Fiat 500L

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A masterpiece of minimalist motoring, the Dante Giacosa designed 'Nuova' 500 was launched in 1957 to replace the famous and much loved 500 'Topolino'.

Making our own Mini look positively bloated, its tiny bulbous body nevertheless had room for two adults and two bambini and gave the 500 huge character. Powered by a miniscule twin-cylinder 499cc air-cooled engine with a four-speed crash gearbox, the car was an instant success both at home and abroad.

Fundamentally unaltered throughout its 18-year production life, the 500 was fantastic value for money with all independent suspension, a heater and full length sunroof as standard when many much more expensive cars still listed these as options. A surprisingly spacious estate version was also available called the Giardiniera. Production finally ceased in 1975 to make way for the new and infinitely less characterful Fiat 126.

This two-owner RHD UK supplied 500L project was acquired by the vendor in 1983 through the small ads in the local paper. It had languished on a driveway in Tewkesbury for several years, the original owner’s wife being only too pleased to see the back of it. They had bought it new and had stopped using it because of a minor bump.

The vendor, its second owner, started to bring the car back to life, attending to several areas of rust on the bodyshell and minor panel damage. It was then part painted dark blue, the doors, bonnet and boot having been sourced from a donor car at a later date. The engine was swapped for a sweet running unit, at which point the project was put to one side and stored in a dry garage.

The vendor has now realised that he will never get round to completing the car and describes it as largely complete, including a new hood cover which has yet to be fitted. With most of the hard work done and a very sound bodyshell, this 500L looks a straightforward project which carries its correct and original VIN tag.

At the time of cataloguing the V5 could not readily be located, although the registration number SUY 609L is still associated with the car on the DVLA system so the new owner should have no problems in applying for a replacement V5C in the usual way.