This is my little jewel after it's ground up "proper" serious restoration. Car is practically NEW! About 90% of it's parts were replaced NEW. Many original Fiat OEM NOS parts, like the body panels ( 21 pieces replaced), tinted glass all around, every rubber gasket/weather seal, chrome, stainless steel trim, interior, seats, door panels, rubber seals, dash pad, brakes, bearings, bushings, suspension parts, lights, restored Cromodora 13 inch wheels with new center caps, 135 tires 90% new rubber. Too much to list! This car has lots of chrome and stainless steel added tastefully. Please note this is an original mother Fiat Italian production 126, model personal 4 with the 650cc engine and a whopping 24 hp!. This is not the FSM, Niki Polish production version.

Too many pictures to show but here is a basic step bye step pictorialI did during each faze of the restoration. I completely did ALL the work on the car from start to finish. So there are no excuses and nothing to hide! All removal/reassembly of the wiring, glass, body panels, rust removal, panel forming, panel welding, sealing, prepping, painting, modifications, mechanical, interior and so on went through my hands only. Has only been driven 1000 kms(600 miles) after completion a year ago

Here is a list of all the welded body panels replaced

Front fenders = 2
Front inner wheel well arches = 4
Front inner valence & battery tray =1
Front nose =1
Out side A pillar sections where the side turn signals are = 2
Out side rocker (sill) panels =2
Inside rocker (sill) panels = 2
Floor boards =2
Left rear fender complete = 1
Right rear fender section =1
Right rear tail light panel section (lower & upper) = 2
Left rear tail light panel section (upper) = 1

The first part of the car I attacked was replacing the floor boards and inner rocker/sill panels. Being a unit body structure this was very important that the chassis was straight and level first before I removed/replaced any welded body outer panels.

Next I removed all the rusty panels starting from back to front. The left rear fender was completely replaced with the outside rocker/sill panel incorporated up to the door support frame. This was the original Fiat part and this was how the car was assembled from the factory. Also the box section above the tail light panel section was replaced.

Next was the right rear corner. This did not necessitate removing the complete fender and outer sill panel incorporated in one piece. How ever I had to replace both body sections around the tail light. I also replaced the separate wheel arch patch panel and outer sill panel

Onto the front section and most of my labour work was spent here. There was a LOT of rust in this section of the car and a LOT of spot welding to be done!

First was replaced the 2 piece inner wheel wells. You can see I cleanly drilled out each spot weld to remove the old rusty ones.

After welding on the new wheel wells

I went ahead and welded the new inner valence panel, with the incorporated battery tray frame section

I completely cleaned up all the surface rust and sealed every inch before welding the fenders and front nose piece on.

After I welded all the body panels I mounted the complete new doors, hood, engine lid and rear engine support panel. Stripped of all the old paint and brought it to metal.

Then sealed off with the entire body with first etching primers/sealers, a water proof epoxy primer and sealed up all the seams with sealer. Finished it off with 4 coats of acrylic 2 part primer.

Then the engine was removed, so was the entire wiring harness from front to back. Every nut bolt and washer, rubber plug and fastener was removed and tossed. Then I began to prep and painted all the inners, engine compartment and under the hood.

Next I began prepping the outside for final paint.I hand sanded the entire body straight with a block sander. Finished it off with 3 coats of acrylic urethane paint and on top of that 2 coats of clear coat. Couple of days later I sanded every square inch on the out side body with 2000 grit wet paper, then machined polished to a deep mirror finish. Car sparkles in the shade!

Now came my favourite part of the restoration!, the re-assembly of all the new parts and components. Pictures will never show my attention to the most minor perfect detail that was done.

Sure, many have owed a 500 and I have seen zillions of them but not too many people have had the opportunity to own a real nice 126! For sure most likely not one as mint new as this one!

I am thinking of selling it any offers?