1987 Fiat Uno Turbo i.e | The Summer Serenade Auction | 18th July

• Recently resprayed to a high standard
• One of circa 120 examples remaining in the UK, of which just 13 are currently registered
  
• Offered from The Continental Performance Collection – Part II
  

The Fiat Uno Turbo i.e. was Italy's answer to the burgeoning hot hatch market of the mid-1980s, combining lightweight construction, turbocharged performance and everyday practicality in a package that quickly earned a reputation as one of the most exciting front-wheel drive cars of its era. Launched in 1985, the Turbo i.e. ('iniezione elettronica', denoting Bosch electronic fuel injection) represented a significant step forward over conventional carburetted turbocharged engines, delivering improved throttle response, reliability and drivability whilst extracting an impressive 105bhp from its 1.3-litre turbocharged engine. In a car weighing little more than 850kg, the result was genuinely brisk performance that comfortably challenged many larger-engined rivals. To complement the increased power, Fiat equipped the Turbo i.e. with lowered suspension, uprated brakes, distinctive body styling, 13-inch Cromodora alloy wheels and a characterful interior trimmed with patterned sports seats, red carpets and matching red seatbelts, creating one of the most recognisable hot hatch cabins of the decade.

Finished in its classic white livery with the correct black side stripes featuring red Turbo i.e. script, this example has recently benefited from a high-quality respray and now presents exceptionally well. Mechanically, it has also been carefully maintained throughout its life, with recent expenditure including a replacement radiator, water pump, hoses, thermostat housing, coolant, fuel pump and filters. Accompanying the car are its original book packs, a well-maintained service book, numerous invoices and a substantial history file documenting its continued upkeep.

Having formed part of The Continental Performance Collection, a carefully curated assemblage of significant European performance cars, this Uno Turbo i.e. sits comfortably amongst some of the finest driver's cars of its generation. Today, with relatively few surviving examples remaining, the Uno Turbo i.e. has become one of the most desirable and increasingly collectible hot hatches of the 1980s, offering a compelling blend of rarity, character and turbocharged excitement. Consigned by Fraser Smith.