Tuning Fairly fast Fiat 500's
- Thread starter fiat500
- Start date
Currently reading:
Tuning Fairly fast Fiat 500's
Bigvtwin996
Established member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,348
- Points
- 430
for me... I never see the point of going beyond a bit of tweaking..
for the cost any Hot Hatch would be quicker and handle better..
It is like the VW Splitscreens that have been cut away to fit a modern Porsche engine...
It's still a brick it will never handle...
If it is a case of "just to do it..." fine....
I once asked a traffic cop why they don't tune police cars ... he said "why, we just buy something faster off the production line" our driving skills are far better than 99% of thieves etc so if the tune something and make a really fast escape then we just call the helicopter...
the hobbler
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2012
- Messages
- 4,084
- Points
- 1,013
I met these guys at the Abarth 70th anniversary bash at Brands Hatch. Well, and cleverly engineered, but even I, who likes to tune 5/126 engines, can't see the point of it. It has so much performance, but you can't use it all (unless you want to lose your licence very rapidly). It is one thing making a car go quick in a straight line, but as even the builder conceded in the film, it is too short to be able to be driven round corners at very high speed.
They fit 'wishbone' suspension on the front, and although I voiced an interest in the suspension, and followed it up with a polite letter, they couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge my query.
They fit 'wishbone' suspension on the front, and although I voiced an interest in the suspension, and followed it up with a polite letter, they couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge my query.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2020
- Messages
- 181
- Points
- 123
While I’m not one to disagree with anything Thomas says…I would imagine this is something similar to my friend’s old Mk1 VW Rabbit he stuffed a turbo VR6 motor into. It was completely impractical but the sheer violence of its power was sure to bring a smile to your face. It was horribly unreliable however, but when it was running well, it would scare the bajeebus out of any passenger…in a good way!
That said, these are likely extremely expensive “just because we can” cars.
OP
OP
Bigvtwin996
Established member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,348
- Points
- 430
I would still like to drive one though....
Well...
just the other day was looking what discount bargains my local Coop mini store has (they reduce to silly prices after 7:30pm... £56 a kg smoked salmon reduced to £1 a kg can't be refused)
Well parked by the ATM was a Brand new McLaren 720...
the owner sad hi as I was looking and we chatted about cars in general...
I did tell him a story about how i supplied Mike Flewitt (McLaren CEO with some bits for his Lotus Elan and how it was funny that he did not have them made in house)
and .... he said want a go?
Well of course who could refuse...
I have owned a few "nice" cars.. but Fiats and other classics just have so much more...
I gingerly drove it round the block....
Yes a nice car... but guess it takes a far few miles before you can really start throwing anything around (unless you drive similar cars every day)
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2017
- Messages
- 361
- Points
- 137
I suppose it’s horses for courses. My VW Beetle is heavily modified on the brakes, wheels and suspension but at first was only running a standard 1300 engine. I drove it to Spa and had the pleasure of taking it around the track, it was that underpowered I pretty much didn’t need to ease off most of the way round which was quite unnerving. It’s currently in the garage undergoing a radical engine improvement based on the original flat four but I did contemplate the Subaru conversion…..
OP
OP
I think there's more to them than just the straight-line speed; the cosmetics are very well done and somehow, they look aggressive but haven't lost the Fiat 500 charm. It's brilliant that they have fitted the engines without any external modification or engine-lid props. The engineering in itself is to be admired.
It's a shame they appear not to want to share their technology, but I think they might be a relatively small outfit and quite busy with development. Maybe they are protective of the technology they have created because they would prefer people to buy the cars or to pay for advice on a commercial basis? I don't think that would be an unusual approach in the motor industry.
It would be great if they had time to have more of a web presence; that way we might learn more.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2017
- Messages
- 361
- Points
- 137
It's a shame they appear not to want to share their technology, but I think they might be a relatively small outfit and quite busy with development. Maybe they are protective of the technology they have created because they would prefer people to buy the cars or to pay for advice on a commercial basis? I don't think that would be an unusual approach in the motor industry.
It would be great if they had time to have more of a web presence; that way we might learn more.
https://www.zcars.org.uk
I believe you can buy a 500 kit from them…..
OP
OP
No, I believe you can...... [emoji6]
OP
OP
Strewth -
You don't so much as drive these things as Aim them between corners !!!! I must admit to being a tweaker and consider that pushing my car hard into corners gives a feeling of impending doom when the rear axle starts to step out and that's not very fast at all. Each to his own, but these things need a roll cage at least, a more secure fuel tank and a very secure lock-up garage.Ian.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2020
- Messages
- 181
- Points
- 123
After looking at their website a bit, I wonder about the build quality of these kits. The roofs on the 2 500’s aren’t even attached or adjusted properly. If they haven’t gotten that right, I’d be concerned about all the rest of the car.
the hobbler
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2012
- Messages
- 4,084
- Points
- 1,013
As I mentioned before (and was commented on by the company's rep in the video) you can go mighty quick down the straight, but, due to the chassis shortness, have to be very careful when cornering. I also note from their web-site, that "Z cars" fit discs front AND rear. The light weight of the 500 makes this a tad dangerous. On my own car, with only front discs (retained drums on the rear with the smallest wheel cylinders available for the 500) I can lock the front brakes up IN THE DRY if I slam them on. The thought of discs on the rear locking up due to (a) the light initial weight of the car and (b) the even more reduced weight on the rear under heavy braking (due to front end weight transfere) does not bear thinking about.
Whilst I totally concede "each to his own", I think that I will stick to 'just' a tuned '126' engine and enjoy the 500 for what it is---if you want to go THAT fast, buy a car that was designed for it from start.
Whilst I totally concede "each to his own", I think that I will stick to 'just' a tuned '126' engine and enjoy the 500 for what it is---if you want to go THAT fast, buy a car that was designed for it from start.
-if you want to go THAT fast said:Hi Tom, I agree - with the above 100%. My car is plenty quick for me. The idea of one of these snapping away and swapping ends fills me with dread - visiting the scenery was not what I bought the car for !!!!!!
Ian.
Veloman518
Member
Can't believe no one has mentioned the watch. Likely the new version and not the original though. Still classic cool
OP
OP
I ask anyone who has modified their car in order to make go faster, "Why didn't you buy one which was designed that way from the start?"
Your answer might explain what inspired the creation of those crazy machines.
Your answer might explain what inspired the creation of those crazy machines.
the hobbler
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2012
- Messages
- 4,084
- Points
- 1,013
With some older cars Peter, enhancing their performance can make them safer and less stressfull to drive in modern traffic. The 500 wasn't considered a 'quick' car when it was new, so giving it just a bit more 'poke' can be adventageous. Beyond that, I can't give a sensible, inteligent answer.
In my case, having worked on 'the real McCoy' when I was a young mechanic made me WANT to build a replica '695'. People put bigger (and different) engines than 695cc into the 500, but as far as I am concerned, I set out to 'build an "Abarth 695SS". I shall go no bigger than '695' and tune it no more than Abarth would have done back in the day.
In my case, having worked on 'the real McCoy' when I was a young mechanic made me WANT to build a replica '695'. People put bigger (and different) engines than 695cc into the 500, but as far as I am concerned, I set out to 'build an "Abarth 695SS". I shall go no bigger than '695' and tune it no more than Abarth would have done back in the day.
