Fiat 500 F

[Brizio]

This summer I saw a photo of a Fiat 500, in Italy in the 60's. Since I had a Gunze Sangyo kit, the reissue from 2002, altough nothing changed frm the first issue (1985).  Anyway, I'm planning to build it.

As you can see it was sold as Fiat 500 D, but why in the title of this post I call it "Fiat 500 F"??? Because it is a "F" not a "D"... The Fiat 500 D came out from 1960 to 1965. The 500 F came out from 1965 to 1972. So is the late version between the two.

A lot of things are different between the "D" and "F". But here a few that are very noticeable. The F does not have the aluminum  trims, the doors have inside hinges and not sucide doors, rear tail lights have a more square shape, windshield is bigger and the dashboard with a padded trim.

The kit over all, keeping in mind that came out in 1985, is pretty good and almost not flashing around the casting. I'm not a big fan of the seats that are casted in rubber like the tires and rag top. Another thing that I notice, is the hood on the rear, where the motor is. It is pre cut in some area, making me wonder if they were thinking to add a motor to the kit and after decided not to. 

[Bugatti Fan]

Interesting project Brizio.

Reminds me of the little car I used to own back in the 70's.   

I will have to look out the Tamiya one that has been released again and model my old car. Should not be too difficult to change it to RHD.  Or maybe go big with the 1/12th scale Italeri kit that I think has the option of building it in either Right or Left hand drive.

[Brizio]

3 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Interesting project Brizio.

Reminds me of the little car I used to own back in the 70's.   

I will have to look out the Tamiya one that has been released again and model my old car. Should not be too difficult to change it to RHD.  Or maybe go big with the 1/12th scale Italeri kit that I think has the option of building it in either Right or Left hand drive.

Did you had a 500? I never owned one, one drove one once , was a "L". Never liket the 500 a lot, prefer the 600.

The Tamiya looks ga kood kit, it has a motor and better tires/wheels. Also more details. Maybe they offer RHD - LHD dash? 

[beeRS]

Looking forward to seeing this come together. Great to see something a bit different being built.
Some of the Gunze (Mr Hobby) kits were made as semi-curbside, as well as full detail kits with many common parts. It’s like that on their E-Type and Lotus Elan kits. 

[Bugatti Fan]

Brizio.  My little 500 was a fun car to drive back in the day. Extremely basic as you know and very cheap to run.

Eventually sold it on as it was becoming a rust bucket which was a shame. Unfortunately Fiats back then used to rot like a vampire doused in holy water ! Had I hung on to it and got it restored it would now be quite a valuable little cult classic. I ran the car for about 3 years in all.

[Brizio]

4 hours ago, beeRS said:

Looking forward to seeing this come together. Great to see something a bit different being built.
Some of the Gunze (Mr Hobby) kits were made as semi-curbside, as well as full detail kits with many common parts. It’s like that on their E-Type and Lotus Elan kits. 

Thanks Sonny! I wonder if in some kits they were planning to offer it as a full kit. I mean they put so much details in some parts and lack on others. Maybe they were trying to keep a certain price. I'm probably going to add few things on mine.  

3 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Brizio.  My little 500 was a fun car to drive back in the day. Extremely basic as you know and very cheap to run.

Eventually sold it on as it was becoming a rust bucket which was a shame. Unfortunately Fiats back then used to rot like a vampire doused in holy water ! Had I hung on to it and got it restored it would now be quite a valuable little cult classic. I ran the car for about 3 years in all.

Rust was a big problem for the pre 80's Fiat. The 'L" i drove was scrapped shortly, like in two weeks... The floor was rusted pretty bad, there were few holes on the floor, one that you can see the ground pretty clearly. I remember driving down the road, taking a turn and one of the braket that hold the seat  to the floor broke. The rust under was pretty bad, also because were I grew up, in the winter they put salt on the roads. Other than that a fun car to drive, that make you feel you are going 100Mph, when you are at 40mph...

[Brizio]

Made a metal roof rack for the Fiat 500. I always wanted to do it, and finally did it. I remember seen different 500's with a roof rack, with all sort of items on it, but mostly of the time they were empty. 

Here a raw version of the roof rack. I will add details for the clamp later.

 

[Zippi]

I'm liking the roof rack Brizio.  It gives a little character to the little guy.  

[Brizio]

4 hours ago, Zippi said:

I'm liking the roof rack Brizio.  It gives a little character to the little guy.  

Thank you Bob!

[Brizio]

Some update on the Fiat 500! Made some metal hinges for teh front and rear hood. On the left is the one for the front, and right the two for the rear. The one for the rear I will cut and bend them in a "L" shape.

 

Front and rear hood cut from the body. Because the kit does not have engine for the rear, and gas tank and trunk bay for the front of the car, I will have to make some pieces...

 

 

[Brizio]

Made the hinges and the locking mechanism to keep the hood open in an angle. 

 

Hinges installed on the body.