Any South Coasters With A Classic Fiat 500?
Discussion
Does anyone have or know anyone locally to the SC with a Classic 500 that wouldn't mind us having a nose around?
My Wife is contemplating selling her Abarth 500 and buying a classic 500 and I'd ideally like to find one locally that she could sit in and perhaps be taken out for a short drive in it to see if its the kind of thing she wants.
She does minimal miles and has always fancied a classic and we think the money would be better tied up in a classic which may appreciate in value as opposed to loose value (albeit fairly slowly) in the Abarth.
Needs to be right hand drive and we're not too worried about the condition as it would give her an idea of what of work we may have to do to one.
Cheers.
Stef
My Wife is contemplating selling her Abarth 500 and buying a classic 500 and I'd ideally like to find one locally that she could sit in and perhaps be taken out for a short drive in it to see if its the kind of thing she wants.
She does minimal miles and has always fancied a classic and we think the money would be better tied up in a classic which may appreciate in value as opposed to loose value (albeit fairly slowly) in the Abarth.
Needs to be right hand drive and we're not too worried about the condition as it would give her an idea of what of work we may have to do to one.
Cheers.
Stef
Actually Stef, I didnt! I had a Fiat 600. It was very slightly bigger and had 4 cylinders I seem to recall.
It felt so small and dangerous to me. Not very comfy either.
I also had a slightly newer 500( the squarer one, 126 iirc). Even slower and noisier.
I haven't been in a modern one but I think it would be so far removed from what she is used to.
Given the choice, I certainly know what I prefer.
I'd love to hear yours and hers thoughts on them if you do try one.
It felt so small and dangerous to me. Not very comfy either.
I also had a slightly newer 500( the squarer one, 126 iirc). Even slower and noisier.
I haven't been in a modern one but I think it would be so far removed from what she is used to.
Given the choice, I certainly know what I prefer.
I'd love to hear yours and hers thoughts on them if you do try one.
Edited by steviejasp on Saturday 27th October 17:09
Thanks mate, will let you know. She seems really keen on giving up her fully loaded and lovely Abarth for one 
I am a fan of the classic 500, it's a very honest little car, but I think she definitely needs to have a good look at one before getting rid of hers. I don't drive it very often but hers is a great little car, and pretty quick too now it has a bit more power than standard, but her current car and what she wants are two polar opposites and I don't want her to make the wrong decision, it took us a while to find the Abarth in Campovolo grey and the spec it's in, plus she also added a bi-modal exhaust and extra decals to make it a bit more special.
Stef

I am a fan of the classic 500, it's a very honest little car, but I think she definitely needs to have a good look at one before getting rid of hers. I don't drive it very often but hers is a great little car, and pretty quick too now it has a bit more power than standard, but her current car and what she wants are two polar opposites and I don't want her to make the wrong decision, it took us a while to find the Abarth in Campovolo grey and the spec it's in, plus she also added a bi-modal exhaust and extra decals to make it a bit more special.
Stef
normalbloke said:
Love the Fiat 500. We need one at some point, but have a hotrod to finish first. Prefer the original Multiplas though.
I'd be very interested to see what you end up with, and your thoughts on it.
I saw an original Multiplas this summer, absolutely lovely! I think there was one for sale here on PH earlier this year too.I'd be very interested to see what you end up with, and your thoughts on it.
Stef
steviejasp said:
Hi Stefan,
I see from another post that you got one. How are you getting on with it? What do you think of it?
Really pleased with it, we drove it back from the Cotswolds and apart from a leaky oil filler cap it behaved very well!I see from another post that you got one. How are you getting on with it? What do you think of it?
Needs a little bit of work doing to it cosmetically but nothing major. It's great fun to drive and the non synchro gearbox certainly keeps your concentration up but having said that the gearbox is pretty forgiving!
I've sorted out the leaky oil cap, given the engine a service and the only remaining leak is from the gearbox so ideally I need to whip that off and see where the leak is from, I suspect one of the shaft seals.
Then over time we'll tackle some of the minimal corrosion spots and eventually get it prepped up for a full respray.
We were quite lucky I think as we got it for £4,500, owned by one family since new and predominantly garaged in London. It came with a folder full of history and a genuine 45,000 miles on the lock. It was valued in 2010 at £10,000!
My Wife loves it and we're both looking forward to doing some work on it once the weather improves, at the moment we're trying to only use it on dry days until I can get underneath and ensure its got adequate protection from the elements.
Hopefully I'll be able to bring it along to a future local meet.
Stef
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