Nick Greer – 1985 Fiat Uno Turbo

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and launched in 1983, the Uno was a stylish and capable supermini but it was the arrival of the hot hatchback Turbo that really grabbed the interest of enthusiasts.

Nick has owned this example since 2003 and acquired it through a website he ran about these cars. “My sister’s boyfriend had one and I thought it was the coolest car. I then owned a few and started the website and was given this one for free by someone who wanted it to go to a good home.”

It has an interesting history, too, having been a Fiat press car and featured in motoring magazines of the time. It’s also thought to be the earliest car in the UK, and with so few of them on the road today it makes for a fascinating survivor.

The owner says that it moved house with him three times, and although he considered selling, he just couldn’t do it in case the car got broken up for parts. “More than twenty years after I took ownership the time has definitely come to start on the restoration.”

He admits that this will be something of a challenge, not least because parts for these particular Unos are almost non-existent. And although it has been running the engine and gearbox are somewhat tired after almost 100,000 miles, so they’ll be treated to a complete rebuild.

However, the main work will focus on tackling any rust in the bodyshell and then completing the job with a full respray. Nick plans to do as much of the work himself as possible, and we think he has a great project on his hands. Fans of these brilliant Italian classics will certainly be pleased to see this rare and racy little hatch returned to the road.