A short note as to why I have joined this great forum!
For the past year I have been renovating a 1969 1438cc AS Fiat 124 Spider with my father. The car had been imported into the country in 1992 from California and had been stood still in dry storage up until February last year when work was started.
Considering a long and lonely 15 years covered up and dreams of getting her back on the road, the dream had started to become reality. My initial plan was and still is to keep her as original as possible, with the obvious updates and requirements.
The body was in excellent condition considering the years of bad weather etc. and very minor rust problems were discovered on the "strip down".
A total "Nut and Bolt" rebuild from the floor up has been carried out through 2007. Engine and transmission rebuild, conversion from left to right hand drive and body work that needed straightening plus alot of other bits and bobs. Alot of hours have been spent on her so far and up until recently light can bee seen at the end of the tunnel.
We are now at the stage of getting the surface details completed and she is all ready to be painted a light metallic blue with black leather interior and hood.
I have entered her into Classic Le Mans' "Happy Few" for car enthusiasts and look forward to the drive down through France.
My initial plan is to have her running for May and give her a good shakedown prior to July! The wait of hearing the engine turnover and whistle into sound is something I cannot wait for.
Please see the pictures below showing:
her 15 year resting place,
engine and transmission, before and after,
a very scary water pump!
The rear axle before and after,
and as she is today
Bring on those sunny days!
Cheers,
Charles Buckley
- HUM 366G -
