General Blue Bambino at clearance auction

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General Blue Bambino at clearance auction

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Aug 3, 2009
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Location
Sunshine Coast, Australia
A friend of mine pointed out this clearance sale to me the other day -

http://www.landmarkharcourts.com.au/ClearingSales/View/386

Seems that they have a blue RHD Fiat 500F as part of a car collection being auctioned in Burren Junction (west of Armidale, NSW). The auctioneers will not want much for it and it looks like it'd buff up OK.

Chris
 

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From looking at the collection I have no idea on what his 'thing' was, there seems to be bits form all over the place. When was the last time you saw a Dasun 240K anywhere?

500 is the same blue that mine once was so I had to have a long look.
My dear wife caught me and when I told her I knew where I could get a front bumper to start the restoration she thumped me....

Regards

Joe R
 
From looking at the collection I have no idea on what his 'thing' was, there seems to be bits form all over the place. When was the last time you saw a Dasun 240K anywhere?

500 is the same blue that mine once was so I had to have a long look.
My dear wife caught me and when I told her I knew where I could get a front bumper to start the restoration she thumped me....

Regards

Joe R

The guy who put me on to it is restoring a 240K, hence his interest. So now he'll have two sh*tboxes.

I tried to send you a PM but your box is full. I've also got a good pair of seats reupholstered in black with red piping. Will look very nice in the new restoration.

Chris
 
Hi All

Thought it would be timely to introduce myself as the new owner of the 500F you posted about a few weeks ago. I am a newbie to the forum and also to the car restoration game. I was looking for something simple & in state that wasn't too far gone. I have fallen in love with these little cars over the last few years in my search to find a project. I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this one, but we'll see how it goes over the coming months. No doubt I'll be posting plenty of amateur questions to you all along the way.

Picked up my Haynes manual today - much learning ahead!

Cheers
Starky
 
Starky,

first rule, tell us where you are (general area will do).

Second rule, post lots of pictures especially as the car is now, we can never get enough. Keep taking them as you pull the car apart. Is invaluable reference when you put things back together.

Third rule, ask and we will try and answer. Anything you experience, we have probably been there.

Manual is a good place to start, then go here and have a look at the 500 CD. Has all the doco you will need. http://www.motormanmanuals.com/fiat500.htm

Congrats on the buy.

Regards

Joe R
 
Hi All

Thought it would be timely to introduce myself as the new owner of the 500F you posted about a few weeks ago.

Excellent buy Starky and welcome to the list. Would it be too rude to ask what you paid for it? If you'd rather not say, I understand.

As Joe has posted above, we are here to help.

Chris
 
Hi Joe & Chris

Thanks for the warm welcome. I will definitely be asking you all many questions over the coming months. I am located within 2 hours from Brisbane, so let me know if you guys are nearby. Currently reading, preparing for and generally planning the project ahead. My car will be located away from me, so the work is going to be in bursts & I will need to be well organised to make the most of my time.

As for the price Chris, am reluctant to post - may one day have a potential buyer on the forum ;)

Joe - checked out the link you posted for the CD manual, unfortunately it does not appear that they currently have the manual for the 500? Is there any other way of getting this? Happy to purchase a second hand copy.

Plan to upload some images of the initial state of the vehicle in a couple of weeks - stay tuned.

Regards
Starky
 
I am located within 2 hours from Brisbane, so let me know if you guys are nearby.

I'm on the Sunshine Coast. I also have a few extra 500 bits as I'm sure many other list members do, so if you need parts, ask here first :)

The only reason that I asked the price was that the friend of mine who was going to go to the auction but eventually didn't, was going to bid up to $1000. He is the 240K collector and he was interested in what it eventually went for, however I completely understand your reason for confidentiality.

Keep us informed (y)

Chris
 
Starky,

its been a whole week, I thought Chris had scared you away with his Avatar.......

Don't understand the link to Motorman. Still shows the product listed, but you are correct, you can't order anymore. All the hard work is done with the scanning of the originals, I think all they do is personalise the copies with the buyers name and burn the CD. Perhaps you should drop them a line.

I am in inner Brissy. Looking forward to seeing the photo's.

Regards

Joe R
 
I thought Chris had scared you away with his Avatar.......

I should really change it as it bears little resemblance to what I actually look like - I've got much more hair :)

As to the manual on CD, I've had no luck finding one for the 500s either though there is a guy who advertises them on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fiat-500...s-Free-Download-Link-/181174900589#vi-content

I've got the Factory Manual, the Haynes Manual and the User Manual all in book form. A bit old school, but it works for me.

Chris
 
Last edited:
Flashed off an email to Motorman Manuals. They have told me they have resolved the issue so the CD is available again. Visited the site and it indicates 12 items in stock now so all looks good.

Joe R
 
Thanks Joe & Chris - onto it.

Not scared off - just a little infrequent on the forum due to a very busy job. Having said that, Joe you have a point about Chris' avatar! He said he might have more hair, but didn't deny the similarity between the ears?? For the time being I will proceed with caution...

Well today was a big day, I finally met my Bambino. (Yes I stupidly bought something without inspection). Wow! Wow it is a beauty & Wow I have my work cut out for me. Fair bit more rust than anticipated. About as much rust as mouse sh*t, mainly surface, but a lot of it. I will persist.

I have spent much of the day in the shed feeling like an archeologist - 1c, 2c, playing cards, old tobacco tins - all stuffed down the back seat. Also spent some time getting advice from a bloke who does repair work on vintage vehicles as a hobby. I will be outsourcing the trickier body work to him/another that can do it fairly reasonably. It is not a lost cause, but will be chasing a few replacement panels and other parts as they are cheaper to buy than refabricate. Rims are looking shot too - was hoping they wouldn't be so bashed up. I will open another thread over the next week with an inventory of things I will be looking for. Hopefully some of our Aussie members might have a few bits and pieces that I am after (or know where to get them.) In particular I will be looking for some panel replacements - has anyone ever ordered these through ricambio UK?. I dare not think of the freight involved.

Photos of the day's discoveries to come. Off to deal with the mouse house.

Cheers
Starky
 
Morning Starky;
I have dealt with 'Ricambio international'--Franco Roselli is the man there-I got very good, very professional service; he is very busy on the phone, so try him on e-mail 1st.
Other companies that I have dealt with and had very good results are:-
(1)--www.fiat500classic.co.uk ---Nathan Robertson
(2)--Leo Van der Laan---word is his body bits fit very well
(3)--Axle Gerstle---Sebastion Hangl is the man I have dealt with
Hope all this is of help to you.:)
 
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Ladies & Gentlemen
Had a few minutes with the Bambino on the weekend; taking stock of panels & parts required. (Perhaps it would be easier to list the parts not required!)

Panels - all around base require serious attention, if not replacement. Air vent grille at the back is shot too - from my research I believe these are only available second hand? Could someone shed some light on this?

Window channels are shot - rusted. Anything rubber has perished. Exposed rear lights - internal fittings went to powder when touched.

Took wheels off, removed the shredded tyres from rims - would you believe all four tubes still inflate & hold pressure - even with their obvious repair patches plastered all over them. Thoughts on the rims? Surface rust, some pitting in areas, suffering quite a few dings in 3/4 of them, spare went to the dump - rusted out. Have the facilities to heat & beat the others back into shape. (Metal fabricator in the family).
Also wanting to go to a tubeless tyre, so probably need to be looking at new rims regardless?

Rear emblem also shown, what are your thoughts on the crack & rust? Repairable? If so, how would you approach this?

Sorry for asking so many basic questions, but I have had a good dig around on the Internet & have not found the answers.

Cheers
Starky
(The newbie)
 
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