1923' Fiat 501

I need to downsize my collection of projects, hence this unique and exciting project is now looking for a new custodian.

The car is presently a dismantled collection of parts, but was dry stored for many decades in Australia, so has survived in very sound condition, and is a ripe candidate for restoration.

It came to me in a fully dismantled state and has been stored the same way, but I have now loosely assembled it as seen in the above photographs. The steel body is of the correct vintage, but not from this car, hence this could be jettisoned by the new owner in favour of his or her own body choice.

Not everything is shown in the photos, and I have tried to ensure this is a ‘complete kit’ from my additional reserve of spare parts where those from the original car were missing, there will be some absentees.

Principle parts with the project include a very sound chassis, radiator, axles, springs, beaded edge type wheels (6 in total) plus spare carrier, engine, carburettor, gearbox, gear lever and handbrake assembly, torque tube with drive shaft and diff, half shafts and brake drums etc. The instrument panel cluster with switches, ammeter and oil gauge is present, as are starter and dynamo, plus electrical junction box. The bronze water pump is present with a box full of engine parts. The steering box, column wheel and control rods are present, as is the exhaust, bulkhead and fuel tank, which all appear sound. Happily, the detailing items such are the 4 ‘FIAT’ running board step plates are present, along with bonnet sides, bonnet catches, dashboard choke control lever, other control cables and linkages, grease nipples etc, even some original wiring!

The project includes a UK old ‘buff’ logbook, with period registration number index “NU xxxx”. This will need to be claimed back from the DVLA (it is not currently on their system) in order to obtain a modern V5C. The buff logbook states the body as ‘Touring’, with no data filled in for seating capacity. I haven’t checked the number with the chassis.

More photos can be seen via my eBay listing for the project

Note I also have a nearly finished 1925 FIAT for sale with 2-seater sports / racing body which has had thousands spent on a full mechanical restoration. Please see adjacent advert - this just requires the cosmetics and final finishing jobs. Furthermore, I have a large quantity of FIAT 501 spares available by separate negotiation, including engines, axles, radiator, gearbox, wheels etc.