Repeated experiences have shown us that modern, "pattern" parts for the Fiat 500 can often be a disappointment. That's bad enough when a shiny part quickly tarnishes or something lacks the precise appearance of the original, but there are some basic, but very important items which must be as original specification if your car is going to be safe or reliable.

Ignition parts are a case in point, prticularly if you want to stick to the original setup. In recent years, I've returned from the "dark side" and refitted the "points" ignition system, which is proving to be very reliable. I am convinced that this is largely due to the fact that I obtained a new Magneti-Marelli distributor cap and rotor arm. But the contact breakers were some "refurbished" ones which lurked in a box in the garage. I have just received a pair of original Magneti-Marelli points sets via eBay. they came in a little plastic box with a label description in Italian. I'm so pleased with them that I'm loathe to actually fit them at my next service.

I recommend that anyone who is serious about using their Fiat 500 and in owning it for an extended period should keep an eye out for original items. They are often to be found at a high premium, but occasionally, like this, you can find something which may not be a bargain, but which costs no more than a cheap copy.

Spot-on Peter; as most of you will have realised by now, I have a hatred (almost passionate hatred) of 'pattern' parts---so many of them are 'not QUITE right' and require fettling or adjustment. When they can be found, it well worth paying the (often small) additional price to get an original part. If only 'pattern' parts are available, I aways buy 'best qualty'---it's cheaper in the long run.

Especially true when it comes to panels and doors. Reproductions just cause no end of headaches.

I think all of us who have had long experiences of "old" cars agree that NOS is always best.....
Some time ago started selling some parts (not Fiat) that I collected many years ago... and whilst i should not complain I have continually raised the prices where i have multiples and they still sell..
Some parts are unbelievable...
a set of Spark plug caps sold for £125... the buyer later asked if i had or found any more he would purchase them,,, he sold them on for £250

The quality is just so different... as pointed out Distributor caps and rotor arms are a totally different materal

I have a few NOS Fiat panels and comparing them to repros it is just shocking what is produced...
there is a guy who buys Etype parts and modifies them so they actually fit... he has given up his job to do it full time....

Sometimes he just panel beats parts to the correct shape

Comments have heard "If there is nothing else people have to make do"...
If anyone knows VWs there is a company "Autocraft" who started making panels for their own vans because the quality available was so poor... they now dominate the panel market in the UK and all the dealers sell their parts....
their stuff cost more but fitted, so time was saved not having to make stuff fit...

When I came to do the initial 'catch the rust before it gets too bad' paint job on my Fiat, we found that the doors were badly corroded (too bad to repair) and had been built up to shape with a LOT of filler. It was decided to get new doors and I was lucky enough to find a colleague who had a pair of doors with 'shipping' damage on them which I was able to buy at cost. The 'shipping' damage was easily rectified, but fitting out the doors required one heck of a lot of fettling. Rebuilding doors should be a 2-3 hour job each--the 'pattern' doors took a day EACH to fit out so much fettling was required! One of the hinges was so badly out of alignment that it had to be 'cut and shut' to align properly.

I'm keeping an eye on the progress of little cars on the Micro Marthon currently underway in the Pyrenees; sadly, no Fiat 500 mentioned yet.. The cars are doing well, but the only serious breakdowns occuring appear to be caused by "pattern" parts....brake master cylinder and fuel pump.

Spot the original exhaust elbows

Er, would they be the ones on the right?

The bottom pair are a better casting.

Toshi 975 said:

Spot the original exhaust elbows

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The rusty two on the left
The right ones even the hole in the centre dosnt looks even or circular

Toshi 975 said:

Spot the original exhaust elbows

Click to expand...

Hi Dave, have the bottom two have been opened out to fit onto a modified head??
Ian.

Bleeding Knuckles said:

Hi Dave, have the bottom two have been opened out to fit onto a modified head??
Ian.

Click to expand...

No the ones with the nice elliptical flange are used but untouched originals. You can see and feel the cast surface through the bore.
The awful ones were handed to me when I was building a mildly tuned 650 engine for somebody. They said here you can use these new exhaust elbows. When I saw them I refused to fit them.

Confusion reigns as the images has been transposed through 45 degrees to the right on the mobile app.; so there are two correct answers to the original question about the elbows.