I know you can buy aluminium number plate lights for the 500 but were they ever factory fitted as standard or have they always been the plastic chromed looking ones. I am guessing maybe the D might have been fitted with them originally?

Tony

I think they were standard until the f model when they introduced more plastic parts

Standard on N's D's and very very few early F's.

Cheers guys just wondering.

Also nice to see aluminium spelt correctly

Chris

The plastic one on my L is starting to fade a bit so considering replacing it with an aluminium one

I've got a new shiny plastic one and the original aluminium one. I guess I'll never get the aluminium one to shine like the plastic one.
Some are painted. Is that original?
Tim

Pronunciation aside, when I rebuilt my 500F I splashed out on an aluminium numberplate light. It looks nicer and has a solid feel about it, though mine needs a good polish.
Chris

This is my original 1971 "F" back in 1989. It may just be that the chrome had worn off, (I doubt it...it was too even) but it was matt black as was the door mirror mounting.

I like the idea of the aluminum D ) light; are the dimensions identical?

Mine is black now Peter after cleaning it with a cloth soaked in thinners! Got a choice of respraying chrome or buying an aluminium one. Exactly the same except for the price of course
Damian

fiat500 said:

This is my original 1971 "F" back in 1989. It may just be that the chrome had worn off, (I doubt it...it was too even) but it was matt black as was the door mirror mounting.

I like the idea of the aluminum D ) light; are the dimensions identical?

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Yeah I believe they are Peter. I am tempted as Axel Gerstl have them reduced at the until tomorrow for £26.00. Which when you consider their best quality plastic chrome one is £17.60 is pretty good value. Especially when you consider that a certain UK supplier sells them for £84.00.

My original, broken one was chromum D) plated plastic though I've also seen photos of black coloured light covers- could have just been old oxidised sodum, pottassum or even magnesum based plating, but most likely just factory applied black paint.
I had the choice of another chromum plastic cover but ended up buying an aluminum one for a reasonable price.
It fitted perfectly and to my knowledge they are all the same size irrespective of construction or spelling
Chris

I see that those metals are spelled D ) differently in some territories.

Unlike your mates to the west, your buddies in the Southern Hemisphere won't give you any orthographic, phonetic or etymological grief though occasionally our pronunciation may leave a little to be desired

... and yeah, buy the aluminium one, you won't be disappointed.

Chris

Cheers for that Chris, I think you've convinced me. Now I notice there are alloy ones which are then chromium-plated; just put there to confuse the issue I guess.

PS. I think some of your local entomology would give some of us Brits a lot of grief.

Do you know of any suppliers in Australia that I can buy an aluminium one from Chris?

Hi Mark,

No I don't - sorry. Mine came from Europe, Axel Gerstl, I think.

Chris

That's where I ordered mine from yesterday but the sale offer ran out today. I had to get some other bits to complete my 650 engine rebuild and couldn't resist a bargain.

I think I commented on my 650 engine thread that my shipping charges from Germany were €11.90 for the initial small bits I needed but adding the number plate light it reduced the shipping charges to €10.00, so I saved another €1.90 off the price of the lamp by buying it. Odd but true. So it cost me £24.50 or Aussie $48.00.

What are shipping charges like to Oz from Europe are they expensive?

Tony

My number plate light and other bits turned up today from Germany. I am really pleased with the quality of the aluminium light it is just right and cost about £26.00 in the end and is a nice addition.

Vitesse said:

My number plate light and other bits turned up today from Germany. I am really pleased with the quality of the aluminium light it is just right and cost about £26.00 in the end and is a nice addition.

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oooohh, Shiny.