Hi guys

I'm a Pom now living in Oz and ex owner of a Coupe when I lived back in the UK so do love them. They were not sold over here at all and I'm led to believe only a handful have been imported privately due to the stringent (and ridiculous) import regs over here so they're a pretty rare beast....I've been here 11 years and have yet to see one!!

Anyway, this one has recently come up and I'm toying with the idea of buying.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Fiat-Coupe-1999/SSE-AD-3273967/?Cr=0

Is there a short list of things that I need to examine and bearing in mind there are no places that stock/sell spares for the Coupe over here, what would I be best buying parts-wise and getting shipped over in preparation for work/how much roughly do these items cost so I can avoid the car being off the road for any length of time. It needs to be a daily driver so has to be useable all the time.

Any thoughts and/or advice greatly accepted!

Cheers

Gary

Hi Gary. That coupe could be in very good condition with little rust.
Plenty of parts are available here in the UK. I imagine the expensive bit is the postage.

Strong price but looks sweet. Hope you buy it and have great times with it.

G'day Gary,

That Plus looks awesome. It's so rare to see these cars in sunshine like that!
As far as things to look for, I'd suggest downloading the buyer's guide HERE

There are at least a couple of coupes in brisbane, Graeme (Possum on this forum) has a blue 16vt and is on the south side of Brissy. I seem to recall him saying that he has been able to source most parts from the local fiat dealer, so hopefully you won't have too many problems.

If you buy it will you drive it back from WA? Now that would be some road trip to do in a coupe!

Go for it! Looks amazing.

I seem to recall that parts may still be available from new Zealand? Graeme may have mentioned this to me.

If you do drive it back from WA and you come back via north Victoria, stop by and say hi!

I believe that car was sold new in New Zealand so it should be rust free. Parts are available From NZ or the UK without much of a problem. I've ordered parts through the local dealerships by providing the current part numbers too.

It looks like a great example!

What's the deal with the rectangular side indicator repeaters? haven't seen those on a coupe before.

£11,340 in English money, but looks a corker.

Japanese market ones Anthony.

It could be a Japanese market Coupe but they also have headlamp washers. They could have been removed of course.

Hi guys and thanks ever so much for the replies and comments - they are very much appreciated.

Magooagain - I currently run a Maserati and source all my parts from the UK as the Main Stealers over here are a rip off so am happy doing that. The only issue would be the time it takes to get from there to here, hence why I was after a list of 'consumables' that I could/should get here ready to go in anticipation of any future issues :-) And yes, the price is strong at the moment. There are 5 for sale in Oz at present with this one being the latest but the others have been sale for between 1-3 years with absolutely no movement! A bit of an 'iceberg' car methinks!

Boosted 7 - I think I might have had some chats with Graeme awhile back when our paths crossed so might try him again if I do buy. And if I do, it'll be transported over here rather than driven - not enough time for me to do it unfortunately!

Dan Dan - you're shown as being on the GC but you mention Victoria?Do you still have your Coupe?

Scuderia - thanks for that info and yes, it is a NZ supplied car. Are you running one over here too?

Guys I'm a little more comforted at the thought now so will see how things pan out soon! If I do get it I shall become a member here with pics in a flash!!

Cheers

Gary

Hi Gary, I do have Fiat Car Club contacts in WA so I can put you in touch with them. They may know the car.

Wazza, in Sydney, did have his red 20vt on the market for less $ than the WA vehicle.

I obtain parts from Steve at AA or Country Cruising with about 7-10 days delivery. As Boosted7 wrote, I also use the local dealers who are quite happy to order in the parts, unlike the "Japanese brand" dealers who do not want to know the "grey imports" we have here.

Perhaps we could meet up and discuss Coupes.

I've updated my profile for now Gary.
I'm here backpacking and working to obtain a visa for a second year so I move around a bit.
Currently in North Victoria until the end of may. I started out in GC and Brisbane area and spent a bit of time with Graeme.
Any chance I get to see and talk coupes I will certainly take.

The drive from perth to Brisbane would be incredible in a Coupe. I've done Sydney to Perth and back in a 700 dollar ford and I loved it. The Coupe would have no problem.

Unfortunately all my memories of Coupes are back home in the UK. Can't afford to buy one out here either!

Hi Graeme and thanks for the offer of the WA contacts. I have emailed the seller this morning so we shall see what comes back from that but if we do decide to get it inspected, are there people in the club who know these cars well enough to perform such an inspection do you think? I'm happy to pay obviously.
I think Wazza's car is still up for sale. It's a bit older with 3 times the amount of kms on it so not really keen on one that leggy if I'm honest.
Thanks for the info re parts too. I am a little more reassured about it now so we'll see what occurs from here.
The kind offer of a meet up might be good as my wife would potentially like another look at one. We viewed the white one near us last year and that is as close to perfect as you'll find but the seller doesn't actually want to sell it. He's only put it up to placate his wife I believe and he is not willing to budge a single cent on the price - hence why 3 years later it is still up for sale! You're Mt.Gravatt way aren't you? I'll check to see if she wants to look at another one to remind herself what they look and feel like and if she does we'll be happy to come to you if that's cool?
Dan Dan - all received and duly noted! I hope you have a great time over here in this wonderful country and if you do achieve residency then maybe you can get one too!
Cheers
Gary

Hi Gary,

Tried to send a PM re my contact details but it said you are over your limit?

Yes, I'm at Mt Gravatt East. You are most welcome to come and have a look at my Coupe. Scuderia, Boosted7, Wazza and Dan Dan have already done this.

I am in Oz from midweek next week.Perth for 10 days then onto Sydney and Melbourne for another 10 days. Hope to see a coupe when there.

I found a couple of coupes when in NZ four years ago.

Perthling (Giles) lives in Perth.
Wazza (Warren) is in Sydney.
Scuderia (Steve) is in Melbourne.

Could be worth a PM to them or alternatively, I do have some email/phone numbers for them.

Hi Graeme

We'd love to take you up on that offer if possible? We feel another look/check out would help firm up our decision.

We are in 'loose negotiations' with the guy from Perth over the car and had more chats today with him so a decision is looming large!! Are you about at all next Saturday or Sunday where we could meet up please?

I don't know why the PM should be over the limit as I don't have any messages in there?

Anyway, the guy selling the car says it is well known to the Perth Fiat crew so I'd like an inside line from them too so will PM Giles (or if you have his email address it'd be appreciated) to see if he can shed any light.

Thanks for all your help!!

Gary

Gary , you need 5 or more posts for your pm box to be open so one more and you there .

Ah I see!! Thank you nismo!!

Just had a look at the pictures! really nice looking car!

Considering one recently sold in the uk for around £7k

Also assuming this one is straight with no issues and is likely to be even better with no rust anywhere due to the Ausy climate!

im sure this would fetch roughly that price if it was presented as such in the uk

But have no idea of car prices in Australia! i know most things seem expensive over there in a like for like comparison especially with a poor exchange rate (for the UK) at the moment so its probably in the right ball park

Hope it goes to plan for you if you choose to purchase!
Next time i'm visiting friends in Oz, i will have to keep an eye out for it, its only a metaphorical down the Road from Caloundra Qld

Hi H_R

Yes this car does, on the face of it, appear a good one. If the plan goes ahead then it will be inspected but I'm hopeful it's as good as it looks.

It has been the personal car of the wife a car dealer (I think he might even be a Fiat dealer) and it is allegedly rust free and very well cared for with the cambelt done 3 years and 10,000kms ago.

I guess time will tell but I shall post whether it's a yes or no once the decision has been made.

As for prices of cars over here, well we also have a Giulietta bought new in 2011 for $44,000 - that shows how damn expensive such things are over here!!! It's a long and government-fabricated reason why they are so expensive but don't start me on that ha ha!

Cheers

Gary

Yes H_R it is "just down the road", just over an hour's drive to Brisbane and you can even visit "Crikey World" (Australia Zoo - establishment of the late Steve Irwin) on the way.

Hi guys

Further to this, it' booked in for tomorrow for a 250-point check over by a mechanic so will wait to see what is thrown up by that. I have emailed the Buyers Guide section to him for guidance too so he can check the bits and pieces that are specific to the Coupe.

As an aside, it is a late '99 model that should, I believe come with a code card as opposed to a Red Key but it doesn't have this code card. Should this be enough to make me walk away given how incredibly rare they are over here, especially in this apparent condition?

Cheers

Gary

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. My Coupe has a red key and a code card, not sure you need both.

In 5 years, and an engine rebuild I never needed the red key or the code card.....

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me either. Maybe use it as a bit of a bargaining chip and see if you can knock a few dollars off the price.

Hi guys and thanks for the replies.

Given the advice and other research I've done I don't think it'd be a deal breaker for me but,as Boosted7 has suggested, a bit of a bargaining tool for a better price.

Cheers once again!

Gary

Good luck Gary.
If my information is correct the dealer who sold the car initially could have the data to supply a copy of the card

further details here

Hi Alesi and that's a cracking idea!

If I do go ahead with the purchase then I shall contact them directly.

Cheers

Gary

Wise man.

Hi guys

Just a brief update for you all as you were so kind to be interested in my initial question.

The report came back very favourably with very little to be concerned about and certainly nothing that would stop the sale from going through so we’ve put a deposit down.

We have negotiated a timing belt/aux belt change to be done by the Fiat specialists who have worked on the car before in Perth before it’s loaded and sent to me so hopefully she’ll be good to go in a few weeks!!!

Thanks once again!

Gary

cool enjoy

Great result.

It certainly will be good to have another Coupe here in Brisbane.

Gary and family visited us on Saturday and his young daughter was impressed with my Coupe. She could see herself travelling in a yellow one!

VERY rare too out in OZ also I think?

Thanks folks and yes very rare in Oz. I've seen the number put at 23 I believe. Very excited!

And thanks for the time and scones on Saturday too Possum!

Contrats Gary

Well done

Coupe numbers are slowly increasing, I think maybe 25-30 now but there may be some that have fallen off the road too.

Gary. I have just realised that I am staying about 10 mins from where the car is!
I can look at it on
Friday or
Saturday if you want a second opinion mate.

Let me know as it's no problem.

This is so cool - another Coupe in the Brisbane area! congratulations Gary, I can't wait to see some more photos of the yellow beast when you get it.
One day when I eventually return to Oz I really hope I can bring my Silver 20VT with me. Would be great to have a mini Coupe meet on the Gold Coast one day.

And we could visit our favourite Fish and Chip shop!!

So we'll see you all at the 2016 Fiat Nationals?

As Gary lives less than 30 mins drive from all the action at the 2016 Fiat Nationals, we will hopefully see his 20VT there.

Hi mate

Sorry just picked this up - for some reason I don't get notified when I get a reply!

Anyway, thanks most kindly for the offer but the deal is done and the car will be on it's way to me shortly. The report I got back (250 point check) was very thorough and highlighted virtually nothing so I'm hopeful she's a good one.

I would presume it'll wait a few days until whatever is bringing it over from Perth to Brisbane is full so I'm still a couple of weeks probably away from getting my grubby mitts on it!

Thanks once again for the kind offer though!

Cheers

G

Hi Boosted7

Pics will come my friend just as soon as I get my hands on it! Actually, I do have some half decent ones from the seller already so I might just post them shortly so you get the gist of what she looks like!
If you do get over here, make sure you bring your baby with you as they are so very rare over here.....and yes, a meet on the GC would be a must!!

Cheers

G

Scuderia

I wasn't aware they were near me but now I know then for sure we'll be there!!! Will it be just Fiat or all Italian cars? I'm sure (hope?) Possum will keep me in the loop about it and we can rock up together!!

Possum - fish and chips as the sun goes down with the Coupes in the background! Awesome image!!

G

Folks

I've had a look around (including the FAQ) and can't seem to load up pics?

Possum - if I flick a couple across to you would you be able to load them up for me please?

Cheers

Gary

Hey Gary, I've sent you a private message with my email address if you would like to send me those photos? I'll post them up for you

Boosted 7, I've emailed them to you already with a request.

Whoops! So you did!

Here are the pics of Gary's lovely yellow Plus...

Thanks gents!! Most appreciated.

Cheers

Gary

Very nice
Gary. Well done and enjoy it.

Very nice indeed, very clean under the bonnet with not a sign of that horrible rust that we get in UK.

Nice - always wanted a Broom Yellow one....

Thanks!! It seems to have been kept by an enthusiast (with such lows kms I believe that too) and the inspection was really good too. Also, I've spoken with a guy who has driven it and said it went really well and was in tip top condition so hopefully that is the case. I had notice this arvo that it was delivered to the the transport company so now the wait begins - between 5-10 working day apparently! Very excited!

G

That's immaculate!

Now I know what they look like when they don't get rained n and driven on salty roads for half the year!

Good buy that fella!!

Wow, it's fantastic!!!!
And yellow!
And a Plus!

Great combination, mate!

Could be a long shot, perhaps not with the rarity, I viewed a coupe for sale years back and the guy was emigrating to oz and taking his yellow plus with him,gotta wonder if it's the same car? Certainly can't be many around

Odd rectangular side indicators aside, that is simply stunning - you must be chuffed to bits!

The indicators are a Japanese regulation. You'll see the same on other cars such as Integrales Evos

Hi guys and thanks for the comments!

Nope the car has never seen nasty salty roads of the UK thankfully! It was originally delivered to Japan (good spot on the rectangular lenses!) where it was kept by an enthusiast before being shipped to NZ (again, no salty roads!) so I'm hoping she's a good one! She's due in from Perth w/c 11th May and then off to the indie for a timing belt/aux belt change etc and once that's done, it's happy days hopefully!

Cheers

Gary

Hi folks

I dropped Fiat Italy an email just asking for any info on the car so now have the supplying dealer in Japan - just need to find someone to translate the page so I can find out where the 'Contact Us' email listing is and Google doesn't cut it!

Also, it turns out my car was not actually registered until 15th June 2001 in Japan which is probably another reason for such low kms.

Cheers

G

I can translate for you

Put here the text!

Hi Gary,
Welcome aboard

Hi Gary,

Come to the FCCQ meeting tomorrow night, Thursday, and bring the info with you as we have several Italian members who would gladly translate for you.

I will email the latest magazine, with meeting details, to you.

Is the translation you require, Japanese or Italian?

Gimmo - it's in Japanese and it's a website so maybe I'll post that link to see if anyone can find the necessary 'contact us' link?

johnnybravoturbo - good to greet you here on this forum as opposed to FB!! Looking forward to getting the bits for my baby!

Possum - the translation would need to be in Japanese and it's from a website so will just post the link to see if anyone can fathom it out!

Cheers

Gary

Folks

This is the supplying dealer:-

http://hamamatsu.fgaj-dealer.jp/fiat/

Apparently the car comes with all service invoices from these guys (paperwork is in the car but car not here yet!) but an electronic copy of those would be good plus I'm after the key code card too hence why I need to drop them an email.

Cheers

Gary

Gary, you have an email with some helpful info, I hope.

Ah small world.

Your parts were sent this morning ,email also to confirm.

Good luck fitting them and let us see some piccys when you have the car Gary.

Hi JBT

Just picked up that email so thanks ever so much for that!

Pics will follow once I get my sticky hands on her!

Cheers

Gary

http://www.carsales.com.au/car/fiat/coupe/ I just found these!

The 1999 one has been on the market for quite some time and Gary looked at it. Don't think the owner really wants to sell it.

The red one is Wazza's.

Has anyone looked at the silver one, what's it like?

You could check with Wazza, as he would know the car. The photos have been taken at an Italian car show.

I spoke to the guy re the silver one a while back. It came from an English couple who emigrated to Italy and then it was somehow imported to here. The timing belt snapped and wrecked the engine so it had a rebuild in Italy before coming here. He has just the blue key and has admitted it has had paint in it's life but was cagey as to how much or where. The body kit was also fitted after market as it's not an LE or a Plus. All in all it didn't seem worth pursuing for me so I left it...

Gary

Oh and the white one is simply a museum piece - it was absolutely stunning as it has only done 25,000kms or so and has been kept garaged throughout it's life, hardly ever seeing the road. The guy who owns it is responsible for the certification of a lot of the handful of Fiat Coupes over here as he is qualified to do so but he is not interested in selling it really. He only has it on the market so he can say to his wife 'I'm trying to sell it honest!" I think!!

G

I'm guessing it will be with you in a day or so then, Gary?

So will your club membership card and (shh) keyring...

Well the parts all arrived (thanks JBT!) and the work is underway. A small 'issue' with the wrong water pump has hopefully been sorted but has delayed things a little so I'm still a few days away from getting her sorted and on the road....so very excited though!!

No membership card or (shh!) keyring as yet but looking forward to both! :-)

Cheers

Gary

No membership card or (shh!) keyring as yet but looking forward to both! :-)

Met with Gary and his family for coffee last Saturday morning.

After 10 1/2 years of Coupe ownership, I finally was able to park my Coupe beside another Coupe! Yes, they are rare "Downunder".

Gary's yellow beast is certainly a great example of our favourite Fiat.

Definitely.
I've never seen one. with hindsight I should have imported mine to WA...... maybe in the future.

Considering we are talking about OZ coupes has anybody seen the blue one on carsales?

Is it the same one on Gumtree? 47,000 KMS, 16vt?

No the blue one is a 20VT, it's been for sale on and off for a long time. The price has dropped significantly.

I haven't seen the 16vt before.

The Townsville Coupe was advertised a while back.

Looks like they had no takers.

Do you know anything about it? That would be 4 16VTs in Australia. I wonder if there are any others lurking.

I do not know anything about this one.

I am aware of another Blitz Blue that was for sale in Sydney a few years ago and ours = four.