(G) In Breaking News... another Uno bought

Maybe that title was a pun... maybe it should have been broken for spares...

Well it was a clear, sunny winter's afternoon when I was rudely awoken by a phone call from a rather excitable jjhepburn: "Have you seen the vintage Uno on Trademe"... no I hadn't, but the rest is history.

There were two goals with the purchase of this particular vehicle: (1) to obtain another Uno for Ben to drive around when he gets his license (see video), and (2) to own possibly the oldest Uno on the forum! 1986Uno45S, watch out! Prepare to meet 1984Uno70S... old-style non-reflectorised plate and all. It's even got a WOF/Reg (that's 'Taxed and Tested' to you English folks).

I took some photos and videos using my still camera, and so here is a link for you to watch for more info...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-4A8jhAYU

At least it made the 100-odd kilometre journey back home to Hamilton from Tauranga.

It was a suitably exciting way to spend the afternoon and is doubtless going to be the source of great mirth in the inevitable 'doing-up'. It's not at my place, so either it will take up none of my free hours, or it will use up all of my free petrol

Uno Number Seven... Are we completely mad?

Thanks,
-Alex

yes....yes you are

and ill be coming to you when i need a Fiat to drive over there

oh, and the video seems broken you got a any pictures for us on 56k

OK, try the video again
It takes a while for YouTube to process it (must be bad!)

56K... oh dear... OK here's a pic.
I think the video tells the story better, though.

-Alex

Spoken like Little Britain: "No, no. I'm the oldest Uno in the Village" !!!!

Nice buy Alex! That looks like the same model (and the same year) that I bought in 1998 for spares for my previous 45!

I take it it has a sunroof, and electric windows? It should also have the roof mounted clock (with red LEDs) and map reading light, plus electric windows with the switches in a little pod below the centre console?

And they're also very nippy little things too. Don't forget that the 1500 X1/9 engine drops straight in

What's the plan? You're not really going to break it are you?

We need more information and pictures!

Mk1's rule, 'cos oldskool is cool

Chas

LMFAO at the sheep skin nice vid and well yup your mad

OK heres my update on the Uno 70S which is now on my driveway (Alison is very pleased to see another Uno, its actually #8)

As the video states, the brakes DONT work, which made going over the Kaimai ranges exciting (these are hills much bigger than any mountain in England). But we made it back to Hamilton.

I've done a bit of investigation today and heres what I can see:

• The vacuum diaphram on the dissy is fine (a miracle)
• The brakes still dont work
• The radiator was low on water (which considering it was over full when we left is an issue, but on a lighter side it seemed to be coming from the non-fiat radiator cap)
• It has no sunroof (Which is a good thing)
• The central locking didnt work (because the fuse was missing) and the motor on the drivers door was making a strange noise when I put the fuse back in.
• The electric window of the drivers side works good, the other doesnt at all
• The check panel (a bit of a novelty for us) seems to work because it spotted the radiator level issue
• The engine bay needs a real good clean

Other notes:

• The car had half a tank of gas
• New front tires
• New windscreen
• New cam belt and head gasket
• New battery
• 6 months rego (tax in British talk)
• Managed the 100+ KM trip to Hamilton
• Only cost NZ$250 (about 80 pounds)
• Yes it has the red LED clock, the check panel, the window switches under the radio, and what looks like the original radio...

Also it looks like Ben isnt going to have this car now, so its all MINE

Heres some photos, sorry ther're a bit big

Oh my, why?

Are you chaps soon to open the Fiat Uno museum in NZ? That dent on the back looks like it should polish out.

For info there is a chap giving a Fiat Uno 1.4SX ie away on the Fiatowners GB site. I will start a new thread, if it was nearer I'd probably go and nab it.

I think we ran out of luck with the interior colours. I thought that early cars had a pleasant grey interior - but this one seems to be part-brown, part-black.

It's a good question as to 'why', I'm not sure myself.
What I do know is that I just placed a bid on http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=61225096

I mean, just look at it! Ultimate. I remember one like this came up a year or so back. That one sold for $2800. Hope this one doesn't get that high.

Not sure which car I'd get rid of to free space for this one... probably the X1/9.

Would be a rather basic driving experience, but certainly an object of beauty (by the time I'd finished with it, anyway).

-Alex

Nice looking motor. That looks identical to the one down my road. I think it may be owned by a student because it only appears on the occassional weekend.

Well I've actually listed my X1/9 for sale. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=61355510

It's really quite sad actually!

But it MAY be worth it to have a really-mint, rust-free Uno that's set to become a classic. And at least I'd still have the 164.

-Alex

I think it depended on the exterior colour. For some reason in the 80's they always seemed to give red cars brown interiors The black 1984 70S that I broke for spares in 1998 had a dark grey interior that was quite nice. Except that the seats were doing the usual old Fiat falling to bits lark

Heh, that really is basic! That's the same colour, same year and same spec as my first Uno. Think four speed gearbox... 1 speed interior fan... 1 speed wipers... non remote door mirrors... no tinted glass... Amber front indicators... 135 section tyres... B A S I C !

BUT! All the Uno's use the same shell, so find a dead/ rusty 'S' model or even a turbo, swap the good bits over and you'll be on target to having one of the cleanest Uno's around. Oh, and it's the same colour as Muzzies turbo reshell (what ever happend to Muzzie? )

I say go fo it Alex

Chas

OK, I thought it was time for a bit of an update on the 70S.

I'm now back from Australia so have been putting a bit more time into the car here’s the progress:

• Alex cleaned up the carb and timed the engine so is now working great
• Replaced the brake master cylinder and bled the brakes (so now they work great)
• Replaced radiator fan
• Headlamp had water in it, and when I tested the lens fell off in my hand (a worthwhile test if your headlight has water in it) I cleaned and re-glued the headlight together.
• Rebuilt the non-working heater so it now works, but I just noticed a leak!!! which means it needs to come out again...
• Flushed and flushed the coolant, nearly there.
• Began the process of getting the central locking working, then I'll tackle the passenger electric window
• Purchased some replacement front seats, door sensors and other misc. parts from the wrecker (where another red 1984 Uno 70S is parked) $10
• Purchased a new gear change linkage bush kit (fix the sloppy gear change)

Once the car and everything in it are working properly I'll be starting work on the body work of the car.

Wow, you managed bullet-points. I must ask you how you did it

Ha, so the heater has to come out again... that's unusual to have a leak in the matrix. Oh well, maybe this time around you can lubricate the fan motor as I did hear it squeaking merrily in the breeze while driving.

$10 - that's hardly anything, I wonder how <<the wrecker>> can survive on that. Must be having a good week. Come on, even one seat is worth more than that!

-Alex

My new turbo is my 7th uno too

better than a clio on 20's i soppose................

Tsk driving on the phone

Can't wait for part 2... Will his numbers come up with the lottery gear stick?