1999 FIAT BARCHETTA Registration Number: T34 KGO Chassis Nu...

Hammer

£2,000

1999 FIAT BARCHETTA

Registration Number: T34 KGO
Chassis Number: 0043561
Recorded Mileage: 56,000

The Fiat Barchetta roadster, pronounced 'bar-KET-ta' and which in Italian means 'little boat', was developed between 1990 and 1994 with the project name `Tipo B Spider 176' by Andreas Zapatinas and Alessandro Cavazza under the supervision of Peter Barrett Davis and other car designers at the Fiat Centro Stile (albeit the prototyping being carried out by Stola). Produced from February 1995 to June 2005, although production was paused between 2002 and 2004 due to the coachbuilders Maggiora's bankrupcy, the Barchetta was based on the chassis of the Mark 1 Fiat Punto with a 130bhp / 121lbft 1.8 litre `twin-cam' petrol engine featuring variable camshaft timing. Weighing in at 1056 kg (2328 lb) without air conditioning, the Barchetta could accelerate from 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds and touch 124mph but was limited to left hand drive cars only, even though the car was marketed and sold in two right hand drive markets - the United Kingdom and Japan.

Finished in Midnight Blue with a black interior, this 1999 model shows a sensible 56,000 miles from new, and has clearly been looked after over the years. The Barchetta comes with its original Fiat book pack and service book, showing evidence of regular maintenance. The bodywork presents well with good paint and the odd age-related mark, the interior is similarly in good order, still fitted with its original dealer-fitted radio/cassette, and the convertible roof has recently been replaced with a smart new mohair item.

With a recent MoT certificate valid to August 2023, this stylish Italian sports-car makes a worthy alternative to the more obvious choices from its Japanese or German rivals.