1972 FIAT 500

Built in 1972 and first registered in January 1973, this particular 500 L is an original UK-delivered RHD example, which has spent the majority of its life in Scotland of all places, before coming down to the midlands in Leicestershire, where it was purchased by the then-owner with restoration in mind.

For whatever reason, this planned restoration never came to fruition, and as such the car sat for around 12 years in covered storage, before being purchased by our vendors as a ground-up restoration project in August 2021.

An extensive restoration - described by our vendor as a full “nut-and-bolt job” was completed towards the end of 2021, and entirely transformed this wonderful little Italian icon.

For starters, there’s the bodywork. This was entirely stripped down, any corrosion attended to (the front wings, front panel and ‘trunk’ floor are new items, along with some of the rear arch metalwork) and then blasted and sprayed in the factory Coral Red colour. It should be noted that the sills are original as far as our vendor can tell, and the floor itself was solid when the restoration began, so minimal new metalwork has been required.

The chrome details were re-used wherever possible, though the front bumper is a new item. The lights are the OE Carello items, which we’ve been told are exceedingly hard to obtain in NOS condition. The front and rear windscreen seals were also replaced whilst the glass was out for the re-spray, whilst the original sunroof was retained thanks to its excellent condition. Speaking of the glass, it is believed to be all original, as shown by the various inscriptions and logos on the panels around the car.

Underneath, the braking system was entirely restored and adjusted where necessary, with new shoes and a new master cylinder being fitted. Elsewhere, the suspension system was also given a thorough going-over, with any perishable items (such as bushings) being replaced, whilst items such as the shocks, struts and other re-useable parts shot-blasted and restored.

As with many Italian cars of this era, the electrical systems were of concern, so the loom was entirely removed from the vehicle, checked over with excellent results, and re-installed. A new battery was fitted (naturally) and all systems are now working as they should.

In the rear, the diminutive air-cooled engine was stripped back to its bones, and rebuilt to an exacting standard with new liners, rings, bearing shells, pistons and cylinders fitted, along with the bottom end being examined and the carburettors reconditioned, with the engine now running “perfectly” and quite happily chugging away.

Notably, this restoration has been carried out with an attention to detail and originality, down to the correct OE Pirelli tyres being fitted, and the original non-synchromesh four-speed gearbox remaining with the vehicle, rather than a synchromesh conversion (a popular modification) being carried out.

The results are, quite simply, stunning, and it’s clear to see this has been a labour of love for our vendor.

Resplendent in Coral Red (which, in our eyes is certainly Orange, but try telling Fiat that) this 500 L certainly turns plenty of heads, thanks to not only its bright paintwork, but also its fantastic aesthetic condition.

Looking along the flanks of the car, there are no signs of dents, dings or ripples to be seen, and there is no sign of any wear to the paintwork, with the car having barely been used since the restoration work was completed, thereby saving it from the usual stone chips and light marks associated with a vehicle that has been used and enjoyed.

Both front and rear bumpers (along with the decorative over-riders) are new items and present in immaculate condition, whilst the chrome window surrounds and rain gutters are original, with a mixture of light pitting and patina on the window surrounds, and some light indentations on the rain gutters, most visible on the A-pillars on both sides.

As we’ve mentioned, the windscreen and rear screen seals are new items, though the side window and quarter-light seals are original, and therefore show some light wear, but still provide a lovely water-tight seal.

Up above, the folding sunroof is in excellent condition, with the material wearing only a light patina and markings in keeping with its age, and the mechanism is in full working order with no resistance or sticking, and no water ingress issues reported.

Below the tiny arches, the four wheels are in excellent condition with their correct chrome hubcaps, and all four wheels (plus the spare) are wrapped in OE-spec Pirelli Cinturato tyres in as-new condition.

Despite the major work required on the body shell and the preventative maintenance that went in to the engine and running gear, the interior fared extremely well during its lifetime, and as such the seat covers are the original items, something our photographer could scarcely believe thanks to their condition.

Regardless of their age, the seats present beautifully, with only some light usage patina and scuffs visible, most noticeably on the outer corners of the front seats, with minimal wear visible elsewhere.

The carpets are a new Italian-made set that fit the 500L specifically, and as such are in as-new condition. It should be noted that the ‘wear’ visible in the driver’s footwell in some of the photos is just some light shop dust, not actual wear-and-tear.

The control surfaces and high-traffic areas such as the handbrake, gearstick and steering wheel all wear a delightful vintage patina, and the classically-styled instrument panel also presents fantastically, with the dials and warning lights all working as they should.

Our vendor notes that this example is fitted with a Motorola stereo and speakers, and it is believed that this was a dealer-fit option. The radio does power up and work, but does not tune into stations correctly, though it is still a nice addition to the otherwise spartan cabin.

Up above, the roof is in good order, and the lining of the folding panoramic roof presents well with no damage visible.

In the rear, the engine bay was repainted during the restoration process, and as we’ve already mentioned, the engine and its ancillaries were stripped, refurbished and rebuilt, with no issues known to the vendor, and no problems presenting themselves during our photo shoot.

Starting happily and settling into a characteristic air-cooled ‘chug’ this two-cylinder engine behaved immaculately during our short drive, and the gearbox and clutch showed no signs of any issues, with the gears engaging correctly, the reverse gate locking out during forward travel as it should, and no problems noted with the braking system.

The bay, block and ancillaries are wonderfully clean and present fantastically, with no visual issues noted, and no signs of any leaks or misting that we could see.

Underneath, the chassis benefits from extensive works, and looks to be in excellent condition as far as we could see, with no sign of any corrosion issues or heavy wear, consistent with a vehicle that has just been restored and barely used since.

Included with this delightful Italian icon is an impressive wedge of history, with numerous invoices for work carried out prior to the vendor’s ownership, old MoT certificates, the original stamped service book, miscellaneous documentation such as old tax discs, and the V5 showing 8 former keepers.

The vendor has also put together a summary of all the restoration work undertaken in his care, and this can also be found in the history section below.

The recorded mileage is believed correct by the vendor, as he says "it ties in with all the previous MoT certificates that are in the history folder."

Up there with the likes of the VW Beetle and Austin Mini, the Fiat 500 is a true icon of the automotive world, and transformed personal transportation and accessibility for millions of Italians and low-income families around the world, with over 3.8 million built across all varieties and models.

Being an ‘L’ model, this 1973-registered example benefits from numerous additional comforts and amenities over the basic model, and is fresh from an extensive restoration. It really is just about as close as you’re likely to get to a brand-new Fiat 500 L, and is ready for the next owner to simply jump in and enjoy - it’s virtually impossible not to have a smile on your face when behind the wheel!

Presented in outstanding condition throughout, we estimate this lovely 500 L to reach in the region of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with the vendor in Evesham, Worcestershire; 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’.