Kolkata - 1957 Fiat Elegant

[FIAT'57'Kolkata]

Dear Friends,

Due to my intense fondness towards Fiats, I have finaly managed to put my hands on to this '57 Elegant'. I have seen this car being regularly used by a Doctor ever since childhood. On getting to know about the Doctor's intentions to sell this car, I at once went and picked it up, and became its second owner. This car has up-to-date papers and is fairly in good shape. However, over the years, few original parts have been replaced by Padmini substitutes. This car could be a ticket for me to the world of Classic Cars, as in , could act as a starter's classic for me . My intension is to bring this car upto full originality, and restore it to high standards. For this, I hummbly seek help and advice from Fiat gurus and senior bhpians.

Kindly advice and throw some light..

Warm Regards..

[Concorde]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on entering the Classic Cars Club! Hope to see more Classics from you and good luck with restoring this to its full glory. Will be following it keenly.

[wasif]

Looks like a nice well maintained car, no rust is visible on it anywhere.

The dash is not original though and some other stuff liek teh headlights and the wheel covers air cleaner etc which all can be sorted.

How does it drive, is the engine in good shape ?

I would suggest you keep it as it is and try finding and collecting the parts like the gauges for the dash, the steering wheel etc.

[the mole]

Nice car, lot of thinks there and some things not there, but definately a great project to start off your restoration journey.

Now i restored a similar car in 2008, you can go through the thread and then keep us updated on your progress

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-w...at-1100-a.html (Restoration of MTP 8389 a 1956 Fiat 1100)

[FIAT'57'Kolkata]

Hello Friends,

Thanks for your encouragment. Will definately study your thread Mole..
After much research, as per a lay-man's estimate, following are the parts which I think would be required:

1. TAIL LAMP LENCES
2. SIDE LAMPS
3. CENTRE FOG LAMP
4. HEAD LAMPS
5. RIMS
6. TYRES FIAT WHITE WALLS
7. HUB CAPS
8. ALL DOOR OUTER HANDLES WITH KEY
9. INNER HANDLES WITH BASE
10. ROOF LAMP
11. METER CLUSTER
12. STEERING FULCRUM WITH COMBINATION SWITCH
13. STEERING WHEEL
14. HORN BUTTON
15. INNER SUNVISORS
16. GEAR LEVER
17. FRONT REAR GLASS RUBBERS
18. SIDE ALL GLASS RUBBERS WITH GARNISH
19. IGNITION KEY
20. FIAT DASHBOARD BADGE
21. SWITCHES
22. COMPLETE GRILL (current 1 damaged)
23. COMPLETE BUMPERS WITH GUARDS (current 1s damaged)
24. SIDE BEADS
25. AIR CLEANER
26. OTHER MECHANICAL PARTS WHICH YOU COULD SUJEST
27. WHEEL SS TRIMS
28. HEADER
29. INSIDE GRAB HANDLES

Kindly advice if im missing out on anything

Warm Regards..

[Bulldogji]

The paint in the engine compartment and the dash area if one closely observes, is indicative of a hurried job done perhaps with the intention of selling the car. In contrast notice how corroded the floor panel is. I hope the car is not a rust bucket with a superficial makeover. A delight to own and use, once correctly restored. Please have the body panels checked, knowing the calcutta climate I fear the worst.

[FIAT'57'Kolkata]

Dear Bulldogji and friends,

Correctly pointed out by you, the floorboards look rusty, but are comparitively solid. It just has surface rust on it. This is because the car was used by the prevous owner untill last week. The engine area is rough and so is the dashboard. The Doctor , a 80 year old, used to maintain this car depending on petty mechanics , due to his limited funds. He just used this car as a mode of trasport within his locality only. Surprisingly the fuel tank is disconnected and the car is feeding directly from a bottle of fuel kept in the engine bay (very hazardous), for economical resons, as justified by the Doctor.

The car runs well and is indeed a delite to drive. At the moment I am just cleaning and connecting the petrol tank, checking the consumables, adjusting the brakes, putting in a free flow muffler, so as to drive the car daily (putting my modern car at rest). Once majority of the parts get aranged, thanks to my fellow bhpians, I will strip down the car for ground up restoration, taking advice from this forum at every step.

Warm Regards.

[anjan_c2007]

Congratulations Fiat 57 Kolkata for your new buy. I am sure it will get a very good job done on it with the necessary changes and modifications to make it more original.
Yes true the paint job is shoddy as Bulldogji has from Mumbai pointed out.You can choose any original Elegant shade. I remember cream and black as original colours.Friends may come out with more.A good primer work is essential for good rust protection.
Since these had some chrome work (bumpers, the front grille and bonnet ornament, logo)the chrome work and the unpainted ornaments in aluminum (wheel hub caps, tail light housings, number plate light and so on) need to be done up afresh.The wheel rims appear to be from the later Premiers- may please check and the dash needs more cream (ivory) switches on the panel below the ignition key. You have already listed these. The wipers are painted and need to be chrome ones.
Wish you good going. Kolkata is vibrant and you will get a good workshop to get the job done.

[1100D]

Was this car Black before (as in a couple of years back)? Ask the Doctor if he has retained the original clipped rims. In kolkata they are very hard to find. Dont think about headers and all at the moment (or ever), just get this to run properly.

Having said that, I see that you have already mentioned that it runs okay. How much is your usual run. Normally a 15-20km constant run reveals presence of problems.

Having said all this, congrats, this journey is certainly going to be very rewarding.

[predatorwheelz]

This car too is owned by an Octagenerian, and absolutely identical. I thought it was the same until I checked the registration number.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintag...ml#post1156320 (KOLKATA - Cars waiting to be Restored or Scrapped!)

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Fiat 57 Kolkata - well, that's a very good car you have purchased. Please restore it properly and preserve it forever. Following parts are not original.

1. Battery is positioned on the LH side instead of the RH side.
2. Jalwa horn. Original horn with the long scoop is there, please preserve it forever, it is supposed to be fitted below the battery. It is very difficult to get it nowadays.
3. Ammeter.
4. Steering gear with column complete.
5. Instrument cluster with combination switch and steering wheel.
6. Distributor.
7. Engine compartment light.
8. Grilles on the tail lamps.
9. RH tail lamp lens.
10. 3 wheel rims (photograph is not clear).
11. Headlamp rings.
12. Side signal lamps (photograph is not clear).
13. Accelerator pedal.
14. Sun screen on windshield glass.
15. Front small lights.
16. Wheel caps.
17. Seat upholstery.
18. Wiper arms and blades.
19. Grille center light.
20. Fuse box.

Please post more photographs so that we can give you more information.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[FIAT'57'Kolkata]

Dear Mr.Behram and friends,

I am on a lookout for the original parts , but havnt found any uptill now. However, if you could help me in any way, I would be greatful.

Three years back I had come across a Fiat Delight done only 9630 kms, original, at the scrapyard. It was nut to bold original. Before it could get scrapped, I bought the meter shroud, the steering wheel with Fiat button, and the 4 aluminiam hubcaps (which I gifted to a American gentleman, very active in this forum ). Now I relise what a mistake I did leaving that car. The body line was such to die for.

At present I am drivin my Elegant daily to work, and believe me its great fun.

Mechanically, I want to soop up the engine (put bigger pistons, port and polish the head, lighten the flywheel, put in a S1 exhaust manifold, free flow muffler, and restore the suspension, steering and brakes to 'stock' brand new condition. This is because, to my ear, a roar from a Fiat's engine is far superior to that from a XK or an E-type. Cosmetically, I want to put in an effort of reaching 100 percent originality.

Looking forward to leads for parts.... Friends please oblige....

Warm Regards....

[planet_rocker]

regarding the FFE, you prefer something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a0cO...8&feature=plcp

or:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXnEP...1&feature=plcp

but it will be better if you just stick to S1 OEM manifold, down-pipes and S1 tail pipe - just my personal opinion

[Scarlet_Rider]

Congratulations on acquiring the Elegant! Glad to hear that you are using it daily to go to work. Keeping these cars in regular use is the best way to keep them fit. Wishing you all the very best in restoring this car to it's former glory!

Regards and Keep Revving,

Rahul Waghmare.

[FIAT'57'Kolkata]

Hello Friends,

With great difficulty I have managed to procure the following parts for my car:

• 4 pcs Brand new 5.20 14" MRF tyres black wall.
• Original meter showing kmph (maybe of a later model but looks very close).
• 4 pcs front side light lences in plastic.
• Complete set of front grille (used), with top bead, centre beads and fog lamp casing (without fog light) - in a condition much better than the one in my car.

Would keep on updating the developments.

Warm Regards....