126 Luigi II...... by gadge

Ok with the failure of the first project still fresh in my mind I was very careful in choosing a replacement and after a few weeks of searching I belive I've had found the one. Meet luigi the 2nd



It was quite an adventure driving it home - heavy rain and ferocious winds weren't the ideal weather conditions to drive in when your car weighs less than a shoebox but that aside it took it in its stride traveling the 120 odd miles from dartford to the Warwickshire at 60 mph with no problem at all

So what have I bought? It's an 89 126 BIS with only 9000 miles on the clock. It's got an MOT until July and tax for 1 year. It came with a folder filled with history detailing work done recently including a new alternator, starter motor and a head gasket. It could do with a bloody good clean inside and out and the journey home revealed some minor issues. The intermittent wiper setting sometimes doesn't work, the ignition barrel is dodgy, small patch of rust under the windscreen, one of the door cards is comming away, all four tyres are perishing (I genuinely think there the original ones) and it's missing some door trim. Nothing serious and easily sorted so tomorrow I hope to swap the suspension, steering rack, brakes, shocks and springs all over from the old luigi as there all new and stick the new wheels and tyres on then it's on to the body work and give it a good clean and polish

The body work is really grubby and could do with a good rubbing compound on it does anyone have any recommendations ?

Only 9k on the clock, WOW!

I know and all the paperwork backs it all up. I have an invoice from February 1991 from the fiat dealer in Bristol (where it was registered) detailing a 6000 mile service on 1900 miles then later on in October 91 it had another after only 800 miles! I also have the original bill of sale and a service book with four dealer stamps up to 91.

I use Autoglym's paint restorer; but I think others have had a lot of success with G3...?

Have a look at the detailing section, or call out @Andy Monty...!

Great stuff I do have a bottle of T-cut but I didn't know whether that was strong enough to cut though the grime. It looks like it hasn't been polished in about 15 years I have autoglym high resin polish too?

If you've T-cut then that'll be good enough, thats what I still use, until it eventually runs out

Ok so yesterday and a little bit this evening was taken up by swaping the rebuilt front suspension and steering rack from the old car over to the new car. I also fitted the ignigtion lock/column from the old one too as the new one was faulty as were the wiper stalks ...... Or so I thought, the problem was still there so it's probably the wiper control unit so I'll swap that over later too

The best news though was fitting the ultra rare MK1 air cooled steering wheel it looks wicked and really gives the dash area that retro look. Pictures to follow

Shame to hear about luigi 1 mate! But luigi 2 looks like he's gonna still give you lots of smiles! keep the updates coming!

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Thanks guys yeah I'm a bit wounded about the first one but the writing was on the wall and the cost of doing it just spiralled out of controlled. It's not a total loss there's still a lot of bits that I can transfer over to the new one plus I have an Aladdin's cave of spares and NOS (new Old stock) bits that I've collected over the years that will go on to the new one.

More to come at the weekend - damm weathers stopping me from playing but I did manage to put the new wheels in the boot of my car to take to the body shop for spraying up. I hoping the weekends weather will perk up so I can give him a t-cut, polish and a wax

I request more pictures @gadge :P

I'll get some up tomorrow @Reuuk weathers been dismal but I do have some updates...... Started to clean the luggage/under bonnet area up. I removed the commercial sized battery and heater fan, washer bottles and jack and washed it all down with soapy water. Removing the oversized battery revealed a very crusty battery tray, a hole and some other local rustiness - nothing major but it'll need to be dealt with. It may only have 9000 miles on the clock but some areas hav'nt been very well looked after

On a positive note my seicento wheels have gone into the wheel shop to get dipped and resprayed . Can't wait to see what they look like on the car

What SEI wheels you got?!

I'm going for the retro look so I managed to get hold of 5 brand new steelies with new tyres which would've gone on a seicento

Ahh sweet man! Guessing not banded then? lol. X1/9 bertone wheels look good on them too!