Hi all
There is not really anywhere on the web for 1100Ts so I decided here is the best spot. I have just bought a 1965-ish Fiat 1100T. It is pretty far gone, hence the name - the Pretty Far Gone Furgone. I'm hoping it is not too far gone and some of the restorations on here have given me hope.
A bit of general 1100T history. They were built initially using the 1100 engine, and subsequently a 1220 engine, then the engine out of the Fiat 1300 and later the 1500, and finally a diesel. They had a payload of about 1100kg and were geared low to achieve this. Top speed was about 100kph. They are pretty much exactly the same size as a bay window VW bus.
There is very little available on the web about these vans. A facebook group that is pretty much limited to photos. One restoration in NZ on Oldschool.nz.co by Kyle, and one contact (Luca) I made in Italy who is also restoring one.
This one has been sitting for a very long time outside somewhere in Australia, probably in NSW. There are holes in the roof, floor and chassis. The wheels have rusted away where they were sitting in the dirt. The side windows have been removed leaving it open to the rain.
The previous owner made a very small start on dismantling the van but seemed to only have wire cutters. All of the wires have been cut near the lights, behind all the switches. behind the dash, everywhere. I am sure he had a plan but I'm not sure what it was.
I think it was fitted out as a camper at one stage as it has definitely been lined in wood on the walls and a fabric hood lining, and there are signs cupboards were once bolted in.
Mechanically, I am told the engine is not seized. One spark plug is missing and the brake shoes have been removed from one wheel (presumably to free them so that it rolls). The rubber perimeter of the air cleaner has degraded to the consistency of chewing gum. But with no wiring, having a crack at starting it is a while off. It sure would make it easier to move around.
Despite the extent of the rust, the construction seems largely to use simple shapes of panels that are largely folded and curved in only one direction.
The plan is to initially get it roadworthy and registered with the current ratty paint-job. I might then get some sign-writing done that looks aged so that it looks like a barn-find Abarth service vehicle. These vans were used as race service vehicles for Maserati, Abarth and Fiat in Italy.
But first, I need to finish restoring my 500 (it is at the reassembly stage) and kick off a knock-down rebuild of our house. These were the conditions on which I bought the van. So not much might happen to it for a couple of years.
Some titles for the pictures:
Mr wire-cutter's work
dodgy sliding door lock
some surface rust that can be fixed with JB weld
evidence of hinges just inside the sliding door, where a fold down step may have been
air conditioning
Mr Wire Cutter's work again
Oh yes, it is a little askew where the forklift seems to have tweaked the rusty chassis
On the trailer ready to come home
inside picture.
just behind the passenger door
The mighty beast of an engine.
There is not really anywhere on the web for 1100Ts so I decided here is the best spot. I have just bought a 1965-ish Fiat 1100T. It is pretty far gone, hence the name - the Pretty Far Gone Furgone. I'm hoping it is not too far gone and some of the restorations on here have given me hope.
A bit of general 1100T history. They were built initially using the 1100 engine, and subsequently a 1220 engine, then the engine out of the Fiat 1300 and later the 1500, and finally a diesel. They had a payload of about 1100kg and were geared low to achieve this. Top speed was about 100kph. They are pretty much exactly the same size as a bay window VW bus.
There is very little available on the web about these vans. A facebook group that is pretty much limited to photos. One restoration in NZ on Oldschool.nz.co by Kyle, and one contact (Luca) I made in Italy who is also restoring one.
This one has been sitting for a very long time outside somewhere in Australia, probably in NSW. There are holes in the roof, floor and chassis. The wheels have rusted away where they were sitting in the dirt. The side windows have been removed leaving it open to the rain.
The previous owner made a very small start on dismantling the van but seemed to only have wire cutters. All of the wires have been cut near the lights, behind all the switches. behind the dash, everywhere. I am sure he had a plan but I'm not sure what it was.
I think it was fitted out as a camper at one stage as it has definitely been lined in wood on the walls and a fabric hood lining, and there are signs cupboards were once bolted in.
Mechanically, I am told the engine is not seized. One spark plug is missing and the brake shoes have been removed from one wheel (presumably to free them so that it rolls). The rubber perimeter of the air cleaner has degraded to the consistency of chewing gum. But with no wiring, having a crack at starting it is a while off. It sure would make it easier to move around.
Despite the extent of the rust, the construction seems largely to use simple shapes of panels that are largely folded and curved in only one direction.
The plan is to initially get it roadworthy and registered with the current ratty paint-job. I might then get some sign-writing done that looks aged so that it looks like a barn-find Abarth service vehicle. These vans were used as race service vehicles for Maserati, Abarth and Fiat in Italy.
But first, I need to finish restoring my 500 (it is at the reassembly stage) and kick off a knock-down rebuild of our house. These were the conditions on which I bought the van. So not much might happen to it for a couple of years.
Some titles for the pictures:
Mr wire-cutter's work
dodgy sliding door lock
some surface rust that can be fixed with JB weld
evidence of hinges just inside the sliding door, where a fold down step may have been
air conditioning
Mr Wire Cutter's work again
Oh yes, it is a little askew where the forklift seems to have tweaked the rusty chassis
On the trailer ready to come home
inside picture.
just behind the passenger door
The mighty beast of an engine.
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