Videos like this are 100x more interesting than electric SUVs or whatever special Aston Martin have knocked up this week. I know you try to cater to a variety but honestly stuff like this, the Fulvia, and the Jag coupe are just magical
I agree, we have an EV and love what it does but still enjoy the simplicity of old tech. If you can make that old tech better, why not? We have a Mk1 MX5 that does a few hundred miles a year (with a high road tax) but I enjoy that more than my very competent EV.
My thoughts exactly. Zero interest in Harry's reviews of the latest super cars. Content like this however, pulls me in every time. Was surprised that the go-to Fiat guy in the UK had never done this conversion before.
You mean the dull electric cars that would crush that poor 500 in a collision? It's a lovely little car, but at this point it's as dangerous as a motorcycle when you consider the size (and weight) of modern cars driving around you
@@lptomtomYou just have to take your chance . Or, buy a 440bhp Scania tractor unit ! Second hand one 2011 about £10k . Let the overweight ev SUVs try it on with you when you are driving that lol 😂
@@lptomtom More dangerous. You have a bit more chance of avoiding the oncoming monster on a bike. I had a Transit come round a corner and accelerate straight at me this afternoon. My car has serious brakes and the radar stops it faster than I can react. On a bike I could have got past it. In a Fiat 500? Death or serious injury unless there had been a major brake upgrade.
Yes!!!!!!!!!! Of course common sense suggests this the worst of cars but for pure simple driving pleasure, this little car is a delight. I’m biased as it was my first car.
My grandfather had one, the "Estate" version, and it was incredibly slow... But we went all over our part of Denmark, 3 adults, 2 small children, picnic basket in the back... So my first memories of driving is in a Fiat 500, and whenever I see them at car meets, I marvel at how incredibly small and basic they are, and how much joy they still bring... Thanks for reminding me of some fantastic trips.
So did mine. He sold a Rover P5 and caravan to pay for a deposit on a holiday home and a 500 was all he could afford. He'd make the 300 mile round trip to the house every weekend. Eventually the floor fell out.
I'm italian and I just wanted to say thank you Harry for bringing this thing to life! This tiny little machine motorized an entire nation in the '50 and it's a very much like a monument here in Italy!
I must admit that is my favourite car in Harry's garage so I salute Mrs. M in her taste. She also sounds pretty sharp spotting that sump so not born yesterday. Thanks again for sharing Harry and you're right, I am indeed smiling now.
14:45 being from the States, the first time one I saw one I was up in the hills above Atina. This absolute horrific mechanical racket persisted growing ever closer over 20 minutes and. I see this dull brown orange 500 come creeping past up the hill absolutely pinned smoking more than Grandpappy's Polish Lada. With a sheer force of mechanical will to get that old girl up the mountainside was breathtaking. Love at first sight.
Of course it breaks down a lot! It's a standard feature after all on FIAT's. My first car that I had for eight years was a '79 132-2000 and it spended a lot of time in the repair shop but I loved it!
In Germany we say Fiat stands for Fehler in allen Teilen (failures in all parts), für Italiener ausreichende Technik (sufficient technic for Italians) or Fehlinvestition aus Turin (poor invest from Turin). But everybodey wants to have one, they are eyecatchers on every classic car meeting.
After a recent once in a lifetime visit to Rome I have a new appreciation for these little city cars and how built for purpose they are. Such a neat little slice of the auto hobby.
The Smile Per Mile index must be off the scale💥 I recently bought a twin air Panda 4x4 … all mod cons and warm as toast … just brilliant, in a mad way…. And, park it on a sixpence!🤓❤
When I was a teenager in Umbria, we used to hurtle these things around the hills and towns. If you got four teenagers in one, the little car weighted down and hugged the tight and twisty Umbrian roads. All our parents or relatives had a least one 500. I’m not sure many of us had licences - but the little cinquecentos we borrowed from our parents felt like pocket rockets.
Saw a breathed on 500 (probably closer to 695) at the Stuttgart Classic Car Show a few years ago and it had a six speed gearbox. The owner assured me that this made the most of the upped performance especially cruising on the autobahn. Great stuff and Mrs M has a great little car.
I've been waiting for ages for this update and it's good to see you've got it back. To echo other comments, I really enjoyed this video over yet another supercar video. All the best and thank you for your continued output.
Adorable. My first car, in Sweden 1969, was a FIAT 600. The big boy with a four cylinder engine of 21 hp. At one point the clutch pedal linkage broke. I drove it through Stockholm to the service shop gingerly shifting without the clutch, very direct feel of the transmission, shutting off the engine at every traffic light and restarting it in gear. Later I could race around, redlining it, and nobody would notice.
An absolute joy! The idea of bring the in-laws and luggage from Canada (or worse the U.S.)home for a visit is wonderful to imagine. Mine come from the Middle East and we near to need a van!
Brilliant, the first thing we all did as teenagers was to start modding our vehicles, even though we had no clue what we were doing. Happy to see Harry still doing it. Just wish I had his deep pockets in my old age.
Back forth to and in and around Buford is what a Fiat 500 is for! Many happy miles! It’s going a delightful trip to the shops in the summer with the roof open.
Congratulations on the Fiat completion. About time we had a proper car on the channel ( with all due respect of course - don’t like moderns, high performance or not) . The little Fiat certainly moves easy now. Well done. Bye the way , not wishing to take anything from the mantle , but that Lancia Beta was also gorgeous . P.s. Charlie would have made big Geoff Capes , RIP, proud.
My mother loved her 1964 500, and often saw an indicated 60 mph and overtook. The throttle was either off, or on (fully open), and shifts were always at peak revs. Both my parents span the car on occasion (one of the joys of rear-engines).
I was taken as a baby in my cot from London to Rome in a 500. Surely cars like this r our future. Ok it may not do too well in a ncap test but it's a better way to save our planet. Presumably it would work well as an EV. Always enjoy your videos,regards Rob
Chap in my local town (Carnforth) has a business converting 500s into EVs. Not my bag but he must be doing something right as the business is doing well.
"This is quite a steep hill out of Burford." It's the North face of the Eiger when you've had a mini-crawl round the pubs on the main drag and trying to get to the Prince for last orders!
I would recommend a 126 steering rack and disc brake as an upgrade. A gearbox is also the weakest part, 2nd gear and syncros with the 695cc as you have almost doubled the power. Buy a 126/500r as an exchange core at some point.
GranUncle had one in the early 70’s. He and my Grand aunt went everywhere in it and pulled many skins off rice puddings as they went. A real joy to see this car on the road. Well done Harry …. Again
The Cotswolds might be unsuited to Range Rovers, but I can attest that it does not seem to deter people from owning them in this little corner of the AONB, just a few miles from Harry's farm (and even fewer to Clarkson's place). I'd feel more than a bit vulnerable in such a tiny metal box with these behemoths about.
My first car was a 500 in 1985..... absolutely loved it...... I actually cut 2 up with an axe to get rid of the shells..... Next on your hitlist of mods will be disc brakes...(edited to add I made this comment halfway through the video)and a taller final drive..... Looks and sounds great... I'm a little envious.... I actually had 6 late teen adults in mine around Salisbury while I was at college......
I prefer cars videos like this vs the ultra car whatever. This is so much more fun, accessable and relatable. With the crazy laws now, cars ability to go into jail time territory, fun little cars like this are the way to go. Look at all the fun upgrades and kits you can get, More fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow. Maybe a DC2 vs Fiat 500 showdown haha
Great news it's back & buzzing around! Seeing that Lancia in the garage brought back memories of a Lancia Trevi (my 2nd) I had in that exact colour!! Luckily all the rot problems had been sorted & it's 2l twin cam engine really made the car fly! Brilliant pepper pot interior which looked great at night, lovely car much missed!
WOW, the Lancia Beta 2000, it looks like a 1977 (or there about) my first car was exactly that, I got i second hand in 1980 (mine was a manual) - I was half a year short of 20. It was a fantastic car - swift for the time, and comfortable. They are so rare now, I still like them immensely - so cool to see one in such a good shape :) Greetings from Oslo. Your Fiat is ever so cute :)
I've got two barn-find type of cinqucenti sitting in my garage, waiting for me to have time to work on them! This footage incourages me to try and find this time! Thank's a lot!
In the 1980's my parents had a Fiat 500 (in New Zealand they were called Bambinas) as a second car. In my early teens I used to hate it and was embarrassed to be seen in it. However as soon as I got my license and could drive myself, my opinion changed. I have many fond memories of that car.
Great to see it back on the road. My first car was a 500. That was in 1970. And the drivers floor was already rusted through. In Australia without salted roads.
Videos like this are 100x more interesting than electric SUVs or whatever special Aston Martin have knocked up this week. I know you try to cater to a variety but honestly stuff like this, the Fulvia, and the Jag coupe are just magical
I agree, we have an EV and love what it does but still enjoy the simplicity of old tech. If you can make that old tech better, why not? We have a Mk1 MX5 that does a few hundred miles a year (with a high road tax) but I enjoy that more than my very competent EV.
I whole heartedly agree.
Fourthed!
My thoughts exactly. Zero interest in Harry's reviews of the latest super cars. Content like this however, pulls me in every time. Was surprised that the go-to Fiat guy in the UK had never done this conversion before.
What a fab little car, mum had 3 126’s back in the day, this takes me straight back to those simpler times.
What a happy,joyful, engaging, minimalist counterpoint to all the massive electric dull stuff crushing our motoring souls atm
You mean the dull electric cars that would crush that poor 500 in a collision? It's a lovely little car, but at this point it's as dangerous as a motorcycle when you consider the size (and weight) of modern cars driving around you
@@lptomtomYou just have to take your chance . Or, buy a 440bhp Scania tractor unit ! Second hand one 2011 about £10k . Let the overweight ev SUVs try it on with you when you are driving that lol 😂
@@lptomtom More dangerous. You have a bit more chance of avoiding the oncoming monster on a bike.
I had a Transit come round a corner and accelerate straight at me this afternoon. My car has serious brakes and the radar stops it faster than I can react. On a bike I could have got past it. In a Fiat 500? Death or serious injury unless there had been a major brake upgrade.
Yes!!!!!!!!!! Of course common sense suggests this the worst of cars but for pure simple driving pleasure, this little car is a delight. I’m biased as it was my first car.
except for many people into electrical engineering.
My grandfather had one, the "Estate" version, and it was incredibly slow... But we went all over our part of Denmark, 3 adults, 2 small children, picnic basket in the back... So my first memories of driving is in a Fiat 500, and whenever I see them at car meets, I marvel at how incredibly small and basic they are, and how much joy they still bring... Thanks for reminding me of some fantastic trips.
So did mine. He sold a Rover P5 and caravan to pay for a deposit on a holiday home and a 500 was all he could afford. He'd make the 300 mile round trip to the house every weekend. Eventually the floor fell out.
The Multipla!
I'm italian and I just wanted to say thank you Harry for bringing this thing to life! This tiny little machine motorized an entire nation in the '50 and it's a very much like a monument here in Italy!
I spent 3 weeks around Positano and the Amalfi Coast in 2019 and saw these everywhere, I was really jealous I didn't have one to buzz around in.
I must admit that is my favourite car in Harry's garage so I salute Mrs. M in her taste. She also sounds pretty sharp spotting that sump so not born yesterday. Thanks again for sharing Harry and you're right, I am indeed smiling now.
I agree. The Ferraris and lambos etc do absolutely nothing for me.
This and that little red lancia coupe ...just fantastic
14:45 being from the States, the first time one I saw one I was up in the hills above Atina. This absolute horrific mechanical racket persisted growing ever closer over 20 minutes and. I see this dull brown orange 500 come creeping past up the hill absolutely pinned smoking more than Grandpappy's Polish Lada. With a sheer force of mechanical will to get that old girl up the mountainside was breathtaking. Love at first sight.
Great watch, lovely car and nice to see the little streets of Burford too.
Summed it up nicely at the end - it puts a smile on the driver’s face. Job done.
This is the content I love to see.
It's not in the realms of fantasy.
Something that even us everyday people can attain.
You didn't hear the labour charges to perform that upgrade. Eye-watering no doubt.
Awesome! I have a 1967 500. People stare, smile, and wave on every trip. You can't help but have fun, even when it breaks down.. a lot 😆
Of course it breaks down a lot! It's a standard feature after all on FIAT's. My first car that I had for eight years was a '79 132-2000 and it spended a lot of time in the repair shop but I loved it!
What do they have for heat?
In Germany we say Fiat stands for Fehler in allen Teilen (failures in all parts), für Italiener ausreichende Technik (sufficient technic for Italians) or Fehlinvestition aus Turin (poor invest from Turin). But everybodey wants to have one, they are eyecatchers on every classic car meeting.
@@lionelhudds I used to say that it stands for "Fix It Again Tomorrow"
2 young women in my street (average size street) have bought a Fiat 500 as their first car (as my eldest did) The charm of these cars lives on.
I worked for fiat for 20 years grew up on the 500 beautiful car
love the chaps in the shop. some good ol'gents
Spotted you in the Fiat in Burford last Monday, good to see it back on the road.
After a recent once in a lifetime visit to Rome I have a new appreciation for these little city cars and how built for purpose they are. Such a neat little slice of the auto hobby.
Delightful - and there aren't many cars on this channel you can say that about. A refreshing change.
The Smile Per Mile index must be off the scale💥
I recently bought a twin air Panda 4x4 … all mod cons and warm as toast … just brilliant, in a mad way…. And, park it on a sixpence!🤓❤
By far the best looking car in your collection
Pretty sure Mrs. M is onto you Harry😎
Can’t wait to hear her review!
Greetings from the canyons of SoCal .
I notice Harry didn’t quote the final bill 😂
Who needs more than 2 cylinders? The last 10 seconds of this video were epic!
Not me! (2cv and Dyane owner 😄)
Twin Air Panda 4x4. Does everything.
A friend of mine has a 900cc 3cyl Dacia duster. It’s brilliant.
When I was a teenager in Umbria, we used to hurtle these things around the hills and towns. If you got four teenagers in one, the little car weighted down and hugged the tight and twisty Umbrian roads. All our parents or relatives had a least one 500. I’m not sure many of us had licences - but the little cinquecentos we borrowed from our parents felt like pocket rockets.
Saw a breathed on 500 (probably closer to 695) at the Stuttgart Classic Car Show a few years ago and it had a six speed gearbox. The owner assured me that this made the most of the upped performance especially cruising on the autobahn. Great stuff and Mrs M has a great little car.
Great to see the Fiat back!!!
Recall seeing one of these in Sorrento, and was blown away with how small they were!
That little thing sounds wicked. Also has the perfect style in any quaint envoirement. Very good choice.
I got driven into one of those ancient hill towns in Italy in a 500 , it was a great experience.
Maybe Harry will take a tour to Italy in it..? The Autobahn experience would be exciting
I've been waiting for ages for this update and it's good to see you've got it back. To echo other comments, I really enjoyed this video over yet another supercar video. All the best and thank you for your continued output.
That Lancia Beta looks like a Citroën from the rear. Also love the idea of these souped up 500s 🙂
Adorable. My first car, in Sweden 1969, was a FIAT 600. The big boy with a four cylinder engine of 21 hp. At one point the clutch pedal linkage broke. I drove it through Stockholm to the service shop gingerly shifting without the clutch, very direct feel of the transmission, shutting off the engine at every traffic light and restarting it in gear. Later I could race around, redlining it, and nobody would notice.
Much nicer car than the 500.
An absolute joy!
The idea of bring the in-laws and luggage from Canada (or worse the U.S.)home for a visit is wonderful to imagine. Mine come from the Middle East and we near to need a van!
Brilliant, the first thing we all did as teenagers was to start modding our vehicles, even though we had no clue what we were doing.
Happy to see Harry still doing it. Just wish I had his deep pockets in my old age.
Back forth to and in and around Buford is what a Fiat 500 is for! Many happy miles! It’s going a delightful trip to the shops in the summer with the roof open.
Congratulations on the Fiat completion. About time we had a proper car on the channel ( with all due respect of course - don’t like moderns, high performance or not) . The little Fiat certainly moves easy now. Well done. Bye the way , not wishing to take anything from the mantle , but that Lancia Beta was also gorgeous . P.s. Charlie would have made big Geoff Capes , RIP, proud.
I know the owner of the Beta Berlina.
Looking forward to the Riviera trip in the 500.😊
My mother loved her 1964 500, and often saw an indicated 60 mph and overtook. The throttle was either off, or on (fully open), and shifts were always at peak revs. Both my parents span the car on occasion (one of the joys of rear-engines).
Just goes to show it’s not always about 0-60 to make you smile . Bella Macchina
I was taken as a baby in my cot from London to Rome in a 500. Surely cars like this r our future. Ok it may not do too well in a ncap test but it's a better way to save our planet. Presumably it would work well as an EV. Always enjoy your videos,regards Rob
How old were you by the time you arrived?
We won‘t save our planet by using little cars and we wouldn‘t destroy by using big ones. That‘s nonsense
Chap in my local town (Carnforth) has a business converting 500s into EVs. Not my bag but he must be doing something right as the business is doing well.
@@robertogrilli4574 the world will not be saved by small cars and will not be destroyed by big cars. That is just propaganda
Magnificent! So much cooler than almost any modern car. Gotta love a 500. Puts a smile on my face like nothing else.
Quite spritely and sounds great. Nice going!
You reminded me of the time me and my wife picked her parents up from Heathrow airport in a 1275gt mimi with suitcases.
"This is quite a steep hill out of Burford." It's the North face of the Eiger when you've had a mini-crawl round the pubs on the main drag and trying to get to the Prince for last orders!
I would recommend a 126 steering rack and disc brake as an upgrade. A gearbox is also the weakest part, 2nd gear and syncros with the 695cc as you have almost doubled the power. Buy a 126/500r as an exchange core at some point.
Will need to go from 12" to 13" wheels.
What a lovely "restomod" 500! I had the later square body Fiat 126 650cc, that was endless fun, flat out everywhere without risking your licence!
A real sweet small thing with an engine.
Wonderful.
Another great video has always harry mrs m and Charlie 👍
So much more intresting then the ferrari you had in recently
Ferrari's have become obvious and boring.
An now for something completely different looks great Harry
Take it back too Italy, get it on the fiat factory roof test track.
Would be a great adventure. 👍
GranUncle had one in the early 70’s. He and my Grand aunt went everywhere in it and pulled many skins off rice puddings as they went. A real joy to see this car on the road. Well done Harry …. Again
Absolutely love this car. A road trip to the local pub is what's needed.
The Cotswolds might be unsuited to Range Rovers, but I can attest that it does not seem to deter people from owning them in this little corner of the AONB, just a few miles from Harry's farm (and even fewer to Clarkson's place).
I'd feel more than a bit vulnerable in such a tiny metal box with these behemoths about.
Another reason to tax vehicles by weight.
@@martinrichardhorrocks9869 EVs included!
OMG like I wasnt already in love with the 500 and all small Fiats!
My first car was a 500 in 1985..... absolutely loved it...... I actually cut 2 up with an axe to get rid of the shells.....
Next on your hitlist of mods will be disc brakes...(edited to add I made this comment halfway through the video)and a taller final drive.....
Looks and sounds great... I'm a little envious....
I actually had 6 late teen adults in mine around Salisbury while I was at college......
Guinness Book of Records then! They must have been very supple, ah the joys of youth!
@davidclegg3554 it was a long time ago.... but I think it was the result of needing to get from one pub to another.... I was the only non drinker!!
Will need to go from 12" to 13" wheels.
As italian i can say 500 need around 30-35 horses for be glorious in bonsai way of life. ❤
I prefer cars videos like this vs the ultra car whatever. This is so much more fun, accessable and relatable. With the crazy laws now, cars ability to go into jail time territory, fun little cars like this are the way to go. Look at all the fun upgrades and kits you can get, More fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow. Maybe a DC2 vs Fiat 500 showdown haha
Charlie getting ready for worlds strongest man competition....... 🤣💪
What time stamp
@@mark4levduring the opening credits
@@mark4lev 0:19
It looked very light on the front, I wonder how it would handle ?
Anyone else immediately think of Franco Columbu in Pumping Iron? 😆
Great news it's back & buzzing around! Seeing that Lancia in the garage brought back memories of a Lancia Trevi (my 2nd) I had in that exact colour!! Luckily all the rot problems had been sorted & it's 2l twin cam engine really made the car fly! Brilliant pepper pot interior which looked great at night, lovely car much missed!
I love that Fiat had to put in a diagram showing whether you could get up a slope in each gear!
Complimenti, Harry! 👏🏼👏🏼
Happy memories of fifty years ago in the Fiat 500, St Tropez - Menton in the hot summer heat
Fine line between a smile and a laugh! 😉
Awesome, Harry!
Great stuff Harry, it reminds me of why I love my Smart ForTwo so much.
Love it! Even though I drive a modern 500, the charm still comes through. I'll have to add an old one to the stable one day.
This 500 is just right Harry. Nice one.
Cheers 🇨🇦
WOW, the Lancia Beta 2000, it looks like a 1977 (or there about) my first car was exactly that, I got i second hand in 1980 (mine was a manual) - I was half a year short of 20. It was a fantastic car - swift for the time, and comfortable. They are so rare now, I still like them immensely - so cool to see one in such a good shape :) Greetings from Oslo. Your Fiat is ever so cute :)
Roughly 60bhp per tonne or the same as my daughters skoda citigo...the difference must be night and day from 18 bhp. Great content as per harry 👌
Great video Harry thoroughly enjoyed it, reminded me of driving round Warsaw in a similar version but with less power…
Amazing sound, a bit like a WW1 bi-plane and a Norton motorcycle.
Lovely little cars 😍💚
The Countach and the F40 can go. This is all the Italian wheels you need.
been watching from nearly day-one and never heard the North American accent before 👏
Such a cool little car
Beautiful little car .
Great , cute little run around . Smiles all around
Same smiles in my yellow 2011 Twinair 😁
What a pleasure to watch. Enjoy Mr and Mrs M.
What a fabulous little car.
Would be great to have a review by your wife on this car. I am amazed by the headspace!
I've got two barn-find type of cinqucenti sitting in my garage, waiting for me to have time to work on them! This footage incourages me to try and find this time! Thank's a lot!
I love that near the end you're passing a "modern Mini" on the road, and it's twice the size of the 695 ... Great video again, sir.
In the 1980's my parents had a Fiat 500 (in New Zealand they were called Bambinas) as a second car. In my early teens I used to hate it and was embarrassed to be seen in it. However as soon as I got my license and could drive myself, my opinion changed. I have many fond memories of that car.
Great video, smaller cars are great. That Fiat 126 @11:18 looks interesting too...
I am sure Iain Tyrrell will have a giggle when he hears the cost of the modifications! Joyous wee thing and worth every penny.
Only having 2 cylinders helps a lot.
Hilarious to hear the costs of the parts. All added up to a fraction of some nonsense option on a new supercar.
Parts very reasonable really. But we never heard the labour costs, which would have been quite a sum.
I just love this car! Its SO SO SWEET! 😍
Sounds gorgeous.
The irony this more environmental than an EV lol
True. The impact on environment of a 500 kg car built 50 years ago is a small fraction of that of a 2024 2 ton EV fresh for factory.
That’s just way cool, I had an attack of the wants with the 126, everyone else would take the integrale
I can smell the Castrol LM grease and swarfegga… hairy chest optional. That’s a proper garage right there
Fabulous little machine! ❤ As a Hillman Imp fan, I understand the appeal of basic cars like these. Great video!
Paul 😎
Car sounds great Harry. You actually drive a car less than 400 bhp..!!!!
Great to see it back on the road. My first car was a 500. That was in 1970. And the drivers floor was already rusted through. In Australia without salted roads.
Better content then the "look at me picking up the latest lambo/ferrari/porsche" youtubers. Lovely fiat, im thinking of getting the early 126p myself.
Great video Harry, thanks
Love this Harry, can you do a picture next to a new fiat 500 from behind, as a comparison.
Perfect. Love it!
Love that sound
What a wonderful little beastie. Love her exhaust note.
finally a real car again after all that chavvy footballer nonsense
Well said and couldn’t agree more
Variety is the spice of life my friend 😁
Just because we can't afford it doesn't mean we should sulk.