My Italian Tin Can
Discussion
Hello everyone; thought I’d introduce myself as a fellow car lover among many. The names Alex, I’m 22 and live in Epsom, Surrey. Am currently doing my final year studying product design at Bournemouth University.
I wanted a small affordable car but something that was a bit different from the usual collection of Fiestas, Clios and Corsas often seen on the roads. I’ve always liked Italian cars and their heritage and as a budding designer, recognise good design when it comes along and what better car than the 90’s Mini equivalent but a funky Fiat Cinquecento sporting.
Unfortunately their common Broom Yellow didn’t suite my taste so I scoured the many car ads until I found a perfect example (cinqs seem a lot less common down south?), ‘Steel grey’ (same paint as Fiat Coupes
) metallic silver 97’, 1 owner from new, full dealer history and immaculate condition considering it’s a city car braving supermarket car parks.
Have now owned it going on 3 years and has proved to be a perfect little cosy commuter and apart from being bullied by the bigger cars is a nice eccentric twist, especially when compared to other cars built at the time.
New cars are bulky and lack feel and something this light with the feedback it gives makes you feel part of the car. Also, the feeling of being exposed makes you more of an astute driver and it’s great to park in spots & slip through traffic and watch the 4x4 drivers and even other super minis fume away.
It’s also been surprisingly reliable with only a brake bulb blowing on me and having the rear Hub bearings changed, that’s it.
However, my method of servicing has so far been pro-active replacing many parts and doing the servicing myself to make sure it’s done properly (because everyone knows Fiat dealers suck) with all the best components & consumables.
As you can see below, I’ve made a number of improvements, mainly with an aim to improve the driving experience including:
Bigger Tempra 14” wheels in the cinq style to fit…Punto HGT callipers and bigger discs. A 1242cc 8v Punto engine displacement upgrade (20% more torque), Bespoke Induction system, mild styling ques inspired from Punto GT’s (Anthracite refurbed wheels & blacked out B-pillars).
Being a member of Clubcento has given me crucial access to very cheap parts & advice enabling a comparatively total technical nooby to do a whole engine change on my own!
The car has also proved to be unbelievably easy to work on and even now is completely rust free, enhanced by my efforts with a coating of dinatrol underseal.
This years plans are more under bonnet work with the aim at installing a low-boost Turbo system initially bringing power to 100bhp (to start with!) with a power-to-weight of 135bhp per ton (Punto GT & Uno turbo territory…Giggity)
Aesthetically Complete
New Engine Installed
Auto Italia 06, Stanford Hall
Engine Transplant
Cinqys first TV outing, James May encounter last March passing through Stoke
Cinqys second TV appearance in a line up on User Car Roadshow in a line up of ideal student cars.
Summers turbo plans (current parts gatherd: K03 Turbo, Custom Manifold & Intercooler)
I wanted a small affordable car but something that was a bit different from the usual collection of Fiestas, Clios and Corsas often seen on the roads. I’ve always liked Italian cars and their heritage and as a budding designer, recognise good design when it comes along and what better car than the 90’s Mini equivalent but a funky Fiat Cinquecento sporting.
Unfortunately their common Broom Yellow didn’t suite my taste so I scoured the many car ads until I found a perfect example (cinqs seem a lot less common down south?), ‘Steel grey’ (same paint as Fiat Coupes
) metallic silver 97’, 1 owner from new, full dealer history and immaculate condition considering it’s a city car braving supermarket car parks. Have now owned it going on 3 years and has proved to be a perfect little cosy commuter and apart from being bullied by the bigger cars is a nice eccentric twist, especially when compared to other cars built at the time.
New cars are bulky and lack feel and something this light with the feedback it gives makes you feel part of the car. Also, the feeling of being exposed makes you more of an astute driver and it’s great to park in spots & slip through traffic and watch the 4x4 drivers and even other super minis fume away.
It’s also been surprisingly reliable with only a brake bulb blowing on me and having the rear Hub bearings changed, that’s it.
However, my method of servicing has so far been pro-active replacing many parts and doing the servicing myself to make sure it’s done properly (because everyone knows Fiat dealers suck) with all the best components & consumables.
As you can see below, I’ve made a number of improvements, mainly with an aim to improve the driving experience including:
Bigger Tempra 14” wheels in the cinq style to fit…Punto HGT callipers and bigger discs. A 1242cc 8v Punto engine displacement upgrade (20% more torque), Bespoke Induction system, mild styling ques inspired from Punto GT’s (Anthracite refurbed wheels & blacked out B-pillars).
Being a member of Clubcento has given me crucial access to very cheap parts & advice enabling a comparatively total technical nooby to do a whole engine change on my own!
The car has also proved to be unbelievably easy to work on and even now is completely rust free, enhanced by my efforts with a coating of dinatrol underseal.
This years plans are more under bonnet work with the aim at installing a low-boost Turbo system initially bringing power to 100bhp (to start with!) with a power-to-weight of 135bhp per ton (Punto GT & Uno turbo territory…Giggity)
Aesthetically Complete
New Engine Installed
Auto Italia 06, Stanford Hall
Engine Transplant
Cinqys first TV outing, James May encounter last March passing through Stoke
Cinqys second TV appearance in a line up on User Car Roadshow in a line up of ideal student cars.
Summers turbo plans (current parts gatherd: K03 Turbo, Custom Manifold & Intercooler)
I used to have one great fun car nothing around to match it now Don't get too carried away with upping the power or you'll lose the balance and fun of what you've already got
Seicento slightly more modern but lost some of the charm
It'll be interesting to see how much bigger the new 500 is when it comes out
A wonderful car!!! I learned to drive in a broom yellow Cinq, which I had for about 2 years. Great fun to drive and in standard spec, while it wasn't fast, it certainly felt nippy. I had it at an indicated 105mph on the motorway once!
One of the funny things about owning a yellow one was that if you drove past another one the driver would always flash the lights and wave. Never happened with any other colour.
One of the funny things about owning a yellow one was that if you drove past another one the driver would always flash the lights and wave. Never happened with any other colour.
I think top book speed for Cinq Sporting was 93mph, I had a sports exhaust and K&N element air filter on mine and just got it to an indicated 100mph once but then noticed after a short while that the temp gague was above it's usual position so I drop the speed
Saw a Cinq Sporting at a Bruntingthorpe ASDA charity day overtaking everything on the long bend, I spoke with the drive (a motorcyclist) and he told me the car was standard and he'd only bought it 3 weeks before as he need a vehilce that would help him keep his 9-point driving licence
He also told me that he drove it flat out round that bend as the track is so wide and he was so impressed with the car he would see about gettin more power out of it (which I thought was unecessary and defeated his reason for ownership)
Saw a Cinq Sporting at a Bruntingthorpe ASDA charity day overtaking everything on the long bend, I spoke with the drive (a motorcyclist) and he told me the car was standard and he'd only bought it 3 weeks before as he need a vehilce that would help him keep his 9-point driving licence
He also told me that he drove it flat out round that bend as the track is so wide and he was so impressed with the car he would see about gettin more power out of it (which I thought was unecessary and defeated his reason for ownership)
Edited by Sporting Bear on Wednesday 7th March 20:16
Wigeon Incognito said:
I reckon 100bhp will be just right, much more and it could spoil the fun.
I see the details of the new Fiat 500 appeared yesturday (www.fiat500.com) and the 1.4 16v in that will have 100bhp, probably the same engine as the Panda 100HP I guess. Should be a good match I reckon.
Late model cinquecento good for just over a ton in my opinion... indicated... perhaps...
stuartalfa said:
My other car is a Cinq Abrath in black, very standard but you may know a south wales chum of mine Paul with a modded yellow Seicento 100bhp plus, he also has a matt black modded Alfetta gtv, 2 very cool quick cars just like yours, she look great mate.
Stu
My Seicento is red... and currently runs an 1108cc MPI engine producing 74bhp @ flywheel... although there are plans afoot for a 1242cc or 1398cc to be rebuilt and fitted with a Rotex Supercharger within the next 12 months... funds allowing....Stu
But externally looks fairly standard:
And sounds like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzN4AtzwyuA
The Alfetta GTV 2.0 is my real toy.... approx 165bhp and weighs about 900kg currently...
Edited by PAN366E on Thursday 19th July 19:34
Edited by PAN366E on Thursday 19th July 19:45
Small update:
Well after my initial engine swap I’ve been left wanting for some proper pepper under the bonnet, but more will be revealed soon ;-)
To soften the rock hard ride experience and to give some improved lateral support, I decided to get some seats with bigger bolsters. I wanted to stick to the fiat parts bin formula and not get some unsuitable aftermarket stuff that would require harnesses.
So just picked up this tidy pair of 80’s retro Recaros swiped from a Strada Abarth and must say they are very comfy, plus give a nice feeling of security much needed in my tin box. These seats have the bonus of not only being reasonably cheap but also offer practical adjustability such as forward and rear tilting for driver and passenger access.
They are quite rare to get hold of now as 99% of these seats are in right tatty states now but am fortunate that these came recently recovered and the new material more or less matches my interior and overall silver/black colour scheme.
Well after my initial engine swap I’ve been left wanting for some proper pepper under the bonnet, but more will be revealed soon ;-)
To soften the rock hard ride experience and to give some improved lateral support, I decided to get some seats with bigger bolsters. I wanted to stick to the fiat parts bin formula and not get some unsuitable aftermarket stuff that would require harnesses.
So just picked up this tidy pair of 80’s retro Recaros swiped from a Strada Abarth and must say they are very comfy, plus give a nice feeling of security much needed in my tin box. These seats have the bonus of not only being reasonably cheap but also offer practical adjustability such as forward and rear tilting for driver and passenger access.
They are quite rare to get hold of now as 99% of these seats are in right tatty states now but am fortunate that these came recently recovered and the new material more or less matches my interior and overall silver/black colour scheme.
CaneyJ said:
So just picked up this tidy pair of 80’s retro Recaros swiped from a Strada Abarth and must say they are very comfy, plus give a nice feeling of security much needed in my tin box.
Having not seen one in many, many years I spotted a red Strada Abarth in Luxembourg on Saturday being followed by an original Uno Turbo.They both looked very smart!
Your project has got me wondering about creating a kind of Panda Abarth....
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