Fiat, along with MG and Triumph, was perhaps the greatest exponent of the affordable, European roadster and after the 124 Spider and the X1/9 had taken (well deserved) retirement, there was another. In some ways it was an absolute home run: the 1995 to 2005 Barchetta, or “little boat”.
The Barchetta was based on the 1993 Fiat Punto supermini –Fiat’s Fiesta, Polo and Corsa competitor – and came with a 1747 cc 16V twin overhead cam 4 cylinder engine, with a round 130 bhp, driving the front wheels through a five speed gearbox. Variable valve timing featured too, a first on a Fiat. All in, around 120 mph and 0-60 in around 9 seconds. This is a 1999 pre-facelift car with a personal registration that maybe has a boat link.
The styling was completed by the Fiat Centro Stile, and the various options proposed for approval were named after pizzas. (If that isn’t a reason for liking an Italian car, then I give up!) In the end, the Diavola lost out to the Marinara, created by Andreas Zapatinas, and assembly was by Maggiora, in the old Lancia factory in Chivasso near Turin.
There are two obvious cars to benchmark the Barchetta against – the Mazda Miata MX-5, then in its Mark 1 pop-up lights form, and the 1994 MGF, which was mid-engined and offered 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre engine options, the latter in particular being a more performance oriented product than the Fiat. The Fiat was more powerful than the 1.6 litre Mazda and consequently faster, although the handling was not as pure “sports car” as the rear drive Mazda. Horses for courses, as on many of the criteria that govern every day life the three cars were closely matched. All were pure two seaters with manual fabric folding tops with glass rear windows. The Mazda had the Japanese reliability tag and attractive styling aping the Lotus Elan, the MG had the name and its history and the mid-engined performance association, the Fiat had that Italian flair and some wonderful details. And a lovely exhaust note!
Take the side crease: the way this emerges below the headlight and flows along the flank rising like a wave below the mirror, dipping and then rising again over the rear wheel before fading away like the wake of a boat. It emphatically does not just run down the side of the car. This is an Italian sports car designed to be enjoyed in warm temperatures and it shows.
And there’s the door handle itself. Fiat didn’t use something from the Punto or the Tipo, but an Aston Martin style push button, pop out handle. What a stylish way to add some theatre, that special feeling, to what is actually a modest and relatively affordable car.
Or the headlights, covered by fairing with a subtle but distinctive point at the leading edge, like the prow of a boat? And the lower profile of the valence which rises in the centre, giving the impression of the water rising against that bow? Similarly with the bonnet shut line.
The vents ahead of the windscreen are a flat area, like the deck of a boat, and are delicately shaped rather just a line of slots. Likewise, the way the screen is mounted, with the body colour seemingly running through under the rubbers, again like a boat. This car has an optional hardtop on, but the folded cover was covered by a folding tonneau panel rather than flexible cover like the Mazda or MG.
At the rear, the boat looks continue with what are some of the neatest rear lamps you’ll see, and a graceful swelling of the rear shoulders.
Heck, even the third brake light added in 2003 is superbly integrated on the trunk lid, which itself is a lovely cross between those of the Fiat 124 Spider and the X1/9 and the hatch on a boat.
All Barchettas were left hand drive, and this UK registered example is obviously no exception. There are two readings of using painted metal work inside the cabin of car: saving money and adding style. There’s no doubt which way this one goes, and the dash adds classic Italian vents, an angled gearlever and a subtle angling of the dash towards the driver as well. Possibly, a nicer, if less durable, interior than the MX-5.
The Barchetta was sold in the UK (and Japan) in this form and although not as numerous as the MX-5 or MGF it has a strong following now. Fiat priced it keenly, undercutting the MX-5 in the UK by about 15% and about 20% against the MGF 1.8.
Underrated, and really rather nice. You want one, don’t you?
IIRC the 1993 Fiat Punto and the contemporary Volvo 850 wagon were the first cars with this kind of tail lights. Many would follow.
If a Ford Fiesta and competitors are called superminis, then what’s the name for a Ford Ka ?
Toyota might not agree about the tall taillights – this is the 1988 Corolla All-Trac wagon.
In retrospect, wasn’t it nice to have such a choice in open top roadsters?
You’re quite right, and each of the 3 were appealing in one way or another. I’ve got an MX-5, as seen on CC, but you can defend any of the 3 as a modern or first classic choice
I guess the big advantage of the Mazda now is that the others will break down all the time – but this FIAT looks great.
That’s a cutie! Reminded me of the 1983 Ford Ghia Barchetta concept, which Our Own Edward N. wrote up over at the other site: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/09/cars-only-bob-lutz-remembers-the-1983-ford-ghia-barchetta-concept/
Is that concept the forerunner of the Australian Ford Capri/Mercury Capri? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri_%28Australia%29 It has the same turret dimples on the bonnet.
Not a boat link. The owner works for either the US defense contractor L3 Communications, or for the telecommunications company Level 3 Communications. (They’re not the same company despite the naming.) I’m going to guess the latter since they have a fairly large European presence, but both are certainly possible.
Why would anyone pay (quite a lot in the UK) for a plate referencing their employer?
They’re called “vanity plates” for a reason I suppose. Not something I’d spend money on, but YMMV. It can be amusing to try to decipher them, though I always wonder what the benefit is if no one can figure it out.
Maybe; there’s a Level 3 data centre in Cambridge, where I saw the car in a supermarket carpark
I would love one but they are to dam expensive compared to the MX5. LHD in the UK held them back even with the 20% price advantage. Few we converted to RHD by Rapport?.
Good looking car. Too bad Fiat didn’t just rehash this for their Miata rebadge.
That car is as pretty as a catfish with his nose up against the dam!
Why yes, I do want one!
High mounted brake light also says early Beetle to me. I wonder why no RHD since the basic platform had the capability?
The original Lancia Delta was sold here, but if you wanted the Integrale, it was LHD.
Smart and VW New Beete were initially not offered here either, which led to people personally importing new LHD models. It’s like manufacturers don’t think Brits will buy anything interesting in enough numbers to justify it.
The reason for the no RHD has to be volume against the cost of building a completely dash and so on..LHD only was also probably a driver in the value for money Fiat were able to offer against the MG.
Fiat did officially import them, so the lights were suitable adapted.
These cars were launched with a certain press enthusiasm in 1995 (there was a Fiat Group design “rennaisance” back then with the Barchetta, Coupe Fiat, Alfa GTV/Spider, Fiat Bravo/Brava…) but they were almost forgotten three or four years later. A shame because the Barchetta seemed a lot of fun.
Two more nice details were the instruments panel night ilumination and the standard steel wheels, with a basic but honest style.
Coachbuilt 1950s Fiats, as well as some etceterinis, had nearly identical door handles. I’m not sure from which model they came from.
Here’s for example a 1959 Abarth 750 Zagato
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UM5jW-VDuGw/UK1Q5lwtM8I/AAAAAAAAErU/VIsBuYME6C0/s1600/10.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXBqSnbpnjc/UK1Q1M4NK3I/AAAAAAAAErE/YndinMKUU2k/s1600/8.JPG
and here’s a 1953 Moretti 750 Gran Sport
http://liberallifestyles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/mmoretti-4-53-Moretti-750-GS_DV-13-RMA_01.jpg
You do an excellent job pointing out all the details in this write up but there are 2 details that don’t quite work…at least in my opinion.
About the time this car was launched (no pun intended) Fiat changed their corporate logo. On the front of this beautiful little car is a badge with 4 (?) nearly vertical lines. I can’t imagine the casual passers-by knowing who built this car from that badge. Yet, apparently Fiat realized their mistake as the rear views of the silver car and the blue car (great color btw) show different badging. The “facelift” car has reverted to the older style corporate badges.
I absolutely do want one, Roger – thanks for this metaphorical writeup bringing this beautiful car to light. I’m not dissing the Cinquecento, but I’m sure I’m not the only one in the U.S. who thought (hoped) we’d be getting FIATs like this one on our shores once Chrysler was bought. I do like the new 124, though.
From what I’ve read in the British magazine CAR, many of Fiat’s cars are due for replacement….whether or not Fiat is planning to spend or can afford to spend the money for “updates” is the problem. Pretty much all the current models are considered to be “also-rans” compared to their competition except for the Punto. Profit margins for the Fiat arm of the company must be borderline.
I don’t think its a secret that FIAT’s profits mostly come from Chrysler’s trucks and SUVs currently.
And not a lot is built in Italy any more either.
The details are indeed lovely, though the nose shape is a bit soft for me and it suffers from its FWD proportions (long-ish front overhang compared to the ultra-short tail).
Those quibbles aside it’s still quite an attractive car, and an option I wish we’d had in the USA!
There’s one for sale in Victoria, British Columbia.
Canada allows importing used vehicles after 15 years.
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/1999-Fiat-Barchetta_26784820