Aprilia Diary

[ColinMarr]

Just to add to this. A photo has just been sent to me of an early S1 Aprilia undergoing work on the instruments, which happens to show the door trim – see below. This is a UK spec car with original leather trim, which was redone about twenty years ago and it shows the carpet section at the base of the door. For comparison there is also a photo of an early Italian spec car restored presumably to its original spec.

Colin

[lancialulu]

And OVS which I believe to be original.

Tim

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks everyone - any chance of a close up of the carpeted bit ? It is the bottom edge finish I am especially interested in.

Not too cheeky I hope ....

[ColinMarr]

The best I can do is simply enlarge the detail on the original photos - see below. Alas, the bottom of the trims on my Aprilia, which I parted company with in 1969, were really shabby.

Colin

[simonandjuliet]

Perfect, thank you !

[davidwheeler]

The leather door trim looks just like mine (used to!).  My seats are not pleated though.

[davidwheeler]

...nor are the door panels.  Not strictly relevant here but here is ORIGINAL UK trim for an early Aprilia.  The seats have been recovered but are an exact copy of the original.

[simonandjuliet]

Thank you - it looks like a carpeted section at the bottom of the door was pretty standard. All the photos have helped me reconstruct the bottom section of the panel, because mine was pretty shot and difficult to make a pattern.

[the.cern]

Slightly off track, David, did you fit the seat belts?? If so, or if details may be made available, how do the top and bottom fixings tie in with the door latches

It would be a great help to know, I would like to do something for both the Gussie and the Appia.

                           Andy

[davidwheeler]

I did and they simply bolt to the back of the catch pins.  I am not sure where I got them, they may be 2CV but I am sure you will find something in a recycling yard.  I did make some new catch pins to replace old worn ones and made a slightly longer thread.  It would look neater, I suppose, to bolt the reels to the inside of the foot-well and then you could replace the shiny cover (now, why didn't I think of that before?).  The upper point is a bit high and one day I may make a plate to bolt to the upper mounting to make the run a bit more comfortable.  Since Boot's crash, I have fitted belts in all my cars.  Not had to test them yet, thank goodness.

[apriliadriver]

I agree, that is the original pattern Series 1 Alperton upholstery and door cards.

However, a regrettable admission to make here. When I removed the original door cards, they were extremely shabby and the ply had completely delaminated. I took them to an upholsterer and said "replace the card and re-cover the card to the same pattern, but that mothy bit of carpet looks like it was glued on when the card rotted badly, do not replicate that". He did a lovely job and no carpet.

Ahem ! I now realise how wrong I was  .....
Nick

[simonandjuliet]

Have finally finished the door cards. It has taken a surprising amount of time because I had little to work with and every door is slightly different - I know some are on the left and some are on the right and some are back and some front, but let's not nit-pick !!!! - however, I would have expected one side to be the mirror of the other !

The overall shape is very similar but the positioning of the door handles and window winders are a few mm different between either side of the car

So just hoping we can find some suitable fabric now .......

[simonandjuliet]

Had a sneaky eBay session the other night and bought some nice, new, shiny bits .....

And so, whilst waiting for glue to dry, I have begun to fit them. They are non-original Aprilia bits , but are replacing tired and worn out non-original Aprilia bits !

I have been looking out for suitable replacement front side/indicators and could find very little that looked acceptable and to be had at a sensible price, so I have reverted to 50's/60's Lucas glass units. It means I can use the existing holes and wiring ,and then if I find something better in the future I have lost nothing - and all for less than £20 each
I have also removed the horrible "dalek-like" repeaters on the corner of the wings. I prefer to see the holes ! They can wait until I repaint the front wings over the winter. To that end, I have bought some touch up paint and will now see if the Spectro got the colour right - fingers crossed

Next was a door mirror which I hope will allow me to peer into the huge blind-spot that all Aprilia drivers learn to live with. Especially worrying on French autoroutes that one occasionally ventures onto. The mirrors are lovely (have bought one for the driver's side as well), delicate things, angled nicely and not too sticky-outy.

Lastly, a rearview mirror to replace the Lancia 2000 mirror we fitted in 1979 ! I would love one of the gorgeous oval mirrors but they are frighteningly expensive when you see them on 'Subito'

She looks like a new car !

ps I now have a 2000 rearview mirror and 2 uncracked, pointy lenses for sale for little money, or if unwanted I will list them on Subito for a hugely inflated and distorted price ...

[simonandjuliet]

Better photo of new side light !

[chugga boom]

whats the interior mirror off? looks good