Lancia Club Queensland
Spotlight on a member's car
1970 series 1 Fulvia Coupe 1.3 Rallye S Restoration part 1
I bought my 1970 series 1 Fulvia Coupe 1.3 Rallye S from Melbourne in March 2021 from a devoted Lancia family who had owned it since 1985. I had restored an Alfasud Ti QV previously (no rust in my Alfa!) and had always dreamt of owning a Fulvia since I saw an HF as a kid at a Macleans bridge event. Despite getting a pre-purchase inspection as I could not travel due to Covid restrictions, it soon became apparent the car could not be driven without some major work (rust in subframe outer arms, gearbox issues and some serious bodywork repairs required) and unfortunately the most effective way was to do a full restoration. And so the journey began around May 2021.
With the help of some friends, the car was completely stripped, sandblasted and then spent 5 months at the panel beater. I think there is barely a panel on the car that was not touched in some way due to significant rust and a poor repair which had to be completely redone. This entailed new panels, panels made from scratch by the panel beater perfectly matching the original panels (even though the interior panels will not be visible) and repairing existing panels. The car underside, interior and engine bay was then painted in its new colour, the imaginatively named " Lancia Blue" (was Bianca Saratoga). Next up the subframe was blasted, galvanised and painted. Every part of the font and rear suspension was refurbished or replaced. Brakes have been professionally rebuilt as has the gearbox. The engine was rebuilt in recent years so apart from replacing the thermostat, water pump, hoses, etc and repainting the tappet cover so no major work was needed. The engine and gearbox and subframe and all suspension and brakes are now back in the car. Current focus is polishing the stainless trim and getting all the door, boot and bonnets fixings replated and polished as it's going back for the body to be painted now the mechanicals are back in the car. Following that another year + to go with fitting a new loom, adding the engine auxiliaries, fitting the dash and glass and getting the seats, door cards and carpet done and then dealing with the inevitable issues to get it running perfectly.
The Fulvia is a long-term keeper for me so even though I am spending far more than what it will be worth, I don't really care. I can't wait to get it on the road as it will be no garage queen and it will be used and enjoyed regularly and look forward to attending some Lancia events with my wife who has supported the project and looked away from the constant stream of part deliveries and invoices!! Pictures 1. As it arrived (looking smart but hiding a multitude of sins) 2. After sandblasting 3. At the panel beaters 4. Engine and gearbox on the subframe 5. Interior painted 6. Engine and gearbox back in the car 7. Rear suspension 8. Rear wing remade 9. New inner sill 10. Jacking point 11. New floor pans 12. New boot floor
With the help of some friends, the car was completely stripped, sandblasted and then spent 5 months at the panel beater. I think there is barely a panel on the car that was not touched in some way due to significant rust and a poor repair which had to be completely redone. This entailed new panels, panels made from scratch by the panel beater perfectly matching the original panels (even though the interior panels will not be visible) and repairing existing panels. The car underside, interior and engine bay was then painted in its new colour, the imaginatively named " Lancia Blue" (was Bianca Saratoga). Next up the subframe was blasted, galvanised and painted. Every part of the font and rear suspension was refurbished or replaced. Brakes have been professionally rebuilt as has the gearbox. The engine was rebuilt in recent years so apart from replacing the thermostat, water pump, hoses, etc and repainting the tappet cover so no major work was needed. The engine and gearbox and subframe and all suspension and brakes are now back in the car. Current focus is polishing the stainless trim and getting all the door, boot and bonnets fixings replated and polished as it's going back for the body to be painted now the mechanicals are back in the car. Following that another year + to go with fitting a new loom, adding the engine auxiliaries, fitting the dash and glass and getting the seats, door cards and carpet done and then dealing with the inevitable issues to get it running perfectly.
The Fulvia is a long-term keeper for me so even though I am spending far more than what it will be worth, I don't really care. I can't wait to get it on the road as it will be no garage queen and it will be used and enjoyed regularly and look forward to attending some Lancia events with my wife who has supported the project and looked away from the constant stream of part deliveries and invoices!! Pictures 1. As it arrived (looking smart but hiding a multitude of sins) 2. After sandblasting 3. At the panel beaters 4. Engine and gearbox on the subframe 5. Interior painted 6. Engine and gearbox back in the car 7. Rear suspension 8. Rear wing remade 9. New inner sill 10. Jacking point 11. New floor pans 12. New boot floor
Latest update: it’s currently getting the body painted (underneath and in the cabin were painted last year) and the interior is being completely redone.
