1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe - p51 on to pastures new

I was going to post to say glad you decided to re-do the bonnet on the Fulvia, Steve. I can't believe it didn't irritate the hell out of you that the lettering was on the p*** every time you looked at it because it did me, lol. Anyway, having read a bit further I guess I don't have to... instead I'll say glad you're going back to your spiritual home! I remember way back when you were writing about building the MRX-5 on Marsey and everyone was like "who is this guy? It's like he sprang fully-formed from Zeus' forehead!" I've got a lot of love for the little car and much respect for what you achieved with it, be good to see it again

Cheers for all the thoughts guys. I can understand that the rotary mx5 is quite a different car to the Fulvia, and so for many who like proper classics like the Fulvia it's not something that you'd consider equal in specialness. Please don't under estimate the amount of thought that's gone into this decision, I've practically had sleepless nights over it all. All my friends and family tend to agree that I'm making the right choice in returning to the mx5, like Luckyseven says it's kinda my spiritual home. When I got the opportunity to get the rotary 5 back I knew it had to come home.

I really would like to be able to keep the Fulvia at the same time, I just can't see it being a practical option for a number of reasons. Firstly I've just spent a chunk of my 'savings towards a house deposit' account on the mx5 and, although I try to deny it, sometimes there are things more important than cars. Secondly theres's the time. The Lancia does need lots of time and care to keep it running well and looking good, but that spare time will be spread even thinner if it's across 3 cars not 2. Thirdly is the space. With the motorbike in the garage (the motorbike is staying come hell or high water) there's just about room to squeeze one car in, so two cars would need to live on the drive. To fit 2 cars on the drive I have to park the one up against the garage door, so the garage can't open, and the car ends up coving the front door also so you have to squeeze past it to get in and out of the house everyday. Certainly it's do-able but it's awkward, and means there's a lot less space to work on the cars. Finally I don't believe in cars as an investment, they are machines built to be driven and the least we can do is drive them. It's such a shame to see cars locked away just because they become valuable, it's the same reason I don't believe in daily drivers. I want to drive my 'special' car every day. I'd rather see someone else enjoy my hard work in the Fulvia than see it collecting dust.

A 500 hunting trip sounds like fun Clement In many ways, if I've actually got a performance oriented car again then I can look for a classic that's even more focussed on being that nimble and pleasant thing without the need for it to have any nods towards performance, and that's kinda where the little 500 comes in. The hours and hours and hours that went into the Fulvia, in many ways was the biggest hurdle to the idea of letting it go.

I'll start a thread on the original mx5 build up to present at some stage shortly, for those interested

Obviously the Fulvia hasn't actually gone yet, and life throws all sorts of curve balls at us all, but the decision has been made and I intend to follow it up.

Mark, there have been very few cars similar to mine for sale recently, so it'd a bit hard to price especially as prices seem to be rising rapidly. The past few restoration projects on eBay have sold between £3000-5000, and really nice 1.3s seem to be prices £10,000-13,000. So I think I think somewhere pretty much in the middle between the two prices ranges, £7000-8000?, will be fair for my good useable, but not concourse, example



p.s. Nik I wanted the writing to be purposefully on the curse word, to emphasise the grungy nature of the graffiti play on the lettering but it didn't come out right. It's been bugging me too!

I love the Lancia and I have so much respect for all the work you've done to resurrect it. You've considered selling a couple of times on this thread - it makes a lot of sense now you've got the opportunity to get your dream car back. But I'll miss your Lancia updates, and I really hope that the next owner cherishes it as much as you have. You might need to sort the boot and bonnet in order to get your money - while it's really solid and properly done underneath, and the paintwork looks great (well done on that - it sounds like a huge amount of work), it will lose a lot of kerb appeal with the black bonnet and boot.
I hope you post a thread of this quality about your Mazda on here.
Cheers
Duncan

I can see how you'd come to think what you do about your mx-5. I still miss my v8 66 mustang from time to time. It was my first venture into classic cars and home restoration. So I guess I agree with your choices. And it's not like you didn't care for the lancia with al your heart and effort! I say do what pleases you most. Time will tell if and when you're in the right place to scratch other itches as you say.... It was a good and entertaining read though. I even feel i've gotten to know you somewhat from reading your trials and tribulations! So please keep that up!

Cheers Alex, and I know what you mean! I think with all the build thread that go on for an expend period of time you feel like you get to know the people

Riverhead, in many ways I think you're right, I've generally 'finished' a car then moved on and started the next I think of lot of the joy is in the build. Good luck when you start on your Fulvia There's lots of support out there, and while it might take a long time seeing it complete it well worth the effort.

I can tell you Ford Capri alloys definitely wont fit. The Fulvia is a 4x130 PCD bolt pattern with a 60mm centre bore. The only other standard cars with those specs are original VW Beetle. Also beware not to go too wide, the 6" wide wheels on mine have taken a lot of work to fit, without going the full wide arches route.

RATCHETACCORD posted this picture in my mx5 thread, which kinda neatly says whats been going on with the Fulvia over the past few days.



I had hoped to get the boot lid and bonnet done for the special day, but life got in the way. The Lancia still did a grand job on the day regardless After the ceremony it then continued to do itself proud by happily taking my wife (!!) and I on the 200+ miles trip up to the Lake district for our short honeymoon, and then traversing various mountain passes still without drama. Driving round these windy country lanes in the sunshine it was really in it's element!



It then did the trip home with equal ease, including getting stuck on the M6 in some fairly serious traffic. And after all that, this morning it decided to start missing, I was getting tach drop outs and all sorts of issues Luckily once I started looking into it the problem was fairly obvious, this is my main earthing point for the Megasquirt….



Did the nut back up and problem solved!

With life returning to a more normal pace, I need to get my head down with this bodywork now! It also needs a damn good clean out inside, as it's full of confetti!

So congratulations are in order!

Hey Congratulations and wish you a very happy life together.
Hope she likes cars!!!

Cheers guys So far married life has been good! Riverhead, my wife only really likes cars as fashion accessories, haha. The important thing is she understands my passion for them, she's normally a bad influence on buying shiny new parts!

I've been plodding on with the bodywork on the Lancia over the past couple of evenings. As I mentioned before there are 3 main things to sort, the boot, bonnet and right rear wheel arch, then I can call the bodywork complete. I thought I'd start with the boot lid. Back on page 21 of this thread, in October last year, I put some patches on the corners of the boot lid. The underside of the back edge is still a bit ropey, but it's not structural and it's hidden when the trim is fitted. After the weeks of prep on the rest of the shell, i'd just very roughly slapped some filler and matt black paint on the boot lid to get out driving again.



A few hours of sanding and a skim of filler later and it's looking a lot better. Kinda felt like business as usual back filling the garage up with filler dust, but it was nice only working on one panel rather than a whole car.



A spot of primer shows that the shape is getting pretty close already.



It needs a bit more final shaping and some knifing pity as theres a few pits on the surface of the filler but hopefully another evenings work and it'll be ready for paint.

Bonnet next, which is going to be a bit more involved i fear!

It's the Honister Pass, B5289, that runs from Keswick, along Dewent water to Butermere and on to Crummock Water. Googlemaps link It made the 200 mile drive to the lake district totally worth it!