fiat 500 replica
Discussion
I think the car you are looking for was called the Barchetta 595.
Peter Stevens did the styling and I think his mate Gordon Murray bought one, though I don't think Murray had much technical involvement - the original was simply a fibreglass tub bolted onto a braced Fiat 126 floor pan. It didn't sell very well because it was ridiculously expensive, for what it was, and the original company stopped production long ago.
Try a Google for Barchetta 595, or these links, for a start:
Link
Link
Link
Edited to add:
... and I'm trying to work out why he's airbrushed out the suspension on the last link, and how the back end of the car is apparently supporting itself without springs. Trick suspension, perhaps?
Peter Stevens did the styling and I think his mate Gordon Murray bought one, though I don't think Murray had much technical involvement - the original was simply a fibreglass tub bolted onto a braced Fiat 126 floor pan. It didn't sell very well because it was ridiculously expensive, for what it was, and the original company stopped production long ago.
Try a Google for Barchetta 595, or these links, for a start:
Link
Link
Link
Edited to add:
... and I'm trying to work out why he's airbrushed out the suspension on the last link, and how the back end of the car is apparently supporting itself without springs. Trick suspension, perhaps?
Edited by Sam_68 on Sunday 15th July 10:19
jas xjr said:
seem to recall seeing a 500 replica at stoneleigh a few years ago.are they still about and is it a bec?thanks in advance
You're right, there was an 'updated' version shown a couple of years or so ago that did have a bike engine as well as custom chassis.Can't remember seeing anything of it since though.
Sorry to drag up such an old thread, but I've been after on of these bodies since about 1996, without much luck. All kinds of people were claiming to have the original molds from the Dove company (supposedly the original manufacturers), but when it cane down to it they all can't have the originals. Still, at this point I don't care so much, I just want a body. I was waiting for a guy named Simon Head, who was supposed to be making a R1-powered unit, but it seems to be stalled (http://www.simod.co.uk/) and the site e-mail seems to be bouncing. At this point I think if I could get even the body, I could do it. I was thinking hard about building a 7, but I think this one would satisfy two urges at once.
I also sent an e-mail to David Arrigo, who was at one time anyway, making them on the Isle of Malta (seems like REALLY going out of the way to get one, but I'm getting desperate!). If any of you chaps have a lead on one, I'd be most appreciative. I'm thinking Simon was on the right track and with an R1 stuffed into the hind end, this would be one exciting ride.
I also sent an e-mail to David Arrigo, who was at one time anyway, making them on the Isle of Malta (seems like REALLY going out of the way to get one, but I'm getting desperate!). If any of you chaps have a lead on one, I'd be most appreciative. I'm thinking Simon was on the right track and with an R1 stuffed into the hind end, this would be one exciting ride.
The guy Lee has one over on the locostbuilders forum,it was the one built with Martin Keenan a few years ago,you can get in touch with him via the locostbuilders forum,its free to join.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...
kennyrayandersen said:
Sorry to drag up such an old thread, but I've been after on of these bodies since about 1996, without much luck. All kinds of people were claiming to have the original molds from the Dove company (supposedly the original manufacturers), but when it cane down to it they all can't have the originals. Still, at this point I don't care so much, I just want a body. I was waiting for a guy named Simon Head, who was supposed to be making a R1-powered unit, but it seems to be stalled (http://www.simod.co.uk/) and the site e-mail seems to be bouncing. At this point I think if I could get even the body, I could do it. I was thinking hard about building a 7, but I think this one would satisfy two urges at once.
I also sent an e-mail to David Arrigo, who was at one time anyway, making them on the Isle of Malta (seems like REALLY going out of the way to get one, but I'm getting desperate!). If any of you chaps have a lead on one, I'd be most appreciative. I'm thinking Simon was on the right track and with an R1 stuffed into the hind end, this would be one exciting ride.
I liked the barchetta at the time and still do.........I believe quite a few moulds were taken of the original and remeber that one is now made in the Netherlands........I also sent an e-mail to David Arrigo, who was at one time anyway, making them on the Isle of Malta (seems like REALLY going out of the way to get one, but I'm getting desperate!). If any of you chaps have a lead on one, I'd be most appreciative. I'm thinking Simon was on the right track and with an R1 stuffed into the hind end, this would be one exciting ride.
I found this link, but I believe it's for the one built in Malta
http://www.adventureashore.com/ev.html
MK INDY said:
The guy Lee has one over on the locostbuilders forum,it was the one built with Martin Keenan a few years ago,you can get in touch with him via the locostbuilders forum,its free to join.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...
Hey REALLY thanks for answering guys -- I appreciate it. Maybe only on a few forums can a limited number of folk understand the passion and drive that make someone seek the extraordinarily difficult to find! I LOVE that car!http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...
First, I tried to register for the locost builders forum, because I saw some pictures of the car of which you speak that were posted there. I was hoping to get a hold of the gentleman who owned it to get more information about it. UNFORTUNATELY, though the forum is free it really turned out to be more difficult to sign up for than I imagined (also, I might note more difficult than any forum that I've ever tried to sign up for!). My home is in Texas (and yes I own a gun (the most frequently ask question I get from folks from the EU)), but I'm living and working in Korea. I tried both the cell phone and land line to phone the registration confirmation number, but couldn't get through to the phone number to complete the registration process -- some business about the number not being in the registry (whatever that means). I don't mind the couple of quid (I believe that's what all y'all call them) for the phone call, it's just this 50 year old technologically challenged spastic couldn't make it ring through. There is an alternate e-mail, but that bounced back... frustrating! I posted over on the US locost site hoping maybe someone from the UK site would notice it and maybe steer me in the right direction, but I didn't get any takers. Maybe I'll do some more research on how to call the UK from here (I've no problem dialing the US... hmmmm).
I e-mailed the guy in Malta, but haven't heard anything back. I could try the guy in the Netherlands, but it seems like last time I checked he was looking for maybe 4K euro for just the glass body, which seemed a bit high. I was waiting a bit on Simon, because he was more reasonable, seemed a little closer to the origin of the original, I really liked the idea of an R1 engine in it (rather than the FIAT 126 lump) and I liked the suspension set up that he was showing on his site. I think he just gotten busy with his life and whatnot and has put it on the back burner. There is a number on his website (http://www.simod.co.uk/), but see above difficulties with phoning the UK, so I don't know whether it works. I'd be willing to PayPal someone a couple of quid to help me out -- it's not a money issue, just a problem with the time space continuum. I'd be interested to know if he isn't going to make a complete kit, whether he'd at least be willing to make me a glass body (he is supposed to have the molds). I even made an inquiry if he wanted to sell those, but I haven't heard back and don't know whether the e-mail is current for him. It's been a bit of a pain in the arse!
Thanks, again, Kenny
Hi Kenny, the Locostbuilders registration was locked down due to spammers a while back, and some people do seem to have problems with it. What email address are you trying to register with? I'll message one of the mods and see if they can fix it.
Note that whilst it's a nominally free sign up, you will get a nag screen occasionally when browsing unless you contribute a small amount of money to the site owner to help with the (considerable!) bandwidth costs. Most people accept that it's well worth while however.
Note that whilst it's a nominally free sign up, you will get a nag screen occasionally when browsing unless you contribute a small amount of money to the site owner to help with the (considerable!) bandwidth costs. Most people accept that it's well worth while however.
kennyrayandersen said:
Sorry to drag up such an old thread, but I've been after on of these bodies since about 1996, without much luck. All kinds of people were claiming to have the original molds from the Dove company (supposedly the original manufacturers), but when it cane down to it they all can't have the originals. Still, at this point I don't care so much, I just want a body. I was waiting for a guy named Simon Head, who was supposed to be making a R1-powered unit, but it seems to be stalled (http://www.simod.co.uk/) and the site e-mail seems to be bouncing. At this point I think if I could get even the body, I could do it. I was thinking hard about building a 7, but I think this one would satisfy two urges at once.
I also sent an e-mail to David Arrigo, who was at one time anyway, making them on the Isle of Malta (seems like REALLY going out of the way to get one, but I'm getting desperate!). If any of you chaps have a lead on one, I'd be most appreciative. I'm thinking Simon was on the right track and with an R1 stuffed into the hind end, this would be one exciting ride.
I have a few contacts in Malta, a couple of whom are petrolheads. Want me to see what we can find out? (no bull, I lived there for over 3 years.)I also sent an e-mail to David Arrigo, who was at one time anyway, making them on the Isle of Malta (seems like REALLY going out of the way to get one, but I'm getting desperate!). If any of you chaps have a lead on one, I'd be most appreciative. I'm thinking Simon was on the right track and with an R1 stuffed into the hind end, this would be one exciting ride.
I think it could be a popular kit if put together right. I got in contact with Lee – the guy that owns the white one. He said he got his in the Netherlands – I’m waiting to hear back, but I’m assuming from Ruud’s garage. Ruud said that the molds cost him a fortune and he’s asking 5000€ for a kit. I’m trying to find out what’s included in the ‘kit’ but I’m thinking he is charging that much for just the fiberglass body, which seems pretty high compared to all of the usual se7en pricing.
Pothole, your effort checking into the Malta source would be appreciated. I don’t consider myself cheap, but I certainly don’t want to be throwing money out the window [if I don’t need to]. I’ll be sure to post any information that I come up with.
Lee also said he had a chassis designer do the chassis for his, and so I also made an inquiry as to whether he might do another, and how much that might be. All this would be better cheaper if someone was making an actual kit. It’s such a striking little car, and with a bike motor (or 600 cc or greater) would be a snappy performer – hard to imagine they couldn’t sell them by the basketful.
Pothole, your effort checking into the Malta source would be appreciated. I don’t consider myself cheap, but I certainly don’t want to be throwing money out the window [if I don’t need to]. I’ll be sure to post any information that I come up with.
Lee also said he had a chassis designer do the chassis for his, and so I also made an inquiry as to whether he might do another, and how much that might be. All this would be better cheaper if someone was making an actual kit. It’s such a striking little car, and with a bike motor (or 600 cc or greater) would be a snappy performer – hard to imagine they couldn’t sell them by the basketful.
Read all about it,Lee's car is in the next PPC magazine.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid...
abarthstef said:
That looks like a ‘cool’ 500, which I think they are no longer making. When I originally inquired about this one he said he wanted 6K Euro for it. But, after doing some checking it appears, at least with the original, that there were some cracking issues. I’m guessing it could probably be reinforced to cure that.
Hi. I built (with my father) a Fiat Barchetta 595 around the mid 90's thou it was a steal and aluminium body on a Fiat 500F 1966 car. Peter Stevens actually registered this car as number 3. I sold the car about 8 years ago thou I still have a box of Barchetta 595 articles, magazine reviews, original simpatico brochures and other related stuff.
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