I'm always talking about this but it looks like I have the go-ahead to do so for mid to late 2017.
In researching it, unsurprisingly I'm not finding that this is something that is commonly done, other than a few people bringing cars back after buying them on The Continent.
I will have about three weeks and the real journey will probably begin when we depart from the ferry at Zeebrugge.
I am keen to read about anyone else's experiences before I go, and plan to take the liberty of bumping this thread up for a while in order to fish for them.
It has been interesting already in researching the subject of small cars on huge road-trips, to read about a young woman who did a whistlestop, solo tour of Scotland in a classic mini last winter and a Portuguese man, about ten years ago, who drove his 126P from Poland to his home country by the long route; straight down Europe and across the Cote D'Azur. In his case he even slept in the car and describes, in ten steps, exactly how to do that.

If you need a pit stop in Cambridge on way to ferry etc. for tea/coffee etc. and access to jacks, tools etc. to do a maintenance check - you are welcome to stop by.

Let me know nearer the time and I'll PM mobile, address details etc.

Cheers, Steve

Peter--same here----I am (just!) in North Wales, 3 miles from the centre of Chester (which funnily enough is almost due south of Nairn!). It is a 398 mile run between Nairn and Chester, so if you want to use us as another 'pit-stop' you will be made very welcome. We have all the normal facilities---workshop, tools, secure off-road parking and, oh yes, bed and tucker. Keep me in the picture and if there any way that I can help, I will be delighted to do so---and yes, the mem-sahib is aware of the offer.

And I'm 20 mins from Dover ferry or the tunnel if that's your point of exit from the UK - welcome with open arms (and tool box) would await!!!

He'll never get to the ferry with all these stopovers.
.

Davren said:

He'll never get to the ferry with all these stopovers.
.

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Good point and exactly what I was thinking.
Very kind and tempting offers from you all, Steve, Tom and Andrew..
But to avoid too much UK driving and so that I get somewhere "exotique" quickly, I was planning to use the Newcastle or Hull ferry service so everyone is safe from being bothered by me.
This oblique route gets me "dahn sarf" pronto and sets me up for several directions of travel.
I would really like to go to Greece via Croatia etc., but that is probably a bit too far for a three-week jaunt.
The absolute must is to take on The Alps by one of the proper routes and to make it to somewhere with real sunshine and heat guaranteed.
This is early in the planning so I suppose I could return via The English Channel and drive the length of the British mainland and harass everyone then.

fiat500 said:

This is early in the planning so I suppose I could return via The English Channel and drive the length of the British mainland and harass everyone then.

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I might be safe there is a big hill near me that you would need to go up and I doubt whether a 500 two up with a load of luggage could make it!!!

Seriously though you have to be planning to go to Italy? I would go through the alps down through Italy to the Amalfi Coast.

My Aunty lives in Berne so I'll tell her to sort the toolkit out and get some spares in.

Now your Auntie sounds handy. Strategically well placed so that's logged into my notes.?
I may end up on my lonesome if Sheila stays true to form, and I've offered her that I could pick her up at Zurich Airport which has flights from 4 miles from here.
I went to Italy a few years ago and found it a bit over-rated, busy, expensive, industrialised and too similar to the UK. I mean, we probably have more 500s than them now.?

Peter – should you happen to get lost, you're very welcome here.

timgarman said:

Peter – should you happen to get lost, you're very welcome here.

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Now that's a detour I would't mind making.
Don't tempt me...you might regret it.:devil:

Hi Peter, my son Craig accompanied me in my Gamine on the European Tour back in 2007 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 500 and attend the launch of the new 500 in Torino. We left Airdrie, which is just outside Glasgow, for Dover where We met 2 other 500's for the crossing. We met up with the German, Dutch and Belgium 500 clubs at a campsite in Belgium for a weekend of celebrations. An 85 strong convoy of 500's headed through France, Switzerland and Italy for Torino. We had the option of using the tunnel or going over the Alps, I opted for the Alps and was not disappointed with the experience of driving a 500 over the Alps. If I remember correctly three 500's had to be rescued. In Torino we were invited to celebrate the launch of the new 500 in Piazza Vitoria Veneto. The tour culminated in a three day extravaganza in the village of Garlenda along with 1500 500's. It was a fantastic journey down especially with the German support team, they had every spare you would require including a couple of engines and several gearboxes. An English 500 blew up on a motoway in Belgium. The owner was offered a replacement engine but declined, he wanted to keep the 500 number correct. The support crew trailered it all the way to Garlenda where the German club stripped it down to nuts and bolts and rebuilt it with new parts all for the cost of the parts. Due to the support crew the trip down was relaxed in the knowledge that the car would be repaired as and when required. On the return trip home I was a bit apprehensive as Craig and I would be on our own. The only repairs required on the journey home were to fix an electrical failure due to the torrential rain in France and replacing the condenser on a couple of occasions. Craig and I had a great time and would not have missed it for the world. In all we covered approximately 3000 miles in a very cramped uncomfortable Gamine loaded up with a tent, luggage, guitar and several spares but it was one the best holidays Craig and I have had.

Ralph

Ralph, that sounds perfect and echos almost exactly what I have read other people saying about similar experiences.
Until the last few weeks, (ironically since I fitted electronic ignition) I have never had any fear of breakdowns, but a few little niggles recently mean I am going to have to up my mileage a bit more during coming months. I may even give it a try with a completely new (to me) engine and gearbox.
After Christmas I will gt down to making aproper itinerary.

Peter, as soon as I arrived home I replaced the distributor with a 123 unit and the drive couplings with stronger tripod units. I also had to replace the drive shaft coupling on three occasions during the trip. The first was in Belgium. At a service station the rear wheel had a minor wable and one of the support team tightened the stub axle nut, but unfortunately about 5 miles out the wheel decided to part company with car. I was really fortunate as no serious damage was done. The support team picked up the Gamine on a trailer and delivered it to the next campsite. I along with another convoy member stripped the drive down, repaired the stub axle threads with a thread file, fitted new bearings, nut and drive coupling. Crushing the bearing spacer was a real pain and took a 1.5 m long bar. The replacement couplings used through the tour were poor quality as I only got about 800 miles before they had to be replaced. I have a 126 engine with panda head with 126 running gear, therefore it was the nylock nut which loosened and caused the heartache. I have to admit it was hard driving at almost 75-80 miles an hour, according to my speedo, on the motorways to keep up with the German 500's. As I have said before it was a fantastic trip and I am really thankful I did it. Just by the way I haven't had any ignition or drive coupling problems since the were changed in 2007.

Ralph

Ralph, I fitted genuine Fiat rubber couplings because I remembered having similar anguish to you a very long time ago. So far so good after 13 and a bit thousand miles. It's a mechanical area I would never skimp on and I will definitely fit the tripod joints if I ever embark on a world tour.
A lot of people don't seem to get it with those spacers and I don't know how their cars perform under strain when they re-use them or even dispense with them.
I think the older type lock-nut with a split-pin seems more secure.
I am going to try both my engines again with conventional distributors just to see the difference. I'm not a Luddite but I really do seem to have had more difficulties since fitting the 123. I know it's just co-incidence but when it was awkward to start the other day I found it very frustrating to have to assume that the cause couldn't be the ignition and not to have a way to test that for certain.:bang:

Re: UK Road Trip in a 500

It's not looking good for my planned European excursion this year because of, let's call them " differences of opinion" about whether or not we can afford so much time. I kniow I can). But for diplomacy's sake it will just be the UK this year.:bang:

Not to add fuel to a raging fire BUT with this being the 60th anniversary of the 500 it's a shame you couldn't combine your tour with other various celebrations you may have come across while "on tour" Still, touring the U.K. will give you the chance to take up all the offers you've had of stopovers, other than Tim's in NZ!

I'll Photoshop you onto a volcano.

timgarman said:

I'll Photoshop you onto a volcano.

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Thanks but no need Tim; I went to New Zealand and back today:

MAL_1069 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr

That was quick.

Oh! – there's Gandalf.

Re: UK or European Mainland Road Trip in a 500 or 126

(126) These guys deserve respect. Amazing drive and the story told so well.
https://drivetribe.com/p/e5luDxNgSkuhzeOdVhep9w?iid=EAYqUf2bTaOrMFXGAEQ24A