1970 500L owner in eastern NC...just got it registered and hope to get it on the road once I fix my brake pressure issues

Welcome to the Forum, and the 'Cinquecento' family. What is your problem?---let us know,we seem to have run into most of them on this forum, and come up with the solution.

Hey! Just signed up to the forum today. Imported mine from Italy about six months ago. Should say my wife’s since I bought as a gift for her as she is crazy about the car ever since she lived in Milano. But I’m the ine who gets to work on it so I guess it was a gift for both. I’m in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and mine is a white 1965 500F 1st series (Otto Bolloni). Here’s a picture of her in GM’s Tech Center

I thought I replied to this thread already, but I guess I didn't.

My 2 Fiat 500's, in Arizona.

The yellow one is a '68 full spaceframe racer I built for a buddy, about 30 years ago.

The one with the surface rust is a early ( pre- March '58) Nuova America.

If anybody has any leads on Nuova's or parts, I could use a couple...

Parts for the early 500s are still available from a number of European dealers---if you want a list, contact me direct. As to the racer--DETAILS--we must have DETAILS! In my youth I worked for Radbourne Racing, often uprating 500s to 650cc. My current 'smile on my face car' is a replica Abarth 695,with a tuned 650 engine in the rear. My next engine is going to be a 'full-house'695 engine. I really enjoy looking at and finding out about tuned '500' engines----so DETAILS please!

Checking in from Southern California! I need help getting this little guy on the road!

Willybranson said:

Checking in from Southern California! I need help getting this little guy on the road!

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Looks like you’ve some work to do! What year is he?

NJ/NY Fiat 500L owner

Welcome to the Forum---nice looking 'wee beastie'. It looks slightly 'non-standard' Is it? let us know what you have done to it, other than slightly open engine cover, Abarth badge and alloys,

Thank you ! ... It's a 1972 500L with 650cc Engine and synchronized gear box, front disk calipers, Braille battery, HID lights and sound system. Otherwise the rest is all stock !

Hi All! Reporting in from the USA with my 1967 500F, just brought back from Italy. Car is original configuration for import with original engine with restored and replaced parts. Restoration was done in 2015 for a young guy in Salerno who then used it in his rotation as a daily driver. I’ve since had the distributor replaced and given the engine a good tune up and just got the mirror, which broke in shipping, back from the glass shop. Overall the car is running well and I’m ready to head out on some longer runs to flesh out any technical issues.

One question for the US owners is what gas you use and if you use any additives/stabilizers for the ethanol?

Thanks!

As we also 'suffer' Ethanol being added to our fuel, so I tend to use 97/98 octane fuel---usually listed as 'Super' over here. There are a number of 'anti-Ethanol' additives on the market, so I would suggest that you go down to your local 'car accessory' shop and have a word with them---I just don't know what is on the shelves on your side of 'the big pond'

Thanks Hobbler. We max out at 93 Octane here in the states with 10% ethanol. What’s the theory behind higher octane fuels for this car that’s not a turbo or anything?

Stevemode said:

We max out at 93 Octane here in the states with 10% ethanol. What’s the theory behind higher octane fuels for this car that’s not a turbo or anything?

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We have higher octane available in the UK but regular petrol is 95. Apparently this currently has 5% ethanol added.

As far as I know, the real benefits of the higher octane won't be gained in the standard engine as the compression-ratio isn't high enough. I've done 15,000 miles on my current engine with 95 without any apparent deterioration and (within the restrictions of it being a 652cc twin-cylinder), it doesn't lack performance. I believe some of the Polish 126 engines were adapted for 85!

Now that manufacturers of replacement fuel-system components have got their heads around the need for ethanol resistance I can't see any benefit to be gained by using a higher octane.

Just an FYI, for people in the US & Canada, you can use this website to look for any gas stations that sell ethanol free gas.

https://www.pure-gas.org/

Buongiorno ragazzi! Sono Scott e questa e la mia Pinquecento. We live in Florida now but came from Northern Italy. 1973 Fiat 500R, Sicilian build.

I've been lurking and reading posts here to put some things back together (Redid the fuel system, new battery, coil and 123 Ignition) and get Pinky running nicely so thank you all for that.

I believe my next steps will be some mods to keep the engine cool in our insufferable Florida temps. I see some people have added the larger Abarth oil pans, etc. Eventually some body work will be in order to remove small rust patches, new paint and interior.

For our amici abroad that want to see how a 500 stacks against american cars:

Welcome! Pinquecento - I love it

I have owned fiats since 1965 (59 600) Still own a 1959 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformable Special (with the sport engine 110.004). Bianchi Green/black. I live in Southern California. (San Diego). I am looking for a 500N cylinder head due to a damaged head beyond repair. Happy to join the forum

Hey all! Long time lurker, first time poster! Been in Missouri about 5 months now! Rocking a 1968 500F! Jus got it running again and hope to find others close by!

There my Giulia Capri!