Buying A Classic Fiat 500 In Italy And Driving It Back To The UK

In 2016 bought a Fiat 500 in Italy and drove it back to London! I went to Italy to buy a classic Fiat 500 in the country they were made in.. I saw a few cars, picked one and then set out on 1000 miles journey back to London. Did this 50 year old car make it back??

[@drwallet1]

Loved the original videos and this is a great compacted version. Take it as a compliment if you wish Jack, but it's all your fault that I pulled the trigger and got my own!😂 'Maggie' is now tucked safely away in bed until the spring..... we all know that the UK salted roads will kill these little beauties! As someone said to me, they are like Aspirin (Dissolve in water)!!! Cheers.

[@Number27]

Thanks Mike, the fact you bought one inspired by the video is truly fantastic, makes it all worth while. Special little machines these!

[@peterelvery]

Enjoyed the video. You are aware that there's no synchromesh on any of the gears...

[@martinclapton2724]

What a wonderful vid! Here’s a memory … Xmas eve 1979 I had a near fatal accident in my tuned Mini going underneath a sugar beet lorry. 2 weeks in hospital , clean broken femur, various other injuries including a scar in my forehead which nearly resulted in a fractured skull ( nearly saying goodbye to our world) luckily stitched up by a plastic surgeon . Several months after recovery, my returned to work in sales office at Fry’s Metals , Kidderminster, and being without car , my office manager, offered me his Fiat 500 for £100 ! …….turned it down! Mot’d RHD and all fairly good nick with little Webasto roof . As the song says (Cher) “ If I could turn back Time “ Ended up buying a Ford Escort Mexico ( £700 yep, those were the days) some months later possible due to my mates having them . Funny thing was I loved Italian cars since teenager . Still we live and learn . Happy Xmas Jack and Everyone out there , stay safe

[@notsimplesimon]

Love this little film and how calm you remain throughout the mishaps! Makes me keen as French mustard to go and buy its updated version as I am no dab hand at getting under the bonnet when things go wrong! You are a superb ambassador for the affable Brit and enthusiasm for things retro and small! We should all possess just a tenth of your verve and the roads would be a much better place to thrive and drive!

[@ewanturner4381]

Well, you say the first videos were too long, I thought they were bloody awesome. Still miss Sofia, so I watched the video again! :)

[@Number27]

Dude, incredible, thanks man. Could not wish for a more loyal follower!! The other vids never really did as well as I thought they might so tried shortening everything.. not got a vid coming out for a couple off weeks so this fills a gap for those that might have missed them first time round. And it was such an awesome little car.

[@f1knight]

What a great little car, you don't realise how small they are until you stand beside one. Great video really enjoyed that.

[@Number27]

Cheers Buddy, happy xmas!!

[@ryanmccormick2150]

Love Sofia! Lovely little car and what an adventure! I would love to do something like that absolutely living the dream😉. Keep the fantastic work up Jack and all the best 🎉🖒

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

That looks like it was an epic journey. Fantastic video.

[@nigeldarcy]

Lovely little car trip and video

[@Mark_T]

I adore old FIATs. That was a really interesting video showing some of the problems with getting into vintage cars.

[@LennyLibitz]

❤️ love this video! Lovely car!

[@Roger_Ramjet]

Oh so wonderful!

[@stephenoverstreet9898]

I liked that immensely! So much that I'd rather watch the whole 3-part series!

[@alunhoskins4513]

Loved this. I have a 1970 (500L like Sofia), left hand drive, name of Bella and originally from Palermo. Restored but not by me, I have no such skills. Turquoise blue. I bought her in the UK in 2014 and over to where I live now, on the border between Co. Tipperary and Co. Clare in Ireland. She's a temperamental joy! Great fun. When I first got her I took her on the M7 motorway over here....never again😂

[@Maketsu_81]

Thank you❤ I have Fiat 126 and I love that car too😊

[@deranagoyajin]

Great job! I love this car so much. I order repair to fiat500f now.

[@ZareP1]

i saw the other videos and now i'm watching this xD i love this little beautiful car, can't wait to have one! Only thing i would choose different for me is a model with the old round "speedometer" cause i love those little things ahah xD Perfect video!

[@CYB3R2K]

FINALLY! Someone actually called it with the real name! Cinquecento and not five hundred 😂

[@sbaddison]

Loved this. I’ve got first dibs on a 595 Recreation that’s sat in Rome with a good friend of mine. Living in South Wales, the thought of driving it back scares me! Would sit nice next to my new 595 Competizione & Seicento Sporting Abarth though👍🏻

[@markstow5575]

I love driving in France / Italy.. enjoyed your vid man, love the shots and content, GREAT WORK.. more road trips??

[@Number27]

Hey man, would love to.. might wait till summer though!! thanks for watching buddy!

[@ianbenney6942]

Amazing! I have an Abarth 595. Love it! My next move is to have an original Fiat 500. Love the history and sound.

[@PaulDoldenDetails]

Wow Jack really enjoyed this film such a pretty car and stunning scenery to my wife loves these old ones shame because I’m around 6ft 4 and a bit so it would be head out the roof job for me 😉👌🏻

[@jamesziegler4383]

The level of excitement is very good

[@alexwilkins8601]

Great video. After driving my 500 for its longest drive ever yesterday (150km) I remembered watching your epic voyage a few years ago. I absolutely love the car but can’t imagine doing such a long trip in those seats... Kudos to you.300kms on a tank is amazing! PS. I once did a roadside repair on a melted spark plug cable with a paper clip, and it passed the “collaudo” with it! 😂. The Influenzo is much more challenging!!

[@Number27]

They’re just brilliant little cars Alex. Thanks for watching!

[@josueelombre931]

Everyone should try it yes (just make sure you have mechanical knowledge)

[@irvb9881]

A big part of why I bought my own 500 a month ago. Great video, removed some of the fear of buying a 50yr old car, thanks!

[@Number27]

Fab, enjoy it!!

[@scramdaz]

Liked the original videos, liked this one too.

[@stephanmurphy909]

I enjoyed the first video but this short one is great as owner of a 500 there such a great little car some journey well done

[@Number27]

Thank you Stephan!!

[@josephpiccinino4057]

I have had this for 15 years and believe me I've been through all described and much more. One other frequent snag that was the accelerator cable or choke cable snapped. One time the gas cable let me down in a busy uphill road. I pulled the remaining cable out of the transmission tunnel from the engine side and tied it to a piece of nylon cargo box strap and did the rest of the journey hand pulling the carburetor butterfly from the driver window. I finally solved it by using an accelerator cable from a 60s Bedford truck.

[@petercresswell9517]

I have one of these and love your drive video. I notice in your engine bay the fuel filter, recomend you move it to next to the fuel tank in the front it is a real fire risk in the back near the exchaust

[@GO500GO1]

Cutest car ever!! Soon we start out 50000km European tour in a 53 year old Fiat 500R

[@jd-py5nm]

love fiat and the 500 great video

[@Number27]

Buddy, once again THANKs for watching so many of the videos!

[@keithburnett5870]

Wow! You inspire me. I will buy a Cinqecento before this week is over.

[@Number27]

Wow, enjoy it buddy. Awesome cars!!

[@toterkanalkeinmotodesgmehr8956]

Very very cool. Maybe i´ll do this myself one day :)

[@simtalkayak]

What would you recommend taking along, aside from the tool kit with regards to spares? My first goal is to get my grandmother's L back on the road, then I'm hellbent on going round Sicily, then, up and down the length of Italy with it. I'm a little fixated that a slightly larger sump with more oil would do the engine some good, but I don't know if there is such a thing as too much oil and oil being too cool. Best wishes from Malta. :)

[@PRG888]

Fantastic video, love the Fiat 500. In my view you can't beat little cars like this, the 2cv Renault 4 etc.... Glad you enjoyed it, do you still have her? If so would love to see more of her

[@Number27]

Hey Peter...sadly she was sold but I still know where she is and the guy who has her did the 650cc transplant!!

[@pierpi8751]

Bella avventura complimenti 👍

[@Number27]

Grazie!!

[@thetifosimsc5231]

Amazing video and its inspired me to want to do it too! How did you get insurance for the trip? That seems to be a blocker for me

[@Number27]

I’m Italian and got it insured in Italy.. while it still had the Italian plates..

[@thetifosimsc5231]

@@Number27aah that makes sense. Thanks for the reply and thanks again for the video. It was a great watch

[@zz.158]

Question:I would love to do the same but I know nothing about mechanics and just the idea to learn about mechanics is giving me anxiety already.So no way for me to experience that journey right because you had 4 repairs moments

[@markw964]

Hi i plan to buy one here in the UK and drive it to Corfu, any suggestions ?

[@somer480]

What route did you take from Milan

[@type4968]

Hi, just wondered what's the issue with registering it in your name, instead of your dad's? I've heard this is a problem but never found out why? Thanks.

[@LowLevel157]

Any chance you will be able to drive a BMW E34 M5 3.6? Or maybe a 944 S 16v (not S2) ? Or a 190E 2.3-16?

[@Number27]

Those are all cars i would love to try.. as soon as they are available I will!! Why not an S2 though for the 944?

[@carlharvey7098]

God i love your videos...Too damn much lol

[@Number27]

If only everyone else did too!! thanks Carl, happy holidays!!

[@carlharvey7098]

Merry Christmas to you too my friend

[@Malteser3535]

That looks awesome. How much was Sofia and how far can you go on one tank of fuel?

[@Number27]

Paid around £5K for her all costs included. Cant remember how far on one tank.. around 300km I think!

[@Malteser3535]

Sounds like a reasonable price. I'd love to buy one next summer.

[@Number27]

Go for it buddy, you wont regret it!!

[@spider23000]

Did you ever replace the engine with a 126 one?

[@Number27]

I didn’t but the guy who bought the car from me did!

[@sleeptothesounds4]

Do you know anyone in Cornwall looking for a 500 project please ?

[@man-mq9rk]

Do you still own the car?

[@Number27]

I swapped it for an Integrale last February... had nowhere to store it and I did fancy an Integrale!

[@jagohurley1065]

Oh, you should track it down and buy it back at any price!

[@Nate-yr1jy]

I wonder what’s the seat belts are for on this car 😂

[@JadonAlexanderSchintu]

if you're from america, say Fiat fivehundred instead of cinquecento. i'm from italy only.

[@JadonAlexanderSchintu]

wait... its a fiat 500L!