1979 Fiat 124 Spider
Discussion
CharlesdeGaulle said:
It's the glove box lid. I tried a quick fix a couple of weeks ago but it didn't work, so I took it off yesterday and did a better job of it.
I'll post pictures later, but the real success has been the rear plastic window.
Easy any around that is to fit a factory hardtop - if you can find one! Is the soft top as easy to use as the period reviews suggest...?I'll post pictures later, but the real success has been the rear plastic window.
I spent some time titivating over this weekend.
First, and very easy job, was the wheel centres. Around 16 euros accounted for this cheap plastic tat and its transportation around the world and with which, I confess, I am extraordinarily pleased. The white isn't the same as the car but it's a decent contrast and looks much better than a big gap. I can live with the Abarth deceit.
First, and very easy job, was the wheel centres. Around 16 euros accounted for this cheap plastic tat and its transportation around the world and with which, I confess, I am extraordinarily pleased. The white isn't the same as the car but it's a decent contrast and looks much better than a big gap. I can live with the Abarth deceit.
The biggest result was with the plastic rear window. Previously it was opaque and milky.
I couldn't get the Renovo stuff that some of you had recommended over here, so got this from the German bay of dreams.
Bloody hell, it's really good. I posted a post-cleaning picture a couple of weeks ago, but the post-polishing one is extraordinary. The plastic isn't new, but it almost looks it.
Looking out:
Looking in:
After taking the photos I did it all again to sort the bits I'd missed. It really is a fantastic product and I am delighted with the results.
I couldn't get the Renovo stuff that some of you had recommended over here, so got this from the German bay of dreams.
Bloody hell, it's really good. I posted a post-cleaning picture a couple of weeks ago, but the post-polishing one is extraordinary. The plastic isn't new, but it almost looks it.
Looking out:
Looking in:
After taking the photos I did it all again to sort the bits I'd missed. It really is a fantastic product and I am delighted with the results.
I then had another go at the glovebox veneer. The previous bodge hadn't made much difference, so I took the whole door off and tried again. I was reluctant to take it all apart and strip it down, and was hoping I could re-glue it as-is. On the whole, I think it was reasonably successful.
Before:
After:
The pictures make it appear that there's a bubble there, but it isn't apparent in real life. For now it's a significant improvement. It's maybe a longer term project to change the whole facia - I have a new (old) one which is probably in nicer condition overall, but I rather like the 'lived-in' appearance of the fascia at the moment.
Before:
After:
The pictures make it appear that there's a bubble there, but it isn't apparent in real life. For now it's a significant improvement. It's maybe a longer term project to change the whole facia - I have a new (old) one which is probably in nicer condition overall, but I rather like the 'lived-in' appearance of the fascia at the moment.
Final confession is that I managed to sort the stuttering starting idle by discovering the manual choke! Been a while since I've used one and I'd rather forgotten to even look, but it works perfectly and the car will now get up the slope from the underground garage without a hitch with a bit of extra fuel to keep it going.
It's running great. Only jobs I know I have to do are to replace the old flat spare tyre, try and work out why the wipers don't work, and to get someone to fix the leak that sees the car's bodily fluids spewing out all over my nice garage floor.
It's running great. Only jobs I know I have to do are to replace the old flat spare tyre, try and work out why the wipers don't work, and to get someone to fix the leak that sees the car's bodily fluids spewing out all over my nice garage floor.
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