GTV / Fiat Coupe rusting differences
Discussion
It seems that the GTV is less prone to rust and that despite galvanizing to both the Fiat is far more prone - Is this true and if so, why? (Ok I accept the bonnet has good reason not to rust on the GTV - more concerned about the chassis and all key components generally not obvious to the man in the street.
I aspire to covet one or both of these cars as funds allow, however can only justify development if I can have confidence in longevity without restoration
cheers
I aspire to covet one or both of these cars as funds allow, however can only justify development if I can have confidence in longevity without restoration
cheers
The Fiat Coupe really isn't that prone to rust and the cars generally get scrapped for other reasons, the galvanising is actually pretty good. Areas that do go are the usual suspects (wheel arches etc) but not to any greater extent than any other 15 year old plus car and certainly nothing like a Ford. You might find that the last year of production cars (2000, W and X plate) are worse and these can have a greater tendency to rust than any other model years.
As for the GTV my only experience is my Brother in Law's 1996 GTV Spider that has no rust at all but has lived in a garage or abroad for many years. To be honest rust on these cars is probably the least of your worries.
As for the GTV my only experience is my Brother in Law's 1996 GTV Spider that has no rust at all but has lived in a garage or abroad for many years. To be honest rust on these cars is probably the least of your worries.
It probably depends on the design of the bodywork or who put them together, Pininfarina put the Coupe together at Grugliasco, I don't know much about the GTV.
Coupes rust most along the inner cill, I've never studied why. The most worrying point is the base of the B pillar internally, when it shows on the outside it's completely buggered on the inside and its a very complex piece of work with umpteen pieces of metal overlapping each other.
The edges of the boot floor go, this is mainly because it's exposed in the wheel arch due to the plastic liner being too small, the front inner arches go a bit there too due to the same problem as do Lancia Deltas - that is really annoying when for 20p more plastic your car would have lasted much longer.
Sometimes the corrosion is really hit and miss though, I've recently bought a 16vt with no rust on top at all and barely any underneath, especially the inner cills (which are perfect) when people were welding them up years ago now, it's riddled with electrical faults though. it's not low mileage, maybe it managed to escape a few of our Winters somehow, I dunno....
My guess is it was wax injected on Monday, but wired up on a Friday afternoon after a liquid lunch!
Coupes rust most along the inner cill, I've never studied why. The most worrying point is the base of the B pillar internally, when it shows on the outside it's completely buggered on the inside and its a very complex piece of work with umpteen pieces of metal overlapping each other.
The edges of the boot floor go, this is mainly because it's exposed in the wheel arch due to the plastic liner being too small, the front inner arches go a bit there too due to the same problem as do Lancia Deltas - that is really annoying when for 20p more plastic your car would have lasted much longer.
Sometimes the corrosion is really hit and miss though, I've recently bought a 16vt with no rust on top at all and barely any underneath, especially the inner cills (which are perfect) when people were welding them up years ago now, it's riddled with electrical faults though. it's not low mileage, maybe it managed to escape a few of our Winters somehow, I dunno....
My guess is it was wax injected on Monday, but wired up on a Friday afternoon after a liquid lunch!
Edited by Evoluzione on Monday 23 December 20:12
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