Wowcher! Now that's what I call an interior (Iso Fidia 1973)

[Andy 308GTB]

Historics at Brooklands forthcoming auction has this car, the interior is something else:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-08...

[Shaw Tarse]

I like it

[aeropilot]

Crikey.......

Even by wacky 1970's standards that's certainly.........err...... different.

[sun.and.rain]

Holy hay-bales batman, is that the original interior? I like the big chunky "Thunderbirds are go" auto gear-selector lever.

On a separate note, didn't know John Lennon had an Iso (not this one). Cars of the Beatles and Stones in the 60s is well documented and interesting.

Cleveland small-block 351V8 easy and relatively cheap to fix and tune up, Americashire made millions and millions of them, a bit like a US equivalent of the 2-litre Pinto.

Edited by sun.and.rain on Monday 10th August 16:59

[a8hex]

OK so you can understand why it was abandoned in a barn somewhere but why didn't they brick it up too?

[dpp]

a8hex said:

OK so you can understand why it was abandoned in a barn somewhere but why didn't they brick it up too?

Its really strange how different people see things, to me this interior is awesome and I would love to buy this car based on that alone.

I have too many cars and too little time at the present though.

What is the expected sale price as the car seems to need a fair amount of work and the interior will put off some I know

[TooMany2cvs]

dpp said:

to me this interior is awesome and I would love to buy this car based on that alone.

It's certainly... different...


I'm really glad it exists, but I don't know if I could live with it.

[55palfers]

https://twitter.com/itstomlynch/status/62899997359...

Here's its stable-mate

[jith]

Actually, it's just the cloth that's "unique". The design of the interior is quite typical of the era.

Personally, I think it's bloody awful!

J

[bob1179]

Strela said:

Auctioned for 7k, dealer advertised it for 25k and is now listing it on ebay where it's bid up to 4.5k.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-Iso-Fidia-for-Resto...

I really want this at the end of my garden.

That is a real shame, it looks like it may have been bought to make a fast buck and capitalize on the frankly ludicrous classic car market we have at the moment.

I hope it gets bought by someone who has the means and ability to return it to its former glory. And also return that interior to it's original blue colour!

I would love to have a go at restoring something like that, if only I had the cash and the skills!

[bob1179]

I expect that every single repair panel would have to be fabricated. At least the switch gear and oily bits are all out of other more mainstream production cars so would be a little easier to replace or fix.

Is there an ISO specialist somewhere in the UK? I wonder if any panels are available at all for it?

It's the sort of rare odd car that I like.

[Flip Martian]

Lovely car but that must be most hideous interior choice I've ever seen.

Must be an idea for a new thread there, surely?

[uk66fastback]

bob1179 said:

I hope it gets bought by someone who has the means and ability to return it to its former glory. And also return that interior to it's original blue colour!

But it was - it was bought by Alan Carrington. He has the means and the ability if you've seen some of the cars he has restored. Seems like maybe he's bitten off more than he can chew!

But this car his is THE moneypit of all moneypits, surely?

The car itself is nothing special in my book - even when restored. I can think of a lot better motors to throw money at. I am sure the interior was 'nice' once. But that was a long time ago. I have no idea how you would ever go about replicating that design!

[Pothole]

One of Giorgetto Giugiaro's worst designs I think. It looks like it's a melted blob from some angles

[uk66fastback]

Can't find another interior like that one with an image search although it did throw this one up!

Just goes to prove that exclusivity and being rare doesn't mean that much sometimes in classic car prices - you have to have that one ingredient missing with this car - desirability.

Edited by uk66fastback on Wednesday 22 June 00:31

[blueg33]

bob1179 said:

I expect that every single repair panel would have to be fabricated. At least the switch gear and oily bits are all out of other more mainstream production cars so would be a little easier to replace or fix.

Is there an ISO specialist somewhere in the UK? I wonder if any panels are available at all for it?

It's the sort of rare odd car that I like.

I know a body shop that has rebuilt a Grifo making lots of panels by hand. The workmanship is amazing.

[texaxile]

55palfers said:

https://twitter.com/itstomlynch/status/62899997359...

Here's its stable-mate

I guess its the same car? Even though the dash panel on the twitter pic has a radio and the later pics of the car it doesn't.

I think it has the makings of a nightmare for restoration.

[bob1179]

blueg33 said:

I know a body shop that has rebuilt a Grifo making lots of panels by hand. The workmanship is amazing.

It's amazing what some folk can do. I have a friend who is having a Lotus 11 tub made from scratch and the workmanship is like nothing I've ever seen before. It seems to be a dying skill though, something I would love to learn.

[bob1179]

uk66fastback said:

But it was - it was bought by Alan Carrington. He has the means and the ability if you've seen some of the cars he has restored. Seems like maybe he's bitten off more than he can chew!

But this car his is THE moneypit of all moneypits, surely?

The car itself is nothing special in my book - even when restored. I can think of a lot better motors to throw money at. I am sure the interior was 'nice' once. But that was a long time ago. I have no idea how you would ever go about replicating that design!

I retract my comment, I've just had a look at his website. Some impressive work there.

I expect it will cost a fortune to restore, It won't be worth it financially but it will be a rare car when complete. I'd love to see it on the road again.

[blueg33]

bob1179 said:

blueg33 said:

I know a body shop that has rebuilt a Grifo making lots of panels by hand. The workmanship is amazing.

It's amazing what some folk can do. I have a friend who is having a Lotus 11 tub made from scratch and the workmanship is like nothing I've ever seen before. It seems to be a dying skill though, something I would love to learn.

Yes, the chap at the body shop is almost certainly past normal retirement age. His pride in the job is incredible, he loved telling me the detail of how parts were formed and the tools he uses

Pics of the Grifo and other jobs here

https://www.facebook.com/Kustom101Ltd/photos?ref=p...