Description
Classic Fiat 500D 1962 , D’Angelo upgrade, Suicide Doors, Transformable, Left Hand Drive, fully restored in Verde Chiaro with total restoration costing £48000.
Built from 1960 to early 1965 the Fiat 500 D variant is the most collectible of the Fiat 500 model. The long roof that folds all the way to the engine bay is a particularly desirable option.
This car is also supplied with its original factory fitted , restored engine( 75miles covered in new condition ( as per photo before upgrade)with gearbox and starter motor . I’ve collected a few Fiat 500D cars over the past many years and as beautiful and nostalgic these D variants are, the standard 499cc can only be utilised for town driving. For motorway driving you need Disc Brakes and an engine that is strong and reliable enough for long distance driving.
I therefore undertook this physically and mentally taxing D’Angelo restoration to create a car that is a practical and useable classic for daily driving for town and motorway/ highway driving.
The restoration features discreet upgrades to improve performance, reliability and safety without affecting the original appearance of the car.
D’Angelo Motori upgrades worth £22, 000 including transportation and labour costs. Receipts available and costs can be cross-referenced on the D’Angelo Motori website .
1. D 'Angelo Motori 650cc , 42 hp engine for continental touring and optimum power without compromising the structural integrity of the car. Please note, this is not a standard 650cc 28cc or 32hp engine and the car has superb acceleration from a standstill and mid range pull is phenomenal. The car has only covered 50 miles . The Lavazza exhaust
was changed to a quieter exhaust , so as to not alter the characteristics of the Fiat 500D model
2. 5 -speed synchromesh gearbox by D’Angelo Motori to accommodate increased power. No need to double clutch, which is required on the original gearbox. Most drivers struggle with the original crash gearbox , so this upgrade is absolutely necessary .
3. 4 piston calliper Disc brake conversion. Both Front and Rear Drum Brakes converted to Disc Brake to provide superb Braking performance and safety when driving.
4. Electronic ignition. No hassle with point gap etc and cold start issues.
5 . Electronic fuel pump
6. Upgraded suspension that improves ride quality and comfort.
7. The design and pattern of the original Vinyl seats were replicated and the finest Italian Nappa leather was fitted to keep appearance as original. The seats come with matching floor mats with ivory piping. The door cards are also
leather.
8. The car features the ‘ Transformable extended softop that folds down to the top of the engine bay. This is a desirable feature by collectors . The original Vinyl soft top material was replaced with a Italian manufactured Mohair softop matching the interior of the car.
9. Picnic hamper carrier with a wicker basket set for 4 people
10. Toolkit with jack
11. Uk registered supplied with Classic Italian Style Plates.
12. 12 inch white wall Tyres
13. Rare Fiat 500 Model Dashboard decal
14. One of the best sounding Bang and Olufsen wireless speaker with Bluetooth that offers 16 hours of non-stop paying time on a single charge. The speaker can be put discreetly under the seat.
If provenance is important, the selling price includes the following
ADDITIONAL, FULLY RESTORED items in excess of£4500 . This can be used to convert the car to its original specification.
1. Original factory supplied, matching number 499cc engine used for 75 miles (like new condition)
2 4 speed non -synchromesh gearbox
3 Starter Motor
4 Fuel pump
5. Drum Brakes
6. Suspension items that were removed to accommodate upgrades.
This car was produced on Feb 28, 1962 and has only had two owners until it
was taken off the road in 1987. I have the original Italian Carta D Circalazioneand a copy of the Italian Libretto( Logbook) . The DVLA retains the original foreign logbook when registering the car
in the UK. I purchased this car from a friend in Italy, who was the third owner .
The car has had a ground up bare metal, nut and bolt restoration since.
The bodyshell was stripped and sandblasted , with new floor panels fitted. New body panels were sourced, where original ones needed to be replaced .
The roof rails were a difficult item to replace , so when the car arrived in the UK it was taken to Classic Car Specialist ‘ Prestige Restorations’ in Chertsey, Surrey who fabricated new metal rails and fitted them.
I have photos of the restoration as well. The car can be viewed in Weybridge, Surrey which is a 20 minute drive from London Heathrow and 35 minutes from London Gatwick. Private Sale. A similar car with the same colour combination, without a 42hp engine was sold in Switzerland for £40, 000in June 2023 by Bonhams. For anyone who has even remote understanding of the D version, this a fantastic opportunity to acquire the best Fiat 500D upgraded variant out there.