4 Classic 500s in NM
I just moved back from Italy to southern NM and brought back two classic 500s (1973 500R and 1971 500L). There is another family here in Alamogordo who also brought back an off-white 1971 500L from Italy when they moved back from Italy about 5 years back. The last of the four I am aware of is a black 1973 500R up in Santa Fe brought back from Aviano, Italy by my former boss in 2012.
A bit about my cars:
I bought my 73 500R from the son of the original owner who bought it in Aug 1973 and passed away in 2009. When she died, her son pushed the car into her garage and it sat until Jul 2011 when I bought it with documented 51K kilometers. 'Luigi' (cliche' I know) is Giallo Senape (mustard yellow) in original paint with a re-spray in a few areas and very minor rust. Bone stock interior with the exception of a cassette player radio and speakers added in the 80s. I commute 15 miles each way on a highway at 60 mph most days to enjoy my work day a bit better.
My In-Laws visited us in Italy twice during our three years living over there and my mother-in-law fell in love with my Cinqueciento (Luigi). She has always wanted a toy car and her 1987 Rabbit Cabriolet was just not cutting it, so I located a 1971 500L in a back yard in a small town near my home in Italy and dropped 1K euro on the rusty, not running hulk. My good friend and Fiat mentor, Roberto Quattrin, opened his shop and weekends to me free of charge for the next 8 months while we completed a full rotisserie restoration on it. Her name is Pia and she now wears a fresh coat of Rosso Corrale (Coral Red) paint, tan interior (almost orange - not what I was hoping for when I ordered the kit) and is a running, driving classic. We used mostly original trim pieces to make her look more classic, less restored. The accidental paint bubbles on the roof will help that, too :bang:. I'm am trailering her to drop off in Sata Rosa, NM tomorrow as a gift to my wonderful mother-in-law.
I also am picking up a nice 1971 124 Spider tomorrow as a short-term winter project...
Better pics to follow.
DC