General Stolen & Recovered - Advice Please.

[XXX1T]

Hi 500 Classic Fans,

I’m new here and could really use some advice (and maybe a miracle).

My father recently passed away and was a Fiat 500 fan since first driving one in Rome with his Dad in the 1960's - he then went on to own several over the years. His final one was a LHD 1972 Fiat 500L that’s now been passed down to me. For me It’s not just a car it's a little bit of my father and over time I’m determined to restore her to former glory.

But there’s been a bit of a saga. While my dad was in his final month, the car was stolen. Thankfully, I’d hidden an Airtag inside, and after some detective work (and a story I’ll tell my grandkids someday), the car was recovered by the police. However, the thief, lacking the keys, decided the best course of action was to dismantle and remove the upper steering assembly entirely. The lower steering assembly is still fine—if I manually move one wheel, both turn—but I’m now left trying to replace the entire upper steering column and assembly = ideally one with a lock as his had.

I've searched online and some of the usual big part suppliers but cannot find the column.

So here I am, turning to the experts. Does anyone have, or know where I can find, a steering column or complete upper assembly for a 1972 Fiat 500L?
It’s proving to be as elusive as a parking space in Rome during rush hour!

I love this little car and while I’m just starting th restoration process that I know will take time and a lot of help, I look forward to sharing the journey with you all.

Thanks in advance for any tips, leads, or spare parts you might have. Your help means more than you know!

Thank you,

Justin

 

[fiat500]

You might be better starting another thread explicitly looking for a steering column. Your best bet will be that someone has a used spare that they will sell. There may be a possibility that the 126 column can be made to work, but there are some differences with it. There are plenty of the here from a seller who is regularly praised by @the hobbler. It would be worth enquiring if he has one for a 500.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[the hobbler]

You might be better starting another thread explicitly looking for a steering column. Your best bet will be that someone has a used spare that they will sell. There may be a possibility that the 126 column can be made to work, but there are some differences with it. There are plenty of the here from a seller who is regularly praised by @the hobbler. It would be worth enquiring if he has one for a 500.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18438192...Tp2QVxIC+UEvD4O+/nXk=|tkp:Bk9SR_6RmtDqZA[/URL

http://

You might be better starting another thread explicitly looking for a steering column. Your best bet will be that someone has a used spare that they will sell. There may be a possibility that the 126 column can be made to work, but there are some differences with it. There are plenty of the here from a seller who is regularly praised by @the hobbler. It would be worth enquiring if he has one for a 500.

Pardon our interruption...

You might be better starting another thread explicitly looking for a steering column. Your best bet will be that someone has a used spare that they will sell. There may be a possibility that the 126 column can be made to work, but there are some differences with it. There are plenty of the here from a seller who is regularly praised by @the hobbler. It would be worth enquiring if he has one for a 500.

Pardon our interruption...

First of all, I am sorry to hear of the way that your dad's car was nicked and abused. The 126 steering column MIGHT be able to be made to fit, but it would involve a lot of work as the method of securing the upper-part of the column to the underside of the dash are completely different (google "126 steering column" and you will see what I mean), also the 500's steering column is 'one piece' whereas the 126's steering-column is a "2 piece" column. If you google "classic Fiat 500 steering column" you will find that there is a guy selling a collection of old 500 parts, which includes a steering-wheel. There is another company who is selling 500 "column units" which includes the lights/indicator switch and horn ring. If you want to contact me direct, feel free to do so and I will give you those sellers details ( [email protected] ). Another way round the problem would be to contact the main 500 parts suppliers in the UK and see if they have anything 2nd hand on their shelves--you might have to fettle-and-join-up 'L'parts with parts from earlier models. Being that your car is LHD, do have any relatives/friends in Italy?---you should be able to get a complete 2nd hand column (and other parts) from Italy as there are still thousands of Cinquecento still in use over there. I can also give a couple of names of people (in the UK) who MIGHT have what you need in their 'collection of parts'

 

[the hobbler]

http://

First of all, I am sorry to hear of the way that your dad's car was nicked and abused. The 126 steering column MIGHT be able to be made to fit, but it would involve a lot of work as the method of securing the upper-part of the column to the underside of the dash are completely different (google "126 steering column" and you will see what I mean), also the 500's steering column is 'one piece' whereas the 126's steering-column is a "2 piece" column. If you google "classic Fiat 500 steering column" you will find that there is a guy selling a collection of old 500 parts, which includes a steering-wheel. There is another company who is selling 500 "column units" which includes the lights/indicator switch and horn ring. If you want to contact me direct, feel free to do so and I will give you those sellers details ( [email protected] ). Another way round the problem would be to contact the main 500 parts suppliers in the UK and see if they have anything 2nd hand on their shelves--you might have to fettle-and-join-up 'L'parts with parts from earlier models. Being that your car is LHD, do have any relatives/friends in Italy?---you should be able to get a complete 2nd hand column (and other parts) from Italy as there are still thousands of Cinquecento still in use over there. I can also give a couple of names of people (in the UK) who MIGHT have what you need in their 'collection of parts'

I have found a 500R steering column 'on-line'---that with the fact that the 'column-unit' and steering-wheel parts are available might just solve your problem,---but unfortunately, it will not be cheap. It is the only column that I have ever seen on e-bay!

 

[XXX1T]

I have found a 500R steering column 'on-line'---that with the fact that the 'column-unit' and steering-wheel parts are available might just solve your problem,---but unfortunately, it will not be cheap. It is the only column that I have ever seen on e-bay!

Hi, good to meet you! First off thank you so much for making all this effort, it is really appreciated.
Yes I'd definitely prefer to find a used part. I'll drop you an email to get the info.
Many thanks, Justin

 

[XXX1T]

You might be better starting another thread explicitly looking for a steering column. Your best bet will be that someone has a used spare that they will sell. There may be a possibility that the 126 column can be made to work, but there are some differences with it. There are plenty of the here from a seller who is regularly praised by @the hobbler. It would be worth enquiring if he has one for a 500.

Pardon our interruption...

Thank you for your help. Much appreciated.

 

[the hobbler]

Thank you for your help. Much appreciated.

Julian---I have sent you an e-mail this morning which MIGHT be the complete answer to your problem----if he can't, then you should have the list of e-bay numbers that I have sent you.