Fiat 500 'Abarth'. An unreparable restoration object

When Henrique Linde bought this 500 Fiat 1974, it turned out to be 'terribly rotten'. Nevertheless, he decided to start the restoration of the little Italian. There was 'nothing more to screw up' - including his words - and so he made it his own Abarth version.

He bought the Fiat 500 for little money. When he returned home, it turned out that the car was not worth much more. “Even behind the air vent it was completely rotten. Never knew that a Fiat can rust away there too. ” He decided to make it a Fiat 500 Abarth version. But then his own taste. 

Complete restoration

Everything broke up. The Fiat 500's engine went out ... the interior out. Fortunately, he has his connections. So he managed to stock a lot of sheet metal for little money. He was ready for 250 euros. “I immediately started welding here. Tires on the ground and then the car on its side. I immediately welded a cross in the doorways, otherwise the car will break, ”he looks back. 

The plate behind the air vent was a big shock after the purchase. He copied it. “First put the jigsaw in and then the woodworking router through it. Using the old rusted plate as an example. ” The front suspension was also completely rotten. This 500 has standard leaf springs, but has been replaced here by an independent suspension. The rear springs are lowered. This is how the Fiat 500 sticks to the road. 

Open roof

The extended wheel arches give the Fiat 500 an Abarth look. It is the old inner screens that are welded on the outside in mirror image. A sporty sports car like the real Abarth and an open roof. That actually does not go together. However, Henrique did not close the roof. This Fiat 500 is truly an Abarth in its own style. There is also a checkerboard motif on the small roof. "This is really the race version," he jokes. 

Technique

The original 500 block is no longer there. It is now a 650 cc block, from the Fiat 126. With a cylinder head and carburettor from the Fiat Panda. There is a new synchronized gearbox in this Fiat. The thru axles have therefore been replaced. “Now I reach 120 kilometers per hour, but of course you should not want that. It has about 30 HP, ”he says. The top speed of a 'real' Abarth is around 144 kilometers per hour. 

This summer will be the second season in which the Fiat 500 will drive on the roads grunting again. He travels about 5000 kilometers every year. Comments? Some hate it, some like it. But of course, everything is more beautiful than a few spare parts on the shelf and a container full of scrap iron.