At this time ten years ago I "accidentally" bought my little piece of Italian-made, iron-oxide on eBay. A bit less than two weeks later, on January 9th 2009 he arrived on a low-loader looking as in the first image below. After a busy summer when he underwent the most serious of the structural repairs it was during another new year period in January 2013 when he re-emerged from storage for the final two-year push to full restoration.
The next significant new year was in 2015 when, after being re-registered and MOT'd in late 2014, things really took off, with Murf starting to find his wheels and covering some significant mileage.
Which brings us to this new year, which will see him with a new gearbox and lots of plans to cover long distances and see interesting places new and old. In fact, this year will see us easily hit the 32,000 miles driven-since-restoration barrier, after which I will have been his driver for the biggest proportion of his total lifetime mileage.

So I'm wondering what other peoples' plans are. Are you starting a restoration? Will you be completing one? Any big modifications planned? What are your travel plans? Will your new year be as centred on Fiat 500s as mine?

Hello Peter, for me it's all about the power unit(s) and possibly another gearbox upgrade to 5 speed
I'll start the New Year with the continuing build-up of my next engine. Whilst I am waiting for the balancing to be completed I'll try to cure some of the niggly oil leaks that are present on the fitted engine, which will probably mean it has to come out (again) Depending on the money front I will eventually get around to the gearbox while the donkey is out!!! Have a good New Year
Ian.

Hi Peter and all
first off hope you have had a Merry Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year.
Been a bit quiet recently as plenty of other things on the go, plus its getting a bit chilly here.
I should hopefully be getting stuck into my 1962 D model this year.
The plan was to have the bodywork ready for paint in March but I cant see that happening.

I’m going to drive it!

Wow. I didn’t realise Murf had arrived in such an ‘original’ state. Very impressive progress.

Why the new gearbox - an upgrade or replacing tired components?


If we get a garage I’m seriously pondering importing from Italy. It seems a crime for sites such as subito.it to be so filled with lovely 500s and none of them to be in Australia.

Seasons greetings. Hoping to finish my wifes snagging list on the extension to gain permission to restart my restoration in my new garage! Think my first post here was a few years ago but i really feel i am going to get on with it this year.hmmmm.the good news is that i have registered my lhd import which had no paperwork and have an age related plate, all this without an mot . . . .... i knew about exemption but didnt think first registration would be possible without an initial mot.also planning on the rhd conversion,have the steering box and idler, pedal set and accelerator. Have also got confirmation that conversion from lhd to rhd will not effect mot exemption. Many many questions to add as they occur, after the many that have already been answered on this excellent forum. Thanks to you all for that

BambinoClassic said:

Wow. I didn’t realise Murf had arrived in such an ‘original’ state. Very impressive progress.

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It was a big job, well documented;a long read if you have time over the holidays. I am amazed....370,000 hits so far!:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13107

...and if that's not enough you can always refer to Tony's:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14089

BambinoClassic said:

Why the new gearbox - an upgrade or replacing tired components?

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...the main reason is because I am pretty certain the current one has a badly set differential because it seems too noisy. It's also sort of an upgrade because I'm experimenting with the differential ratio as I am now sure that the 650 engine can push the car a bit faster or a bit more quietly with a higher ratio crownwheel and pinion despite there being a certain amount of opinion to the contrary; worth a try anyway.

well it's summer here so Barry will be out and about. But I have been contemplating whether to improve his external cosmetics. Part of me likes his ratty looks but another part of me thinks an external paint job is in order. For now I will just enjoy driving him and decide when winter approaches.

I will be hoping to sell some more of my ubiquitous tat to generate some cash to sort a car out.....

be meantime I hope to encourage more people to take up the challenge of Prototypi cars and even more obscure versions....

Who's up for driving one of these to the shops?

Bigvtwin996 said:

I will be hoping to sell some more of my ubiquitous tat to generate some cash to sort a car out.....

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Some of your "tat" scrubs up quite well with a bit of Farecla rubbing-compound, thank-you very much.

I think that under-powered and antiquated mowing equipment gains nothing from having a Fiat 500 engine as its power source. Having been employed as the senior fitter in my local parks department for five years in the 1990's I'm happiest when furthest away from such horrible objects.

On a more positive note I hope it will be possible to meet you somewhere in the UK this year, both of us having travelled there in a Fiat 500; is that too much to ask?

fiat500 said:

Some of your "tat" scrubs up quite well with a bit of Farecla rubbing-compound, thank-you very much.
...................
On a more positive note I hope it will be possible to meet you somewhere in the UK this year, both of us having travelled there in a Fiat 500; is that too much to ask?

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Well I preserved that patina for years and now you have rubbed away over 40 years of history......

I do hope to get Norf of the border again.. my last incursion was to Cumbernauld... when it was voted the worst place to live in the UK....
So I hope to see these wonderful places you torment us with on your travels with Murph.... I suppose it would not be too hard to somehow incorporate a 500N... but I really think that trying long trips such as yours with 17mm drive shafts may be pushing it...

ohh and has anyone noticed the wheels on the rare 500 Falciatrice

Fayray said:

well it's summer here so Barry will be out and about. But I have been contemplating whether to improve his external cosmetics. Part of me likes his ratty looks but another part of me thinks an external paint job is in order. For now I will just enjoy driving him and decide when winter approaches.

Click to expand...

If Barry isn't falling apart then please stick with the rat-look and keep him on the road.

Bigvtwin996 said:

Well I preserved that patina for years and now you have rubbed away over 40 years of history......

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....and I am grateful for the expertise expended by you in maintaining the controlled-climatic conditions and the humility and generosity of spirit you have shown in making it possible for me to incorporate such beautifully-made headlamp surrounds into a car which is technically unworthy of such craftsmanship.

I'm happy to have removed all the oxidised crap though.

Bigvtwin996 said:

I will be hoping to sell some more of my ubiquitous tat to generate some cash to sort a car out.....

be meantime I hope to encourage more people to take up the challenge of Prototypi cars and even more obscure versions....

Who's up for driving one of these to the shops?

Click to expand...

Blimey !!! That's what you call real open air driving !!!
just like a convertible but, more ........... open !
Real flies in the teeth motoring just like in the old - old days.
How does it handle in the corners ???? must understeer a tad with the weight of that spoiler on the front - improves the grip does it?????

Ian.

fiat500 said:

It was a big job, well documented;a long read if you have time over the holidays. I am amazed....370,000 hits so far!:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13107

...and if that's not enough you can always refer to Tony's:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14089



...the main reason is because I am pretty certain the current one has a badly set differential because it seems too noisy. It's also sort of an upgrade because I'm experimenting with the differential ratio as I am now sure that the 650 engine can push the car a bit faster or a bit more quietly with a higher ratio crownwheel and pinion despite there being a certain amount of opinion to the contrary; worth a try anyway.

Click to expand...

Those restoration pages are superb!
Thanks for the links, great reading, both yours and Tony's.


Will be interested to see how the new gearbox goes

As this will be the first full year of ownership of Valentina and having worked out most of the issues (new clutch, replacement bigger carb, electronic ignition and componets, correct / replacement parts to the engine, voltage reg, manifold elbows and a few others items!) I bloody well intend to use her and put on some serious miles :slayer:

We did a late long ish trip (300 miles) to Cotswolds and the area this year and had great fun. Never knowing if she'll make it, adds to the excitement. I now have plenty of spares in the car at all times and need to use her to get the confidence in her abilities. I fancy a trip up to Yorkshire dales this year over a long and hopefully warm weekend.


Roll on spring / summer. The picture of yours truly (I'm shy) shows me looking at a modern Abarth 500. Knowing that I made the right decision to restore my beautiful classic baby girl.


Happy NY to you all and best motoring wishes for 2019.

Rob

Rob; if you Do make that trip you are always welcome to rest your head (and car) at my 'umble abode. Ann and I live just outside Chester---small house, big welcome and well sorted 500/126 workshop!
I have just heaved out both engine and gearbox, mainly to sort out some small, but very annoying, oil leaks. I also (with son's assistance) plan to fit an "Abarth style" instrument cluster. I will also take the opportunity to carry out 1 or 2 small enhancements. My target is to have the car back on the road by the end of March and then, in your own words, 'use the bloody thing'!

Merry Christmas all. We’re hoping to finish our restoration in 2019. The aim is to finish the last bits of bodywork off over the winter and then spray over spring (Easter weekend is the goal) It’s been 2 years since we started on the bodywork and it’s taken longer than I ever envisaged.
It feels like we’re on the home straight now though with most of the bodywork complete. Hopefully we will be driving around come summer time and the house will be free of car parts again I’ll keep my thread updated as we go.

Katie

lazylobster said:

Never knowing if she'll make it, adds to the excitement.

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....gradually evolves into never even considering he/she won't make it," after some-ity-odd thousand miles.

the hobbler said:

Rob; if you Do make that trip you are always welcome to rest your head (and car) at my 'umble abode. Ann and I live just outside Chester---small house, big welcome and well sorted 500/126 workshop!
I have just heaved out both engine and gearbox, mainly to sort out some small, but very annoying, oil leaks. I also (with son's assistance) plan to fit an "Abarth style" instrument cluster. I will also take the opportunity to carry out 1 or 2 small enhancements. My target is to have the car back on the road by the end of March and then, in your own words, 'use the bloody thing'!

Click to expand...

Hi Tom and many thanks for your kind offer sir. Its an ideal time for some maintenance and the odd upgrade I’m at the stage now where I think I’m happy with the car in it’s current incarnation ( pun intended ) So just a waiting game now for the warmer weather.

Your car is pretty awesome my friend, I look forward to seeing the updates and progress.

My best
Rob