Fiat Barchetta Standard
The Fiat Barchetta (Italian for 'little boat') was a delightful two-seat roadster that captured the spirit of classic Italian open-top motoring in a modern, affordable package. Launched in 1995, the Barchetta used Fiat's 1.8-liter 16-valve twin-cam engine producing 130 horsepower — not a huge number, but in a car weighing just over a tonne, it was perfectly adequate for spirited driving. The engine loved to rev and rewarded those who explored its upper reaches with a characterful Italian howl. Built on the Fiat Punto platform with front-wheel drive, the Barchetta was no Mazda MX-5 in terms of rear-drive purity, but it compensated with enormous character, gorgeous styling, and that intangible Italian je ne sais quoi. The soft top was manually operated — there was no power mechanism — in keeping with the car's simple, driver-focused philosophy. The interior was snug but well-designed, with clear instruments and a chunky steering wheel. Never officially sold in the UK or USA (left-hand drive only), the Barchetta was enormously popular in continental Europe, particularly in its Italian homeland where it was seen as the spiritual successor to the Fiat 124 Spider.
Rust is the primary concern — check sills, floor pans, rear arches, and around the soft top mounting points. The 1.8L engine is robust if maintained but cam belt replacement is critical. Soft top fabric deteriorates and replacement is relatively expensive. Check for water ingress in the cabin. Available only in LHD.
Built on the Punto platform but with unique bodywork. Available only in left-hand drive, which limited export markets. A facelifted version arrived in 2003 with revised styling and improved equipment. The 1.8L 16V engine was shared with other Fiat models.