1972 Fiat 500 L |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1972 Fiat 500 L

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Mileage1,285KM on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine0.7L
LocationGuildford

AUCTION CLOSED

1972 Fiat 500 L

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

The Fiat 500 is a stylish, timeless icon with the benefits of enjoyable and fun motoring.

Introduced in 1957, the Fiat 500 was considered one of the first purpose-designed city cars. Engineered and designed to be inexpensive and practical, it struck a chord with millions in Italy, where it became many peoples' first taste of motoring. Fiat continued to evolve and upgrade the car over its 18-year lifespan, with increased power and improved equipment with each successive iteration. The 500 L was rolled out in 1968, the L standing for Lusso (Luxury) which signifies a plusher interior than the previous models.

This example was first registered in France in 1972 and appears to have spent much of its years in the South of the country, it even comes with its original French plate. It has seen several notable upgrades, most notably the installation of a more powerful 652cc engine and synchromesh gearbox from the later Fiat 126. There are also some subtle visual differences too, which include the early-style blade bumpers, Abarth steel wheels and the cabin has been furnished with an Abarth instrument binnacle, steering wheel and gear knob.

Imported into the UK in 2021, the car has been well maintained over the years and comes with 25 years worth of invoices - it is road tax and MOT exempt, has two keys and has been with the current owners for 22 years.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Eric the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

We brought the car back with us to the UK to remind us of the sunshine!

Bought from a Fiat/Abarth 500 collector, the car belongs to Eric's partner, Susan.

The car has spent much of its life in dry climates and was used mainly for local trips.

The couple relocated back to the UK in 2021 and decided to bring the car back here, undergoing all of the necessary paperwork to ensure it is fully registered for UK roads.

The car has seen very little use in recent years and combined with Susan's mobility issues has forced the sale of the car.

Eric

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

One of the most recognisable shapes every created - raising smiles wherever it goes.

Wheels and Tyres

The car is fitted with 12” Abarth steel wheels, they show some signs of age but display well.

The rear tyres are recent items, with one replaced in the last few weeks.

The front tyres are older than 10 years old but appear to be in good visual condition.

Bodywork

The bodyshell looks solid enough with of course some bodywork tasks required by the next owner - the bonnet, outer sills, and nearside panels bear the most obvious corrosion spots. The front valance and the lowest section of the rear panel also show blemishes.

There are a handful of smaller prescribed bubbles on the doors and lower arches.

The passenger doors open and close with ease.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The paint has a decent lustre and a consistent colour match with mild age-related hazing.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen is in good shape, and the car has seen new glass rubbers and passenger door seals in recent years. Both of the front passenger side windows have age-related marks. The headlights are good, with the rear plastic lenses displaying some evidence of sun fade.

The chrome trim appears to be complete with just some light signs of age in places.

The front bumper has a minor dent and the front passenger door trim shows light signs of age, but otherwise, the chrome finish has lasted well.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Smartly presented and in very good shape, the interior also benefits from Abarth fittings.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are in excellent condition and offer decent support.

The car is fitted with a quality black carpet, which shows no signs of dampness or age.

There are also a pair of Abarth branded front footwell mats supplied.

Dashboard

The dashboard is cleanly presented, with no significant marks on the metal panel, plastic underside or storage bin. An upgraded binnacle has been fitted but the owner has pointed out that the fuel gauge and rev counter are not currently operational. All of the other controls are said to function.

The interior trim is neatly presented, with a slight loose fit noted on the passenger side door card.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear knob are both Abarth sourced items, which appear to be genuine and are in presentable condtion.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Engine and Gearbox

The Fiat 126-derived 650cc engine cranks up straight away, with no signs of exhaust smoke or uneven running. The engine settled down to an even beat and once warmed up ran smoothly. There were no signs of oil patches on the ground.

Some engine components shows typical age-related surface corrosion, but the ancilleries and pipework appear to be in good order. The battery proved to be very strong.

The gearbox was demonstrated to be fit for purpose, with no reported problems with the clutch.

Suspension and Brakes

The car rides well at low speeds, with no unwanted noises heard from the wheels.

The suspension, steering and braking components show a sheen of surface corrosion.

The brakes work as they should and Eric did not report any issues with their performance - they were free of grinding or squeals.

The Drive

The car certainly benefits from the bigger engine, which helps propel the car at a slightly brisker pace; Eric rarely pushed the car beyond 50 mph but it should be able to cruise at dual carriageway speeds without too much trouble. The Fiat is in its natural element around town, it's diminutive and nimble character creates plenty of goodwill from other road users and the public.

The car has been reliable with no significant problems reported by the owners. There were no issues in terms of the oil pressure or engine temperature on the day. The car makes eager progress at urban speeds, as the engine works hard to keep us abreast of the traffic.

The air-cooled 2-cylinder engine felt unburstable while in motion and we didn't hear any unwanted noises.

Electrics and Other

The fabric roof is in excellent shape.

There are a few cosmetic additions to the car, including a front Abarth badge (currently covered with a Fiat decal) and early style blade bumpers.

There is also a box of a spare parts, including glass panels and seals, trim, lenses, service items and a pair of abarth front mats.

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History and Paperwork

The car has seen plenty of mechanical attention over the years, with invoices that go back to 1999.

First registered in France in October 1972, the car was bought by the current owners in 2002 as a local runabout while they lived in the South of France and Spain - it was imported by them into the UK in 2021.

The car retains much of its French registration documentation, as well as a heritage certificate from Fiat. There are historical French invoices for maintenance including a new soft top, exhaust and in the hands of the previous owner saw a partial engine rebuild, an alternator, steering, brake parts, suspension as well as trim and seals, bushes and wheel bearings tallying up to 9,000 Francs - roughly £1,000.

The most recent work carried out on the car includes recent tyres and there's an invoice for service parts from 2023. Due to the car's MOT exemption, it doesn't need a ticket, but Eric told us that it has been checked over by a Fiat 500 specialist. It comes with two keys, a current V5 and a workshop manual, along with various copies of handbooks, parts catalogues and club magazines.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned an HPI check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Eric will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.