MAS893

[appiaman]

I decided about 2 months ago after starting with the Ardenne and having had problems with main structure of it, to pass it on to my qualified metal man to work on it full time. I was then faced with the problem that I had no new building project and a guy employed with no work .
I decide in my wisdom that a bare metal repaint on the appia would be easy project to do.
Having owned the car for nearly 20 years I and not knowing of any rust we started.
The last time I painted it was 1992  and it was only a flat and spray job saying that it stood the test of time.
Having half stripped the interior last year the car didn’t see much use and it did looked much neglected.
However,
Over the last 3 years I have collected various bit for it new backlights ,new back bumper, new door rubbers new windscreen rubbers, new tyres new stainless exhaust the list goes it was time to put all these bits to use.
Stripping always seem very easy  but putting back takes forever.
Having stripped the car back to bare metal it did reveal a few battle marks but nothing too serious and no rust.
Having not painted for 20 years I had a challenge on my hand. I bought compressor, spray guns and all the tools and the garage was converted into a very un desirable paint shop with loads off errors and finding my way round 2 pack paint again.
Say that after 2 months of trial and error and loads of flatting and polishing the car seems presentable again to me.
Attached are a few pictures
The last stage now is Brian Cates is busy redoing the roof lining in West of England cloth and will be collecting the seats on Monday to recover them in nice red leather so hopefully he will be looking nice and sharp next year for events and I am hoping to use it every day again as 20 years ago it was my uni car to university and it has plenty stories to tell.

[Parisien]

Just divine......great to see....great to witness another caring Lancisti doing it right!


P

[appiaman]

After 5 months of waiting and still waiting  for the last bits i have the main car back from Brian Cates
its now has red leather seats and a new wool roof lining.
It looks great on first seeing it and the car definitely needed a new interior as it was the originals it left the factory with.
However the price of the work reflects it and its not as perfect as the series 1  and  I am still awaiting for the dash and sun visors to come back.
Not sure when that will happen but I hope to have the car around for the economy run this year lets watch this space.

[appiaman]

I need some help do anyone now of a good place I can send my petrol tank too for repair .
The Appia been sitting now for over a year at the farm with a list of stuff thats wrong the tank is the first major issue , then brakes and front suspension .
All help be much appreciated.

[mikeC]

If you have a good radiator specialist nearby, there's a good chance he will be happy to look at your petrol tank.

[Dilambdaman]

Hi Christo,

Aaron Radiators in Croydon did a fantastic job on the Dilambda petrol tank some years ago and rebuilt Elaine Moore's Dilambda radiator for her to a very high standard. Highly recommend them and they turn jobs around quickly too.

http://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/

Robin.

[RobD]

Beautiful looking car- and the paintwork looks excellent in the pics so the makeshift paint booth must have done its job! Nice to have a car with a bit of personal history attached to it.

[appiaman]

Hi Robin , thanks for reply.
I have now send the tank now off to Hartlepool and online company which Don has used.
Not cheap but the tank was basly rusted dented not in great shape.
Rob the paint work was good but it took a lot off  effort without a booth it doesn't really work 4 years on now the boot is blistering again due to moisture .
But then I did paint it in the winter.
Yep I was working out today I have owned it 22 years  I learn to drive in it so not much value as acar but a lot of sentiment to me.