Fiat 500D ‘Trasformabile’ Classic / 1963 / LHD Italian – Restored & Exceptional!

Description

Fiat 500D ‘Trasformabile’ Classic / 1963 / LHD Italian – Restored & Exceptional Condition! $23,600

This highly desirable ‘D’ model (the most sort after & collectable model in the classic Nuova 500 range) has the very rare ‘suicide doors’, a full length convertible sunshine roof - ‘trasformabile’& ‘round speedo’ - In fact it has it all!

It’s an original LHD Italian example first registered in Terni, which is a city in the Southern portion of the Region of Umbria, central Italy. (104KM northeast of Roma).

This truly exceptional vehicle has only had a small number of owners (4) from new & was manufactured in 1963 at the Fiat factory. It moved down from Terni to Roma, where it was purchased by the current owner Marisa over10 years ago. It was fully restored byher around 8 years ago for her daughter. But as she preferred a modern Fiat 500, the car sat in the owners catering warehouse that serves many of the hotels & restaurants in Roma. The car sat tucked away in a corner, warm & dry, under a sheet for 7/8 years until we got a tip of from a courier of its location & made contact with the owner. After a long & protracted negotiation we were able to eventually purchase this fantastic example, no doubt paying too much!

We are told over 8,000+ Euros had been spent on the restoration at her local Italian sports car specialist. That does not include the price she paid for the car in the first place either! It is a testament to the quality & attention to detail that Marisa craved for her daughter & received what appears a no expense spared restoration.

This is one of the best & most correctly restored 500D’s we have offered & better than my own example. It looks & feels much as new & as the owner was a 500 enthusiast her knowledge & understanding of the correct parts & original detailing is exceptional.

We have just completed this stunning vehicles first UK MOT.

This beautiful example is eminently usable & it drives as good as it looks!

Marisaentrusted it to a local specialist whom embarked on a nut & bolt restoration to near concours standard in late 2010 under her watchful eye. Basically every thing has been reconditioned or replaced correctly as required. So in brief: Complete strip to bare metal shell, the structure & floors were found to be excellent, so only new genuine floor pans were required. The car was partly rewired. The engine was freshly rebuilt & the gear box also. The handbrake cable was changed, clutch replaced, the petrol tank was fully refurbished and flushed. The interior was also fully and expertly retrimmed in the original colours of green / cream along with the complete door card set & all interior trim was renewed, including the sunroof & roof frame, all other items of interior trim were refurbished or replaced. The correct aluminium surrounds were machine polished, all new rubber items were replaced including the door seals, window & side window seals, new bushes, new struts, complete brake system replacement, recon starter motor and a new exhaust & brackets, in fact every mechanical item was either refurbished or replaced.

The bumpers & brackets were replaced, the original steel wheels fully shot blasted & painted to match the body colour, the car was fully painted whilst stripped to bare shell (Inside & out) at this time in the original beautiful shade of Fiat Verde Chiaro (262) that you see today. In fact it looks as good underneath as it does on the top, as the underside was also fully prepared & painted in the body colour.

This truly impressive example is just showing just 66,088 KMs from new but only running in KM’s since the nut & bolt restoration!

Since being in our possession, we have been meticulous in our further preparation prior to offering this exception example to the market by undertaking the following major recommissioning works: Removed & stripped the engine (Prepped & painted the covers whist it was stripped), fitting new push rod tubes & seals, new head gasket, new valve stem seals, new sump seals & decoked the motor, fitted a new clutch, fitted a new exhaust system, brackets & gaskets, fitted a new Webber Carb, choke cable, fitted a new long sunroof in grey mohair, custom made by our associated trimmer, sunroof hood clips & correct strap, fitted the correct D engine decal set, adjusted the steering geometry, a new battery, 4No. shock absorbers & bush kits, new hub caps, new premium coil, heatshield pad, wing mirror, oil cap, return pipe, supplied a fresh MOT and conducted a multipoint check, replaced the fuel with £25 of new super unleaded, set the timing, adjusted & cleaned the brakes after fitting new wheel cylinders & brake shoes front & back. Given the cheeky little chap a full service, including NGK plugs, air filter, fuel filter, rotor arm, cap & oils ect, just to be sure! Fitted white wall spats, 500 Key ring, ACI club sticker, it even has fitted a period luggage rack & period picnic hamper. The car is on the button & ready to go & show or just enjoy…

The vehicle comes with the original Italian log book, current UK MOT, Specialist parts invoices from Ricambio International Ltd, Copious photos showing car in hibernation in Roma & then in our London workshop.

The car looks pretty much ‘as new’ & is no doubt better than when it left the factory in 1963. It’s probably one of the best examples in Europe, if not the best. It has been correctly restored by people who know the marquee. This is a collector’s opportunity and a superb investment and has only driven a hand full of KMS since its full restoration & hence this cheeky chappy can now get UK registered, has a fresh MOT & is being offered for sale for the first time on our shores

Fiat Vede Chiaro (262) (light green) paintwork with a green/ cream interior, including matching door cards & a new grey mohair full length convertible sunshine roof, with matching 500D belt to hold back & associated clips.

Fresh MOT with NO advisories.

Keys on Fiat key ring, correct original 500D jack, brace, spare wheel with tyre.

Fiat steel wheels finished in matching colours, with new hub caps & all shod with matching tyres & new white wall spats.

Period boot rack with new wicker hamper basket for 4 persons.

These models are ever increasing in value & are a great investment. Our Fiats come recommended by a leading authority on Fiats & parts specialists – Ricambio International Ltd. I actually have a light blue 1965 500D that makes up part of my own private collection & everybody loves it! It always puts a smile on my face, plus you don’t need to worry about the rising petrol prices – Just enjoy!

This sensational Fiat 500 is located in my heated garage in Beckenham, Kent, England, 30 mInutes drive from London Gatwick airport or 60 minutes drive from London Heathrow airport.

The vehicle comes with original Italian papers.

Viewing can be arrangedfor anytime if required & further pictures can be sent to seriously interested parties.

Shipping can be arranged at the buyers cost to all parts of the US. The cost starts at around $2,000 USD, but will be dependant on which state you wish delivery to be arrangedfor. Door to door service available & transportation to the UK ports of Bristol or Southampton is $375.

Any questions please messagevia eBay in the first instance.