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General My 1958 Fiat 500 N - RHD - Finally !

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General My 1958 Fiat 500 N - RHD - Finally !

aaron500

aaron500

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After looking for over 10 years I have finally found my dream 1958 Fiat 500 N RHD.
It is definitely a project. But I am looks forward to spending many hours rebuilding her back to the way I want it. I wanted to paint her in sky blue , just because I like the colour. Assumed the car was red as it’s got red all inside. But looking closer into tight areas the car was in fact originally BLU SKAI ( Fiat 461 ).
Anyway, this has been a long time coming!
Super excited to start! Got a few other vets to finish before I get my teeth into this one.
Any advice welcome! Will be posting updates!
IMG_1776.JPG
 
welcome to the Forum---where about in the UK are you? Always worth while knowing as there is a fair chance that there is a Forum member in your vicinity.
Another 'N' back on the road is always good to see---my 2nd car (my 1st was a 1936 Topolino 'A') was a N, complete with full length sunroof.
 
the hobbler said:
welcome to the Forum---where about in the UK are you? Always worth while knowing as there is a fair chance that there is a Forum member in your vicinity.

Another 'N' back on the road is always good to see---my 2nd car (my 1st was a 1936 Topolino 'A') was a N, complete with full length sunroof.
Click to expand...



I am based in Hertfordshire!
She needs a fair bit of work,, so won’t be on the road for a little while.
 
Rather than take up Andys thread....

N tanks are available in the States for $995
I believe Mr Fiat may have had them made along with some Multipla tanks..
Think they are available in UK/Europe for about £600-750 depends if they have them in stock..


Repro rear lights are about, they are highly polished or chrome on alloy if you like that sort of thing...

Seat frames were remade and I think they were about £450 each.... look in Italy for Jolly seats
 
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Thanks for the reply and all the useful info!
I would like the correct looking tank, and would happily use any sender available.
Like I said on Andys post, My aim isn’t to make it an all original example like it came out of the factory. Aesthetically it will look pretty original. I may try and fit rear seats to make it my usable. Seats, again I will be using after market,
Very slightly more supportive seats but re trimmed in period correct material. Engine will be heavily tuned.
 
aaron500 said:
Thanks for the reply and all the useful info!
I would like the correct looking tank, and would happily use any sender available.
Like I said on Andys post, My aim isn’t to make it an all original example like it came out of the factory. Aesthetically it will look pretty original. I may try and fit rear seats to make it my usable. Seats, again I will be using after market,
Very slightly more supportive seats but re trimmed in period correct material. Engine will be heavily tuned.
Click to expand...

If it has a "flat" rear floor you will have to do a fair bit of hacking...
500s were originally only homologated as a two seater so as not to compete with the 600..
so along with the Flat floor the rear platform is a fair bit higher than later cars that had a seat...
So unless very short people with short flexi legs are being carried you will have to change all this to the design of a later car
Floors are easy enough to change, but the rear platform will need lowering...

Early rear wishbones only allow much smaller drive couplings to be used....
a 58 may have 3 bolt outer shafts.... hard to find and expensive..

so again a lot of modifications to fit stronger shafts and couplings..
Springs are mounted differently and different lengths.
brakes are different....
Steering box different

All such modifications were put into the D/F/L cars so you may end up actually doing all of them to an N shell...

So as i said probably easier to make an F look like an N...
 
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One of the major issues with restoring an N is the lack of any parts....
due to the scarcity of cars Repro manufacturers are loath to produce something when the market is so limited, between myself and several dedicated 500N enthusiasts we have compiled a database of about 230 cars, yes there will be a a few more in SA but there are not going to be 000s.
Many of the parts are very specific to an N and often it is a case of adapting later parts to fit..
NOS parts are sometimes all that exist and some of the parts currently on Ebay.it I have never seen for sale before in any condition., and I do tend to monitor most sites with parts for sale...
Within the years of N production from 57-60 the cars vary so much and there were actually about 50 different revisions of the car, so if you think that the range of 500's consisted of N,D,F,L and R within each mode there were many different models... Obviously they learnt a lot as there were only 10 revisions of the D, 9 revisions of the F, 3 revisions of the L and only 2 revisions of the R.

So a lot of development was done in the early days and a lot of changes.

People who own N's are very reluctant to loan parts out as what would happen if they were lost or stolen.... technically there is nothing different between a well made reproduction part and an original.... but then would a car not be like "Triggers broom".

There are parts I have been looking for for over 10 years.... the market is awash with Jolly parts, not for the 20 or so original cars but because of the blossoming market of calling any later car converted into a replica a "Jolly".

A car can be kept on the road, the air intake pipe can be replaced with flexible tube, and it is possible to almost take almost everything from a later car and fit it to an N, seats, engine/box, steering, suspension, or apply the panels lights etc to a later car from an N/D.
As I have said... people can do what they wish with their cars..
 
Bigvtwin996 said:
One of the major issues with restoring an N is the lack of any parts....
due to the scarcity of cars Repro manufacturers are loath to produce something when the market is so limited, between myself and several dedicated 500N enthusiasts we have compiled a database of about 230 cars, yes there will be a a few more in SA but there are not going to be 000s.
Many of the parts are very specific to an N and often it is a case of adapting later parts to fit..
NOS parts are sometimes all that exist and some of the parts currently on Ebay.it I have never seen for sale before in any condition., and I do tend to monitor most sites with parts for sale...
Within the years of N production from 57-60 the cars vary so much and there were actually about 50 different revisions of the car, so if you think that the range of 500's consisted of N,D,F,L and R within each mode there were many different models... Obviously they learnt a lot as there were only 10 revisions of the D, 9 revisions of the F, 3 revisions of the L and only 2 revisions of the R.

So a lot of development was done in the early days and a lot of changes.

People who own N's are very reluctant to loan parts out as what would happen if they were lost or stolen.... technically there is nothing different between a well made reproduction part and an original.... but then would a car not be like "Triggers broom".

There are parts I have been looking for for over 10 years.... the market is awash with Jolly parts, not for the 20 or so original cars but because of the blossoming market of calling any later car converted into a replica a "Jolly".

A car can be kept on the road, the air intake pipe can be replaced with flexible tube, and it is possible to almost take almost everything from a later car and fit it to an N, seats, engine/box, steering, suspension, or apply the panels lights etc to a later car from an N/D.
As I have said... people can do what they wish with their cars..
Click to expand...



Thanks for all the info and knowledge there ! Have learnt a lot!
I want to try and stay away from modifying the structure of the car, but may just fit a padded section in the rear incase of the rare event that I would need to carry another person.
I think as I encounter issues I will try and think of a way to resolve them. Luckily I own a classic car workshop.
I always assumed the 57 cars were two seater and then after 58 they were all four. My rear section is pretty flat and shallow. But I’ll figure something out!
I’m not anal about originality, I just want it usable !
 
IMG_1848.JPG56484828934__85E17FEA-61EE-4B35-AE72-946D53511207.JPGIMG_1880.JPGIMG_1889.JPG

Mostly stripped over the weekend.
Some original bulbs from new still fitted.
Over all only one stuck bolt! Everything else has come straight off.
 
the body-work of you car looks in remarkable condition---is that 'as found'or, have you done a lot of work already? Good looking workshop--where about in Hertfordshire are you?
 
the hobbler said:
the body-work of you car looks in remarkable condition---is that 'as found'or, have you done a lot of work already? Good looking workshop--where about in Hertfordshire are you?
Click to expand...



Hi! This is as I got it. Someone and painted her in primer. Front wings have gone, sills need work and floors are heavily rusty. Over all I am pretty impressed with it though. Thank you! My workshop is just off J10 of the M1. It’s called Classic Car Solutions.
 
the thing to look at in the pictures is the engine cover!!
Think there is a SH one for sale for over £300

and luckily 4 bolt drive shafts..
 
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Just looked at your company web-site--very impressive. I really like the 850 spyder that you have for sale--the enhancements have made for a very desirable little car. If you are interested, contact me direct and I will tell you what Radbourne Racing did to a (crashed) 850 Spyder that was owned by one of the Anstead brother's wives.
It is also good to be able to know where, around the country, the body-shops with 500 experience are---and practising on a 'N' will give you a pretty good insight into the 'wee beasties'. I was very lucky and found a very good classic-friendly body-shop in Maghull, just north of Liverpool (I will happily pass their details onto anybody who needs them).
I will be following your restoration with interest.
 
the hobbler said:
Just looked at your company web-site--very impressive. I really like the 850 spyder that you have for sale--the enhancements have made for a very desirable little car. If you are interested, contact me direct and I will tell you what Radbourne Racing did to a (crashed) 850 Spyder that was owned by one of the Anstead brother's wives.

It is also good to be able to know where, around the country, the body-shops with 500 experience are---and practising on a 'N' will give you a pretty good insight into the 'wee beasties'. I was very lucky and found a very good classic-friendly body-shop in Maghull, just north of Liverpool (I will happily pass their details onto anybody who needs them).

I will be following your restoration with interest.
Click to expand...



Thanks! Yes the little 850 is a great car!
You really do not see many of them and is a real head turner.
I’ve done a few odd jobs on 500’s but never a full Reston so this is a new experience for me.
But watching restoration videos since the age of 13 has given me a good idea on what I am in for !
If you are ever passing you are more than welcome to pop in!
 
IMG_1843.JPGIMG_1844.JPGIMG_1845.JPG

So I couldn’t figure out what this was from.
But after around 15 minutes of scratching my head I came to the conclusion that this is a custom, Home made steering wheel.
The centure part is from the Fiat 500 Topolino.
Quite a nifty little steering wheel. Will not be using it but will keep it and hang it up on my wall.
 
IMG_2015.JPGIMG_2016.JPGIMG_2014.JPGIMG_2017.JPG

95% stripped. Will finish on the weekend!
Then sandblast the shell.
 
IMG_2101.JPGIMG_2090.JPGIMG_2091.JPGIMG_2093.JPG

Thanks for the positive feedback on Instagram!

Close up of parts that need refurbishing.

Been doing research into other people’s 500 N’s and fitting rear seats seems pretty normal!
 
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