1979 Fiat 124 Spider

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Discussion

5 In a Row

1,512 posts

229 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
On returning to the car, something was amiss with a wheel. The super high quality genuine Abarth accessory had come adrift.



But my legendary automotive skills came to the rescue.

Isn't it now slightly off centre?

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
5 In a Row said:
Isn't it now slightly off centre?
Think it appears that way as the picture is offset. It's central to the hub.*



* I think, but I'm going to have to check now!

5 In a Row

1,512 posts

229 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
5 In a Row said:
Isn't it now slightly off centre?
Think it appears that way as the picture is offset. It's central to the hub.*



* I think, but I'm going to have to check now!
laugh

I think it looks fine

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I'll post it later, but I have a picture of my old SLC in the same spot.



I should probably repeat that I didn't drive the wrong way along that road but reversed up to the sign.
As threatened:

CharlesdeGaulle said:
Some photos. I should perhaps make it very clear that I reversed up to the one way sign, I hadn't driven it the wrong way!



From here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

JeremyH5

1,600 posts

137 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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With that level of demonstrated skill I reckon the windscreen washers will be done soon wink

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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I know my limits!

The CT (MOT) is due in 3 weeks so I'm planning to get the garage to service, fix wipers and CT it in a one-er.

Mr Tidy

22,734 posts

129 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Shame about your scorpion dropping off CdeG, but if your weather has been anything like the UK it may be a heat related problem!

Love the photos though - it's just such a stylish car with great underpinnings. There's just something special about 70s Italian cars.

Good luck with the test. thumbup

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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I've been whizzing around in it today. These are the areas of corrosion, one under the front valance and around the indicator, and a couple of spots on the driver's door.




It hasn't got worse over the past year or so but any thoughts on what I should be doing about it?

Bobberoo

39,040 posts

100 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I've been whizzing around in it today. These are the areas of corrosion, one under the front valance and around the indicator, and a couple of spots on the driver's door.




It hasn't got worse over the past year or so but any thoughts on what I should be doing about it?
Have it ground back and either ground out, filled with weld, treated and resprayed, or ground back, treated, filled and resprayed, anything less and it will just come back.

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
Thanks Bobbers. I think I thought I'd get that answer but was secretly hoping you'd say 'nah, just leave it, it'll go away on its own'.

Might have to get the garagiste to price it up when it goes in.

Bobberoo

39,040 posts

100 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Thanks Bobbers. I think I thought I'd get that answer but was secretly hoping you'd say 'nah, just leave it, it'll go away on its own'.

Might have to get the garagiste to price it up when it goes in.
Sadly the old tin worm is relentless CdeG, a decent bodyshop will repair that and you'll never know it was done!!!

heisthegaffer

3,457 posts

200 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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Beautiful little car. Congratulations.

Dan Singh

892 posts

52 months

Saturday 23rd July 2022
quotequote all
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I've been whizzing around in it today. These are the areas of corrosion, one under the front valance and around the indicator, and a couple of spots on the driver's door.




It hasn't got worse over the past year or so but any thoughts on what I should be doing about it?
It doesn't look bad. If it's not getting any worse Id leave it, maybe just touch up the rusty bits.
If you start grinding it back you could end up with a lot more restoration that you bargained for wink

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Saturday 23rd July 2022
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That's what I was afraid of. I want to drive it, not restore it! Once you start with those things it's hard to know when to stop, especially if you're going to have to do paint anyway.

Krikkit

26,650 posts

183 months

Saturday 23rd July 2022
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I'd get some touch-up on the outside, on the inside of the panel (if you can) chuck some Dynax or similar wax to stop it getting any worse, and enjoy.

CharlesdeGaulle

Original Poster:

26,532 posts

182 months

Monday 8th May 2023
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Long-overdue (and very boring) update.

I never did get the wipers fixed and I let the CT (MOT-equivalent) lapse over winter. The car hasn't turned a wheel in months and I am coming to the view that I ought to sell it. I need to get it serviced and tested - and the wipers fuse changed - but then I might offer it to the garage owner and ask him to sell it for me.

I have an LC500 arriving in a few weeks and the decision point approaches. I really like this little car and it is my only soft-top, but I don't really want the hassle of owning 3 cars, one of which only rarely gets used.

Northbrook

1,445 posts

65 months

Monday 8th May 2023
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Summer is the best time of year for a convertible, no? I guess it'd be worth more with a CT, so perhaps get that done and tootle around in it for a bit?

Shnozz

27,594 posts

273 months

Monday 8th May 2023
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Northbrook said:
Summer is the best time of year for a convertible, no? I guess it'd be worth more with a CT, so perhaps get that done and tootle around in it for a bit?
Depends where you are in the world. I drive my Audi roof down all year except for the summer months, when it’s too hot and the air con much preferred over searing heat.

SS427 Camaro

6,504 posts

172 months

Saturday 13th May 2023
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Gorgeous things. I had a really nice 81 model, way back in summer 1999. It was a lovely light metalic blue ( originally silver car ) that had been sold new to California. A petrol head girl friend had been travelling around the world for a couple of years with her then boyfriend and they had bought the Spyder in California, but had split up whilst out there ! She shipped it back over to England and had no where to store it, so had to sell.
It had no reverse gear ( which was fun ) she had a spare gear box but I don’t think I got round to collecting it. I smoked around in it for a few weeks before reluctantly advertising it in one of the classic comics. A really nice guy who worked for the British Council fell in love with it. I drove it up to Woodford Green underground station and he drove it away. I contacted him about 18 months later and he had sold it to a pal. Would have that car back in a heartbeat but I’ve been unable to track it ( or the guy I sold it to ) down……