Integrale Specialist Essex/ Suffolk

[Tw123]

Hi all,
I have very recently become the vary happy owner of an integrale Evo2 and am looking for recommendations for a service specialist in East Anglia. I am based on the Essex/ Suffolk border.
The car has been looked after by AlfaCraft in London since 1998, however I am looking for someone more local if at all possible.

Thanks in advance..

[tel595]

Welcome to integrale ownership..! I've owned an integrale of variuos types since 1998 and many other Lancias along side too. The trouble I've found is there's many service garages out there that can do general maintenance, oil change, brakes, etc. but few who have the in-depth knowledge required for these cars. If they're not maintained to the best standards they do become a problem, and that's why many older cars have disappeared as the owners fall out of love with them..
I live near Ipswich and now use specialist integrale engineers such as Tanc Barratt in Kidderminster, Zagato in London and although I've not used them myself, I've heard good things about Autointegrale who are near Reading. All quite a journey from here but I just arrange the appointment and make a day of it, can't beat a drive in an Evo!!
I do try and maintain mine as much as possible myself, but they are very 'tight' to work on so most of the time I leave it to the experts.. If you do find somewhere, I'd be very interested too..

[Tw123]

Thank you for that. Looks like I'll have a fair trip for any work to be done, but as you say I would prefer this to be performed by a specialist if possible. I am near Sudbury so I will let you know if I find a more local alternative. Cheers

[FofS216]

Hi there,
I'm in Colchester and I always take mine to Keith at Auto Integrale in Reading.
Regards,
Jamie

[Harris_I]

Tw123 said:

Looks like I'll have a fair trip for any work to be done

Unfortunately that is the case with integrales. A few years back you would have had John Whalley not far from you but the specialists are slowly disappearing. I use Keith at Auto Integrale near Reading. Luckily for me I work in the City and live in Surrey so getting to and from AI by train is bearable.

[Tw123]

Thanks guys, this is great feedback and info. I am often in Reading with work so Auto Integrale could be a good bet with some really positive comments, a visit before they salt the roads maybe! I belong to a few car clubs linked to other cars, could anyone confirm whether these is a Lancia related one which is worth the membership?

[ozintegrale]

There's Club Lancia Sport (http://www.lanciasport.com).

Forum wise, head over to "evocorner" on delphi forums if you haven't already - plenty of good info and advice to be found there.

Enjoy! Looks like a tidy example!

Edited by ozintegrale on Saturday 10th October 06:23

[Swede123]

I'm afraid local is not always possible with an integrale .

As a previous member said, a lot of the old specialists are disappearing. When Lancia were still represented in the UK you had a number of dealers who were also Lotus dealers. You had a really good choice in London who were into performance cars. But as the owners of these companies got older in the 90s they decided to sell their sites for redevelopment and who can blame them.

John Whalley was very good and did lots of RHD conversions. I sold integrales when new and have had a number of my own. Zagato in London seemed to take over from Portman Garages but have been working on integrales for ages, otherwise the people at Reading.

The best though is Steve Smith at Walkers Garages way up North. He rallied integrales when they were new and there's nothing he doesn't know about them. Plus having his stamp in the service book is like having the factory stamp. For what a transporter charges, or what Steve charges to collect, it's small change if the car is a good one.

Edited by Swede123 on Wednesday 28th October 19:04

[jaisharma]

I have been a member since I was about 19 and certainly recommend the Lancia Motor Club too

[arguti]

I have an Alfa 155 Q4 - same mechanical setup as Integrale basically - looked after by Neil Smith in Pershore near Worcester - Neil knows these pretty well and races the ex Tarauini WTCC Alfa 156 so must be ok !

[GTS440]

Just had a big service done on my Evo2 by Neil Boggas at Project Lancia - who has started up his own Lancia Service workshop near Sawbridgeworth (Near to Stansted airport).

Neil is a Lancia trained technician who worked at John Whalley Lancia in Bishops Stortford since 1988 until it closed a few years back.



Contact details:

http://www.projectlancia.co.uk/

Neil Boggas

Email: [e-mail]

Tel. [phone]

I have to say that he has been a pleasure to deal with and done everything he said, on budget and even took the car for MOT (Neil is certified to do MOTs too) and brought it back to my home. The car is running beautifully.

Here’s the list of jobs he did.

Full service, oils, filters, gearbox oil, spark plugs, brake fluid, diff oil

3 x Belts changed, tensioner and idler bearings

Water pump changed due to minor leak.

Remove fuel tank, clean inside tank, clean fuel lines, Fuel pump and fuel filter replaced

Repair fuel tank breather

4 x Injectors sent off to be cleaned (one was blocked)

4 x Bump stops replaced as they were breaking up.

MOT test

He has a couple of other Integrales in the workshop too, one that needs extensive welding work which he is also doing so I believe he could be very useful for owners with cars North/East of London.

I have had Integrales on and off over 20 years and can honestly say that I would highly recommend him.

[_Superleggera_]

Felice at auto alfa in Basildon

[SlimJim16v]

Do Not Go Anywhere Near Shagauto in London.

There was someone near Brands Hatch, can't think of the name, or even if they're still there.

You will get any info you need on evocorner. The LMC is well worth joining.

Lovely car you have.