Like the Volkswagen Beetle and Austin Mini, the Fiat 500 was a European individuals’s automobile that was comparatively cheap, giving consumers a easy car for getting round. Former Evo journal editor-in-chief Harry Metcalfe purchased a traditional instance at public sale and introduced it to a mannequin specialist in London to revive and improve the car. Little did he know, there have been already loads of upgrades put in.
According to the public sale itemizing, this automobile belonged to the overall of police in Palermo, Italy. He allegedly had a workers of 30 individuals servicing round 250 autos. The sale claimed the automobile was inventory. But the engine tells a unique story.
Firstly, this isn’t an entirely authentic Fiat 500 energy plant. The block is correct, however the boring brings the displacement as much as 594 cubic centimeters. There’s additionally a warmer camshaft and modifications to the carburetor.
Even with all the current upgrades, Metcalfe plans to do extra modifications to the mill. An Abarth-branded, higher-capacity oil pan will assist with cooling. There may even be a higher-performance camshaft and machined cylinder head. He’ll improve the headlights to be brighter, too.
The builder tries to tempt Metcalfe with extra modifications. It’s much more work, however he might match elements like larger pistons, aluminum cylinders, and an oil cooler. However, Metcalfe’s spouse would not need the automobile to sound too aggressive, so he cannot set up an exhaust with loud, trumpet-like shops.
The Fiat 500 (also referred to as the Cinquecento) went on sale in 1957 with a rear-mounted 479-cubic-centimeter two-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels. Later, there was a 499-cc variant. Famously, Abarth modified 500s for racing with even bigger, extra highly effective engines. Massive aftermarket help meant that homeowners might have something from a inventory car to a totally constructed race automobile.
We look ahead to seeing what the technicians can do to make Metcalfe’s 500 extra thrilling whereas protecting it showing pretty inventory.