Fiat 500 recreation

1971 Fiat 500 L
Recreation



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The thinking…

Until a few years ago I ran a small business supplying parts for Classic Fiat 500’s and 126’s. During this time, I rebuilt quite a number of interesting tuned
engines and project managed various body and mechanical restorations alongside a local bodyshop specialising in classic cars. During this time I was able
to critique a number of cars that had been presented as having had a complete or ‘nut & bolt’ restore, but most were consistent in their failures. Obvious
things such as the underside not properly finished in the body colour (same for inner wheel arches etc), poor quality welding, doors that don’t close in the
way they should, engine compartments that were somehow missed during the works, suspension / steering / brake components not renewed or
overhauled and engines and gearboxes that have not been completely rebuilt.

I had in my mind a project without a specific budget and with a focus on quality, process and a documented picture book. I wanted an engine
compartment that would boast a standard looking engine, other than the light blue tinware and Giannini valve cover and sump, but that would be
significantly more torquey. I wanted better handling but didn’t want to spoil the car with an ugly race recreation.

I came up with a detailed spec that would include progressive rear springs, performance shocks and a leaf spring that would be slightly lower. I wanted an
engine with a balanced crank, warm cam and breathed upon head with a stainless steel exhaust and electronic ignition mated to a synchro box. On the
braking side of things, a dual circuit brake master cylinder conversion was used to put more force behind the shoes. A H4 headlamp conversion was also
decided on as (in my opinion) it’s only subtly different from the standard pattern headlamps but offered far superior lighting. completely unnoticeable
laminated front windscreen, metal chromed number plate light (original was plastic), ‘grill and moustache’ metal front badge and a bullet shaped chrome
door mirror. A Giannini roll-back roof was also selected. Rather than alloys, Borrani steel wheels and embossed hub cap were selected - these, although
rare and expensive are not immediately noticeable as non-factory-original. Internally, much of the metalwork is RAL5012 (including pedals, levers,
handbrake, steering column etc), with standard Fiat 500 L Upholstery and black carpet (everyone seems to go for red).

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History

It’s aways interesting to understand more about the car’s history. The car came with some interesting documents from which most the car’s
history can be traced. These included the ‘Revisione’ book, two Contrassegno di assicurazione (insurance certificates) - UNIPOL Assicurazioni 13th
May 2009 & UGF Assicurazioni 9th November 2011 - these are displayed in the car’s. windscreen (like a tax disc), an Automobile Association Italia
Certificate - ACI (these may have been mandatory and prove ownership - like a logbook), a ACI certificate for export and the original books.
Revisione is the Italian Road worthiness test, required once every two years. The book gets stamped with each pass (although, there must be
another process if you have mislaid your book).
The most interesting information uncovered from these documents are that the car was owned for 39 years from June 1975 to April 2014 by
a lady from the Formigine area of Modena, this is only about 10 miles away from the original owner in the Casagrande area of Modena. Ms
Vana Pinotti (born 13/12/1945 in Correggio 22 miles from her residence in Formigine) who owned the car until 2014, apparently had a
relative with a car servicing garage just a couple of miles away. Was the car serviced here? By 1977 the mileage on the car had only reached
4280KM (this is the earliest recorded mileage stamp that is legible), by 1979 the mileage had risen to 7200KM. Two other stamps show 10,700KM and
12900KM respectively, which add credence to the car only having covered 38399KM prior to my purchase in 2014
Little is known about the first owner other than that the car was supplied to this person by Biagini & Mailli (official Fiat dealer) in the Casagrande
district of Modena on 3rd June 1970. The original registration was MO 350339

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Original Fiat 500 tool set
and Jack - pretty rare…

And more documents
than you can shake a stick
at.

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This beautiful little Cinquecento finished in Positano
(Yellow) had covered 38,000 KM’s, with lots of
documentation from which we have managed to piece
together the car’s early history.

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The strip out begins…

First stage: strip out engine, gearbox, fuel tank, glass & interior.

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Then comes the serious business of stripping panels away
to see how far the corrosion have reached. So even if
wings and front panels appear to be in reasonable order,
they need to be stripped out to check the inner wheel
housings, door posts etc, that are concealed by these
panels. On the underside the spring housings and floor
supports have their spot welds drilled out and these
components are removed to check for corrosion between

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Although unusually solid for an untouched original 500, a
comprehensive overhaul begins. The process is: Strip
down, paint strip, shot blast, 2k epoxy primer to prevent
flash rust, repairs and flash rust between each area of
fabrication.

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All paint, sound proofing needs to be removed along with
rustproofing prior to sand blasting…

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After stripping the paint off, the doors were found to be
good and without corrosion, there was however filler
covering multiple shallow dents.
After some panel beating, coats of 2k epoxy primer a
finger nail of filler was need to give a good cosmetic
finish.

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The sand blaster had an easy job, a shell that was
practically bare metal and on a rotisserie…

After sand blasting there were areas that we weren’t
happy with, so the balance was finished by hand and with
a small hand held blaster where needed.

The shell is now ready for it’s first coat of epoxy primer to
secure it from rust. After each repair a further coat is
applied. Closed cavities were treated and closed areas
such as the rear quarter panels were accessed by
removing the part of the wheel housing (wheel housing
are split into inner and outer - outer was removed and
replaced)

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The rotisserie ensured that the sprayer could rotate the car to the perfect angle to ensure excellent paint coverage in areas that without the
rotisserie would be difficult.

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Elements

All elements (engine lid, luggage comp lid, doors and rear engine support panel) after sand blasting have cosmetic
problems addressed and are prepared for the first coat of 2k epoxy primer.

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