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Car · Full restoration, from chassis to interior
Fiat 514 berlina
A Turin saloon from the early 1930s that arrived complete and still wearing its original black plate: chassis stripped to bare metal, mechanics, wiring, burgundy paint and velvet interior.
- Model
- Fiat 514 saloon
- Built
- 1929–1932
- Engine
- 4 cylinders, 1438 cc
- Plate
- Original black Turin plate
- Work
- Chassis, mechanics, wiring, paint, interior
- Restoration
- Full
The story
With the 514, Fiat brought the closed four-door saloon to a wider public between 1929 and 1932: a drawing-room interior, a sturdy chassis and a simple, reliable four-cylinder engine.
This one arrived at the workshop complete, which is increasingly rare: tired paint, worn interior, wiring to replace. It was taken apart down to the last screw and rebuilt piece by piece, keeping everything that could be saved.
The restoration step by step
From bare chassis to velvet
- Step 1 of 6
How it arrived
Complete and original, but tired: dull paint, worn seats, engine and wiring to redo. Before taking it apart, everything is photographed and noted.
as it arrived at the workshop 
the original, worn interior 
the engine before the restoration, dirty and oxidised - Step 2 of 6
The chassis stripped bare
The body comes off the chassis. The chassis is freed of rust, checked, treated and repainted; axles, springs and brakes are overhauled.
the chassis stripped bare, on its wire wheels 
before: rust and old paint on the chassis 
the chassis ready for the mechanics - Step 3 of 6
New wiring
The old wires, hardened and cracked, were replaced with a new loom, routed along the same paths as the original.
the new wiring loom before fitting 
before: the original wiring to replace - Step 4 of 6
Burgundy and black
Body brought back to sound metal, primers, then burgundy with black wings, as was usual on the 514.
the body freshly painted in burgundy 
the doors, worked on separately 
the burgundy after polishing - Step 5 of 6
Reassembly
Engine and mechanics go back on the chassis, then the body is lowered on; wings, lamps and chrome follow.
the body back on the chassis 
wings and engine in place 
chassis and engine before the body goes on - Step 6 of 6
Velvet interior
Seats, rear bench and panels redone in honey-coloured ribbed velvet; wooden dashboard and steering wheel returned to their original look.
the driver's seat with the wooden dashboard 
the front seat redone in ribbed velvet 
the velvet rear bench
As it is today
Do you have a pre-war car to restore?
Chassis, mechanics, body and interior: Mimmo handles the whole restoration in the workshop, including for clients in Switzerland. Tell him about your car.
More restorations
This is only a small selection: over the years Mimmo has restored many more cars and trucks, and we'll keep adding them from the workshop's photo books.
