Hot Damn, Do We Want This Tastefully Modded Fiat Uno Turbo I.E

This beautifully boxy and lightly modified Uno Turbo is up for auction, and the want is strong
Hot Damn, Do We Want This Tastefully Modded Fiat Uno Turbo I.E

The Uno Turbo I.E is the kind of car we wish still existed today. Fiat made it by slotting a 1.3-litre fuel-injected inline-four under the bonnet, with a water-cooled turbocharger increasing the power to 105bhp. Doesn’t sound like much, but this little hot hatch weighs just 850kg.

Meanwhile, its boxy, Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed flanks contrast brilliantly with 2020’s often over-styled, excessively-creased cars. The only trouble is finding one - if the figures on How Many Left are to be believed, only around 200 still exist in the UK, with fewer than 30 licensed for road use. The car you see here, then, is a rare treat.

Hot Damn, Do We Want This Tastefully Modded Fiat Uno Turbo I.E

Yes, it’s not what you’d call original, but all of the changes that have been made are tasteful and reasonably subtle ones. The bodywork of the 1988 example (originally grey) has been fully resprayed in Ferrari’s famed Rosso Scuderia, with the black Uno Turbo side and rear stripes present and correct.

It sits lower than a standard Turbo on new dampers (Avo GTZ Evo coilovers at the front, Spax Performance dampers and custom springs at the back), with Ronal R10 15-inch wheels nicely filling each of the arches. Beneath those are ECB brake pads all round, with Punto calipers added at the rear. Rounding off the chassis changes are bushes and an anti-roll bar from Powerflex.

Hot Damn, Do We Want This Tastefully Modded Fiat Uno Turbo I.E

As part of its extensive restoration five years ago, it had a rebuilt engine from Somerset-based Italian car specialist Avanti Motorsport fitted. The unit features a gas-flowed cylinder head, an improved camshaft, a re-circulating dump valve and a Turbo Technics hybrid snail. It should sound much fruiter, too, thanks to its Scorpion Exhausts pipework.

The interior is unrestored but other than some wear on the driver’s side bolster and seat bottom, the Uno has endured its 122,475 miles and 32 years of use well. Distracting from the less-than-perfect cloth trim is a Momo steering wheel and a Momo gear knob.

Hot Damn, Do We Want This Tastefully Modded Fiat Uno Turbo I.E

The MOT expires later this month due to the Covid-19 six-month extension (otherwise it would have lapsed in April), although it will be getting a fresh ticket post-sale. It’s up for auction on Collecting Cars, showing at £6850 with three days remaining at the time of writing.

To give you an idea of how much it might go for, there’s an unmodified and lower mileage example for sale elsewhere at £10,000.

Tempted?

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Comments

Matt 44

A 32 year old car with a high power to weight ratio, have a crash and bye bye world. No traction control and a lively drive. I had a Metro turbo back in ‘86 and it was great fun then, but I wouldn’t dream of buying one now for the safety issues.

10/09/2020 - 11:04 |
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10/09/2020 - 16:08 |
0 | 2

Safer than a Motorbike 🤷🏻‍♂️.

10/10/2020 - 14:40 |
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Freddie Skeates

There are few greater combinations than an 80’s hatch, black vinyl decals and Ronals

10/09/2020 - 15:02 |
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Mr. Kei (A Random Corolla) (ZoomZoomer32) (Käfer für i

Ah yes, the top of the classic Italian hot hatches. This car is a cult classic, loved by thousands of people. We call it “la bara” (the coffin) because it was easy to tune and lots of young people died in one. Lovely tin can

10/11/2020 - 20:19 |
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