Series Three Berlina returned to the road

[GerardJPC]

Hello all, I have usually owned classic cars from the 1970s, mainly Italian or British cars, and I have owned various Betas since 2012, my current one being a 1979 1600 Coupe that is in pretty good condition.  My interest in Lancias has been growing, and earlier this year I bought for the first time a car from the 1960s, a 1962 Appia Series Three.  The car is the same age as I am.

This Appia appears to have been in Germany in 2011, and may have been imported to the UK about five years ago.  The seller claimed that it had been in a museum, but I have no info as to this.  He bought the car at an auction late last year, registered it with DVLA earlier this year, had some work done on it (not very good work) by someone claiming to be a Delta specialist near Reading, and then advertised it for sale.  The car was and is in a good state in terms of bodywork and interior, both of which appear largely original, but it was in a very poor state mechanically, with everything that could perish having perished and all sorts of problems with ignition, fuel system, electrics, and brakes.  It had very ancient Michelin tyres that might well be from the 60s or 70s.   There is a 1970s looking Ford dealer oil change sticker on the driver's door shut.

Many days work over two months by the excellent Mark Compton, a mobile mechanic based in Gloucestershire whom I recommend highly for all old cars, have turned what was merely an ornament into a reliable and fun car.  

The car now has new Pirelli Cinturatos, fresh oil in engine, gearbox and differential, and many new parts.  Huge thanks to the Appia Consortium for expert advice and for rapid supply of spares, and thanks also to eBay Italia which has come up with all sorts of things.  If anyone wants the old Michelins for show purposes only, please let me know.

The car has been up to an indicated 130 km/h on the M40, but is mainly used for flitting about on A and B roads in south Oxfordshire, occasionally overtaking 40 mph dawdlers.

Next in the list: an alternator, some minor paint repairs and get the original Blaupunkt radio to work.

Current fault:  the driver's door has been stuck in the locked position since Saturday - serves me right.  I almost never lock classic cars.  

The Appia sparks joy.  Pics below, and a link to a short film that my wife, a TV director, ran up on her mobile phone last weekend.  

https://vimeo.com/471786165

The password is Appia

[lancianut666]

Love the video...bit of Genesis with Peter on the vocals excellent. The car looks amazing well done Gerard.
Jim

[GerardJPC]

Thanks!  The credit must go to Mark the mechanic, for patience and skill, and to the Appia Consortium for advice and parts support.

[nistri]

Congratulations! Lovely car,  Andrea

[simonandjuliet]

Much better video than my own recent efforts .... well done and don't bother with the radio, stick to Genesis on your iPod, it's great and suits your very stylish Appia

Super , underated cars - last of the sliding pillars !

[GerardJPC]

Cheers!

Here is the car with one of its grand daughters, and one of its grand nieces by marriage.

[GerardJPC]

Campari and Soda -



In the woods -

[frankxhv773t]

Well done with both the car and the video.

I've not used these people but always been rather tempted by their work, http://vintagecarradio.co.uk/index.html. If you do their 21st Century upgrade you can have your original radio AND play Genesis through it.

[tzf60]

Luv the excellent video and photos!
Good luck with the Appia!
 
Tim F

[rogerelias]

Lovely video. i recognise most roads and places on it. The Chequers at Fingest is where we had our wedding reception in 1988.I was also an AA Patrol in that area too, bought back nice memories. We enjoyed our S2 Berlina

[GerardJPC]

The Chequers has a great kitchen at the moment.  That network of roads in between Henley and Watlington, only 40 miles or so to the west of London, gives the lie to those who claim that motoring in the UK is no longer fun.    The scenery of the Chiltern Glacial valleys and the beech woods that adorn them is some of the most lovely in southern England.  JRR Tolkien walked those woods and drank beer in those pubs in his weekends during his long career as an Oxford Don.  Oxfordshire where he worked and Warwickshire where he grew up are The Shire.   

I had a happy childhood in the 60s and 70s.  For me, classic cars are time machines.  They connect me to my childhood.  My family were not affluent, so they did not have Italian cars, but any car from that period transports me to that period.  My love of BL cars connects me to my late father, who was a design and production engineer in BL, and to my late uncle, who was a toolmaker in BL.   My love of Italian cars and motorbikes is a reflection of the quality of Italian design and engineering, and of Italian attitudes to life.

[frankxhv773t]

I was a weekly commuter from Aylesbury to Reading around 1980 and the run from Watlington down through Nettlebed to Sonning Common on the B481 was absolutely glorious.

[GerardJPC]

Forty years on, the roads in that area are still fun to drive.

[sd39]

Excellent work. Great colour too

[GerardJPC]

The car is usually grey, but in some lights it looks blue.   I must say that the Appia has been a revelation - it's such a pleasant car to drive.  I am just off out to drive it in the dark, just for the Hell of it.