Flying
My name is Stijn and together with my wife Sharon we own our ‘Bella’, a 1968 Fiat 500f. For my work, I am an international field service engineer for a large international machine builder in the food industry. When I am not tinkering for the business, I am busy in my own garage doing all kinds of jobs including maintaining the Fiat.
I was introduced to the Fiat 500 oldtimer by my wife. I myself had flying as a hobby in the past, first as a glider pilot and then motor flying. This turned out not to be a shared hobby for us as a family. My wife has had a fondness for the Fiat 500 vintage car since she was young. So I made the decision to stop flying and start looking for Fiat 500 that we can enjoy together as a family.
Red or pink?
We have had our Fiat 500 since October 2016, the Fiat we bought was an advertising and delivery car of a diner from Voorthuizen. The car turned red after polishing, but soon turned pink again. It also had large advertising stickers on both doors, so we knew when we bought it that it would need a new coat of paint over time. Still, we drove her around for about 3 years in the condition we bought her in. But during those years, more and more blisters appeared under the paintwork. I started to strip those spots bare and then you embark on a job where eventually there is no going back (and you have to make the choice ‘how far will you go?’). The Fiat was hard apart from a few spots, but the restoration by one of the previous owners had not been neatly done. So we ended up tackling it thoroughly.
Compact car
Technically, the Fiat is an easy car to work on. The engineering is simple and, because of its size, easy to overlook. The parts are still attractive in terms of price. So a project is manageable, even though you can make it as crazy as you want.
I did everything myself, except the bodywork and paintwork. This is a craft. After hearing from the sheet metal worker that the sheet metal parts didn’t fit perfectly and needed a lot of adjustment, I’m glad I didn’t start it. But everything else went through my hands, all the nuts and bolts were renewed. Everything that came off the car in terms of loose parts has been blasted and powder coated. Everything has been addressed on the car and it can go on for another 56 years.
Before I could start installing the engine, I wanted the Fiat to stand on its wheels again. All this time I was able to work at height because she was standing on a polishing bridge. But now it was the case that the polishing bridge was locked with a pin but it was slightly bent so couldn’t come out. So I lifted the fiat with my mother-in-law so my wife could get the pin out. Handy such a compact car.
Service is important
I buy my parts from 3 different dealers, it depends a bit on availability. In terms of price, it doesn’t make much difference where you buy the parts, Fiat van der Laan is always sharp with its prices. However, this is different when it comes to service. One outshines the other. Fiat van der Laan stands head and shoulders above the rest with good service! More than once Patrick has ensured that I literally did not have to stand still for long with the Fiat, not even during his holiday. But even when I have questions I am always helped very well.
Go-Kart
It’s a great little car, where you feel like you’re driving a go-kart. Just open the roof, enjoy and it’s nice when other people on the side of the road give it the thumbs-up. Although I do feel that the acceptance of vintage cars has become less in recent years, but that doesn’t stop us!
