fiat500 said:

Was the full programme a good portrayal of a restoration? Did the presenters like the finished car as much as they should have done?

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Not really they took a short cut and got a new body shell. The original was a rust bucket that they even baked and dipped but there was nothing left of the bottom half, the sills, wings and the floors were rotten, it certainly wasn't beyond the point of no repair though. I've seen just as bad on here but I guess they are restricted by time constraints. The new body shell was a LHD that they converted to right, so they did show converting the dash to RHD and round speedo and fitted rack and pinion and disk brakes, so it was quite interesting.

They did like the car though and drove one around in Italy and loved it.

As you say he didn't take a great deal of care in undoing the bolts and managed to shear at least one off.

You did get to see Franco and wife at Ricambio as well.

No Tony, that shell was really beyond repair. There was no good metal to weld to. It was interesting how they changed an L into a F and LHD into RHD. My wife watched it with me and said " can you turn mine into RHD?" Given an infinite amount of time and not the 2 weeks they had was my answer.

Paolo66 said:

No Tony, that shell was really beyond repair. There was no good metal to weld to. It was interesting how they changed an L into a F and LHD into RHD. My wife watched it with me and said " can you turn mine into RHD?" Given an infinite amount of time and not the 2 weeks they had was my answer.

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Ooh I don't know I think it was repairable, I think they even implied it was. When you think Sean effectively removed the bottom of his car including the centre tunnel. Plus a lot more of the bigger panels that you couldn't get before are now available. If they had not dipped it first and put some rigidity into it beforehand they may been able to save it but they opted to dip it and removed any strength it had.

Vitesse said:

Ooh I don't know I think it was repairable.

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Good for you Tony, sticking up for the underdogs. I didn't see the episode, but having seen the clip of the preceding car; was it a Merc? maybe the team was short on resources and needed a shortcut. There will be very few 500s which are still on their wheels which can't have the bodyshell restored given enough time/money....I should know!!!

fiat500 said:

Good for you Tony, sticking up for the underdogs. I didn't see the episode, but having seen the clip of the preceding car; was it a Merc? maybe the team was short on resources and needed a shortcut. There will be very few 500s which are still on their wheels which can't have the bodyshell restored given enough time/money....I should know!!!

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I think Damian should have another look at the Mitchio thread and he may have a rethink.

I think Mitchio is worse TBH, sorry was worse.

Apart from the last PM with the picture you sent me of Mitchio in his current state.

Got the colour match perfect on the dustpan

Vitesse said:

Ooh I don't know I think it was repairable, I think they even implied it was. When you think Sean effectively removed the bottom of his car including the centre tunnel. Plus a lot more of the bigger panels that you couldn't get before are now available. If they had not dipped it first and put some rigidity into it beforehand they may been able to save it but they opted to dip it and removed any strength it had.

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Yes but once it was dipped that was it. Before it was dipped someone on here might have saved it!

Vitesse said:

Apart from the last PM with the picture you sent me of Mitchio in his current state.

Got the colour match perfect on the dustpan

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Might be saveable after dipping? Just needs a few fresh iron filings.