months, once I have uni in September again and therefore student loan! Also, as the exhaust has a very slight blow to it, so for the next MOT I'm considering buying a louder one, chavvy I know, but this engine is so quiet compared to my little 704cc one that sometimes you don't know it's on! Also the headlights will be replaced with Abarth ones at some point next year.
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