Fiat Croma Auto - Some you win....

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yeah you need to be a bit philosophical when buying shite off ebay. Sometimes it will turn out better than you expect and sometimes it will be a MUTHAload worse. Well this time I have struck 'shite gold', check this out:

 

 

I bought this purely on the strength of a 2-line description (listed in the parts section) and a lousy photo taken of it on the back of a lorry. I paid £205 and found a shipper to bring it to me for another £110, all of which I paid by paypal so I'd haded over the full whack and waited to see what happened. Well it all went sup smooth and this rocked up at lunchtime today!

 

 

The condition of it is unbelievable, there is not a speck of rot anywhere. The paint seems to be 100% original and there are no dents or dings. The wheelarches are mint. Check it!!!

 

 

Front tyres were completely rotted, they are all italian-made Pirelli Cinturatos, I wonder if they are the original tyres? They could be as the mileage is 17,000. Theres a folder of reciepts, history and MOT's with it which i have not perused yet as well.

 

 

Look at that interrior!!!

 

 

Engine is all present and correct, I aint started it yet though, the petrol has been robbed out of it

 

 

Check these awesome 3d numberplates!

 

 

Must say, I am mega chuffed, i'm off back down the garage now to clean the moss of and try to get it started! SEE YA

[chaseracer]

Good work, Bolleaux!

 

Jealous as all hell, etc. MOAR pitchers soonest, if you would be so kind?

[tonedepear]

Holy fuck. That's GLORIOUS.

[daverapid]

Excellent! Hope it runs as well as it looks!

[dollywobbler]

Fabulous. Look forward to seeing it de-mossified.

[Cavcraft]

Bloody Norah you've had a right touch there with that. What size tyres is it on?

[boobydoo]

CROMA-licious!! That does indeed look tidy!! A quick 'Kim & Aggie' scrub-up and bingo!...one of the best Cromas in Britain, I'm sure!!

 

A friend of mine used to run these as hire cars in the early nineties...they racked up huge mileages with not much more than regular servicing.

[Volksy]

Excellent work! That's gonna come up lovely!

[r.welfare]

Who on earth was having raised-plastic-on-metal number plates fitted in '89 (other than Plod, perhaps)? Fantastic.

 

Shame someone's half-inched the wireless, I'm surprised at that as I can't believe that a base-spec Croma had BANGING CHOONS ICE fitted as standard.

 

I'll be watching the recommissioning of this one with interest. Inspirational work, as ever, Bo11ox!

[Spottedlaurel]

Nice one, well done! Looks good next to the Argenta, which I suppose it replaced as Fiat’s big car?

 

Super-stripey interior trim.

[cort16]

You've struck a seam of solid gold shite right there.

A 2 owner car the first having it for almost exactly 14 years and the 2nd having it for 12!

 

DateReg = 13/11/1989

VRM = G59RMV

Fuel = Petrol

Transmission = 2/3 Speed Auto Petrol

Make = FIAT

Model = CROMA

BodyPlan = 5 Door Hatchback

EngineSize = 01995

Colour = BLUE

YearofManufacture = 1989

NoKeepers = 1

KeeperChanged = 09/11/2003

[Lord Sterling]

Amazing, cant wait to see it cleaned up and back on road.

[MK5 Escort]

A cracking find! Not seen a Croma of that age on the road for a fair number of years now, regardless of condition. It won’t take much to tidy up that bodywork. As long as the underside is relatively rot free, you’re onto a real winner there...!

 

Judging by the condition of the interior, it does strongly suggest the 17,000 mileage as genuine.

 

Transmission = 2/3 Speed Auto Petrol

 

That'll be fun... GR8 for long distance cruising!

[Shep Shepherd]

That is GR∞

 

I look forward to following its progress

[KruJoe]

Wowee Bolx. I was expecting to see a complete pup from the title! What a score.

I'd almost forgotten these Cromas carried almost Daihatsu Applause levels of hatchback-pretending-to-be-saloon-ness.

Do you have the fourth wheel trim? I hope the front ones aren't damaged from it being dragged. I don't remember seeing that style at all.

[dollywobbler]

 

That'll be fun... GR8 for long distance cruising!

 

Reckon the data's out there. Looks like a four speeder in the interior shot - presume it's the same ZF unit fitted to the Alfa 164, which is a really nice one.

[greengartside]

Superb save Bol! Looks like it's gonna be a peach! Looking forward to seeing it all polished up and looking good. Always liked these Cromas ever since they came out so nice to see one returning to the road

[Rusty Pelican]

Have an Autoshite award on me , top buy

 

[Lankytim]

Its always a real risk buying blind using REAL money, especially when its old Italian chod thats been off the road for years and years- I'm not sure if i'd have the bottle to do it. It looks like the gamble paid off with this motor though!

 

I'm looking forward to seeing this motoring about- I bet you can't wait to get a bucket of soapy water over that moss covered exterior!

[Guest]

That's a beauty, bring it up here and I'll valet it for nowt.

[walk]

Whoa Nellie! A combination of grim mid eighties boxiness, old school (Aisin?) torque convertor auto bolted onto a feisty Italian twin cam motor - what's not to like

 

Always remember that apart from rear arch rot the original Croma was fairly well protected against rust - I know they were about as popular and unloved to the average punter as the Lib Dems but you rarely see a really rotten one (bit like the old Tipo). Watch someone prove me wrong now.

 

Throw a bucket of water over it, pump up the tyres and give it some stick.

[wuvvum]

What a stunna! I'm jealous once again. Gotta be well worth £315. Why do cars like that always come up when I'm skint?

[Pete-M]

[Alexg]

Excellent job Bollox. The first thing I noticed was those fab 3D plates... oh, and the green shit it appears to be covered in. Looks like it could be a great daily, what are your plans?

[Anglevan]

when I saw the title I immediatly thought you'd bought a pup, some you win / some you lose... Well surprised when I saw the pics. Under that grime you can see it's got masses of potential. I can see the Doctor treatment and £2995 in a couple of weeks

Look forward to seeing this progress

[RoadworkUK]

I'm still trying to come to terms with the idea of 17 kilomiles in a 22 year old car.

 

Mr Bollox:- You of triumfed aggen.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Bloomin'eck, this is marvellous! I hope you 'll remember my offer when you're done sorting it.

[Timewaster]

Who says gambling doesn't pay?!

[messerschmitt owner]

I'll let you know if I'm as lucky with my bought unseen 46k BX Auto on Friday

[Guest]

Holy cow! - what a result.

Registration G59RMV

Make FIAT

Model CROMA

Date of Liability 01 04 2006

Date of First Registration 13 11 1989

Year of Manufacture 1989

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1995CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLUE

 

Hope that 5 year old petrol made his car run like a bag of spanners - the tight bastard

Hows the Avenger estate coming on or is this its replacement?