5 Ways to make it better

1 MAKE THE CAR EASIER TO LIVE WITH

You probably won’t use a 500 everyday, but a couple of upgrades will still improve reliability and safety. The first is to fit electronic ignition, and prices range from around

£50 for a simple system to a few hundred pounds for a programmable distributor. Then, upgrade the headlamps to a halogen set-up, with kits readily available for around £80.

2 IMPROVE ITS BRAKES

A thorough overhaul isn’t expensive, with kits of all necessary parts at around £120. Half that sum buys a new set of brake pipes, or pay a bit more for a set of braided hoses. Want to go further? Then consider a front disc brake conversion, which costs close to £500; for that you’ll get calipers, discs/pads and revised stub axles.

3 ADD MORE POWER

One of the most common mods is transplanting the complete engine and transmission from the later Fiat 126. This improves performance, plus you’ll benefit from a synchromesh gearbox, and it’s not a hard job to do. Prices vary widely, though, from hundreds for second-hand items to a few thousand for fully rebuilt units. Clubs and specialists can offer advice if you fancy taking this route.

4 GIVE IT SOME TLC

With good parts availability and affordable prices, there’s no excuse for not having a sweetrunning 500. Keep on top of the greasing regime for the front suspension and pay regular attention to the cooling system to avoid costly problems. If you’ve any doubts over the operation of the cooling flap, then it is worth investing £35 in a repair kit to ensure that everything is tip-top and behaving itself.

5 FIT IT WITH AN ALTERNATOR KIT

While this doesn’t seem to be an especially common mod, you might want to consider an alternator conversion, especially if you plan on adding more electrical equipment. Parts specialist, Ricambio, sells a kit for £395 that includes everything you’ll need, including the revised fan casing to allow the alternator to fit. And it’s a DIY task if you’re confident.