HI everyone!...I'm new to the 500 club...I just purchased a 1958 500N USA model with the bug eye headlights...I've only owned 2 other Fiats in the past, a X 1/9 and a 124 Spider...I have always wanted a tiny car for quite some time and wasn't even in the market for a car, but a good friend of mine took me over to see a VW buggy a buddy of his had and he had the '58 sitting under a tarp...well, he didn't really want to sell it, but after seeing that little thing my heart was set on convincing him to sell...this guy had 9 other projects in the works and his kids are always telling him to downsize....so I WIN!!....just got her home today.

Quick description...no floor boards...no rear wheel wells or any sheet metal in the interior back portion of the car....all parts are there to finish the car....I will be selling the transaxle, the engine minus one cylinder rod and piston, no cylinder head but the rest of the motor is complete.

My plan is to install a complete VW running gear and building my version of a Abarth Fiat.

I look forward to learning more about this cute little car.

Dave

Can anyone recommend a shop that can do body repair on these unique cars? If it is in the south east, that would be a bonus.

Hi Dave (Vintage58);
Did you get the e-mail that I sent directly through to you OK?
The hobbler

startrek said:

Hey y'all I just bought a 1972 Fiat 500L and I live about an hour north of New Orleans,LA. Does anyone know where to get original parts online? I need a front bumper and a steering wheel.

Click to expand...

Mr. Fiat is definitely a good source for parts, and they're easy to call for part specs/compatibility. I have also found that some of the European websites are significantly less expensive. If you're ordering a few hundred dollars worth of parts, sites such as fiat500ricambi can provide significant savings even after the international shipping costs are included.

Note: I don't have enough automotive knowledge to compare the quality of parts from each supplier, just the cost.

Hi all, I have a Fiat 500L 1972 which I bought in Italy back in 2007. The car has been great but I let it sit for a few years and have done a complete teardown of the engine. Things are going well, gaining alot of experience along the way. I am in South Florida...anyone else down here?

Rick

How are you guys managing ethanol in the gas from the pumps?

Anyone using an Ethanol Fuel Conditioner?

A couple of gas stations around me here in the Franklin, TN area sell 100% gasoline, so I use that.
Ethanol should be okay as long as you are using the car. When storing, you should add some Stabil to the tank and get it worked through the system before a long lay up.
John

So do you think there is no need for a fuel conditioner for ethanol if it's used weekly?

No I don't think you need to worry about it as long as you are using the car and the gas is not sitting in the fuel system for months. If you store the car for more than three months I would put some fuel stabilizer in the tank and make sure to run it through to the carb. You could also shut the fuel off to the carb and run it dry after the stabilizer gets there.
John

Thanks

Another question for the US owners:

What do you need to bring to the DMV to register the car?

I'm trying to compile a list of documents, but I read on the DMV website it calls for:

-manufacturer's certificate of origin (I'm looking at the original registration papers "libretto" of my 500 and it's all in Italian, do they need anything in English?)
-bill of sale (again, bought between two private citizens in Italy, what would they want in English?)
-Inspection Report...?
-proof of insurance


thanks

Tom here in Ridgway, Colorado. I have a '67 Fiat 500. It has a 650 engine with synchro transmission. Slowly I am trying to make it clean and beautiful.

turbo500 said:

Another question for the US owners:

What do you need to bring to the DMV to register the car?

I'm trying to compile a list of documents, but I read on the DMV website it calls for:

-manufacturer's certificate of origin (I'm looking at the original registration papers "libretto" of my 500 and it's all in Italian, do they need anything in English?)
-bill of sale (again, bought between two private citizens in Italy, what would they want in English?)
-Inspection Report...?
-proof of insurance


thanks

Click to expand...

I would bring any customs paperwork as well, I think I needed to show it at the DMV. You may also need to have a police officer fill out a "Non-Standard VIN Form" or something along those lines. I had to do that in Montana before I could register the car. Basically just got the form from the DMV, and called the police department to have a cop come verify the VIN/fill out the form.

I would definitely call the DMV and see what the requirements are as far as the bill of sale and registration papers. You may need to provide a translated, notarized copy of those documents. I didn't have to deal with that as I shipped my car back via the military, but I remember reading about DMV requirements for documents in foreign languages.

I just looked that up for Florida, and it says:

"THIS FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETED ON ALL USED MOTOR VEHICLES, INCLUDING TRAILERS NOT CURRENTLY TITLED IN FLORIDA, WITH A NET WEIGHT OF 2,000 POUNDS OR MORE."

lol..the 500 is half of that so I guess I'm exempt...?

In Colorado, you need a certified weight slip because vintage 500's are not in their database of cars and weights.

hahaha that's funny. So far everyone I spoke to on this forum, all extremely nice and helpful, have not mentioned needing all these forms...for Florida at least.

Reading a thread about the number of 500's in NZ has me wondering how many are in the U.S. ...Does anyone know or even know if it's possible to figure that out? I'm guessing each state keeps its own records and they probably aren't centralized anywhere. I've had lots of people ask me how many 500's are here and I never have even a ball park estimate to give.

Anyone know if this alternator belt could work with a 500F?



[ame]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3LQOK7/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1[/ame]

Specs: 10x800mm - notched
http://www.ddpowerdrive-belt.com/?pnum=17&pt=Raw Edge Cogged V-Belts

also, what's the best site to order parts for the 500 from Europe? UK, Netherlands or Italy?

Hey Everyone: Dax and Melanie from (cold) Colorado. We bought our 1970 Fiat 500F (named Francesca Ferrero) from an Italian living in Germany. The original owners were of the Ferrero Roche family--Italian confectioniers! We drive her frequently, but she needs some work, and I am slowly starting that process--this forum is helpful in that regard. Definitely not going to stay original/stock--I am itching for more horsepower, upgraded suspension and a new interior. Best wishes to you all!