DSC_03323.JPG

500 (Classic) 1971 Fiat 500l Project!

Introduction

Just thought i'd share a few pics of my newly acquired 1971 500l, Freshly imported from italy.

Bought it as a project to get stuck into over the next couple of months, The condition speaks for itself really, Mostly original and look's to have never been restored. But it's all there so should make a great base.

Its going to need welding to various area's of the shell, interior need's mostly re-trimming. Many Exterior and interior bits need re-furbishing/re-croming/replacing. And the engine/electrics and running gear are all going to be tended to whilst its stripped down too,

so here's a few 'Before pictures' in a rare moment of sunshine earlier!
  • Like
Reactions: Landofla500
Fantastic! That should keep you busy for a while.
Looking forward to updates : )
 
I think I speak for others in saying we want to keep an eye on your progress :)

You're giving me ideas now. I really can't wait until we've moved to a house with sufficient space for me to have an old motor that needs a lot of TLC, I enjoyed restoring my Mini 16 years ago!
 
Last edited:
Good luck :) Just don't do what my dad did and take 20 years to get yours finished and then spend the next 10 years or so never driving the thing! There's a very tidy 500D under all that dust!
 

Attachments

  • WP_000293.jpg
    WP_000293.jpg
    1.7 MB · Views: 96
  • WP_000292.jpg
    WP_000292.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 98
  • WP_000295.jpg
    WP_000295.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 97
Just thought i'd share a few pics of my newly acquired 1971 500l, Freshly imported from italy.

Bought it as a project to get stuck into over the next couple of months, The condition speaks for itself really, Mostly original and look's to have never been restored. But it's all there so should make a great base.

Good luck on the project. I wish I had the wherewithall to embark on something like this. My first car in 1968 was a 1958 austin A35 and I would love to get stuck in to a classic car renovation.(y)
 
Thanks for all the great comment's :D

Well today i got the 500 safely tucked away in the workshop, out of the cold and snow! And after work i could begin to strip it down and see what sort of state it's in.

So after a few cups of tea and a good look round the shell i came to a predictable diagnosis, Rust! and lots of it to be exact. So far i've found holes in the inner and outer sill's, both floor pan's, both A pillar's, under the rear window, rear arches, front wings, front panel, inner front panel, battery tray........ The list goes on,

But anyway never mind, i'm always up for a good challenge and this looks to be no exception, I work at a classic car restoration business so luckily have the resources to have welding and paintwork done. And thankfully a bit of room to squeeze in the 500 out of the weather ' for now'. But this car is my personal hobby for evening's and weekends! Cant wait to eventually have it on the road. It got so much attention just being moved two road's away from a storage compound to the workshop. Would be nice to see it looking as smart as 306-maxi's dad's 500 although hopefully a bit quicker than 20 years :)

So here's some of the last pic's of it un-restored and complete, and then some of the progress this evening!

DSC_0344.JPG


DSC_03453.JPG


Removing the seat's revealed the amazing technicolor carpet, Never seen so many sun bleached/worn shades of orange
DSC_03481.JPG


DSC_03551.JPG


DSC_03572.JPG


DSC_03581.JPG


DSC_03594.JPG


Hopefully over the weekend i can get really stuck in and get the car back to a bare shell ready to crack on with the the bodywork! I'll be sure to upload more pics of the progress as and when it happens :D:D
 
OK so not much of an update really, i was a bit busier over the weekend than i thought so didn't get anywhere near as much done as i'd hoped! But it's getting closer now.

Only major bits still to remove for now is the engine and box/wiring loom/dash part's & switches ect/ sun visor and rear view mirror ( Had no idea the mirror has a built in interior light :cool:). Gonna leave the running gear on for now just to keep it mobile. I'll also start stripping the body during the week and at some point going to pick up the new panel's in readiness to start welding, :D

But here's a couple of pics of how it sits!
DSC_03661.JPG


DSC_03651.JPG
 
Well it's been a long evening but the 500 is yet another step closer, Dropped the engine and gearbox out and split them once out, stripped a few remaining bits of interior left and began separating the wiring loom from the shell, Didn't manage to make a start on prepping the shell for welding but cant have it all i suppose!

DSC_03723.JPG


DSC_03681.JPG


The exhaust decided it would rather crumble away than come off gracefully, May it rest in peace...
DSC_0373.JPG


DSC_03742.JPG
 
As someone with zero mechanical skills and fists made entirely of ham, I have only one word for this: blimey.

Combine the above with my only tools being a Knife & Fork I take my hat off to you. Not literally, I'm never seen without the Bowler (Avatar or profile picture):D
 
Well it's been a long evening but the 500 is yet another step closer, Dropped the engine and gearbox out and split them once out, stripped a few remaining bits of interior left and began separating the wiring loom from the shell...

snip..

Always wanted to see an original Cinquecento in bits - simple aren't they? It's not dissimilar when you take an early Mini apart - both conceived by very, very, clever engineers.
 
I suspect that most people on here even with their fists of ham, could take a 500 apart, they're pretty bloody simple :)
 
Back
Top