Description
It’s hard to know where to start with this pocket rocket! The car began life being sold in Turin as a Fiat 500L (Luxury!) in 1971. The current enthusiast owner sourced and imported the car in 2023 and has enjoyed fettling and perfecting it for the past couple of years.
The car had a very high quality restoration some 12 years ago - and at that time, it was radically upgraded into the snarling little beast you see today. It’s ready to use and enjoy: forget your Mini Coopers and hot hatches – this little machine will provide you with much more fun, and endless attention on the road - it’s certainly not a car for the camera-shy! It provides a visceral and truly enjoyable experience… this is no shopping trolley.
Basic spec:
• Fully restored bodyshell and panelwork with professional respray – all done to a very high standard
• Abarth style solid roof conversion and engine cover spaced open for airflow
• 800cc race-tuned engine, built to a very high spec. Drastically modified cylinder head, twin choke Weber carb, custom fabricated exhaust, oil cooler, deeper sump, fuel pressure regulator with filter
• 5 speed gearbox
• 123 programable electronic ignition distributor
• Front disc brake conversion
• Lowered suspension (freshly rebushed and replaced front suspension hence the ride height at the moment!). Sport shock absorbers all round.
• Custom instrument binnacle featuring Jaeger clocks. Luisi steering wheel.
• Custom bucket seats, rear seat trimmed to match, custom made door cards
• ‘Grifo’ period alloy wheels
• Conversion to RHD headlights
• …. and much, much more – the list is truly endless!
The quality of restoration is excellent and the bodyshell is particularly good. Spot welds still visible all over the car, including in the gutters and rebates – it’s nice to see a 500 that hasn’t been through several shonky restorations in its past. You’ll struggle to find a cleaner car in terms of shell and panelwork – all of which fits excellently too. It’s hard to believe that this car is nearly 55 years old! You’ll notice that the car has an Abarth style solid roof, which has been carefully fitted to a very high standard. I’ve not seen another car with this roof ‘stitched in’ anywhere near as well.
The engine is the original 500L unit (110F. 000) which has been uprated to 800cc, and is now reputed to produce 65bhp! Coupled to a 5 speed box (stamped ‘Abarth’), this certainly isn’t your standard Fiat 500. The cylinder had has had a huge amount of work, with the valves relocated to allow the largest possible valves to be fitted, the inlet tract has been bored all the way through and aluminium tubes put in to give it a ‘straight shot’ from the back of the carb to the inlet valve. A beautifully made (and very loud!) exhaust system has been fitted which is an absolute work of art. A 123 programmable distributor has been fitted and the car purrs like an (angry) kitten which pulls strongly through the gears. Thanks to the fifth gear, it cruises nicely and rides much better than you’d expect it to, as well.
The interior is a lovely place to be – custom made dashboard binnacle with 100mm Jaeger dials to match the originals, along with oil pressure/ temperature/ fuel gauges. The front and rear seats have been trimmed to match, and also match with the black door cards with yellow stitching. A period Luisi steering wheel is fitted. The carpet set has been replaced with an excellent quality item. It all looks fantastic.
In the past 18 months or so, further work has been completed, including a complete overhaul of the braking system, as a matter of course: upgraded master cylinder, rebuilt callipers with Aer-o-Quip flexi brake pipes, new rear cylinders and shoes. The car has also just had replacement of the front leaf spring and bushes (hence why it’s sitting a little high at the front at the moment – it’s only done 30-odd miles since the new spring was fitted so it hasn’t settled in yet!). Lots of other minor modifications and works have been undertaken too – too many to list! The car has rolling road tuned at Northampton Motorsport.
The engine alone would set you back the best part of £10, 000 – and to produce another car to the same quality would cost a great deal more than the asking price. The car is dialled up to 11/ 10, do not expect a feeble little shopping car experience – this is an angry hornet of a car! If you watch Harry Metcalfe’s YouTube channel (Harry’s Garage), you’ll soon see the appeal of a Fiat 500 – and his is only mildly breathed on! He’s recently poured over £10k into his on various mods and upgrades.
The car has been priced competitively compared to others of a similar spec that have sold recently – and I’m confident that the standard of this one far exceeds the vast majority! You will not find another example built to this spec.
RMC Classics are advertising the car on behalf of the owner. See our website for a much more comprehensive description and access over 100 photos. Forget your Mini Coopers and hot hatches - this angry hornet of a car provides a driving experience like no other!
It's rare to find such a well-built, well-specced 500 in the UK.
