1972 Fiat 500 Impala - Tubby
Discussion
Where to start?
Well about two weeks ago, my Dad decided that it was time for his beloved Fiat 500 Impala to find a new home. As the resident petrolhead (and eBay expert) in the family, I was asked to do the honours and list it for sale. Unfortunately after 48 hours online and numerous enquiries from all over the world (yup I'm not even making it up) he had a change of heart and has instead decided to keep it, get it back on the road, and add it to my inheritance (so now I'm set to receive a laptop from 1995, his collection of dried up paints tins, and an odd ball car designed by somebody who clearly knew very little about aesthetics).
As punishment for wasting my time I've made him promise to help me get it back on the road by the summer and so I thought I would setup a thread to document our progress and if anybody has any advice/sarcastic comments we'll be more than happy to hear it.
So what the hell is a Fiat 500 Impala I hear you ask?
This vehicle is a cross between a Mini Moke, a Noddy car and a flying bath tub on wheels! It was designed by a boat manufacturer Alan Foulkes and ours was bought and built in 1982 using a 1972 Fiat 500 base vehicle (my mum's). Only a limited number were ever produced and by all accounts they are now pretty rare. We call ours 'Tubby' because it looks a bit like a bathtub on wheels and is very cute in an ugly duckling sort of way.
This being Pistonheads, you probably want to know how it drives. Well, being based around a fibreglass monocoque (just like a Lotus) you may expect it to go fast and handle well... it does neither of these things but does have the ability to make 50mph feel like 150. 0-60 is not possible (I first drove it when I was about 18 so rest assured that I have tried) and with no syncromesh on the gears, you have to be pretty adept at heel and toe just to drive to the shops.
What is does do very well is grab attention. Not in the way that a Ferrari, a hairy chest, and a medallion do but more in the point, smile, and laugh way that somebody with their trousers on backwards does. That said, it is immense fun to drive around in and you can always be guaranteed to have a good conversation whenever you park it up.
It was last on the road in 2009 and so we may have our work cut out for us in getting it roadworthy but for now, here are a few photos to get us started.
Well about two weeks ago, my Dad decided that it was time for his beloved Fiat 500 Impala to find a new home. As the resident petrolhead (and eBay expert) in the family, I was asked to do the honours and list it for sale. Unfortunately after 48 hours online and numerous enquiries from all over the world (yup I'm not even making it up) he had a change of heart and has instead decided to keep it, get it back on the road, and add it to my inheritance (so now I'm set to receive a laptop from 1995, his collection of dried up paints tins, and an odd ball car designed by somebody who clearly knew very little about aesthetics).
As punishment for wasting my time I've made him promise to help me get it back on the road by the summer and so I thought I would setup a thread to document our progress and if anybody has any advice/sarcastic comments we'll be more than happy to hear it.
So what the hell is a Fiat 500 Impala I hear you ask?
This vehicle is a cross between a Mini Moke, a Noddy car and a flying bath tub on wheels! It was designed by a boat manufacturer Alan Foulkes and ours was bought and built in 1982 using a 1972 Fiat 500 base vehicle (my mum's). Only a limited number were ever produced and by all accounts they are now pretty rare. We call ours 'Tubby' because it looks a bit like a bathtub on wheels and is very cute in an ugly duckling sort of way.
This being Pistonheads, you probably want to know how it drives. Well, being based around a fibreglass monocoque (just like a Lotus) you may expect it to go fast and handle well... it does neither of these things but does have the ability to make 50mph feel like 150. 0-60 is not possible (I first drove it when I was about 18 so rest assured that I have tried) and with no syncromesh on the gears, you have to be pretty adept at heel and toe just to drive to the shops.
What is does do very well is grab attention. Not in the way that a Ferrari, a hairy chest, and a medallion do but more in the point, smile, and laugh way that somebody with their trousers on backwards does. That said, it is immense fun to drive around in and you can always be guaranteed to have a good conversation whenever you park it up.
It was last on the road in 2009 and so we may have our work cut out for us in getting it roadworthy but for now, here are a few photos to get us started.
Edited by LennyM1984 on Monday 4th March 20:10
Having had two original 500s, rust is the main enemy but guessing its fairly solid or fibreglass ?
They are pretty simple as you would expect.
Oil change, whip the front crank pulley off it has a centrifugal filter, new plugs, oil, points, air filter, prob needs a carb rebuild so worth whipping it off and getting busy with a toothbrush and a rebuild kit, check the fuel system isnt full of crap first.
Change the brake fluid, will poss need wheel cylinders as they tend to leak and you get uneven braking.
Tyres prob need replacing if not run for ten years and they werent new anyway.
They have grease nipples so that will be due, valve clearances as well, that is and art as done wrong they conk out as they get hot.
What an ace little thing, sort of looks like something someone in a lilac jump suit would drive round a Bond Villains lair just before everything gets a bit mental and stuff starts exploding.
They are pretty simple as you would expect.
Oil change, whip the front crank pulley off it has a centrifugal filter, new plugs, oil, points, air filter, prob needs a carb rebuild so worth whipping it off and getting busy with a toothbrush and a rebuild kit, check the fuel system isnt full of crap first.
Change the brake fluid, will poss need wheel cylinders as they tend to leak and you get uneven braking.
Tyres prob need replacing if not run for ten years and they werent new anyway.
They have grease nipples so that will be due, valve clearances as well, that is and art as done wrong they conk out as they get hot.
What an ace little thing, sort of looks like something someone in a lilac jump suit would drive round a Bond Villains lair just before everything gets a bit mental and stuff starts exploding.
I have a lot of love and time for this, what a great little oddity!
Its a perfect summer "milk, bread and newspaper" morning runabout!
Could you squeeze something a little more fruity in there? Would a fiat 126 drive train fit?
If it was me (and you're not, so feel free to ignore everything I say from here on in) I think you could really smarten it up and make it look cool retro.
I would do the following mods:
1- minilites, it'll look so much cooler on minilites
2- get rid of those 2 rubber bonnet catches and replace with 2 leather straps/buckles
3- in the floor of the footwell and the rear deck put checkerplate.
4- in the recesses in the sides, put checkerplate
5- get rid of the "roll bar thing", it ain't gonna do anything
6- get rid of that windscreen and surround and replace with a plexi glass double bubble aero screen type thing
7- put a low rail (maybe 250mm high in inch and a half stainless) all the way round the rear deck area, like a bulwark rail of a boat, will make it look really cool
Its a perfect summer "milk, bread and newspaper" morning runabout!
Could you squeeze something a little more fruity in there? Would a fiat 126 drive train fit?
If it was me (and you're not, so feel free to ignore everything I say from here on in) I think you could really smarten it up and make it look cool retro.
I would do the following mods:
1- minilites, it'll look so much cooler on minilites
2- get rid of those 2 rubber bonnet catches and replace with 2 leather straps/buckles
3- in the floor of the footwell and the rear deck put checkerplate.
4- in the recesses in the sides, put checkerplate
5- get rid of the "roll bar thing", it ain't gonna do anything
6- get rid of that windscreen and surround and replace with a plexi glass double bubble aero screen type thing
7- put a low rail (maybe 250mm high in inch and a half stainless) all the way round the rear deck area, like a bulwark rail of a boat, will make it look really cool
Edited by Ambleton on Tuesday 5th March 23:01
These are all great suggestions! I think we will be sticking with the original engine (it's the soul of the car) but a good polish, a new set of wheels (I have found some nice 126 Abarth wheels), and a cosmetic makeover should all be possible.
I was angling to paint the roll bar black (to match a set of black wheels) but it would be just as easy to remove it and see how it looks.
Keep 'em coming
I was angling to paint the roll bar black (to match a set of black wheels) but it would be just as easy to remove it and see how it looks.
Keep 'em coming
Ambleton said:
I have a lot of love and time for this, what a great little oddity!
Its a perfect summer "milk, bread and newspaper" morning runabout!
Could you squeeze something a little more fruity in there? Would a fiat 126 drive train fit?
If it was me (and you're not, so feel free to ignore everything I say from here on in) I think you could really smarten it up and make it look cool retro.
I would do the following mods:
1- minilites, it'll look so much cooler on minilites
2- get rid of those 2 rubber bonnet catches and replace with 2 leather straps/buckles
3- in the floor of the footwell and the rear deck put checkerplate.
4- in the recesses in the sides, put checkerplate
5- get rid of the "roll bar thing", it ain't gonna do anything
6- get rid of that windscreen and surround and replace with a plexi glass double bubble aero screen type thing
7- put a low rail (maybe 250mm high in inch and a half stainless) all the way round the rear deck area, like a bulwark rail of a boat, will make it look really cool
Checkerplate is so utterly tacky - it's in the realms of Defender mods and home-made pickup conversions.Its a perfect summer "milk, bread and newspaper" morning runabout!
Could you squeeze something a little more fruity in there? Would a fiat 126 drive train fit?
If it was me (and you're not, so feel free to ignore everything I say from here on in) I think you could really smarten it up and make it look cool retro.
I would do the following mods:
1- minilites, it'll look so much cooler on minilites
2- get rid of those 2 rubber bonnet catches and replace with 2 leather straps/buckles
3- in the floor of the footwell and the rear deck put checkerplate.
4- in the recesses in the sides, put checkerplate
5- get rid of the "roll bar thing", it ain't gonna do anything
6- get rid of that windscreen and surround and replace with a plexi glass double bubble aero screen type thing
7- put a low rail (maybe 250mm high in inch and a half stainless) all the way round the rear deck area, like a bulwark rail of a boat, will make it look really cool
Edited by Ambleton on Tuesday 5th March 23:01
Yes the belts attach to the hoop but because of the age I believe that they are not essential (you would have no chance in a crash regardless of whether or not you were wearing belts).
It does actually have wet weather gear with it's own frame but the years have not been kind and it now looks very tatty
It does actually have wet weather gear with it's own frame but the years have not been kind and it now looks very tatty
shakotan said:
Checkerplate is so utterly tacky - it's in the realms of Defender mods and home-made pickup conversions.
Dude, have you seen it, its not exactly the last word in understated, suave refinement in the same way that a DB11 volante is...I think it depends how its done, It can look decent so long as you dont go mad.
Ambleton said:
I have a lot of love and time for this, what a great little oddity!
Its a perfect summer "milk, bread and newspaper" morning runabout!
Could you squeeze something a little more fruity in there? Would a fiat 126 drive train fit?
If it was me (and you're not, so feel free to ignore everything I say from here on in) I think you could really smarten it up and make it look cool retro.
I would do the following mods:
1- minilites, it'll look so much cooler on minilites
2- get rid of those 2 rubber bonnet catches and replace with 2 leather straps/buckles
3- in the floor of the footwell and the rear deck put checkerplate.
4- in the recesses in the sides, put checkerplate
5- get rid of the "roll bar thing", it ain't gonna do anything
6- get rid of that windscreen and surround and replace with a plexi glass double bubble aero screen type thing
7- put a low rail (maybe 250mm high in inch and a half stainless) all the way round the rear deck area, like a bulwark rail of a boat, will make it look really cool
Don't think it supposed to be a roll bar. I think it's A. for holding the dubious looking seat belt mounts and B maybe for holding up some sort of canopy, like a MokeIts a perfect summer "milk, bread and newspaper" morning runabout!
Could you squeeze something a little more fruity in there? Would a fiat 126 drive train fit?
If it was me (and you're not, so feel free to ignore everything I say from here on in) I think you could really smarten it up and make it look cool retro.
I would do the following mods:
1- minilites, it'll look so much cooler on minilites
2- get rid of those 2 rubber bonnet catches and replace with 2 leather straps/buckles
3- in the floor of the footwell and the rear deck put checkerplate.
4- in the recesses in the sides, put checkerplate
5- get rid of the "roll bar thing", it ain't gonna do anything
6- get rid of that windscreen and surround and replace with a plexi glass double bubble aero screen type thing
7- put a low rail (maybe 250mm high in inch and a half stainless) all the way round the rear deck area, like a bulwark rail of a boat, will make it look really cool
Edited by Ambleton on Tuesday 5th March 23:01
LennyM1984 said:
Yes the belts attach to the hoop but because of the age I believe that they are not essential (you would have no chance in a crash regardless of whether or not you were wearing belts).
ty
Seatbelts are required for that age of car, so if the hoop is removed you will have fit something that passes as seatbelts closely enough to pass an MoT.ty
There's a bit about the other 8 here. You can see how the roof works/looks but as you say I can't imagine that the rollbar would do much good in the event of a topple...
http://www.fiat500.ch/de/500/derivate-a-l/impala-f...
Needless to say, I'll probably leave this one at home when I do my next trackday
http://www.fiat500.ch/de/500/derivate-a-l/impala-f...
Needless to say, I'll probably leave this one at home when I do my next trackday
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