I would never previously have felt the need for a reversing-light and always thought of it as something to alert other drivers to what I was doing rather than to help visibility. But a few weeks ago, having made a wrong slot (as us rally-drivers say ) on a totally unlit road in the middle of nowhere, I realise that there are some occasions when it is desperately needed.

I've decided on the light to fit; it's the one off the 126 BIS, which is an add-on unit, not built into the bodywork. But I'm not sure where to fit it to be most effective and make least modification to the bodywork or bumper.

I might even add a matching fog-light if it looks reasonably acceptable. I'm planning to wire it via a relay, with electrical feed probably from the point where the alternator output connects at the old dynamo regulator.

Has anyone else fitted one and can spare a photo?

I'm intrigued, Peter. In NY, our motor vehicle safety inspections (bare bones though they are; not at all like your rigorous MOT), probably require a white back-up light. But I have gotten away with safety inspections without one. Not 100% sure it's required, but would be nice to have an option to add one if it ever really became necessary.

Are you thinking of a way to automatically switch it on when reverse is engaged, or would it have a manual switch? I suppose a single, decent-looking chrome cased fog light could be mounted to the rear bumper (maybe pitched down at an angle to the ground, to avoid creating white reflectivity from behind).

fiat500 said:

I would never previously have felt the need for a reversing-light........................
But I'm not sure where to fit it to be most effective and make least modification to the bodywork or bumper.
.........
Has anyone else fitted one and can spare a photo?

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I don't have a pic, but did see one ages ago, where someone had welded the light brackets to the rear bumper mount bits... so the lights hung directly under the bumper, no unsightly bits hanging down, wires or holes in the bumper... and could be angled as you wish...

As the bumper mounts are cheap... easy to replicate when they rust away...

Bigvtwin996 said:

I don't have a pic, but someone had welded the light brackets to the rear bumper mount bits... so the lights hung directly under the bumper, no unsightly bits hanging down, wires or holes in the bumper... and could be angled as you wish......

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Great idea....will nick that one..

Uaglio said:

Are you thinking of a way to automatically switch it on when reverse is engaged, or would it have a manual switch?

Click to expand...

I have a gearbox with the rear extension cover which incorporates a tapped hole where you can fit an automatically operated reversing switch, but for the moment I'm planning to have a manual switch under the dashboard because that gearbox isn't on the car at the moment.

I thought about looking for something "retro" and chromed but instead I'm sticking with what Fiat fitted to their tiny cars long after production of the 500 had ended.

Some years ago I somehow picked up a single motor cycle indicator pod. It has a clear outer lense and had an orange inner lense that was removable. I always thought it would make a neat and quite discrete reverse lamp with no exposed wires.

Local law requires me to have a rear fog light and the "full plastic" ones looked out of place to me on the Giardi, so I fitted one of these, with a piece of red acetate stuck inside the lens. Looks more "period" to me, and the peaked lens frame can be rotated either way, for "standing" or "hanging". Cute lil' thing...

https://www.serial-kombi.com/en-GB/...se-lamp-hella-11-x-5-5cm-vintage-look-n312367

That really is a nice thing......."nice" price too!
Thanks to everyone for being very helpful with this query. I'll keep you posted when it's done.

giardini said:

Local law requires me to have a rear fog light and the "full plastic" ones looked out of place to me on the Giardi, so I fitted one of these, with a piece of red acetate stuck inside the lens. Looks more "period" to me, and the peaked lens frame can be rotated either way, for "standing" or "hanging". Cute lil' thing...

https://www.serial-kombi.com/en-GB/...se-lamp-hella-11-x-5-5cm-vintage-look-n312367

Click to expand...

giardini said:

Local law requires me to have a rear fog light and the "full plastic" ones looked out of place to me on the Giardi, so I fitted one of these, with a piece of red acetate stuck inside the lens. Looks more "period" to me, and the peaked lens frame can be rotated either way, for "standing" or "hanging". Cute lil' thing...

https://www.serial-kombi.com/en-GB/...se-lamp-hella-11-x-5-5cm-vintage-look-n312367

Click to expand...

Exactly what I envisioned! Looks like it could have been designed for our old Cinquecentos

fiat500 said:

I have a gearbox with the rear extension cover which incorporates a tapped hole where you can fit an automatically operated reversing switch, but for the moment I'm planning to have a manual switch under the dashboard because that gearbox isn't on the car at the moment.

I thought about looking for something "retro" and chromed but instead I'm sticking with what Fiat fitted to their tiny cars long after production of the 500 had ended.

Click to expand...

I would have thought it would be a lot easier to install the switch on the gearbox wouldn’t it? Especially if the gearbox is out of the car at the moment. They are like a tenner on eBay. A lot less wiring if you’re coming off the old voltage reg for power. They are basically right next to each other when the gearbox is in situ.

I know you are going to have to run more wiring front to back for the fog light but personally it would make more sense to do the fog light properly in the first place rather than to have to revisit. In the nicest possible way.? It just seems a lot of hassle to have to manually switch it on and off. At your age you guaranteed to forget at sometime!?

Vitesse said:

it would make more sense to do the fog light properly in the first place rather than to have to revisit.

At your age you guaranteed to forget at sometime!��

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You're right on both counts of course.:bang:

I forgot that the gearbox that I modified is attached to my old 499 engine. The reason I fitted it was because that type of rear gearbox extension has a proper seal on the selector-rod; the fact that it has a reverse threading was incidental. The reversing switch I randomly chose simply to blank off the housing, (there are two types), wasn't even long enough to be actuated, so I would have to get a different one or more likely, bodge something up.

I was just trying to avoid upsetting a relatively leakproof situation at the gearbox, but by following your advice there is a bit less wiring and it reduces the switch situation. I was intending to fit a small panel of rocker-switches to operate the fog-light and reversing light. But my revised plan would be to rationalise the present hazard-light arrangement and add a fog-light switch.

Whilst I'm doing this I had another crazy idea to divert the wiper wiring to another rocker on the same panel. There's a switch available which has three positions: ON/OFF/ON, which I thought might have future use for washers as well. For now, I don't have a problem with the little push-button, it's part of the charm, but the wiper-switch drives me mad as it's too far away from me with my stubby little Hobbit arms.

fiat500 said:

Whilst I'm doing this I had another crazy idea to divert the wiper wiring to another rocker on the same panel. There's a switch available which has three positions: ON/OFF/ON, which I thought might have future use for washers as well. For now, I don't have a problem with the little push-botton, it's part of the charm, but the wiper-switch drives me mad as it's too far away from me with my stubby little Hobbit arms.

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Did you notice that your slipped the “modified’ word into your last post? I can see a nice Abarth speedo and rev counter cluster going in next!��

I can’t say I noticed that your arms were that short to be honest! But it now makes sense and I guess it is quite a strain to reach the wiper switch but you will have to be careful of repetitive strain injuries on your fingers with all these additional switches! How about a nice espresso machine squeezed into somewhere. I suppose you have campers for that though!

Peter, the 'pukka' Fiat reversing light switch is still available from a number of sources---no need to 'bodge' something up. With regard to the wiper switch location problem---why not do as I did and reverse the location of a couple of switches so that the wiper switch is closer to hand, and then buy a switch extension to give you a bit more accessibility.

Vitesse said:

Did you notice that your slipped the “modified’ word into your last post? I can see a nice Abarth speedo and rev counter cluster going in next!��

I can’t say I noticed that your arms were that short to be honest! But it now makes sense and I guess it is quite a strain to reach the wiper switch but you will have to be careful of repetitive strain injuries on your fingers with all these additional switches! How about a nice espresso machine squeezed into somewhere. I suppose you have campers for that though!

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I used the word "modified" in its true sense as opposed to "modded", which would be Abarth gauges etc. My arms are much longer than they were due to repeatedly leaning across for the wiper. You won't know about that in the arid south, when wipers are just a novelty act you turn on for the MOT.

No espresso machine yet but once the plumbing's sorted out... maybe a cup-holder to tide me over.

The image gives you an idea of the look I'm aiming for.

I live in North Wales Peter---we are fairly experienced on the rain front here! Hence my re-location of the wiper-switch and the fitment of an extension on the switch lever.

the hobbler said:

I live in North Wales Peter---we are fairly experienced on the rain front here! Hence my re-location of the wiper-switch and the fitment of an extension on the switch lever.

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Reassuring to know there's someone else who finds that switch annoying. I was born in the North-West so I realise that here on the east-coast of Scotland we actually get off quite lightly as regards proper rain .

fiat500 said:

I used the word "modified" in its true sense as opposed to "modded", ..............................
The image gives you an idea of the look I'm aiming for.

Click to expand...

Like I have said before "thin end of the wedge...."
I see Gull wing doors to aid getting in and out due to problems with his knees..
Bigger sound system to counteract the increased noise from the Big bore kit needed to cope towing the caravan up the hills...

After all "Johnny Corsa" only wanted some extra stripes on his 1100 popular to start with.....

Here's my reversing light and dashboard
Apologies for our photo
A

Nice light and a dashboard so good you don't need a steering wheel.
Thanks for uploading photos.

Haha
It's a quick release boss and makes stealing it that bit harder