I should be taking delivery of my next project on Monday.


Its a 1962 Fiat 500D just arrived from Southern Italy.


I really wanted one of these at the start, but they seem to be getting harder to get hold of.


Its another full restoration, so it will have to sit in the garage next to Franko watching him get all the attention.

Very nice Sean. I can see you would be inspired by that.

It actually looks quite solid Sean. Well that's the next few years planned out for you then!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you weave your magic again

Chris

Vitesse said:

It actually looks quite solid Sean. Well that's the next few years planned out for you then!!!!!!!!

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The truth will out unfortunately. ..it IS a Fiat 500 after all. You're right on the "few years" though.

Not as solid as it looks unfortunately. Will require usual floors & sills, door repairs/doors, but hopefully save the 1/4 panels this time.
But it's all the more fun when it's a challenge

Well, the 500D has arrived.
I pushed Franko outside to see the light. He is very easy to push now as its basically a shell on wheels and a lot lighter due to shedding all that rust.
Took a few photos side by side and then had the fun of getting the 500D in the garage. I have a double width garage but only one set of doors, so the wife and I maneuvered the 500D in as best we could then I had to bump the back round. Might have to install another set of doors some time in the future.
Well he is now safely stored in the dry now and will have to sit and watch Franko get finished before he gets any further attention.


The good news is there are a lot of items on the vehicle that are salvageable due to them being better quality parts than the 500L.


Sunroof mechanism, door handles, window winders, all the light bases etc are all serviceable as they were made of alloy or better quality materials than the L and these can all be refurbished.
The steering wheel looks very grubby but it isn't cracked so just needs cleaning and refinishing as Tony(Vittesse) done on his F. See Tony I have read your thread
Looking forward to this project, but I have plenty of time to do some research first, and check out all those other threads based on the earlier models.

Mean while, back to Franko we go.

Franko looks really solid now Sean. You have done really well considering the short timeframe you have completed the work in.

You must have a name for the D you can't keep calling it the 500D that's bordering on discrimination? Poor thing

Does the D have those really nice switch levers on the steering column and the nice alloy starter and choke levers????

Tony

Diecast start levers were up till Sept 61.

Vitesse said:

You must have a name for the D you can't keep calling it the 500D that's bordering on discrimination? Poor thing
Tony

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? Zio di Franko

Chris

Vitesse said:

Franko looks really solid now Sean. You have done really well considering the short timeframe you have completed the work in.

You must have a name for the D you can't keep calling it the 500D that's bordering on discrimination? Poor thing

Does the D have those really nice switch levers on the steering column and the nice alloy starter and choke levers????

Tony

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Cheers Tony, I am quite pleased with Franko's progress. The same recovery guy dropped the D & L models off and he was taken back by the difference in Franko since he last saw him.
I know its cruel not having a name, but there was a bit of a debate here as to male or female? I think it may be male as Red usually is, but also I am tempted to change the colour to light blue later so I will give it some thought. Cheers for your suggestion Chris. Look forward to any further suggestions.
As Peter quite rightly pointed out, this is a little bit too late for those little gems. I am very impressed with the condition of all the lamp bases, handles & window surrounds though. Its a shame they changed over to the cheaper plastic items on the later cars.

you can retrofit all the early parts if you want...
just they tend to cost more...
The starter/choke levers usually go for about 100€
Some people polish them.. be there were black originally on std cars.

you may need to change cables or adapt them...

you can fit the early D lights too to later cars just need a bit of work on the lamp hole...
Number plate light is a straight swap too..

before you know it you will be fitting the early wing repeaters, fitting an early front panel, removing the doors cutting off the roof........

Don't be alarmed, I haven't started the 500D yet. Even I am not that mad to have 2 on the go at the same time.
Good news is I have just picked up some wheels from the guy I got the car from.
When the car was first shown to me via pictures from Italy, it had 2 D wheels on and 2 later wheels on. When it arrived back in the UK the D wheels had been swapped over.
Part of the deal was I wanted some D wheels. So he has managed to get his contact to find some.
They need a bit of straightening and restoring, but what do you expect for 52 years old. Plus lets face it balancing shouldn't be too much of an issue as they are unlikely to go over 55mph. I think one may be an N wheel (the specialists on this site will surely tell me) as 3 are domed and one is slightly different shape in the centre.
I have checked these out on Italy E-bay and they go for silly money. He said he will try and get a few more wheels & parts if he can.

Another part sourced!


I have the original engine & gearbox but the air filter cover was missing.
These were smaller than the F/L/R and different to the N so not so easy to come by. They didn't have the vent pipe and were also made of steel.
And low and behold one popped up on e-bay the other day and has just arrived.
Small things please small minds!


just looking for a 500D starter if anyone has one, or at least the cast alloy section that bolts to the gearbox as these only had 2 bolts rather than 3.


Also looking for an original D distributor...

Get ready for the next restoration project!


The garage is under a few alterations at the moment in preparation for the D to come indoors again.


A few more jobs around the house and then its time to get the tools out again!


not long now!

Ooh ? can't wait. Is the D more solid than Franko, it look it in the picture but that could be misleading and probably is

Franko500 said:

garage is under a few alterations at the moment in preparation for the D to come indoors again.

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You mean poor old D has had to live outside.
Favouritism!
These houses we live in don't half get in the way ofour primary purpose in life.

These are so cute!

I love them!

Well lucky for Mr D that it has been a long dry summer in the SE of England.
Plenty of panel work to be replaced, so plenty more drilling, grinding, welding and hitting of the hammer
All I need now is for the £/Euro to get in a better position

Franko500 said:

All I need now is for the £/Euro to get in a better position

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If you're relying on that, better put old "D"elboy away for another long while.
From what I see, the panels are a good bit more painful on the wallet than the later ones in any case But if you were looking at it as an investment, the car will be worth a packet when finished.
Even more pictures (with the new camera?) this time please as an admirer of your work.:worship:
At least you don't have to rush things seeing as you have a functioning car already.