Welcome back, 500 F!

What happens when the Officine Classiche specialists get their hands on an old Fiat 500 F? It's a bit like going back in time: the car regains its original splendour thanks to the restoration know-how of the FCA Heritage team.

For cars, the passage of time is both a blessing and a curse. It can increase a vehicle’s iconic status and value (and not just its monetary value), or just as easily ruin and compromise its condition, sometimes irreparably. Time and care are key factors for preservation.

The Fiat 500 F in this case was entrusted to the Officine Classiche for restoration and was showing signs of age. Reversing these signs formed the first stage in a long and meticulous process aimed at returning the car to the original condition, a challenge that only a team of genuine experts could take on. After all, who understands a car better than the people who made it?

On first inspection, the state of the 500 F did not appear to be a cause for concern: the exterior was in a decent condition, with slight dents on the bodywork and imperfections on the paintwork. 

The fabric roof was in worse shape, however: it looked threadbare and there were obvious signs of tearing.

The car's underbody was corroded by rust, presumably overlooked during past restoration attempts. Some severely degraded parts were on the verge of crumbling, such was their state of deterioration. 

The interior required attention right from the diagnosis stage: the front seats were defaced with cuts and cracks, while mould and odours due to weather and water infiltration made the leather upholstery unusable.

The team realised from the outset that the bulk of the work would need to be carried out on the engine and mechanicals. The car delivered to them was not in working order, so all the oil and liquid levels had to be checked, followed by the battery startup system and the main mechanical parts. The braking system was inoperative, necessitating a complete overhaul of the brakes, hoses, discs and shoes, as well as of the suspension system, exhaust and electrical system. 

However, it was only during the disassembly stage that the team could get a detailed picture of the repairs and replacements needed.

The preliminary analysis yielded a precise prognosis: a complete restoration job involving the bodywork, interior and all the mechanicals was required. And the most anticipated and delicate operation? Working on the engine. This would be the real test of the Heritage team’s expertise.

First, the 500 F was disassembled, including its main components, mechanicals and bodywork. First to be removed was the suspension assembly, affording unimpeded access to the engine compartment and facilitating its removal and dismantling. 

The engine was in poor condition, at least on the surface, with obvious traces of ageing. Even the compartment itself was dirty and encrusted with grime, necessitating its removal before the paint job commenced.

With no choice but to undertake a full overhaul of the engine, the team decided to also replace the whole clutch assembly and parts of the gearbox unit and suspension.

These interventions were essential to prepare for the most intensive and delicate stage: restoring the engine itself.

To ensure its proper operation, the plan was to start by replacing the valves and springs, which were damaged and risked jeopardising the combustion process.

Upon further analysis, it was deemed necessary to carefully grind the valve seats and also resurface the cylinder head, before replacing the gaskets.

Nothing was overlooked: the timing was completely overhauled, the timing chain replaced and the clutch unit was also completely changed, including the clutch disc, pressure plate and bearings. 

The next task was to check the piston rings on the cylinders to ascertain their efficiency and functionality.

Among the components to be replaced were the engine oil rods, fuel system, carburettor, fuel pump and finally also the carburettor spacer. 

New pipes and sleeves, spark plugs and contact breakers were also reconnected.

The suspension assembly was equipped with four new shock absorbers and corresponding rubber bushes, complete with supports and bearings.

Finally, the braking system required modification and the installation of a new brake pump, shoes and pistons.

To round off this extensive and painstaking project, the team repainted and cleaned the engine crankcase.

These finishing touches capped a magnificent restoration effort that brought the authentic soul of the Fiat 500 F back to life. 

After years of inactivity, the distinctive sound of the two-cylinder engine could once again be heard reverberating through the Officine Classiche workshops.