Butchering a Bertone

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

CedricN said:

Wow, nice that you got it on the ring. Driving old school cars there really bring forth a new dimension of the track when you feel everything on the track, all bumps etc and no driver aids at all to save you

Quite; but honestly, driving a unique one-off is quite scary, especially at a circuit such as this with so many variables. I was constantly looking in mirrors, damp conditions, oil spills, differing driver skill levels... The car alone is a real handful without all these external factors. Still lots of fun and a few interesting pics:

Edited by CarreraLightweightRacing on Tuesday 27th October 12:29

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

After the NBR session above, I decided to give the front axle a good DVI as numerous components had been tested for the first time. Lucky I did really as although all the new parts were fine, I found out there had been light contact between the upper control arm/wishbone and the shock mount. The picture below refers. This was basically caused by a recent geo that had been carried by a local garage (a minor oversight as it was quite complicated and took 2 days):



I also noted during the previous geo set-up that I needed to address the steering system: there was only around 10mm of thread attaching the tie rods. So by welding on these nuts, an extra 11.7mm extra safety margin created:





Following this little lot I tried out a bit of 'string theory' for the first time (not tested the car yet as only finished 1 hour ago):



Then something I've been planning to try out for a while now, ditching the front ARB. The main reason was for wheel clearance at full lock but as the chassis is very stiff and the suspension setup very track focused, so I feel I may get away with this (I've done the same with the 996). Also 4.45kg saved so now down to 874kg



Whilst this latest bout of garage antics was underway, requiring moving cars in and out the garage I took this picture. The 996 is considered relatively petite by todays standards but this really does show just how much modern cars have grown, the Alfa looks like a little toy car by comparison:

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Penelope Stopit said:

Great read, engineering at it best, stunning images

The fuses look like slow blow, similar to all other thermal type resettable fuses, the problem with them is that they don't respond to a short circuit fast enough, this causes cables and components to overheat before the slow blow fuse trips

Hi Penelope, glad you like the car. Just to clarify, these are not fuses. They are Aircraft circuit breakers. They are the safest and most reliable way to protect electrical circuits, hence them being fitted to aircraft

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Slippydiff said:

CarreraLightweightRacing said:

Hi Penelope, glad you like the car. Just to clarify, these are not fuses. They are Aircraft circuit breakers. They are the safest and most reliable way to protect electrical circuits, hence them being fitted to aircraft

And surprisingly redolent of the items fitted by Prodrive in their WRC cars Rich

High end motorsport (F1, WRX...) do have a habit of adopting the technology of aviation Henry and long may that continue

Edited by CarreraLightweightRacing on Tuesday 3rd November 18:52

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Many thanks for your input above Penelope

I've been asked a few times now about the difficulty in getting such a car TUV approved in Germany and been told by almost everyone it will not be possible. Well that is true in many respects and I've been all over the country trying to find a TUV Inspection facility that will take it on, including looking at Motorsport approval with limited road allowance to get between stages. Well it looks like I am 90% there now with a full road legal normal road car approval. Just 8 final items to resolve. I won't go into too much detail but I put a short video together today where some of the issues are mentioned. If anyone else is finding it tricky getting through the TUV approval system in Germany, I'd be more than happy to help out. I've now been through this process with various extreme custom cars (Lotus Elise, 200SX, RX7, GT3RS, CLR996 and now the Alfa) so have a full working knowledge of what is permitted and what solutions are available if you face difficulties:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLPx82mwqLA&lc...

ETA: One of the main benefits of getting TUV approval in Germany is that this standard is accepted in many other countries (Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway and probably many others). The strange thing is this is not reciprocal; nothing is accepted in Germany.

Edited by CarreraLightweightRacing on Sunday 29th November 08:13

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

I had a photoshoot with the cars last weekend so some of you may appreciate some professional pictures rather than my terrible iphone shots. Around another 400 or so pictures available here but a few sample pics below.

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Alonso92 said:

All that hard work and it’s going up on collectingcars

It's not by choice I can assure you; when you are diagnosed with the same condition as this poor guy, your priorities change a little:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Thank you for the support and well wishes guys. I even had a very kind email offering advice and support from a fellow sufferer who recommended a specialist surgeon

Hopefully the next owner will be a fellow PHer who will cherish and look after this very special car. I think CC are going live today with the auction of my cars so I wish you all the best of luck if you are bidding and look forward to meeting you and showing you around the cars. The handover will be painful but having been fortunate to be involved in the development of this car means a great deal to me.

Thanks again for all your kind words.

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Thank you all , you're too kind

Some very special warm messages here that are very touching. This little Alfa deserves to be used as often as possible. The response from other road users/pedestrians/kids/the elderly/trackday fans... is like nothing I've ever experienced before in a car. It really does bring out a smile in everyone (my Mrs aside perhaps, she thinks it's ugly and stupid; clearly mental).

It is now mid-auction so I'm going to have to prepare for handing over this Bertone-baton. It has been a wonderful experience taking the car to this stage of development and I really hope the new owner keeps posting about the car so I can read how the journey continues.

Thank you all once again for your support and well wishes

One for the road:

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Lancia888 said:

I had upper colon and lower intestinal (T3)cancer last August with major surgery in September. I wish you all the best with treatments and recovery.

I'm really sorry to hear of this Lancia888. I hope all the surgery has worked wonders and you are back fighting fit and given the all clear


Regarding the Alfa, here is an early development test run; warning put your ear defenders. Less than 24hours to go so best of luck to all

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Thank you Mark and other, I officially own this wonderful car for another 1hr and 57mins. Reality has started to kick in!

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support; PH really at it's finest

I've never been involved in an auction before so I've no idea if that is the right platform for such a unique car??? However still an interesting experience.
Sadly the Alfa didn't make reserve so I'll now look into more conventional methods for finding a new home...

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Lancia888 I'm so happy to hear it has all gone well for you

bolidemichael said:

I felt that too much emphasis in the ad was placed on 'aircraft engineer' (a feature) and not on the fact that you've managed to meet the notoriously high (clandestine?) standards required for TuV approval (a benefit).

Thanks for the advice Michael, I've taken it onboard and just made the following:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11217477


Again thanks for all the words of encouragement and support guys

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

honda_exige said:

To the OP, I am very sorry for your diagnosis and really wishing you all the best for the battle with it.

Just wanted to say this is one of the best cars I've ever seen from one KSwap owner to another (well Fswap anyway). I've posted the advert link on a couple of groups I'm on as it's such a tremendous car. Pretty sure I follow your project on FB but I didn't recognise it. Any YouTube videos of it in car?

Very kind of you Honda Exige I posted this early development test run video on the previous page.

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

ReverendCounter said:

Second time I've suggested this particular site to someone today, but advertising through carandclassic.co.uk might see some interest as well, seeing as it has good pan-EU reach for cars such as yours.

Thanks R&C I'll also have a look into that option

CC have been back in contact and want to rerun the car. Looks like it will be going ahead shortly here

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

The car completed the final TUV approval phase today: Dyno run, static and drive by noise tests, V-max run. Below is a short video of the dyno run. This was just the first run only to 7800rpm. (The max is 9000rpm). On the current base map the car made 260HP

ReverendCounter said:

Did you see the latest Davide Cirone Drive Experience vid? I wonder if he might be able to give your ad some exposure, maybe.

Alfa GT Junior restoration (seems he may have a TV series on car restorations, 'Dal Pollaio alla Pista' this being episode 4, series 1):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvoRKBp-CO0

Just read this now, so I'll have a little look this evening

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

ReverendCounter sadly my Italian is limited to just ordering food.

Wondering if the good people of PH here could offer their opinion. I had the car at auction back in January where it didn't make the reserve (bid to £70K and I had the reserve set at £100K). The auction company got back in touch asking if I'd like to try the auction again. I've just done this and removed the reserve and it went for £51K (£54K inc commission). Now the winning bidder has paid the commission but is not making any contact whatsoever to pay for the car, arrange collection etc... just radio silence.
This is not the fault of the auction company nor my own but it appears in such a case, there isn't really anything a seller can do to ensure payment is made for the car. This is in no way meant as a complaint about the auction company, I think they have always been friendly, professional and helpful. Any advice would be most welcome
I have also removed the ad I had here on PH for the car.

Moderator edit: no advertising

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

Greg_D said:

The market has spoken and the value seems set at somewhere between £50-70k. Surely someone would re-raise their hand at something similar???

Having looked on cc it appears that their fees are no -refundable and essentially constitute an introduction fee. There is nothing to suggest that there is any obligation either way to complete on the deal....

that’s surprisingly vague IMO.

You need to throw the ball back into cc’s court and get them to trace the buyer as it appears you can just sell it to someone else and matey boy would just lose his cc fee...

That’s how I read it!!!

Thanks for your feedback Greg, the market at auction suggests a value 60+fees average today which is a little disappointing and not really what I would have assumed but that is out of my hands and at least I have some guidance.
It just seems a little strange that the winning bidders pays the commission then appears to have no intention to buy the car. Why would someone just throw away just over £3k?

I've checked the T&C's and there are grounds to ensure payment, in that any bid is irrevocable and legally binding etc but having spoke with the auction company their response was "It's pretty unheard of for a buyer to behave in this way."

I guess the best way forward may be as you suggest...

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

honda_exige said:

They must have some contact details like an email for the buyer? Get them to send an email saying that if no contact is made within 10 days then the car is no longer being sold to them and will be resold.

I've gone through all that, the winning bidder has 7 days to pay. It would appear they have had a change of mind, what has caused that I have no idea but I did notice the same guy bidding on multiple other cars at the same time, so he may have been hedging his bets and bought another car. I've tried contacting the buyer via email, phone... no answer. So it looks like time to consider other options now.

My question was whether anyone has any experience where someone wins an auction pays the commission then simply walks away without so much as a word to the seller. I just can't fathom the logic behind that decision making unless the thrill of the chase and winning an auction is the main motivator.

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

ThrottleLine30 said:

I'd buy such a beautiful machine in a heart beat if I had the funds. Good luck with selling the car and wishing you all the best with your health.

Thank you TL30, you may be in luck, at the current price it should get snapped up quite quickly