In immaculate condition, 1 owner from new who bought it ex-demonstration. Great history, probably the best example Stilo Schumacher money can buy!

Here’s a car you’d probably forgotten about, or even never heard of. The Fiat Stilo was introduced to the world in 2001, with the expectation of being lapped up by European buyers keen on hot hatches at the time. Sales figures were not quite what the company had hoped for, and even fewer Stilos have survived to this day, making it something of a rarity.

In an increasingly desperate attempt to garner interest in the Stilo, Fiat released a number of special editions. These included, bizarrely, the ‘Xbox’ edition — which featured flashes of neon green trim — and this ‘Schumacher’ edition. It comes fitted with the top-of-the-range five-cylinder, 20-valve, 2.4-litre engine and has the distinguishing feature of being painted Ferrari Red. Other unique features include the numbered plaque on the dashboard indicating that this car was the 125th Schumacher edition to be sold, out of just 200 in the UK. The snazzy pedals and limited edition badges are also features of the model.

That 2.4-litre engine is snugly fitted into the engine bay, and its power is fed to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The Schumacher edition features lowered suspension, with the front given slightly more lowering than the rear, and the wheel arches re-profiled to fit neatly.

This particular Stilo comes with only one registered former keeper, and it has clearly been carefully looked after. That bright red paintwork remains in excellent condition, and the interior is also very well preserved. It’s a shame the Stilo wasn’t a sales success when new, but at least that means you can be pretty sure you won’t pass many others on the road. If it’s rarity you’re after, then this Fiat has it by the bucketful. Or should that be thimbleful?

Registered October 31st 2005