1972 FIAT 500

The owner spends a lot of time in Italy with his family, and has built up a good relationship with a local car restorer in Perugia, who finds and rebuilds old Fiat 500s for him.

The left-hand-drive car we’re selling here is a genuine, nut ‘n’ bolt restoration and it has barely been used since it was completed earlier in the year.

It’s now sitting here with us at Patina HQ, freshly MOT’d, road-registered and distracting us from work as we imagine ourselves tearing through London in it leaving behind a haze of exhaust fumes, a twin-cylinder buzz ringing in the ears, and an impenetrable fug of cool. (The latter of which would be a first for many of us…)

The four-month restoration comprised a bare metal respray in the original colour of Positano Yellow, which looks absolutely stunning. The work has clearly been done to a good standard with tight, even panel gaps and a wonderfully even and glossy finish to the paint. (I don’t think anyone will be offended if we say it’s probably been done to a far higher standard than was ever achieved in the Fiat factory itself.)

Nor has the owner skimped on the details, forking out for new chrome trim and badging along with vintage-style chromed wing mirror on the A-pillar.

The underside has been stonechipped and partly painted and should give many more years of service.

The new sliding fabric sunroof, which gives you almost all of the advantages of driving a convertible car with almost none of the disadvantages, is another lovely feature; you can just imagine tootling along the promenade of your favourite seaside town with it furled to enjoy the sun, can’t you?

The interior looks to be a combination of new and fully refurbished components; while the seller confirms that the upholstery, carpets and model-specific pleated door trims are all brand new, you’d be hard-pressed to tell whether the rest is similarly new or just beautifully restored.

The same goes for the boot and engine bay. Both are finished to a far higher standard than they ever would have been when the car was first built and bear testimony to the skill and patience of the garage that undertook the work.

The engine and gearbox were stripped down, inspected and rebuilt with new parts as needed. As a result, they’re both running like clockwork and ready to face another 45 years with equanimity.

The car also benefits from a new clutch, fully rebuilt brakes, four new tyres, and new wiring throughout.

As with many imported vehicles, the paper trail is sketchy, including for the restoration itself unfortunately. However, as you can see, there are over 80 photos in the Gallery section including plenty documenting the restoration and several of the underside as well. The little gem is UK-registered and MOT’d until July 2018.

If you’ve ever dreamed about buying a brand-new Fiat 500, this is your chance. While many ‘restorations’ amount to little more than a quick blowover with a couple of rattle cans of spray paint, this is the real deal. It’s had more time and money spent on it than is probably sensible but the result is utterly gorgeous and wonderfully period. We’re tempted, but we would fit seatbelts first.

With a guide price of under £8000 we think this is a much more interesting alternative to a used modern 500. No, you won’t get the same long distance proficiency as you would with the modern version but what you lose in refinement you will more than make up for in style points – plus it’ll be a far better investment…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at Patina HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.