Aprilia Cabrio - here we go again

[DavidLaver]

From the rear, without wings on, it looks ready for a run on the lake bed.

What do you think of the red rear wing having looked at it?  I think the problem is that red looks better for a rear wing but black for the front but not the same would look really odd.  Able to try a red one on the front?  Do one side red one black? 

[frankxhv773t]

My vote would be black wings all round. It would effectively be what the Riley RM community call a Mountbatten split.

[stanley sweet]

The red wing looks nice at the moment because you have the almost Bugattiesque black curve dividing it from the rest of the red. I think though that once you get to the front there will be too much red with the bonnet sides. But you must do what you prefer, don't be influenced by us lot, it's not our car. David's suggestion reminded me of a very smart 30's Alvis drophead I saw once. Because of the sweeping red along the side making the back mostly red and the front black, it had red wire wheels at the back and black at the front. It all worked so well one didn't realise at first. Of course, as soon as you stopped to change a puncture the whole thing was messed up for a while.

[simonandjuliet]

And who is (or was) AA?

John, Not sure who AA is/was . However, I'm not sure it's quite right for a "producer of alcohol", but I like the irony !

Stan, I appreciate all the comments and points of view (and love the Mountbatten split , even if it sounds like pudding) and will make a final decision just as Dog is masking up, probably ......

As a slight aside and staying with the difficulty of colour choices,  the HF will remain blue following a few days touring in the HF with Juliet who likes the blue - and who am I to argue ?

[DavidLaver]

Delighted to hear the Fulvia is staying blue, it really suits it.  An excuse now to track down as many photos as possible of its "blue history".

Having painted some areas (under the bonnet?) the original red do they get put back?   I love the idea of doing the door shuts original red to give the "blow over respray" look

[davidwheeler]

Rear wings black please, red ones look odd.

[mikeC]

I think different colour wings front and back would look great! Here are three combinations on the 4.3 Alvis, two with different but matching wheelcolours, one with contrasting silver wheels:







Decisions, decisions!

[stanley sweet]

That's the one I was thinking of but got the colours the wrong way round.

[stanley sweet]

Oh - just realised the second photo IS the one I was thinking of.

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks for the photos, it is great to see other ideas. I find the Alvis red too bright on a car of that age - but like all things it is personal taste. In French we say that you can discuss everything except "tastes and colours" because they are so individual

I have spent most of the afternoon fitting a door lock, not because it was difficult , but because it needed stripping and painting before greasing and re-assembly.

A couple of photos showing how simple it is

Whilst waiting for paints to dry in the sun I have started putting things back in the right place under the bonnet and re-painting the underbody black because there was some overspray and dust following the body paint

[fay66]

I think different colour wings front and back would look great! Here are three combinations on the 4.3 Alvis, two with different but matching wheelcolours, one with contrasting silver wheels:







Decisions, decisions!

I like the 3rd design but would like to see the black on the bonnet carried over to the boot, and down to the rear wings.
however I'd prefer  burgundy to the red.
Each to his own"
Brian
8227 

[simonandjuliet]

Next stage is to fit out the under-bonnet and start the wiring

First up were the brake pipes. Most were OK , just needed a good check and clean. I made a new pipe for the reservoir because I have changed the set up. Detail showing the "through-wing" connector which is so typically OTT Lancia. All loosely fitted without joints etc

The wiring - it is going to be fun because:

1/ it was a rotten, mess
2/ was a Citroen/Lancia mix
3/ is a 12V system on a 6V car
4/ I am keeping the 12V system and adding side lights and indicators
5/ it was largely dismantled and hasn't been used for many years
6/ etc etc !

Started with, literally, the key element - the ignition switch. This also controls the lights .... 

I have a spare unit so have taken this to bits to see how it works, so a couple of photos

Finally, she has her identity back. The chassis plate has been cleaned up and replaced. I don't have any of the correct domed screws yet so I will replace them as and when I find them

[simonandjuliet]

Front end wiring loom finished. Plus I have pulled through the wires for the rear loom. Not sure if the photos show it clearly, but the wires are modern copper, in various sizes and then covered with a "fabric" finish and so look very much like the original.

In Italy last year I also picked up some nice aluminium cable ties and the coiled conduit

I have corrected some errors on the old wiring and added extra indicator circuits , plus an extra wire to the rear loom - just in case I need to add an iPod charger for Mathilda !

Need to connect up the fuse boxes and then attack the dashboard loom. Still quite a lot of detail to finish, but the backbone is in

Engine in next ??

[lancialulu]

Impressive work in 2 days....Looks like the HF is spewing cable looms out of it!!!

[tzf60]

Simon, is it, more or less, the same loom as the sedan? It looks similar in several places.
Wonderful work as always.....keep the photos coming!!!
 
Regards,
Tim