LHD Fulvia 2c

[fay66]

 A couple of weeks ago I met a friend at Classic & Cabriolets near Southend on the Coldest frosty day we've had for ages, I was in "Fay" and it was B---dy cold as despite taking the complete heater assembly out twice, re-cored the heated radiator twice ( Split the end tank  after coming back from Turin in 2006) making sure everything was properly sealed with no air leaks, new diaphragm in water valve, the amount of heat coming into the cabin is akin to a small rodent passing wind!
Finally got to Southend after defrosting myself with a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea, and getting lost going around Chelmsford.
To find a lovely LHD 2c in Lancia Blue with a grey cloth interior.
Despite having a number of minor faults she looked very good value at £5995.95 compared to two series 2 LHD Fulvia Coupes at £12.995.95 each, which seems to be the asking price for coupes RHD or LHD at the moment.
After a very good look round it was nice to observe that it was all very sound underneath, and while it seemed to have had a respray on the two offside doors it looked very clean and smart.
Interior was less so and a bit on the grubby side with a tear in the headlining, the good news was that the seats had been recovered, the interior apart from the tear would probably take a good weekends worth of elbow grease.
I was amazed to find all the under mats original insulation intact as it was in the boot.
We took her for a drive and it felt co-rse ( Big Brother doesn't like the full word! cobottom as an alternative ) but I think new leads, plugs points and the carburettors tuned by someone who knows what they are doing would work wonders, the column gearchange was also a bit sloppy that would probably be rectified by adjustment, all the joints on the 2c gear change can be individually adjusted, or in worse case new bushes.
apart from being half frightened to death twice by a rev counter that suddenly screeched at us ( cable probably needs lubrication) she drove well.
Fay was also emitting odd clunks groans and wheezes as well, which I think was down to how cold it was.
I felt sorry for this poor little 2 owner 2c from Verona, freezing it's backside off on a cold frosty january morning, but it will have to get used to it, as I understand it's headed off to the far Northern Wastelands (Scotland) to a new owner, I hope he/she is an LMC Member, and I'd be happy to help out with advice if needed anytime
Horrible cold journey home, got lost around Chelmsford again Couldn't see where the heck I was going as the sun was so low, but all said Fay and I enjoyed our day out to see her cousin from warmer climes.

Brian
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[fay66]

More.

[Richard Fridd]

A pair of beauties

[frankxhv773t]

I was going to say "not for the Faynt hearted" but having Fay as an example will probably hearten the new owners. The Lancia blue really suits it.

[the.cern]

 wish I had known you were coming down Brian, I live about 3 miles from there!!!

An interesting find, I keep meaning to get over there!!!

                                Andy

[chriswgawne]

That looks nice Brian.
Are you sure the screeching wasn't the rotating drum speedometer? On Jackys  original 2C back in the mid/late  seventies we had exactly the same problem with a random screeching from time to time. This wad at a time when spares were really difficult so I disconnected the Speedo cable in the end and problem solved. Ironically today 40 years later, new and used S1 speedometers always seem to be available on Subito or ebay.it
 Chris

[fay66]

That looks nice Brian.
Are you sure the screeching wasn't the rotating drum speedometer? On Jackys  original 2C back in the mid/late  seventies we had exactly the same problem with a random screeching from time to time. This wad at a time when spares were really difficult so I disconnected the Speedo cable in the end and problem solved. Ironically today 40 years later, new and used S1 speedometers always seem to be available on Subito or ebay.it
 Chris

Hi Chris,
To be honest Chris if I'd had the money I'd have bought it, it was that nice and original.

Not in this case as the rev counter went wild and kept screeching until you stopped the car, and was ok until the next time!
I have 2 complete clusters + I part complete in my loft, only problem is that the white is turning brown on the dials,
"Fays" speedo used to clatter away at one time, but seems to have sorted itself out these days.
I've seen them on Subito, but OH the prices!
Did you notice the crack in the end of the ribbed panel by the speedo, in this case I think it is repairable, did you have any luck obtaining another?

Brian
8227

[fay66]

I was going to say "not for the Faynt hearted" but having Fay as an example will probably hearten the new owners. The Lancia blue really suits it.

Yes Frank it really was nice, but look at the tyres, the LHD still has 165x 80 x14 tyres which are very chunky, while "Fay" is also fitted with 165x 14's tyres, but they're just under 80's as I couldn't get them, but they look a lot smaller standing next to the LHD 2c,


Brian
8227

[fay66]

wish I had known you were coming down Brian, I live about 3 miles from there!!!

An interesting find, I keep meaning to get over there!!!

                                Andy

Sorry about that Andy I didn't realise you were that close otherwise I'd have given you a call,
Paul Duce is an interesting fella and he has a LOT of Lancias including a prisma, a Gamma, a couple of Fulvias, a Flavia Coupe, a 2000 Berlina in need of a lot of work,he has a very sweet Fiat 1100 that took my eye as it was such an honest little motor, there's also a Maserati SM and various other bits of machinery between him and a friend who also works out of there.
well worth a look.
He's off to Italy again soon to see what else he can find, and as the RHD cars are very much a finite commodity he has more choice getting them from Italy.
something I forgot to mention was that the LHD 2c only had about 50,000 miles on the clock.

Brian
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[chriswgawne]

I saw the crack Brian and it in the same place ........but mirror image as our GTE is rhd. The crack closes up in warm weather and opens up in cold weather so putting g my Sherlock hat on, I could tell it was a very cold day when you took the photo! I suspect it's to do with plastic ageing and shrinking. And no, I haven't found a good rhd dash trim.
Chris

[the.cern]

Next time you are down Brian give me a ring and we can meet up. I only heard about the place a month or so ago when my niece's partner came down from the Midlands to collect a car (Consul Capri!) and the vendor mentioned them in conversation.

As you say, let's hope  the new owner is (or becomes) a club member!!

                               Andy

[nthomas1]

Those two cars look so good together. I don't think there's a better colour. 

My Dad passed away last year, age 91.  Whenever you talked to him about cars he would say that the Fulvia Sedan that he bought second hand in 1979 was one of his three favourite cars of the many that he owned over the years. It was in the lighter more petrol-blue colour - Bleu Mendoza I think.  It was his only Lancia and he described it as his "little Rolls Royce".  It kick-started my interest in Italian cars generally, and Lancia in particular.

[lancianut666]

Just love that dash I want one! check out the tacho redlined at 6000rpm...
Clarkey

[fay66]

Those two cars look so good together. I don't think there's a better colour. 

My Dad passed away last year, age 91.  Whenever you talked to him about cars he would say that the Fulvia Sedan that he bought second hand in 1979 was one of his three favourite cars of the many that he owned over the years. It was in the lighter more petrol-blue colour - Bleu Mendoza I think.  It was his only Lancia and he described it as his "little Rolls Royce".  It kick-started my interest in Italian cars generally, and Lancia in particular.

The Berlinas have been sidelined by the beauty of the coupe for many years, but at last seem to be being recognised for what a lovely car they are, the asthetics of the back end is so sublime with it's curves and wonderful tail lights, and so delicate.
Although the two Berlinas look a similar in colour in fact they are quite different, but they complement each other, with "fay" being Doncaster Grey, while the LHD is Lancia blue.
But to the best of my knowledge "Fay" is the only RHD 2c left in the UK, so if you want one, and I would highly recommend you try one, then it will have to be a LHD import.

Brian
8227
 

[fay66]

I saw the crack Brian and it in the same place ........but mirror image as our GTE is rhd. The crack closes up in warm weather and opens up in cold weather so putting g my Sherlock hat on, I could tell it was a very cold day when you took the photo! I suspect it's to do with plastic ageing and shrinking. And no, I haven't found a good rhd dash trim.
Chris

Chris,
Do you think it's possible to repair as this looks like a clean break?

Brian,
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