Lancia Motor Club

firstly appologies to david laver, the pickup has gone up to the parents house for a short "holiday" whilst i get my fulvia finished , sorry david i know how against this you are  ;D ,anyway, i saw this car approx 5yrs ago advertised in practical classics as spares or repair, followed it up with a view to buy as spares for my s3 that i had at the time, spoke to a very nice gentle man who told me about the car, after a lengthy conversation i discovered that this car was 1 titled lady owner from new  :o it had been waxoiled from new and due to the lady moving in with her son "the man on the other end of the phone" the car had to go, i asked all the usual questions about rot and rust and apparently the car didnt really have any, arches were supposed to be perfect and origional etc however the car hadn't run for over 20yrs as it had been laid up in the garage, a deal was done and i set off for oxford with my dad and discovery, we finally arrived at this house,  , as we went up the drive i could see the rear end of the fulvia poking out of their garage........ RESULT ;D . after a quick walk around the car and after picking my jaw back up off the floor because of its condition we loaded it onto the trailer and brought it home, i remember stopping in services and myself and dad just standing looking at it in pure disbelief of how solid this car was, when home i dismantled the car and stipped back to bare steel and no rot anywhere!!! just good old solid steel, i re painted the car in its origional colour and started to rebuild it the disaster strook, unfortunatly the paint suffered with micro blisters over the bonnet roof bootlid and tops of the wings i was absolutly gutted  :'( because of this i spat my dummy and the car has been laid up for another 3yrs whilst i calmed down, anyway as a little break from the ardea i felt it was time to put things right and finish it off, i've just rebuilt all the brakes again and started to dismantle and re-bare metal the car again, i'm hoping to have it finished within the next 2 months then back onto the ardea again, i'll keep you all posted on its progress

Hi James,
It looks great, There's a saying that it's better to be born lucky than rich, I reckon you've got a special compartment in you Brain that programmed to sniff out Lancia's :D
I had the same problem with my Series 1-1.3 Rallye Coupe with micro blistering in the paint, Don Cross said at the time that he had experienced the same problem, which was a reaction to the original Lancia paint, even though it had been rubbed back, and sealed before re-painting, most disheartening.

Brian
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brian to me this car was "find of the decade!!" i was very lucky to find it and have no intension of selling it as i doubt i'll find another like it, the micro blistering i thing was caused by moisture in the airline whilst painting, i've since bought a hpc air dryer which is like an inline freezer that condenses any moisture in the airline and spits it out, fingers crossed it'll be ok this time  ;)

Have you a daylight photo to show the colour off better?  Its looks like there's a bit of bronze in with the chocolate.  Either way a great colour on a Fulvia...

To my eye the one spoiler is the wheels looking oversize and "boy racer".   While I always want the red one with all the go-faster bits for myself I want everyone else to have 100pct standard spec in period colours.  Its like asking for more public transport to get everyone else off the roads.

As for the "pickup vs Fulvia" argument I trust you to get this one "in and out"  ;D

David

colour is ascot bronze, really suites it well, wheels are temporary while steels were refurbed , and yes hoping it will be an in and out job as there is not a huge amount to do on it  ;D

Looks lovely!

whilst doing warby's head and helping him with his doors, repairing the augusta back axle, doing my friends wedding in the gussey and picking up various other things i've also done a bit more to the fulvia, i've bare metaled the affected areas and started prepping for paint, hopefully within the next few weeks it will be into prima then paint

Summer fun or in time for Christmas?

David

a bit more done this weekend, finished the filler work and got the top half into prima, i put a fan heater inside with the rear seats removed and another underneath the car to warm up all the panels and dry out any moisture that may be lurking in the filler, hopefully this week after a little more baking i'll be able to flat the car off, remove the screens and get some colour on, the pickup will be on hold for a little while longer as my dad is about to start his next project and it needs bare metaling (my job) so i'll be doing that next then finishing the fulvia and back on the pickup  ::)

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So it converts into a hovercraft...

And that is?  :-X

Robin

Well after a 35yr wait, my mum seems to be getting her own way and he is doing an aprilia next, my dad bought his aprilia before the astura however the astura project took over then the house move , then the augusta and all my projects kept him away from it, in the meen time we've bought another 2!!! so it makes sence having 3 aprilias to get 1 of them on the road

Good news although my money was on the B20.

Having seen the 3 Aprilia's I'm lost in admiration.:o  but don't doubt that it will gat done and to the usual Parry high standard. Hope this doesn't herald the closing down of the Dilambda Help Line! :o  I might just have to dispose of Modestine!  :'(

Robin.

going into colour as i write  ;D

painted, needs a flat and polish and putting back together  ;)

Not that I'm one to tease  - much - but what cowboy painted it last time?

Live and learn eh...

Can't wait to see it - I've no doubt it will be superb and (this time) will last.

David

ha yeah real cowboy lol, fingers crossed eh  ::) cant wait 2 finish it and hand it over to mum (she's our official fulvia TEST PILOT!!)

Looks good James, just a thought, Warby would look good in that colour :D

Brian
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a little more progress, dry sanded with 1500grt disks then wet flatted with 3000grt, then started compounding,

 ;D

Looks great, now that's what you call a shine!

Brian
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thanks brian, fairly pleased with how its coming, i was dissapointed with the initial finish which was due to poor quality laquer however if you put enough on and then flat hell out of it it generally will sort out, as my working conditions are far from ideal i tend to only use a cheaper laquer as i have to flat and polish because of dirt in the air and paint anyway

Is it the light or the level of shine but going back to the top of the thread it looks more golden less chocolate.  The other difference is - to my eye at least - it sits so much better on those wheels.

Paint is ever close inspection - you pleased? 

Anything else on the "needs improvement" list?

David

Looks great - you've certainly got a few strings to your bow!

a little more progress, started by changing the headlamps for some new old stock items that i had, genuine carello, built up the front end with trim and bumper etc, new badges fitted all round, nos rear reflectors and nos rear lamp lenses, i filled the trim strips with windsreen sealant before fitting this is the mastic none setting black goo to stop any water collecting and causing rot, i re-dyed the carpets ( back to black  ;) ) this was done very easily with spray/aerosol dye, hopefully it will last  ::) , i refitted them all and the rear screen and rear seat and seat belts, also waxoiled down the sills A posts and qtrs and door bottoms, started to fit the boot out after redying the origional boot mat, i've managed to find an origional BRAND NEW TOOL KIT!!! so needless to say thats in there now  ;D , i've done varios other jobs and i'm gradually just chipping away at it, hopefully it will be finished in the next 2 weeks

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1st picture (29) is old lamps yellowed with age, pic 36 shows new lamps

Come on James are you going to let us in on what you are colouring the carpets with?

Brian 8)

sterling products black carpet dye, available in 500ml spray cans off ebay,         http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Black-Carpet-Dye-Trade-Valeting-Product-500ml-Aerosol-/370158705167?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item562f2d9a0f                                                      excellent product seems to work ok as long as it lasts, i bought 12 cans 4xgrey for boot matt and 8x black for carpets, i only used 2xgrey and 5xblack though when i came to use it, great seller item arrived within 2 days , he does a box of 12 price which is cheaper than buying singular

Thank you James,

Brian
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a little more done, instruments out and ready for rebuild, faces and glasses have yellowed with age, i have new ones to fit however i'm only going to fit the faces to keep the origional milage, door speakers are fitted made by alpine and available from your local halfords ,  fit perfect without any mods to the doors, headlining cleaned with cif (jif) works a treat, peadals repainted and new rubbers fitted, dash wood has been renovated and gear knob, origional radio re installed , heater cables freed off and new heater valve fitted, columb stalks removed - re painted and re fitted, heater fan removed and repaired and again refitted,swapped the shocks from spax to koni,  hoping to get dash finished and screen in over the weekend seats in etc however the fuse box needs a little attension 1st as its badly tarnished with damp and age , i've also had major problems trying to get number plates made , i've just ordered my 3rd set now lets hope this firm gets it right!! ::)

headlining pics are halfway through cleaning but you can see how bad it was, i will take more pics of it over wk end so you can see how well its come up

top plate is my origional one, other 2 are .................hmmmmmm..........cockups!!!  ::)

Well you've a selection of number plates to entertain the local speedcamera software  ;D

I saw a pair of Fulvias at Brands today - and had forgotten just how distinctive and attractive those late series dials are.

Out of interest what treatment did the wooden dash get?

David

the dash i happened to find in my collection of stuff happened to be solid wood not the usual plywood or plastic  ??? i think its one that someone has made but its a damn good job, not quite right but good enough, if you look at the photo's i'll atatch you can see the cut out around the radio clock and heaters has square ends not curved but thats all thats wrong as such , imho i think it looks far better because of the colour of the wood hense why i used it, i handed it over and the gear knob to owens father (he loves wood I HATE IT!!) he's sanded them both down and used bee's wax on the pair with fantastic results.
Have you ever had ONE OF THOSE DAYS  ::) well i've had 2!!! almost every job i've done has been 1 step forward 3 back, example: fitted the radio only to find i couldnt get the wood panel on with it in situe, removed radio and refitted when wood was finally in place (thats another story!) then found that i couldn't fit the dash top with it fitted either  ::) , all in all for various reasons the radio alone came out 5 times!! the center console ahhhhhhhhhh just went to fit the last nut and found the captive bolt had been sheared off , take it all off again, and change for another, this kind of thing has gone on all weekend,
basically this weekend i've replaced and rewired all the fuse box new connecters etc, rebuilt all the dash and instruments, fitted the radio and wired up , wired up electric ariel, fitted the windscreen and heater ducting, got everything electrical working propperly (lamps heater fan etc) main culperit being the fuse box , front seats are cleaned and almost ready for fitting, i just want to paint the frames first, anyway progress has been made even though the car looks virtually the same

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busy as usual, got a fair amount of the fiddly jobs out of the way, doors built, modified some period speaker grills to fit, interior virtually finished, carbs now removed and a rebuilt set awaiting fitement, numberplates are now on, sill trims fitted, problem is i've forgotten half the jobs i've done  ::)

Great to see the car coming together, I am 5 years into the re-build of my coupe, nearly there, fitted a new head cloth at the weekend, have the seats stripped and re-painted the frames still lots to do, your pics are encouraging. :)

the forum is pretty encouraging in general, thanks for your comments any chance of some pics?? a little more progress to see

finished all bar setting the carbs up and mot, put it back home with the others for the winter  ;D

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Fabulous!

What a truely cracking car. It isn't too often that I am really, really envious ............... but to me that is the best colour / trim combination for Fulvia 3, and Fulvia 3 is my personal favourite Fulvia. I look forward to being able to admire it in the metal.

I take it you are very proud of it now??

Andy

Andy thanks for the compliments, its a funny colour really, bit like marmite you love it or hate it, at 1st i wasnt a fan however after repainting etc its really grown on me, my last fulvia was portifino blue with cream interior and i have to admit i really miss that car!!!, this one isnt perfect but its pretty good , there's always something that could be improved on every project , yes i am proud, i love fulvias in general i think they're all fantastic cars, my mum's having the keys to this one as she's a huge aprilia / fulvia fan, i think she drove my last 1 more than me, hopefully it'll be at next yrs AGM along with "thing" thanks again james

It looks an absolute treat.  Just promise to have some clean trousers in the boot ready for when Classics Monthly shows up.

David

this is the only car i really really regret selling, however i wouldn't have the augustas if i'd kept it  ::)

I'd rather the colour combo you now have.  Has your mum tried it yet?

David

no not yet, when we get chance its got to go for an mot 1st

Finally on the road, even though its my own car and i hate to blow my own trumpet it has to be by far the best fulvia i have ever driven , im absolutly made up with it and forgotten how good a fulvia is to drive, definatly a keeper and im enjoying running round in it everyday at the moment, i spoke to the origional owners daughter in law tonight and am arranging to take the car back to show them in the very near future, will keep you posted

Bought Blue S3 on ebay 4 years ago. Bodywork and mechanically excellent (after a few issues now sorted out).
Standard except for Webasto sun roof and oversize chromo wheels (ex Flavia coupe).
Inside was rather tatty but found great upholsterer in Surrey who did a great job.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27583338@N03/sets/72157620225321984/  show range of photos.

just passed another MOT with no new issues.

Ready for summer . . .

i'm possibly thinking of selling JJO just because of having too many cars/projects and total lack of use, this year I taxed it and its done 10 miles  :(, any ideas to a value on it?? 1 titled lady owner (before me) zero rust as it was waxoiled from new , no welding, all its had is a bare metal repaint and everything cleaned overhauled and painted, car is mint, everything works and it just needs driving, I believe this is a rare example just because of its history and origionallity , I can honestly say I've never seen a more original car, no offence will be taken to any valuations I just want to see what the general opinion is and if its enough for me to let it go, thanks j

Its a rare and exceptional condition car James, well documented and brought back to as new/concours condition.

According to magazine...top dollar is £9000...it might well depend on who you want to sell it to?

But if on the open market to get a return on your work alone, thinking of £12/13/14K?


P

Would you mind letting us know the name of the Surrey trimmer? I need some work done and local is always preferable.

William

I think Parisien is in the right ball park. I think I'd start at £14K, then come down, if you need to, until you start getting interest?

thanks guys, its pretty much the figure I had in mind just didn't want to get shot down as being greedy or asking too much, pretty sure as soon as the hf is finished it'll be up forsale as much as I whish I could keep it