Bodywork Begins

Having finally received all parts to get started on my Fiat 500 (Abarth Lusso) project, it is time to begin. My friends (father and son team) Ennio and Ubi Campagiorni, have been actively involved on this project, and their assistance has been greatly appreciated. They are both trained professionals, and skilled craftsmen, of the “old school”, one having been a Fiat mechanic in Italy, before emigrating to Canada. They have a mechanical flair with Italian cars and bikes, and are excellent on bodywork and painting, and both know exactly how things should fit, and what parts are interchangeable. I feel most fortunate have made their acquaintance and to have them nearby. Here George is using Italian trained professionals who understand this. It all begins with the donor :

 
Bumpers removed


Arches - Measure, Flare, Weld

Adding wheel arch extensions affects body rigidity and has to be done well. Installing arch extensions on a Fiat 500 is a big deal :

•   Firstly, because so much of the body's area is involved, with rigidity being affected. The body around the old wheel arch needs to be flared, and seam welded to retain strength before the new arches are bonded in place.
•   Secondly the arches have to be carefully matched to the wheels to make such a small car look good. This means that the lower and stiffer suspension and wheels/ tyres must be available and installed before beginning the bodywork.

   
Key shot showing extent of flaring, and trimming of the arch shape for correct suspension travel.

     

Wheels, tyres and suspension have to be prior installed, to get the arches well matched up. The black felt tip marks, on the arch extension, is where they needed taking back, and the extension edge has a return/guard for authenticity.

Painting

After the floor and underside was painted and rust proofed, the external bodywork was painted :

•   Upper body colour - Chrysler Flame Red (Jeep,Dodge) Paint Code PPG# 4679
•   Lower body colour - 1994 GMC Medium Grey Metallic (WA 8798)


Paintwork done. New carbon fibre door mirrors obvious here.



Bumpers are back on