Hi all

Happy Chrimbo and New Year at you all - congrats on a great forum.

My latest Fiat interest is a '75 500R painted in 158 Red. Briefly the spec is 740cc, Panda 30 head gas-flowed by Giorgio at Lumini Engineering & matching carb (Weber 30DGF I think) 5 speed Nanni conversion, front discs, lowered springs, body and interior fully restored already so I can't take any credit!

I bought it off of ebay in Bergamo in Jan/Feb 2016 but it's taken me time to get my act together and join the forum. I'm born and raised in UK but have Italian parents, so I blame my 'domani ... domani' attitude to admin on my DNA - I can't help it

The 'journey' with my car actually started a year earlier when it first appeared on Ebay.it and although I had the winning bid I could not find a way of insuring the car, getting plates etc so I could drive her home. The seller got bored, made his excuses and sold it before I could sort out the admin. Gutted. Anyway, a year later it reappears - happy days, and this time on UK ebay via an intermediary, Leo Gasparini. I flew over for the day, had a drive, totally loved the way it looked and drove. This time I didn't bother looking into driving it back home and got Leo to arrange delivery.

However(!) what I didn't notice was the rubbish plastic air cooling hose fitted was so kinked that it was only about 1/2 inch open, and with the engine producing in theory 50% more heat, the inevitable happened on a blat up the A1(m). A gudgeon pin on one con rod seized in the small end and quickly bore an oval into the pistonwhere it was once round:bang: So I got a new pair pf pistons direct from CPS in Turin who make them for Lavazza as per what was fitted, but it took nearly two months to get them as they don't hold ANY stock. Phenomenal! As around this time we had a family holiday planned in northern Italy, including a stop at the old Fiat factory / Lingotto hotel in Turin, but to avoid complication I left it for CPS to post. Anyway, got them eventually and it all went back together ok, and fitted an original air hose I hasten to add. I've also just taken delivery of a Nanni oil cooler kit for a bit of cooling 'insurance' but haven't fitted it yet. But the car runs great and has amazing torque, which no tiny 740cc car has a right to have!

So that's my story on the car so far. But just to finish, on the summer holiday we were also in Alassio, which by pure coincidence is a few kms from Garlenda and at the tie when the annual international 500 event was being held. What a result! My missus wasn't having it but I genuinely had no idea until we got there. I'll post the pics on a separate thread when I get a chance.

All the best for the new year, looking forward to participating on the forum and events,
Adriano

Such a beautiful car. I'm no fiat/car expert, is the car completely original also?

I own a 2009 convertible and when I'm settled (I'm 24) I want to buy an original 500 too. White - red roof like my 500. It's quite rare though unfortunately

Hope you get lots of joy from your cinquecento!

Thanks Sanderinos.

The shell is the original, restored but not modified. The whole car is almost like new, it is so beautiful, I love looking at her and driving her so much My wife thinks I'm mad, naturally

And the car is actually quite quick. It weights nothing and has maybe 45 bhp so I have a lot of fun shocking other car drivers at how quick she is :devil:

You have to get an original cinquecento to put alongside your modern one - it would be so cool to have both

Yes it would be amazing indeed!

I share your passion. Man, when it rains outside or snows, the first thing I think about is my car. Leaving her outside feels like chaining your dog on a leash outside the grocery store. Right?

I'm going on a 5 month trip with my cinquecento to Italy, she'll love the weather and to have the roof open haha.

Women don't share that passion, but we understand each other!