lazylobster
Established member
Looks great! Congrats on your work.
R
R
General All 500 owners in USA, report in
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General All 500 owners in USA, report in
the hobbler
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The instrument cluster would indicate that it is an 'L' (big cluster with fuel gauge, rather than just an 'idiot' light). Welcome to the Forum---we are here to help. Where about are in the U.S. of A. are you? It might help you make contact with other 500 owners in you area for support and mutual assistance.
On Small Wheels
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New member here, joined a month ago and lurked around.
Last Saturday I drove to Escondido California and picked up a 1971 500F and trailered it home (854 miles round trip).
Not perfect and in keeping with the 500’s I saw living in Sardinia, it never will be.
But, I ordered the oil slinger O ring, timing chain and cogs, spark plugs, belt and oil pan gasket.
Tires are old and cracked (spare is shiny and hard) 145/70- 12, ordered Pirelli 125/70-12’s. Having the rims media blasted and powder coated red.
Runs well, but I want to check everything.
Wipers don’t work, replaced all the fuses and still nothing.
Also, door handles and cranks are plastic.
Last Saturday I drove to Escondido California and picked up a 1971 500F and trailered it home (854 miles round trip).
Not perfect and in keeping with the 500’s I saw living in Sardinia, it never will be.
But, I ordered the oil slinger O ring, timing chain and cogs, spark plugs, belt and oil pan gasket.
Tires are old and cracked (spare is shiny and hard) 145/70- 12, ordered Pirelli 125/70-12’s. Having the rims media blasted and powder coated red.
Runs well, but I want to check everything.
Wipers don’t work, replaced all the fuses and still nothing.
Also, door handles and cranks are plastic.
forzamacchi
New member
I have a 1968 500F that I bought out of Texas. I am in Southern California... Will any of you be going to the best of France and Italy this weekend?
Ben
Ben
Captain Torque
New member
Greetings, all! My wife and I just purchased this 1970 500L on eBay. We picked her up in Mississippi and brought her home to PA in the 6x12 enclosed trailer that we use to transport our American Bantam and American Austin. I bought a bunch of maintenance parts from Axel Gerstl in Germany, including a 123Ignition, which I have already installed. I can’t wait until the weather warms up so I can start driving her!
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I used to own that car. I sold it to a person in Mississippi in 2020. Let me know if you have any questions about it or its history.
Captain Torque
New member
Hello and thank you! Yes, I would be very interested to know about the car’s history. I noticed that it has a synchronized gearbox and a 28 IMB carburetor. It‘s also quicker than I expected, although I’ll admit that I don’t have anything with which to compare it. Anything you can tell me about the car would be appreciated!
I bought it in DC in 2011 from a dealer. He had gotten it from an Italian man who had imported it and 2 other 500s 15 years earlier and let them sit. It had a ton of rust and needed a lot of work. The best thing about it was a 650cc engine out of a 126. Notable work I did was clean all contacts in the fuse box, replaced tires (~2012), and flushed brake system and replaced brake shoes in 2019. I did a lot of work on the engine, but that engine isn't in the car now. In 2015, I moved it to Colorado.
I bought a blue 500F in 2019 because I like the looks of the painted dashboards better and it didn't need the body work that this ivory one did. I swapped the engines and sold yours to the guy in Mississippi in 2020 for $4800. So you have the body I had for 9 years and an engine/gearbox that I had for 9 months. The engine didn't run when I got it. I cleaned the carb and reset the timing, and then it was fine. Even though I took it out of a 500F, it was not the original engine for that car, so who knows what it came out of.
Here are the pics of it from when I sold it. You can see how much rust it had. It looks like the owner between us cleaned all that up.
I recognized it by the color and the "Actual Size" sticker, which I put on it soon after I bought it.
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Captain Torque
New member
Thanks very much for the information.. that’s great to know! He told me that the car was completely rust free, which is obviously not true, but it appears to be in much better shape than it was when you sold it. Overall, I’m very happy with it.I bought it in DC in 2011 from a dealer. He had gotten it from an Italian man who had imported it and 2 other 500s 15 years earlier and let them sit. It had a ton of rust and needed a lot of work. The best thing about it was a 650cc engine out of a 126. Notable work I did was clean all contacts in the fuse box, replaced tires (~2012), and flushed brake system and replaced brake shoes in 2019. I did a lot of work on the engine, but that engine isn't in the car now. In 2015, I moved it to Colorado.
I bought a blue 500F in 2019 because I like the looks of the painted dashboards better and it didn't need the body work that this ivory one did. I swapped the engines and sold yours to the guy in Mississippi in 2020 for $4800. So you have the body I had for 9 years and an engine/gearbox that I had for 9 months. The engine didn't run when I got it. I cleaned the carb and reset the timing, and then it was fine. Even though I took it out of a 500F, it was not the original engine for that car, so who knows what it came out of.
Here are the pics of it from when I sold it. You can see how much rust it had. It looks like the owner between us cleaned all that up.
I recognized it by the color and the "Actual Size" sticker, which I put on it soon after I bought it.
New here, currently living in Napoli, Italy and just purchased a 1972 500 L in Rosso Corrale (Coral Red). Needs work, and is currently being completely restored (all stock) and will be dark blue with red interior when we are done. Will be bringing it to Orlando, Florida with us in around a year or so to live for good. Last picture is for reference of color scheme.
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Couldn't u get a blue one then?
Yes, I suppose I could if I had no regard for price, time, current condition, availability, or a desire to have it all original. I would much rather get the car completely restored by a knowledgeable mechanic who has a passion for cars like I have. For me, having him paint it blue (which it was originally anyway) is a non-issue. This car will look brand new when He is done, except with a laborious reconditioning instead of just buying new parts.
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All done! I love how it turned out, and even got a surprise fuel tank painting.
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turbo500
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Nice, another Florida 500
Anyone on here had any luck finding parts on amazon.com and other US stores that will work for our 500s (other than Mr.Fiat)?
So far I managed to find the alternator belt from Amazon. They also sell a 3.0ohm PerTronix coil that might work, and still looking to see if I can find a good source for tires.
lazylobster
Established member
Nice, another Florida 500
Anyone on here had any luck finding parts on amazon.com and other US stores that will work for our 500s (other than Mr.Fiat)?
So far I managed to find the alternator belt from Amazon. They also sell a 3.0ohm PerTronix coil that might work, and still looking to see if I can find a good source for tires.
Classic car tyres in the US, try :
the hobbler
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Try:--- www.fiat plus.com They sell classic Fiat parts and might be able to help you. I must admit, the dealings that I have had with one of the "Mr Fiiat" engines did NOT impress me--and that is being kind!
turbo500
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Thank you both. I'm trying to create a list on Amazon of all parts that could work.
Any clue if this coil would work? (I'm thinking of upgrading to a powerspark ignition so just trying to see if I need an upgraded coil)
Amazon product ASIN B00199BO4C
Lightbulbs - these should be the correct ones?
Amazon product ASIN B0016GJ3HS
Any clue if this coil would work? (I'm thinking of upgrading to a powerspark ignition so just trying to see if I need an upgraded coil)
Amazon product ASIN B00199BO4C
Lightbulbs - these should be the correct ones?
Amazon product ASIN B0016GJ3HS
