Suasexed said:

I too don't understand why the front isn't drilled but the rear is.

Click to expand...

The UK market is unique in the size of the number plates it uses on the front of the car. The other markets are considerably smaller and I imagine they don't fancy a couple of unemployed holes in the front of their nice new 500's.

ensonricky said:

The UK market is unique in the size of the number plates it uses on the front of the car. The other markets are considerably smaller and I imagine they don't fancy a couple of unemployed holes in the front of their nice new 500's.

Click to expand...

Ahh yes, I hadn't thought of that... that would explain it then

ensonricky said:

The UK market is unique in the size of the number plates it uses on the front of the car. The other markets are considerably smaller and I imagine they don't fancy a couple of unemployed holes in the front of their nice new 500's.

Click to expand...

Thanks to the EU number plates are now a standard size across Europe and are the same dimensions as the UK. If you have bought one of the 1:18 scale 500 models you'll see that even Italian plates are now the same size as ours.

The Italian plates are larger than they used to be but are still not equivalent to those in the UK. It is true the European standard is now larger than the original cute Italian plates but the UK size is still not the industry (European) standard.

Standard European number plates are now 520mm wide (including Italy) whilst the UK is 524mm so there is only a 4mm difference. The Italians take a more lax approach to front plates though the majority of new cars you see there now have the 520mm plates fitted to the front.

I believe there is also a greater percentage height difference.

If that's the case, than how come so many 500s from across the continent are fitted with these tiny little plates? Unless I'm mistaken and their not European 500s?

The reason the rear is pre pressed, not drilled is simple... the tailgate is metal, the front bumper isnt, so doesnt matter if you drill that. If you drill the tailgate, you break the galvanised protection.

Galvanised? Are the metal panels galvanised then? Can you confirm this, please.

John

John R Smith said:

Galvanised? Are the metal panels galvanised then? Can you confirm this, please.

John

Click to expand...

Yes they are. All Fiats have been galvanised for years.
After the eighties and the cheap russian steel. Fiat were forced into doing something about their rust problem. The result was to be one of the first to galvanise all body panels.

Not all, at least on the Cinq, Sei etc there are some non galvanised parts... not sure about the Pandas and 500s.

Well, that is very good news. I am afraid I am totally out of touch with modern cars, as you can probably tell. Our 1992 Peugeot 205 seems to have galvanised panels, and there is no rust on it after 16 years and 142,000 miles. Perhaps I can look forward to another 16 years with the little 500, then.

John