First trip out...

Yesterday was Jenson's first proper trip out - off to Cars@Course in Windsor.

This was a bit of a new experience for me as well as my Little Blue Fiat as I've only ever been to look at shows, never to actually show a car off. Anyway, we set off up the A4 and did a fair job of not holding the traffic up too much (apologies to anyone who was in any sort of hurry!), and got to Windsor race course at about 10:30. There was already a bit of a queue on the way in, mainly Porsches (it was a joint show - Porsches, Italian Marques, VW and Japanese performance cars). I joined the show car line (which was a new experience) in amongst a cluster of  911s and Carreras and headed in to the main area.

I was directed into the Italian area and parked up next to a row of Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Lamborginis and Lancias. Even amongst some of the heavy hitters of the Italian marques, he still attracted quite a bit of attention - he certainly wasn't the biggest, quickest, most expensive or valuable car there, but the cute simple charm always seems to draw people in, even if it is just to look at how small he is or the fact that 500s are such basic simple little cars. 

There weren't many other 500s there (me and one other in fact!), but we still spent a large part of the morning talking to owners and previous owners of them. I'm always amazed how many people say "I had one of those a few years ago",  "We had one of those when I was a child" or "a relative had one of those back in the day". Almost all of the people I meet can recall stories of travels with their 500; everything from camping trips with parents and siblings (5 plus luggage and tent - impressive!) to travelling back through Germany during time in the army. It just goes to show what an impact that little car had when it was first introduced and opened up the world of motoring to a new generation of car owners.

With the main part of the show over, we headed home for the day - driving home in the sun, roof open, window open, gentle puttering of engine in the background. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning, and home in time to watch the F1 in Singapore. It was a good result for my little car's namesake (2nd, and not that far from 1st!) - not so good for the red cars with Fiat written on the front...but that would have been too much to ask for...

One week in...

...and I'm still pleased as punch that my little car is back. Nothing amazing to report this week so far - bit of cleaning to get some polish off the cloth roof, half an hour spent tinkering with the seat belts one evening (it's easy to forget how much more fiddling about is involved with a fixed seat belt than an inertia reel one), but nothing ground breaking.

The little car has been taken into work by my other half today for a bit of a run - one of the biggest problems with working from home is that there are fewer opportunities to drive anywhere. I used to be able to guarantee driving at least 8-10,000 miles a year in my old job, but now I'm lucky to do 5,000. Good for fuel savings and keeping the mileage down, but not so good for giving the cars an occasional run.

Hopefully this weekend, there will be other chances to get out for a drive...

Let me introduce you...

This is my Little Blue Fiat.

His name in Jenson (yes, I named him after the racing driver. Probably a little bit sad/nerdy and some people would say I should have gone with an Italian driver or at least a Ferrari driver, but, well, my car - my rules!). He'll be 36 this year - part of the reason for me owning him is we were both "born" in the same year. He was originally a 30th birthday present, but for various reasons it has taken 6 years to get him back on the road and into his current state.

His life started in Sicily, not in Turin as with many 500s. Towards the end of their manufacture, Fiat moved production to their plant in Sicily, which would eventually go on to build the 500's replacement the 126. This was a point when production was being wound down and cars were being built with whatever could be found - this is the only reason for we can find for Jenson's 1960s L style steering wheel rather than the R style one he should really have.

When we bought him, he came with quite a sizeable collection of paperwork from his first Italian registration papers to the most recent service history and MOT, so we could see where he's spent the past 30 years. His first registration had been in Florence on the 20 November 1975. His original registration in Italy was FI 795353 (the original number plate holes were still in the front panel when we first got him; sadly the number plate had been gone long before then). Over the course of the next 22 years, he moved between various owners in and around Florence before finally, in September 1997 he was sold in Italy and shipped to the UK, destined for Oxford. After one or two more changes of ownership and moves between Oxfordshire and Leicestershire in 2002/2003, by 2004, he had moved to Southwest London. This is the point where our story with him begins and when he made is most recent move to Berkshire.

Over the last 2 years, he has been stripped back to a bare shell, the inevitable rust which plagues all old cars (especially Fiats) has been removed and replaced and he's gained a new coat of paint (in his original shade). He now has a new engine and gear box - he was already on his second engine, so there wasn't any point in sentimentality about having it replaced. With the addition of a new gear box, there was also a necessity for new disc brakes all round. Drum brakes aren't good at the best of times and with a bigger bored out 650cc engine and 5 speed box, it was pretty obvious that they weren't going to be up to the job. 

I'll be the first to admit that we've not had much to do with the work being done other than making the choices and decisions on what was required/wanted and paying the bills. We both have somewhat busy work lives which don't leave us much free time and we wanted to get him back on the road. We entrusted Jenson to Proietti's - a little garage tucked away in Islington which specialises in 500s. After a few Saturday morning trips to London to discuss with Stef what was needed and mull over a few options (even down to which badge was going on the front), work began to bring him back to his original condition. After much careful and skilled work, he has been restored and is now ready for a new lease of life. Friday was the day when it was time for him to return to his new home. He's now safely tucked up in the garage and has already been out for a bit of an explore of the neighbourhood, and caught the eye of one or two people (including a passing policeman - hopefully for being eye-catching and not for anything naughty!)

I have the feeling we'll be adding a few more bits of paperwork to his history, hopefully not just for repairs, services and MOTs, but also for some more exciting and adventurous things too...

Finally!

At 3:30 today, my work ground to a halt. I'd heard the gentle purring of a two cylinder engine outside!

My little car is back, running like a dream and looking fantastic. Trying not to look like too much of a big kid I rushed downstairs, out the front door, camera in one hand ready to check over the finished work. The last time I'd seem him he was almost finished apart from one or two bits of tuning and a lack of wing mirrors (which proved to be a challenge - left hand drive makes quite a difference to the alignment!). He was still up on the ramps which was good for a view of the floorpan, wheels and suspension, but definitely wasn't ready for a first drive. 

Now he is finished - a slight adjustment on the gearbox has made all the difference to the feel of the drive and the oil pump problem which had manifested itself rather too severely and led to a new crankshaft has been fixed, so he's now a happy little car and I am a happy 500 owner!

I'm getting used to a garage filled with the wonderful smell of classic car again - oil, warm metal, tyres, slight hint of petrol - it brings back memories of old family cars (1963 mini, 1964 Austin 1100) and my grandad's garage, full of tools, oil cans and bits of engine. If it was a smell they could bottle, it would be up there with newly mown grass and autumn bonfires!

Now the first rush of excitement is over, it's time for a quiet evening ready for a weekend which may involve a small amount of driving...

Today's the day...

Friday is finally here! The other half has headed off into London - work appointment this morning, car collecting this afternoon. Hopefully the traffic won't be too bad through London - the car is in Islington and the most direct route out is straight past St Pancras and Marylebone, past White City and out to the A40, so it should be an interesting drive! I suspect that there may be a detour on the way back to stop off at the office.


I'm stuck at home with work to do - it's going to be a long day...

It's a waiting game...

5 days to go before my little car arrives home - on top of the 6 years its taken to complete the restoration, it doesn't sound very long, but it's going to feel like one of the longest weeks of my life.

This will be the second attempt at bringing him home. The first one was aborted after an oil pump failure caused a fair amount of engine damage. Luckily it happened on the final test drive, so he was in the right place to be fixed (again). We've spent a weekend tidying a space in the garage, the route home has been planned (cross London traffic on a Friday could be interesting!) and there is a possible stop off planned by my other half to show him off at work, time allowing.

I'll be stuck working from home - although that will be a struggle as I'll be listening out for the sound of a two cylinder engine pulling onto the drive...roll on Friday...