Beschreibung
For Sale 1998 Fiat Cinquecento Sporting RHD.
This car will soon be put up for sale by auction. It will be delivered free of charge to Portsmouth by ferry after the sale.
Originally a UK registered car, that reg. no. is still associated at DVLA. Imported to and currently registered in France where I moved in 2010. UK number plates still to hand, UK headlamps will be included, so reimportation will be a simple process.
Bought by me in England in 2007 at 55k miles. Maintained and improved mostly by me for light everyday use, in largely salt-free climate since 2010. Mileage now 142k. Non-smoker household.
Standard equipment: central locking, electric windows, immobiliser, electric headlamp height adjustment. No airbag or Fiat alarm. Quality aftermarket alarm fitted but switched off. Electrics all ok. 2 blue keys + red key. Original document folder with handbook, service book, dealer list, etc.
Car runs perfectly. Instant starting, engine runs like clockwork, excellent synchromesh, quiet gearbox and diff, no suspension noise, much less roll thanks to sensibly lowered suspension, good brakes, fantastic steering. Thanks to 70 bhp engine (see below), car performs something like a Renault 5 Gordini: it's great fun, has power for overtaking, and surprises people with its acceleration. No overheating ever, in my ownersip.
Car also looks superb. Recent part respray. No dents, excellent paint finish. Repainted wheels. refurbished or new wheelbadges, zinc-nickel-plated wheel bolts. Excellent tyres (2 new fronts this summer). New bonnet badge fitted, new rear badges supplied with car. Rare original Fiat headlamp protectors.
During my ownership over 14 years, all necessary servicing has been carried out with no expense spared. Naturally, regular oil and filter changes (semi-synthetic for many years) and general services. Since 2010, I have done virtually all this work, including cambelt changes and a clutch change. It has never needed a new head gasket in my ownership, the coolant has been regularly changed. Oil consumption is totally normal (about 1 litre between oil changes), as are pollution levels. All work done since my purchase has been carefully documented by me in an extensive Word document, and with many photos also.
As well as the general servicing, significant additional work has been done:-
-> Fitment of rare new stainless steel Janspeed rear silencer, plus new standard centre silencer and pipe
-> new front struts and rear dampers (gas KYB) fitted to new 3cm lower Eibach springs at front and rear. (Standard springs available.) Ride is firm but acceptable, no problems with ground clearance, tyres never touch bodywork. Roll is MUCH reduced, grip dry or wet is excellent. The car is now at the ideal height for correct camber changes (notice how the gap between tyres and wheelarch is now uniform all the way round.
-> fitment of quality noise reduction panels everywhere possible: under roof and bonnet linings, entire floor pan, inside doors and rear inner wing panels, spare wheel well. Plans to trim inner rear wheel arches and side panels behind rear side windows have not been completed, but the materials will be supplied with the car.
-> trimming of interior door panels and pockets for style, noise reduction and to stop rattles from things in the pockets!
-> new rear brake backplates, cylinders, handbrake mechanisms, wheel bearings.
-> rewelding of driver's seat back, plus fitment of undamaged and nearly new seat fabric.
-> quality Sony CD/ USB/ Bluetooth stereo (including telephony via car speakers) plus quality speakers front and rear, with quick-disconnect jack plug to enable parcel shelf to be easily removed. Period radio/ cassette unit available if preferred.
-> original spare wheel and tools
-> carpets generally in good clean condition (one hole (caused by the previous owner's high heel..) covered by unobtrusive metal plate in driver's footwell). Additional carpet mats always fitted in my ownership. Clean headlining.
-> Original glass including windscreen with etched VIN.
-> 'sports' foot pedals. Worn leather trim for gearknob removed but new trimmed black leather ready to sew in place,
-> professionally done welding and painting repairs in spare wheel well and boot area.
-> professionally done respray of front and rear bumpers, bonnet, front wings and doors, plus new metal repair of inner sill behind wheel spat, plus repaired and repainted original wheels, fitted with original wheel badges in excellent condition, and new bonnet badge. All new hatchback badges have been bought but not yet fitted.
-> Fitment of 866 (Punto 75) camshaft, one of the last well-reviewed 'McCrich' chips plus throttle body modified to 40mm by 'sparky5' (see FiatForum for references) gives approx 70 bhp. (Original parts supplied with car.) Valve clearances adjusted. Engine looks externally standard, all anti-pollution equipment still in place. The excellent low speed torque of the FIRE engine is retained and even improved, and now the engine at last revs cleanly and STRONGLY to the red line. Acceleration through the gears is significantly improved. Tyres are now Toyo Proxes CF2 175/ 60, which has slightly raised the overall gearing for more relaxed high speed cruising; also, no more wheel scuffs. Fuel consumption in my hands, since the tuning work, is between 44 and 54 mpg!
-> various mountings and suspension rubbers, brake pipes, etc
-> New wiper link rods, sideglass rubbers, wiper arms front and rear, coolant reservoir (+ used original with black top supplied), battery, petrol tank.
Benefits of 1998 model: thick rigid leather steering wheel rim; better quality Punto steering column stalks; electric headlamp height adjustment.
She went straight through the French MOT test this summer, with just an advisory for surface chassis corrosion.
For sale only because 14 years is a good run, it's time for someone else to look after and enjoy her. Various rare new and used spares plus the original parts mentioned above will be included in the sale. Alternatively you can buy it without any of these items for £500 less than the asking price.
I'm available to answer all sensible questions. Many other photos available on request by genuine buyers. Interior photos to be listed shortly.
