General Introducing Luigi

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General Introducing Luigi

Joined
Feb 11, 2018
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Hi All
I thought it was about time I joined you all with an introduction to our 1973 Fiat 500 L.

We’ve owned a “Fiat 500” since 1987 but that one is not your usual 500! (Some of you may realise which 500 that one is from my user name)

Anyway back to Luigi, purchased off eBay in January 2015, we did very little research and hadn’t viewed any others but off to Minehead with the trailer we went. The car looked very honest, almost all original, it started, once we had been shown the starting lever! ran sort of, drove sort of and stopped, sort of! We were hooked, deal done, money paid, on the trailer and back to Cheshire we went.

As you can see by the date that was 6 years ago and loads of work has been done since which I’d like to share in a belated build blog type story!
For now, here’s some pictures of how he looked soon after our initial purchase!

Finally, a big thank you to all the forums contributors whose trials and tribulations have been an invaluable source of help!

Thanks Ian and Rachel
 

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Very clean looking 'wee beastie'---well done. Where about in Cheshire do you live? Although my address is 'North Wales' I am actually only 200yds from the English/Welsh border just outside Chester. It would be really good to meet up with you---500s are a bit thin on the ground up here. There is another 500 in Wrexham, and he and I are planning to go to the "Cars 'n coffee" meet at the "Chester Lakes" on Sunday 16th--the meet is 'on-line' Feel free to contact me--o1244-683824 OR [email protected]. Welcome to the Forum.
 
Thanks Matt, the longer we’ve had the car the more we think we got ourselves a good one!

Hi Tom, we’re in Wilmslow, not too far away. Thanks for the invite, I’ve put it on the calendar and I’ll give you a call a bit nearer the time to make arrangements to meet up. We did have another 500 in Wilmslow a few years ago and I’m pretty sure it became Kate B’s fabulously restored car!

Ps Any ideas on what our other “Fiat 500” might be?
 
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Was it a 'Topolino' by chance? If it was, which model was it? My very 1st car was a Toplino 500A---I bought 2 (cost me about £35 for the pair if I remember correctly, which was lot of money for an apprentice to find in those days), stripped them both and built 1 car from all the best pieces. My favourite?--would have to be a 500B, with a 'C' aluminium cylinder head.
 
"il topo che ruggiva"---a good pseudonym. I belong to the "Fiat 500 enthusiasts " club, and write a lot of articles for their bi-monthly magazine, under the pseudonym of "topo peloso".
 
No, not a Topolino, although that would be nice. It’s a Fiat 500 but with very few Fiat 500 parts!
The reason I’ve asked you the question is that in all the time I’ve been following the Forum you are the only person who has mentioned this particular 500, and that was in a reply to a recent post!
Here’s a clue, CCC!
 
Ian; The only other "Fiat 500" that doesn't use a lot of 500 parts is the Steyr Puch-----if it is not that, will you please put me out of my misery. As one gets older, the memory regurgatation system fails more often!
 
Ok Tom, here you go!
Some time ago you replied to Jumpjet (MattP) who, by way of coincidence has also commented on my first post, he was asking about Z Cars Fiat 500 conversions. You mentioned a 2 cylinder BDA engined car from the 70’s, the car featured in Car and Car Conversions in September 1978!
Well, that car has been in my garage since 1987, it probably warrants a thread of its own if folk are interested.
Here’s some pictures.
I hope that’s your memory well and truly jogged!
 

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Ok Tom, here you go!
Some time ago you replied to Jumpjet (MattP) who, by way of coincidence has also commented on my first post, he was asking about Z Cars Fiat 500 conversions. You mentioned a 2 cylinder BDA engined car from the 70’s, the car featured in Car and Car Conversions in September 1978!
Well, that car has been in my garage since 1987, it probably warrants a thread of its own if folk are interested.
Here’s some pictures.
I hope that’s your memory well and truly jogged!

Hi Ian, I remember reading the original article in CCC all those years ago, it's so good to see that the car/engine has survived. I do remember thinking 'Blimey the've chopped the engine in half' !!!:eek::eek::eek::eek: I for one would love to read of the cars history and construction - especially the engine. What gearbox does it use and what's the engine output bhp/rpm ????
Ian.
 
Hi Ian
Unfortunately the car does not have its original 2 cylinder half BDA engine, although Peter Day who built the car does still have it.However, I don’t think it’s in running condition!
I’ll start another thread about that car and keep things separate to Luigi.
I’m sure people won’t mind that it only has headlights, front indicators and a front badge that are from a Fiat 500!
 

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Thanks Matt, the longer we’ve had the car the more we think we got ourselves a good one!

Hi Tom, we’re in Wilmslow, not too far away. Thanks for the invite, I’ve put it on the calendar and I’ll give you a call a bit nearer the time to make arrangements to meet up. We did have another 500 in Wilmslow a few years ago and I’m pretty sure it became Kate B’s fabulously restored car!

Ps Any ideas on what our other “Fiat 500” might be?

Small world! That is indeed my car :) I bought it from Wilmslow 5 years ago. Welcome to the forum, looks like a lovely example you have there.
 
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The article on Ian's "500" was in the September 1978 edition of "Cars and Car Conversions", or as we used to callit when the CCC lads called into Radbourne Racing for a coffee and a 'nose around' 'Cars and Car Perversions'.
As Ian mentioned, the car was originally built by Peter Day using the 'good' 1/2 of a blown up 1,300cc Cosworth BDA engine; it sat on a Jack Knight racing Mini gearbox. The power was 115bhp and the torque 112ft lb (amazingly, the same as the engine produced in 1,300cc format). The engine's limiter was sat at 9,200rpm, although if one was to flick the limiter 'OFF', the engine would easily exceed 10.000rpm.
If you are wondering how I have been able to remember all details, the answer is I haven't---I have a copy of the origin article in my "500" file. If anybody wants a copy, just let me have your address and I will run a copy off for you.
What engine have you got in the car now Ian? Is the car road legal? Imagine turning up in that car at a "Cars 'n Coffee" meet!
 
Hi Kate
Small world indeed! We saw your car arriving from Italy one evening on our way to the pub!
You’ve done a fabulous job on the restoration, ours is best described as having the patina look and we’re trying to keep it as original as possible.
 
Hi Tom
The “racing 500” is fitted with one of Swiftune’s finest 1380cc A Series engines, unfortunately its a very long way from being road legal! It would be great at cars and coffee but would need to arrive on a trailer!
 
I have a custom built trailer fo moving my 500 around on--twist my arm, it wouldn't be too diifficult to do so!
 
I have a custom built trailer fo moving my 500 around on--twist my arm, it wouldn't be too diifficult to do so!

Hi Tom
Thanks for the trailer offer, I have one for the Mighty Mouse and all it’s related paraphernalia, so if it needs to go anywhere it won’t be a problem!
Always happy to take it to events for people to see.
 

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Neat trailer, and a shade bigger than mine. Mine is big enough to put a Metro on it (son's request at the last moment before I went to order it!) Give me a ring or drop me an e-mail direct Ian---trying to communicate only by 'Forum' is a bit tedious
As far as I can see, I WILL be at Chester Lakes on Sunday (16th)--hopefully, see you there.
 
So, to continue the story.
With the car back in Cheshire it was time for a thorough inspection of what we had bought and it very soon became apparent that we had stumbled upon a very original, almost untouched car! Almost nothing had been replaced and whilst the bodywork was several different shades of Giallo Positano it was more due to enthusiastic Italian driving than the dreaded tin worm!
An electric washer pump that didn’t work had been added and the front indicators had been replaced to sort the side light/indicator issue.The king pins/ swivel pins had been done but hadn’t cured the “play” more on that issue to follow, but pretty much that was it, all the rest was circa 1973.
So it was time to make a start on some long overdue maintenance, with a huge list of bits on order I made a start on the front indicators which had not been very well installed and stripped and rebuilt the fantastic rear view mirror, oh how great would life be if things were still made like this!
 

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With a nice big parcel of new parts it was time to do a full engine service!
No real problems fitting all new ignition parts other than the condition was such that it was surprising the the car ran at all!
Next, oil change and clean the centrifugal filter, not seen one of these before, nevertheless, I was surprised with what was inside. Was this normal, had it never been cleaned and was this hard packed slightly silver/grey material what I thought it might be!
What are your thoughts, anyone else seen one so full?
 

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