Whats happening to the world of 500 classics?
Is there a limit people are willing to pay?

This poor old 500L is about the same condition as mine was.
I paid £1300 for mine.
this is already at £1719
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-500L-BLACK-/191237147597?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c869f4bcd

and this one is now £870
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-500L...1027279?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a9365d3cf
This appears to be beyond salvageable.

Prices seem to be rising for a complete junker and yet an on the road ready to drive model can be had for as little as £2500 with an MOT. Okay it may still need a renovation.


is this the dearest 500F model at £28995?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...an_1l/maximum-age/over_10_years_old?logcode=p

and maybe the dearest 500 at £38995? apart from the Jollies
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ld/advert-type/standard-listing?logcode=ucnnp

Is the world going 500 mad or is it just a good investment?https://cdn-i.fiatforum.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

Interesting thread, and here's my humble thoughts!

The classic car market always takes a nose dive during periods of economic down-turn and uncertainty. The disposable income to fund purchases that are not essential (or in the case of a classic car, a hobby that will always cost you money) tends to disappear altogether, or stay in the bank account for a rainy day. Also, owners often sell during such times, hence flooding the market and driving prices down (basic supply and demand).

As the economy starts to improve (house prices are on the up, unemployment in the UK is down), confidence improves and people feel more inclined to 'play' with this kind of purchase and investment.

Also, in the case of the Fiat 500, it will be magnified because of the launch of the updated 500s, and their subsequent popularity. This will be increasing the interest in the classic versions, which is why a lot of LHD versions are hitting the UK (again, supply and demand). A few years ago a show like Classic Car Rescue would never have dreamt about featuring a classic 500!

I'm probably wrong, but there are a few ideas!

is this the dearest 500F model at £28995?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...an_1l/maximum-age/over_10_years_old?logcode=p

and maybe the dearest 500 at £38995? apart from the Jollies
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ld/advert-type/standard-listing?logcode=ucnnp

Wow, those Abarths are beautiful!

It certainly still seems to pay to make a 500 into an abarth replica as opposed to keeping it a 500 although I thought abarth replicas were considered to be passé now.
The powder blue one is nice on the exterior but somewhat garish inside. I wonder where the 70bhp claim comes from, my understanding is that this is more or less max for full race tune let alone road tune!
I think as always with classics there is a huge price difference between a good car and an immaculate car.

Colm.

We have a winner!

I wouldn't mind getting hold of one of these car covers, very smart indeed

Hugh Jarce

Just looked on eBay US and found 4 fiat 500s for sale and one fiat 500 Jolly TOTAL. The UK market looks much better. The later has hidden rust!!! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fiat-Other-...0e8f064ce&item=141347022030&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Jolly's made in the Ghia workshops were only really based on N's a few were made based on early D's, so that puts them 57-61...

Get out of jail card!!
Note "Ghia Club Certification simply states that the car is homologous to a Jolly and does not certify its authenticity "

Agreed there is something quite wrong with that Jolly. Looks like any rust along the bottom has been simply sprayed over plus there are lumps on the wheel arches on the front, that look like they could be corrosion. It doesn't look like it has been done very well?

Also it has a jack sticker just stuck on the engine bay rear panel for some odd reason?

Re: Fiat 500 values- update from oz!

Hot off the auction block in Melbourne yesterday... http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/lot/H9A767S4B4LG3C62/#.U84rHBB-_IU was a nice car but not perfect so a pretty impressive result!

Re: Fiat 500 values- update from oz!

Damon500 said:

Hot off the auction block in Melbourne yesterday... http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/lot/H9A767S4B4LG3C62/#.U84rHBB-_IU was a nice car but not perfect so a pretty impressive result!

Click to expand...

Agreed, looks a nice car. Incidentally that's the most wintry photo I have ever seen of Oz!
I bought a running 500 with a worn clutch at auction for £50 in 1982.
Not long after that in the UK we had massive escalation classic car prices and I spent stupid money on one non-Fiat basket case. Prices came down sharply but I think that won't happen now that the 500 has become such an icon because unlike many cars, apart from its obvious attractions, it is easy and cheap to service and maintain.

Well we think it is wintry here- I must be soft thinking it is cold in the garage at 8 degrees! Lucky I have insulation and a good LPG heater, going through a few gas bottles though...
I have worked on and driven the White Giardiniera in the link and it made me more determined to build mine with 650CC and a 5 Speed 126 synchro transmission!
My first Fiat 500 was purchased in 1989 when I was 16 years old for NZ$350 from a local Mongrel Mob bikie gang member who needed the money for a Harley Davidson gearbox! Sold it for $1200 to buy my 1973 500F from the original owner, totally rust free with 16,000 miles in 1991 for the massive sum of $2200! thankfully I kept that, it now has 30,000mls and cost me three times its purchase price to bring it to Australia.....

Love the color Damon!

here's the cover..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500-Car-Cover-/171351376282?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27e556819a

what's funny is the cover is a 1957-9 car on a modern 500

Bigvtwin996 said:

here's the cover..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500-Car-Cover-/171351376282?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27e556819a

what's funny is the cover is a 1957-9 car on a modern 500

Click to expand...

With door handles in the wrong place !

In common with many of you I'm sure, I keep an eye on Ebay and even bid quite regularly at low values on Fiat 500s.
This one caught my eye (apologies to anyone watching it and keeping to themselves). It's obviously going to do very well for the seller. Apparently untouched and unmodified, which is something that appeals to me. the only strange thing is that the seller says that there's no serious rust....but look at the new panels that come with it! By that definition my car was like new

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500f...7322109?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4d23748afd

That is currently selling for more than my 500 cost including all the panels I purchased. Makes me think I got a bargain.
I noticed the photos are all blurred at the bottom - presumably to disguise the rusty bits?

i paid 1000 pounds for mine £750 for all panels delivered £300 to collect £40 diesel for me to collect from transport company , i used the money from the sale of my beach buggy , then look at the amount of work it needed and ive done , believe me most need this level of work if not as much , but people never take into account the amount of money time skill effort it takes to do one , unless u can do a cheque book resto, my ADVICE


SPEND AS MUCH A U CAN IT WILL BE CHEAPER IN THE LONG TERM OWEN NW:slayer:

Well spotted Sean...I just thought he was a rubbish photographer with his hand caught in the lense.
True what Owen says, to an extent, but you still have to trust that a car really is original and really has been stored well and looked after. The alternative for me would be to come with plenty of photographic evidence of the quality of the restoration work; such as you can both show.
I wouldn't really want to buy a car that had been mucked about like mine has, (even though I have nothing to hide about the workmanship), nor do I think most others would; I think that's why unmolested ones sell for such a premium.
Having said all that, I don't ever envisage passing mine on nor buying another.
Price-wise (back to the subject), you can see how we put value on the cars simple in terms of buying body panels, never mind the rest, but I doubt I spent more than £300 on the metal bits; it's the fiddly bits and pieces like cables and grommets that have added up the price even though individual bits are quite cheap. Off the top of my head the car probably owes me about £3000, all in for everything needed to buy, transport and repair the hours I have put in would probably equal a year's salary