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| Discussion Forum "X1/9 General": People, cars, history, stuff, tall tales, good times |
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#1
Apr 28 2009, 6:25 am
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Anybody catch "Top Gear" last night?
It was a rerun from a year or two ago, but in this episode, they went out and bought cars to convert to cop cars. The car Clarkson chose was a gorgeous 2-door that he said was turbocharged. I couldn't see any markings on the car, and he didn't really refer to it by a model name, other than to call it a "Feet CooPay", which I assume is Britspeak for Fiat Coupe. Anybody familiar with this car? Any info on this car? Pictures? Websites? Tech Specs? How come we don't have this car in the US?
Pete
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#2
Apr 28 2009, 7:08 am
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Fiat Coupe
I was shocked when he said he bought it for 900 GBP that is dirt cheap are they really that cheap now??
It was a Fiat Coupe 20v 5cyl Turbo, btw, and I thought it was easily the best car of their lot ... You can google the car for more info, and, we don't have it here because Fiat doesn't sell cars here 
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Peace, -Mac |
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#3
Apr 28 2009, 7:41 am
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Interesting, the car has no real name?
I assumed he was being generic when he said Fiat Coupe, the way one might say "Ford sedan".
Ummm, the "how come we don't have this car in the US" comment was meant more as a rhetorical complaint, than an actual question.  Thanks! Pete
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#4
Apr 28 2009, 7:52 am
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ahh :)
You can never be too sure about rhetorical questions around here
  Yep the actual model name is "Coupe", seen a few when I visited the UK, cool cars, wish we had them here too... http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...&oq=fiat+coupe 
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Peace, -Mac |
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#5
Apr 28 2009, 9:14 am
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Isn't this a designo de Bertone?
Could be wrong, but wasn't the body of this car designed by Bertone?
Whoops, just answered my own question...it is not a Bertone, it is an in-house design with an interior from Pininfarina. The Wiki entry here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Coupé It is most remembered for its distinctive, angular design, with unique scalloped side panels. The body was designed by Chris Bangle from "FIAT Style Center", while the interior was designed by Pininfarina. The exterior design would foreshadow much of late 1990s and early 2000s car design, acting as a precedent to both Bangle's somewhat notorious work at BMW, as well as futuristic angular designs by other marques such as Ford and Renault. |
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#8
Apr 28 2009, 11:56 am
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Very nice!
I can't believe I never knew about this car til now. I've been spending way too much time at work I guess.
How do you like it, and how long have you had it? Are they still in production? btw, welcome aboard! Post some pics of your 74 when you get a chance. Pete
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#9
Apr 28 2009, 2:14 pm
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I love it Pete. Not in production any more, produced between 1993 to 2000. Last 200 cars ever made came here to Malaysia. Don't have the exact figure but we are guessing approximately 2000 coupe's made its way here in total.
Here are a couple of links with Fiat Coupe history and details. The first link even has a little bit on the X1/9. Hope it helps. http://www.fiatcoupehistory.com/e_index.htm http://www.sfconline.org.uk/models/c...asp#Coupeintro
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#10
Apr 28 2009, 3:52 pm
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Confused....
That wiki entry makes mention of 'scalloped' sides or fenders that were similar to subsequent designs. What does 'scalloped' look like?
To me, this car strongly resembes the Ford Probe, no offense, but nobody called it scalloped. Incidentally, and perhaps, ironically, the Ford Probe was developed out of focus groups consisting of women, yet it's called Probe. Hmmmm...maybe there's a Freudian metaphor lurking in there, but I"m not about to expound it.
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[insert psychologically quirky statement as an attempt at rationalizing the inherently irrational process of owning a 30 year old Italian cult car that's still cooler than most cars on the road today] |
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#11
Apr 28 2009, 7:21 pm
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Pronunciation
I have always been intrigued that our North American cousins pronounce the acronym FIAT as "Fee-art". How is the word "fiat" (as in "the judge issued a strict fiat") pronounced there?
I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, that the rest of the world pronounces it like "Fee-it". As to "coupe", well Clarkson was simply pronouncing it the way the French intended - and not similar to some form of enclosure in which chickens are kept. Regards, Brian |
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#12
Apr 28 2009, 7:44 pm
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Kinda Neat
Thats a neat looking ride, I really like the rear tailights, remind me a little of the current Nissan supercar look. I also can see a little original ford probe in it but better, and that car with over 200ft/lbs of torque was a blast to drive, if you could keep the steering wheel from wrenching out of your hands at boost!
 JeffSC 77X, Tampa |
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#13
Apr 28 2009, 8:05 pm
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Pronunciation
Down in the South....we draw it out, Fee-yacht. I've heard people from the North pronounce it this way too. Clarkson threw me completely, it's like he just says "fee" and it goes away.
I certainly agree that it looks way cooler than the For Probe.
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[insert psychologically quirky statement as an attempt at rationalizing the inherently irrational process of owning a 30 year old Italian cult car that's still cooler than most cars on the road today] |
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#14
Apr 28 2009, 8:32 pm
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FEE-yacht
Pretty much everywhere in the US I've been "FEE-yacht" (stress on first syllable) sounds about right. First time I heard Clarkson say it I thought he said "feet" haha
 So for those reading outside the US, here it would be a "FEEyacht KOOP"
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Peace, -Mac |
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#16
Apr 29 2009, 9:00 pm
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There are a few of the newer fiats floating around the U.S. they pop up on ebay every now and again. Most are brought in and registered in states that don't check as 1975 Fiats....
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#17
Apr 29 2009, 9:14 pm
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Coupe'
Quote:
They told me it would do 165 MPH, and to try to get it to do it. Finding room on UK freeways to open her up was challenging, and above 130 closing speeds on other traffic was more than what they were prepared for. I asked about speed limits, and was told to just step on it as it would outrun any local police car. I was later told that over 100 and the police just takes the car. The Ford Cosworth was a hot item at the time, and it was great fun chasing them about the countryside. Right after the Barchetta was introduced I worked a deal with the US Feds about importing both cars, we could have brought in 50 of each as "specialty" cars if we provided the required spares. Problem was Fiat Italy refused to sell us the cars, and with what we could purchase them at from local Italian dealers made our initial investment too high so we could not get any reasonable amounts of pre orders. I did bring a Coupe' in on a friend's visitor visa for 6 months, we got tremendous attention, but not enough interest to follow thru with the full importation program, so we dropped it. So it goes.
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Chris Obert Santa Cruz CA, USA Owner, C.Obert & Co. |
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#18
Apr 30 2009, 2:06 pm
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Hi guys, below is just some interesting you tube links on fiat coupe's. Hope you like them.
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#19
May 4 2009, 7:33 am
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Some people will tease and call it the FART...
 We try and make sure we leave a foul smell when we FART by them during runs...  Whatever they call them, I'm proud of my 2 bellas... Generally around here they would pronounce it fee-art or there about.
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