Starky,

You probably know this, or at least suspect it, but I'd start by stripping the car completely so you can see what you've got left. Then get it media blasted. The guy who blasted my car was heard to say 'if I turn the beads loose on this little piece of sh*t, all that will be left will be the f*ckin' wheels'. Nevertheless, when he finished there was a lot of good tin left and the car had earned his grudging respect - he was a big fan of large 'yank tanks'.

Back to the point though, most panels are available though some may have to be good 2nd hand ones. Mechanical parts are easily available and relatively cheap and trim/jewelry parts are also available though their quality is sometimes suspect (eg: front 1/4 window surrounds)

In Australia, try The Spare Place in Adelaide (www.thespareplace.com.au) and/or Turin Imports (www.turinimports.com.au) also in Adelaide. Both stock Fiat parts and I got quite a few bits from them.

Please keep us informed.

Chris

Thanks for the recommended links Chris. I have been in touch last week with Turin imports and the fellow there was very helpful.

I will be stripping things when I get a chance in the next couple of weeks. My Motorman CD manuals arrived in the mail today (Thanks for your help with this Joe!).

Prior to this I have spent the last few weeks researching parts suppliers, contacting & getting quotes from sand/media blasters, employing the service of a locksmith to bang out a couple of new keys, purchasing storage boxes & snaplock bags, & reading, reading, reading... At this rate, I may inadvertently come out the other side of the resto experience speaking Italian

I have at times been very tempted to start taking bits and pieces off the car, but have refrained until I am completely sorted with organization, research, manuals & storage. We're not far off now!!

May the fun begin mid September
Starky

Starky said:

I have at times been very tempted to start taking bits and pieces off the car, but have refrained until I am completely sorted with organization, research, manuals & storage. We're not far off now!!

Click to expand...

You can never be too organised, particularly if it is going to take some time before reassembly. Photograph, label and catalogue everything.

Apart from being invaluable when you are trying to put it all together again, the photos make a great visual storyboard and will also help if you ever decide to sell.

Having said that, these cars are well built, brilliantly designed and very, very simple - a great marriage of form and function. Dante Giacosa was quite obviously a genius.

Chris

Hi Starky;
To repair the 'Fiat 500' badge I would suggest you use 'JB Weld'---it is a 2-part epoxy metal that dries grey---it can be filed, sawn and (so they say), drilled and tapped. I have use it to resucitate very old marine engines and, among other things, repair the 'top-hinges' on my 500 (boot hinged at top and open '600' style)---always been succesful with it

Starky,

I've been rummaging around in my parts bins and found a good rear badge. It needs cleaning and one of the mounting posts is broken but there is enough of it left to bond something to. If you want it, it's yours. Send me a PM.

Chris

Sorry, haven't posted in a while. Wiring loom out today, progress being made.

You little ripper! The engine works, after having not been started since 1982. A mechanic dropped by today and out of curiosity gave it a go. After quite a bit of fiddling with the carby, and finally just giving it a kick up the bum with 24V instead of 12V, he got the old girl running! Lacking compression, but he's pretty impressed at the condition it's in (considering the external appearance). Two thumbs up - great day in the shed ???

Nice one Starky,
i know that feeling after i started mine for the first time in what appeared to be over 20 years. Theres not a great deal to go wrong with these as they were built basic so most people could fix them. I understand years ago you could go to pretty much any service station in Italy and get most of the common spares off the counter.
Sad part is you now have to take it all to bits! but at least you know it runs!