Aprilia Cabrio - here we go again

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Frank, I agree about new leather.

When I re-upholstered my Aprilia berlina I used Connolly hides, so I plan to do the same. The only question is whether I need a more sun/rain resistant leather

Stan, Maison Simon doesn't actually do softtops (which is a shame because it needs doing !) but he can supply the Alpaca material .... he is a young (ish), 4th generation upholsterer whose work looks very good

Today I finished the front of the chassis and a couple of other small bits, the out-rigger was a bit fiddly but now ready for Dog to attack the "pretty" bits

[LANCIA]

CIAO SIMON , MESSAGGI PER TE SU TUA MAIL ...........GRAZIE.

[frankxhv773t]

This picture gives an impression of the difference between typical new leather and period leather.

[simonandjuliet]

Unfortunately I have no option but to renew the leather, only half of it is there and the other half is too brittle and has already split.

Finally received my Aprilia engine back from the UK - started the rebuild before the Cabrio was even a twinkle in my eye !

Plan is to refit a 1350 engine in the Cabrio, but keep the 12V electrics.

With a "brand new" engine, it should go quite well. It has new pistons & liners, thin-wall bigends, white metaled main-bearings, crack tested everything, NOS conrods, new chain gear, new head bolts, rewelded block etc etc , it should be OK for a while !

Some would have changed the rods to metal ones, but without starting that discussion again, I have used some originals.

Next is to identify a decent head and rocker gear

[davidwheeler]

How did you fit the big ends, build up crankshaft or fit into old white metal shell backings?   It will affect the engine balance if you have changed the big end mass significantly.    May be worth running up the engine on the bench (even passively if you can work out how to drive it).     Mine was grossly out of balance with new steel conrods but yours should be much better than that!

[lancialulu]

Interesting machining at the top of the liners or are my eyes deceiving me? Are all Aprilias like that?

[simonandjuliet]

Coming back to this one after a brief pause .....

Re conrods, the new shells were fitted to early rods, so no shell backings. I had some new rods so we used those.

The liners were, I think , like that, and have been reproduced as they were.......

I have been bumbling along with the Aprilia while working on the Appia, one of the biggest "challenges" is the interior and hood and I have chosen the leather for the seats (Connolly Vaumol). However I don't have front seat bases and need to create them

Someone had used standard Aprilia front seat bases, screwed to plywood and fitted to the frame ! But they are too short and don't fit correctly around the propshaft tunnel, so I have dismantled (with feline assistance) the seat to see how it was made and can now remake the sprung seat base prior to re-upholstering
 

[lancialulu]

Dining room table again!

[simonandjuliet]

She was away this time ....

[Parisien]

So how come if the cat was still at home the mice came out to play....

Much better looking seats than the ones have have, intensely jealous!


P

[simonandjuliet]

Over Christmas and the New Year I have gradually been getting everything together for doing the interior.

Leather has arrived, all the springs, wadding and leather-cloth has been sourced ready for the seats to be done in April. Plus this week a major step forward was finding a local lad who will make and fit the roof.

He is late 20's , been working for a trimmer for 15 years and is starting out on his own. Work looks excellent (he is going to do my dining room chairs as well !). He can start the roof at the end of March !

I have received samples of double-duck , alpaca and mohair materials in a variety of colours, so tomorrow Dog is coming over and we are going to decide on a colour scheme for the Cabrio.

I am thinking 2-tone black/red with either black or burgundy roof .....

[the.cern]

That is all so exciting!!! I hope that it all comes together quickly and easily.

                                         Andy

[Sliding Pillar]

Simon, I would take a long time thinking about colour combinations for the Aprilia. Pinin Farina designs are so harmonious that they rarely look good in striking two tone colours, they usually look far better in just one colour.
I have however seen some in very subtle two tone. So for example if you go for the burgundy hood (you have to start with the hood colour as there are not many different shades to choose from) then paint the main body in a darker shade of Burgundy and the sides of the car within the body molding line in a slightly lighter shade of the same colour.
This will accentuate the shape of the car without looking brash.
If look at period photos of Aprilia Cabriolets there aren't many that are two tone.
But it's your car and your choice and colour is a very personal thing, the same colour can look totally different to two different set of eyes.

[lancialulu]

Yellow and Black is very Francais!!

[Sebastien]

Here is a nice Aprilia cabriolet in 2 tones of blue.

Be careful when choosing a color for the convertible hood. Make sure the cloth is woven in the chosen color - I have seen in Italy convertible tops on Aurelias B50 cabriolet which were dyed, starting from white cloth, and they do not age well! Personally I think that a black top is still best, in the long term.