1972 Fiat 500L | Classic Car Restoration

1972 Fiat 500L

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The Project

This 1972 Fiat 500L came into our Bishop Auckland workshop in December 2025 for scuttle and front panel repair and paintwork.

Updates

16th December 2025: The frontend of the car has had a coat of epoxy primer applied and is now being prepped for paint.

21st January 2026: The paintwork to the scuttle, front wing and bonnet has been completed and the car has now been reassembled. It is now ready to go back to the owner.

> More updates to follow.

History

The 1972 Fiat 500L is part of the final chapter of the original Fiat 500’s production and represents a more refined version of one of Italy’s most iconic cars.

The Fiat 500 was originally introduced in 1957 as a response to post-war Italy’s need for cheap, efficient personal transportation. Designed by Dante Giacosa, it became a symbol of economic recovery and urban mobility. By the late 1960s, Fiat had already produced several variants, gradually improving comfort while keeping the car small, affordable, and simple.

The 500L, where “L” stands for Lusso (luxury), was introduced in 1968 to appeal to buyers who wanted a bit more comfort without losing the charm of the original design.

By 1972, the 500L was nearing the end of its life, as the more modern Fiat 126 was being phased in as its successor.

In 1972, the Fiat 500L featured:

A rear-mounted, air-cooled 499 cc two-cylinder engine
Around 18 horsepower
A top speed of roughly 95 km/h (about 59 mph)
Excellent fuel economy and very low running costs

What set the 500L apart from earlier and more basic versions were its upgrades:

Tubular chrome bumper guards
A redesigned dashboard with a padded top
Improved seats with better upholstery
Added chrome trim and Fiat badging
Slightly better sound insulation

Despite these refinements, the 500L remained mechanically simple and easy to maintain. It was especially popular in cities due to its tiny footprint and ability to navigate narrow streets and tight parking spaces.

Production of the Fiat 500L ended in 1972, making that year one of its last appearances before the original Fiat 500 line was discontinued in 1975. Today, the 1972 Fiat 500L is valued as a classic car that represents the peak of development for the original 500 -combining vintage simplicity with modest comfort improvements – and remains a beloved symbol of Italian automotive history and lifestyle.

16th December 2025

21st January 2026

      All reviews
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 4.8 
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 5.0 
 
  
 
 
 
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 4.9
 Excellent62 reviews
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      Posted on Google  
   Steven Parkes 
 12/07/2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Steve has helped me through some difficult situations throughout this restoration process. The car I bought was a total rot box, I had no idea. Nicola’s support with my finances has helped me get this car over the line. Don’t look elsewhere if you are serious about doing a restoration properly look no further.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Sean Bellew 
 12/06/2026
 
 
 Verified I recently had corrosion repairs carried out to both front wings on my Porsche 944 and I am extremely pleased with the quality of the workmanship. The repairs involved cutting out the corroded sections and fabricating replacement metalwork rather than simply filling over the affected areas. The standard of fabrication and welding is excellent, with the repairs blending seamlessly into the original panels. The attention to detail is evident throughout the work, and the finished result looks completely in keeping with the car. As an owner of a classic Porsche, preserving originality is important to me, and the repairs have been completed in a way that maintains the character and integrity of the vehicle. The paint finish and panel presentation are superb, and once completed it is virtually impossible to tell where the repairs have been carried out. Overall, the craftsmanship is first-class and the car now looks significantly better than it did before the work was undertaken. If you are looking for high-quality metal fabrication and restoration work on a classic vehicle, I would have no hesitation in recommending them based on the quality of the finished product.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   David Kelly 
 15/05/2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Their work looks fantastic. Love the regular blogs.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Mark 
 30/04/2026
 
 
 Verified Excellent service and Neil’s knowledge is second to none. The wealth of experience resolved the issues with the carburettors ensuring I had an uneventful drive home and can now look forward to driving the car on the odd sunny days we call summer. Would recommend Carrosserie without hesitation.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   John Lonergan 
 09/03/2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service , top quality work , very friendly and helpful , i had a probem with no dipped headlights and a couple of nasty stonechips and despite  being very short notice they fitted me in the next day diagnosed the faults and while that was going on the paint guy sorted the stonechips , two hours later all completed .  I know these guys will take good care of my classic car and do an excellent job I've used them  before . Highly recommended .
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Robert Montague 
 04/03/2026
 
 
 Verified The team at Carrosserie have done an excellent job . Focus on detail and quality of work Fully responsive and engaging the client at all time . I will be giving them a further project and recommend them as a first class service Thank you Steve and the Team, plus of course Neil 😎
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Andrew Whittaker 
 04/10/2025
 
 
 Verified Reference: 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith – Rewire. I recently received my car back and I am absolutely delighted with their work. The rewiring has been completed to an exceptionally high standard, and it is evident that great skill and care went into the process.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   J J Beeton 
 02/09/2025
 
 
 Verified 10 out of 10 perfect restoration work on Jaguar XKR.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Keith Devonport 
 25/06/2025
 
 
 Verified I found the team at Carrosserie to be  friendly and helpful whilst maintaining an organised and professional approach towards the job in hand, they were also  able to incorporate extra work I asked for at the eleventh hour. Carrosserie kept to the 'booked in' start date for the work to commence and throughought the work cycle i was presented with photos and videos as the work progressed. I'm very happy with the finished job, thank you and well done Carrosserie.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Geoff Lowson 
 16/04/2025
 
 
 Verified I took my  Citroen 2CV for an assessment for a potential repair.   The manager Steve Liversedge was very accommodating  and staff were helpful and courteous and very professional in giving their advice.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Ian Carter 
 01/03/2025
 
 
 Verified A big thank you to the team who worked on my 20 year old BMW.   The car looks fantastic and the care and attention to detail tackling the rust that was in a most awkward place showed real desire for doing the best job possible.  Updates and photographs were given daily as the job progressed. Finally the customer care was second to none, and my job wasn't anything like a serious restoration. Thanks again. Ian
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Andrew Pyle 
 13/02/2025
 
 
 Verified Took my Escort XR3i to Carosserie for re-commissioning. Brakes, suspension, springs, shocks, general overhaul - some gaskets,polish etc. All staff very welcoming, professional from office staff to engineers. Took me through the car's inspection - lots of photos of work to be done, progress and work finished. Kept in touch via e-mail throughout project. Not cheap but you get what you pay for with old motors! Good luck with move to new premises.
  
 
     Posted on Reviews.io  
   Iain Jane 
 22/11/2024
 
 
 Verified I received a recommendation from a friend as I was looking for someone to deal with my Aston Martin. From the very outset Steve, Nicola and their team have been professional through out the process. I was kept appraised of every step and the app showing the work in progress was an excellent way of not only seeing what was being done  but the finished product also. The car was delivered back today and the work was beyond my expectations. I have a 1952 MG TD which requires some work I will look no further than Carrosserie. If you want a first class job whilst dealing with people you can trust look no further. Thank you all at Carrosserie 👍
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Paul Simpson 
 08/06/2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I will let the pictures do the talking. Attention to detail is second to none, very knowledgeable and skilled guys here at Carrosserie. All the staff are polite and very professional. Highly recommended.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jeremy Roff 
 10/05/2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thanks to all at Carrosserie for managing to make my Jimny look perfect again. A great job.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Phil Sage 
 27/09/2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The work carried out here is like magic, the standard the cars leave is fantastic, the cars they restore are works of art !
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Catherine Lonergan 
 26/02/2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very Friendly always helpful staff
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Nigel Cramp 
 25/06/2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great friendly and helpful team at Carrosserie. Highly quality work. This is the second time I've used their services. Highly recommended if you want quality restoration or paint work.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Ian Roper 
 26/03/2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Neil who owns the company straight away gave me one of the best buying experiences I have ever had. He was nice to speak with giving me confidence in buying from him from the outset. This continued throughout the buying process with updates on the process of finance that he organised. Because of my working schedule being so hectic and having to juggle many parental duties. We were unable to get over to pick up the car in the week. Despite the company being closed on weekends, Neil went out of his way to meet me on a Saturday afternoon and even showed me around his amazing company. It was so clear to me that this is someone who is genuine, kind and cares about his company and customers in equal amounts. A truly rare thing in this day in age. I wouldn't hesitate to use his company myself in the future and would recommend him to friends and family in a heartbeat.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   John Royce 
 16/02/2022
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Outstanding choice of cars, superb restoration facilities from a very professional team. Highly recommended.
  
 
 
  
 
 
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