General Fiat 500F rejuvenation

[1500500]

The staff are quite willing to help when I give them the chance?

The blue car is an 850 saloon and its future state of tune is yet to be decided. I got it for such a good price it would have been rude not to buy it. See More pics at https://flickr.com/photos/36060059@N06/sets/72157662078514630

 

[1500500]

I have decided to get some of the body work done before I install the engine

It is off to panel beater on Monday to get the new panels welded on the front (And possibly the engine bay painted depending on the quote) I will then decide what to do with the rest. To paint myself or not.... I spent a lot of time on the Austin 7 and satisfying as it was, I am not sure I can do it again.

I discovered the original colour was antique ivory so that has made my decision easy. My daughters won't be happy but they'll get used to it

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Geoff;
I have a copy of an article on the OT1600 that Tony at MBG built up (from a basic 850 body)--if you would like a copy of the article, just to give you an idea of what can be achieved on a 850, contact me direct and I will copy out the article for you.

 

[1500500]

Thanks. Will do.

 

[fiat500]

Your daughters are right......you'd better get used to it!

 

[1500500]

I asked my eldest today if she would still love Luigi if he was not yellow and the reply... No. He wouldn't be Luigi any more.

I said what about a cream kind of colour with no yellow in it. Still No

 

[the hobbler]

Like all young daughters---gotcha pinned! It would seem that your 'wee beastie' is going to end up as a 'yellow wee beastie'!

I got your e-mail address, well most of it----should there be a '.com' on the end of it?

 

[1500500]

Yes .com there is

Maybe I need to set up a classic500 vote. To see if I should keep the yellow or not..... I really want to go back to original but I'm not immune to the power of peer group pressure

 

[1500500]

Pic

 

[1500500]

Pic

 

[1500500]

Pic

 

[1500500]

On way to facelift

 

[1500500]

Start with getting the front panels replaced professionally while I decide what colour and whether I should paint it myself or not....

 

[1500500]

This is what my car looks like behind the filler....

 

[stevehg]

It's a good job you're replacing the front then.

 

[1500500]

After resting in the panel shop for a couple of months, the face lift began today. Thanks to Andrew for sending the photos through. I must say Peter better not show Michio or he might get jealous.... this car although not perfect by any means, is so lucky to have been shipped to Australia all those years ago - and even luckier to live away from the coast.

[/url]Fiat 500 F facelift by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F facelift by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F facelift by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F facelift by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F facelift by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500 F facelift by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[fiat500]

I don't think there will be a Fiat 500 in the UK who isn't jealous of your little beauty's undergarments; as you know, Mitchio's are a little more frilly than that but they're getting stitched back together gradually.
It's interesting to see that factory pink primer does more or less do the job in a hot, dry climate.
Is your car an "R" or "R" "U" using what's available with that front panel?

 

[1500500]

I like your description of Michio's frilly bits?

When I bought the panel and got it shipped from Germany there weren't any F front panels available. Because I was also getting engine parts to keep that side of things moving I decided to compromise on the R panel

I will make it fit the F badge

 

[1500500]

Some more pics, Andrew Zuccon is doing a great job. Wish I could be there but the car is one and a half hours away. Andrew is passionate about Italian cars and has a few classics on the go at the moment.

Thanks to Andrew for keeping the pics coming.

[/url]Fiat 500F facelift part 2 by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F facelift part 2 by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F facelift part 2 by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F facelift part 2 by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]Fiat 500F facelift part 2 by geoffjessica, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[F123C]

You know, it doesn't look half-bad in 2 tone, black and yellow. :idea:

I seem to recall taxis in some country or other used this combination?
(might have been black roof over yellow?).

Al.