Hi I've recently become involved in the world of all things small and mighty 500.
I have been purchasing parts ready for a project - and have been amazed at the amount of suppliers and parts available.
I have been offered some period accessories and am frankly stunned by the price people are willing to pay.

How about two half moon spot lights and brackets for £650?

Can anyone beat that ??

An original toolkit for one of my other cars recently sold for USD3500. It was complete but the toolbag was rotten and the tools needed replating.
Ridiculous.
Chris

I hear what you are saying Chris on toolkits.

The favourite missing piece on the original little grey plastic toolkit is the little tube spanner. I think it is 8mm and 10mm? But they seem to be missing on most kits.

I bid on one on eBay a few months back and it went for over £50. I decided I can live without it.

Tony

I wondered who was bidding those things up Tony.

I had several tool-kits in mint condition back in the 80s....where are they now I wonder.:bang:

I think Andrew is talking about added extras and I don't remember, when the cars were current, that many people had much in the way of accessories...even door mirrors were unusual. A young bloke across the road from us had a 500 with spotlights on it; I thought it looked naff. I was proud when I acquired some rubber covers for the engine lid vents.

Proper mudflaps are the most useful thing that I would like. It would stop that rear quarter from getting splattered all the time. The trouble is that; like everything added to the Fiat 500 I feel it takes away more than it adds.

Like my little grand-daughter, the little Bambino was born perfect and I wouldn't change anything

Yeah there wasn't really a great deal of accessories. Were 500L's factory built with nudge bars or were they added by dealerships? I know even on my F there were all the bolt holes for them underneath. Not that I would fit them as for the age of my car they would be wrong.

I guess there are two schools of thought here, those who like to mod for looks and performance. Then those who like to keep the cars as original as possible.
I myself sway more to the latter but even with this 650cc engine and gearbox I am currently rebuilding I am still undecided if it will go in my 500. As it is such a simple swap I will try it but only if I can get it to go in without having drill any holes. As I have the additional problem of finding somewhere to mount the additional electronic ignition components.

Tony

The "L" bumper bars were factory-fitted and the front and rear quarters had welded nuts fitted to secure them. The nuts were possibly there in all the later "F"s but as far as I can tell, mine didn't have them. The nuts lasted no time at all or at least, the bodywork around them did, and the first time you removed them you usually ended up having to bodge up a nut and bolt with big washers afterwards. I must admit, my brother and me found those bumpers very attractive and a Fiat 500 seemed incomplete without them.

If you need to drill a few holes it doesn't really matter...they could always be welded up anyway. I know it sounds a little contrary but the sort of gradual changes that you are doing seem to be in the spirit of old cars. Its wholesale re-modelling that I don't like. Even so, anyone who loves a Fiat so much as to spend so much money and time on them as people do here can do what they want with them in my opinion.

i guess i meant the proper period accessories.
I've had some great classics and the correct accessories have always been an addiction.
Whether it be a clock for a '50's Lambretta LD , Empi parts for my 60's VW's, original magnesium alloys for my Mk1 Lotus cortina and Mk1 MGB - it is often the making of the finished article.
The 500 is going to be the same.....confession time.....not bought the car home yet - and already got a workshop with some rarities to bolt on...........