Lancia Fulvia advice

Author
Discussion

racerbob

270 posts

179 months

Monday 5th November 2012
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Aero8 said:
Thanks Paul! It looks like this could be the right one, fingers crossed.
So......



did you buy one ?

1878

821 posts

162 months

Monday 5th November 2012
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Gorgeous cars.

Any interest or thoughts on this? Not likely to be going for it myself despite much temptation.

http://www.blackandwhitecarsbmth.com/black-and-whi...


Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months

Monday 5th November 2012
quotequote all
racerbob said:
So......

did you buy one ?
I'm still looking.. I went to view the 1600HF yesterday. Its had alot spent on mechanicals and is very straight, no rust/rot. But it could really do with a total repaint and rechrome. I guess that would cost about £5k to do properly (or maybe more). I've been down that road with my Delta and don't really want to repeat the exercise. The option then is to look at 1300s, which I was doing originally. There is the car in Bournemouth and the one in Jersey, which I would like to view.

racerbob

270 posts

179 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
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Aero8 said:
I'm still looking.. I went to view the 1600HF yesterday. Its had alot spent on mechanicals and is very straight, no rust/rot. But it could really do with a total repaint and rechrome. I guess that would cost about £5k to do properly (or maybe more). I've been down that road with my Delta and don't really want to repeat the exercise. The option then is to look at 1300s, which I was doing originally. There is the car in Bournemouth and the one in Jersey, which I would like to view.
Well if it helps, I have a series 1 1300 Rallye, it has had an engine upgrade, different cams, exhaust, higher compression ratio etc. I think it now goes almost as well as an HF 1.6 and didn't cost anywhere near as much to buy, I use mine for classic rallies and i am the first to admit it does now need some paint work, but it is a solid car and that is all I am concerned about. I will get around to doing the paintwork at some stage, but when I'm driving it I don't worry about it, after all, driving these cars is what really matters for me, i'll probably never sell it now, owned it 10 years.

Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
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Thanks for that Bob. I would be happy with a 1.3 if I can find a nice one. I looked at the HF knowing for its price it would need money spent. It has made me realise I should stick to what I originally wanted if I want to keep to my budget.

nc107

464 posts

207 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
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Aero8 said:
I'm still looking.. I went to view the 1600HF yesterday. Its had alot spent on mechanicals and is very straight, no rust/rot. But it could really do with a total repaint and rechrome. I guess that would cost about £5k to do properly (or maybe more). I've been down that road with my Delta and don't really want to repeat the exercise. The option then is to look at 1300s, which I was doing originally. There is the car in Bournemouth and the one in Jersey, which I would like to view.
There is hardly any chrome on a fulvia, the majority is SS. Only the door handles, handbrake, locks are chromed. Nevertheless it will cost £500+ to get them done (just got mine back smile )

Good luck with the search, if it were me I'd avoid the one with the sunroof - too much potential for problems.

Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
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nc107 said:
Good luck with the search, if it were me I'd avoid the one with the sunroof - too much potential for problems.
You think so? That was the one I was most keen on viewing, I was just planning a trip over there of the day. Was a Webasto a standard option or is it aftermarket?

That one has more history than the car at Black & White..

nc107

464 posts

207 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
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Sunroofs were never an option on Fulvias and are aftermarket fit.

I guess it's a matter of personal opinion, but it'll certainly be noisier and the shell be less stiff (maybe not noticably), but it will not be watertight (whatever they say). Rust is a perennial problem with all old cars and Fulvias are no exception, water that gets in will run down the channels in the roof pressings and end up in either the B piller or in the cavity at the front of the rear wheel arch. You can check this by removing the side interior trim by the rear seats and having a look and feel.

It may well be ok, and it certainly looks a well presented car but if it were me and I was intending to keep it it wouldn't be my choice for that reason.

If you do purchase this (or any) first job is to drill a few holes and get plenty of rust inhibitor in. I would ask who restored it and contact them to confirm the history of the car.

Being a '75 car it has an incorrect interior and dash assembly; seats should be cloth(usually a garish colour), instruments should be white and the steering wheel should be horrible plasticky affair. The interior and instruments fitted are the earlier S2 item, which is a good modification IMO. The wheels are incorrect, being either 1600 or maybe Flavia. They should be pressed steel and 4.5J x 14". They look like 5.5 or 6J to me. Not a problem I guess, although I imagine the steering will be a bit heavier, but they stick out a bit past the wheel arch (hence the flared arches on the 1600 sheel discussed earlier).


All that said it does look a good clean car, and if further inspection reveals nothing of concern then it looks a very good prospect. Anyway it all only opinions so good luck beer

Edited by nc107 on Thursday 8th November 17:10


Edited by nc107 on Thursday 8th November 17:10

Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
quotequote all
I seriously appreciate your comments, it's not easy to find background on these cars. Maybe I shouldn't discount this one so much then http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C291719. At the end of the day I need to compare them both, but I do prefer the car to be the correct spec. I agree with what you say about the sunroof as it is obviously aftermarket then. I get the feeling my search could take some time :-/

nc107

464 posts

207 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
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With cars this age it far more about condition as it stands now than history of the past. It's always nice to have but to my mind less important than FSH on new cars.

If you are happy its all in good nick, and happy you can keep it that way then if it fits your bill go for it. Whilst I have a "thing" about sunroofs if Fulvias, better you buy something that suits your wants than take anyones else opinons as gospel.

Whatever you go for there are plenty of foolish people like me who will be able to give you the benefit of our mistakes !


Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months

Thursday 8th November 2012
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Well we've all made mistakes and I do appreciate the advice :-)

Edited by Aero8 on Friday 9th November 08:59

westernlancia

39 posts

164 months

Thursday 20th December 2012
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I run a Lancia restoration business - you can see our work on www.westernlancia.co.uk and www.facebook.com/westernlancia - and we are currently restoring several Fulvias for the 50th anniversary celebrations next year. As I know of ABSOLUTELY no other car in the world where buying a good one counts more, if you'd like to call us (01392 811918 or 07515 597589) we will happily advise you (free of charge) of the pitfalls.

They are a complex and wonderfully cleverly constructed monocoque shell that relies on ALL its elements for its strength, so when any of those elements are compromised you are in trouble. And as they are only really marginally strong enough to begin with, a rusty one will definitely need extensive (and expensive) help.

Fulvia shells are also very complex, and if you do the job properly and strip them right down, remove the subframe and do the job on a rotisserie, it is a LOT of work. But if the car hasn't been worked on like that it will certainly need it unless it has spent its life in Italy or South Africa (see below), so it is vital to buy the right car and make sure you know what you are up against. Be assured that as the box sections inside the car aren't painted from new, if the car hasn't been PROPERLY restored and/or rustproofed from new, it WILL be rusty in the areas that you can't see - and those areas are structural.

If you'd like to see what I am talking about, have a look at the LHD Fulvia we are currently working on, on our Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.336962326... ), and you will see what I mean. This car looked in really good condition until it was media blasted, but we have had to replace almost all the lower half and floor sections of the car, and fabricate new wheel arches and a wheel arch inner shell for it, as well as rebuilding the inner and outer sills and subframe mountings, which are always gone and are a huge job to fix.

The album only shows the car at the beginning of the job - it is now finished but I haven't had time to upload the rest of the photos yet. I will try to do it over Christmas though, so that you can see what the innards of a Fulvia look like.

Finally - personally I would only EVER buy a Lancia from Italy or South Africa! As I said, if you'd like some help and advice, it's free. I also write Italian text books, so if you want to source a car there I am happy to help with that (I only charge the normal workshop labour rate for interpreting and translating, so if you find a nice car there I am happy to liaise with the owner for you).

Good luck with your purchase - if you find a nice Fulvia it will be the nicest car you have ever owned or ever will own. But if you find a nasty one it will be a disaster and a money sink!

Cheers - Alan

Edited by westernlancia on Thursday 20th December 16:08

Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
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Hi Alan. Thanks for your reply, I've looked at your site many times and will call you. Having viewed a few cars I totally agree with your comments. Trying to find a mint car, which is all I will accept, is proving impossible..!

Aero8

Original Poster:

371 posts

283 months