General Italian Style

[AndrewHarvey]

Apart from are shared passion for the classic 500 do any of you have any other Italian classics?
I have nearly completed the restoration of a 1951 Lambretta LD - it is concours.

Also had a Fiat 124 Arbath Spider

 

[Little Frank]

Hi I also have a 1977 Lancia Beta Coupe, really must get it out the garage soon! Can't wait to line her up next to my 3 500's.

 

[AndrewHarvey]

 

[AndrewHarvey]

And this is what my 500 to look like (just bought the wheels)

 

[Labman]

Not a classic, but Italian nonetheless.

 

[Bambino]

These are mine -

1970 Alfa 1750GTV - maintained rather than restored.
~1968 Fiat 500F - a 695cc firebreather

and my latest project, a 1957 Alfa Giulietta Spider. It was very rusty and incomplete when I bought it 18 months ago. I've since sourced many parts and it is on the way to being 'factory fresh' again. The body is nearly finished, the engine and running gear have all been rebuilt, brightware polished, instruments repaired/restored etc. I hope to start reassembling it down in my shed in about 3 or 4 months. The photos are of mine heading down to the panel beater restorer and what it will look like when complete

I am partial to Ferraris, but currently don't have the cash to indulge myself.

Chris

 

[Paolo66]

A 1965 Vespa 150px, my wifes latest barmy purchase. Now just need to register it and pass my motorbike test and I can take it for a spin. As well as trying to get the Fiat project finished!
Chris: lovely Alfa, I'd be interested to know how that project progresses

Damian

 

[ecdy]

Love mid-century Italian design. So also have 64 Alfa Spider, 63 Alfa Sprint, 62 Alfa Giulietta TI. Sold my Moto Guzzi V50 III last year, reluctantly
Jeff

 

[fiat500]

A noisy Italian car with the engine at the back, prone to overheating, terrible to start when hot, much skinnier tyres than would be ideal, hardly any space inside. But one that gives unlimited pleasure as you drive it at the limits of its performance ability. I give you the Lamborghini Miura, the only car I have ever seen which could possibly replace my 500.

But the 500 gives you all of the above at a tiny fraction of the £1.5 million price tag; nice colours though.

https://youtu.be/XGNHVYU0Xok

 

[the hobbler]

One of the places I work part-time at is a Lambo/Ferrari specialist---we have 5 Muiras in at the moment. Nice looking cars, but buggers to work on and get parts for. There is one Muira driving around with a 500L inner-door release handle in it. The Lambo part is just unobtainable, and the item on this car dissapeared during the various moves the car had before we got it to finish. Believe it or not, when fitted and fettled, the 500 part on one door looks identical to the 'Lambo' part on the other door!
By the way Peter---if you ever do manage to lay your hands on a Muira, keep below about 160mph---the front end gets more than a bit 'light' at any higher speed!

 

[Fayray]

probably an unhealthy amount of Italian trouble in my garage. I have just sold the Vespa this week though. Have had it 15 years and ridden about 100kms in that time. Two wheels scare me

The 500 (Barry) is still seriously my favourite though

 

[plasticpig1972]

I had a 1966 SX200 that i bought new when i was 17.
Always falling off it taking bends when it was raining
Alan

 

[fiat500]

By the way Peter---if you ever do manage to lay your hands on a Muira, keep below about 160mph---the front end gets more than a bit 'light' at any higher speed!

I'll watch out for that when I pick up my Miura.... it's my birthday in a couple of weeks.[emoji16] I've obviously had plenty of practice with lifting on the 500, I'm OK up to around 75 though. [emoji3] [emoji3061]

 

[Antgiu]

In addition to Luigi we have an 1980 Aprilia 50 Trials which my dad bought back in 1983 in Italy. At some point we boroughs it over to the UK and recently got it up and running again
My son has started using it between lockdowns at the local trials club so not as shiney as most vehicles on here!

 

[lazylobster]

Well, since you are asking

Some of the previous are:

Ferrari 308 GTB QV. Mechanical fuel injection. Sometimes the car ran like a dog, other times like God himself had tuned it.

Black Countach 5000s. RHD, Black on black. Should NEVER have sold this car. :bang:


Yellow 2wd 1993 Diablo. Great engine in a straight line, just don't mention corners.

Ferrari F355 Spider convertible. Only soft top I've ever owned. Wonderful car, looks, sound of the decatt V8 and handles like a go kart. But so expensive on maintenance.

Then the bikes.

Bimota SB6R. Beautiful engineering but physically a big bike and being a small chap, I was not too comfortable on it.

Ducati 748SP. Loved this bike, awesome v Twin with Termignoni pipes.


But I gave up the bikes after the odd "off", my life was worth more,


Currently:

Red Lambo Countach QV. Awesome, love it. Straight through pipes on the V12 is somewhat loud. Sounds like a tractor on tick over Goes by the name of Daisy, she's on instagram countach_daisy


Then I turned away from the dark side and brought the 500. Gives me so much joy and fun. A popular instagram supermodel with over 8000 followers (crazy!!) valentina_fiat_500

 

[lazylobster]

One of the places I work part-time at is a Lambo/Ferrari specialist---we have 5 Muiras in at the moment. Nice looking cars, but buggers to work on and get parts for. There is one Muira driving around with a 500L inner-door release handle in it. The Lambo part is just unobtainable, and the item on this car dissapeared during the various moves the car had before we got it to finish. Believe it or not, when fitted and fettled, the 500 part on one door looks identical to the 'Lambo' part on the other door!
By the way Peter---if you ever do manage to lay your hands on a Muira, keep below about 160mph---the front end gets more than a bit 'light' at any higher speed!

Tom, you have my interest! Only place that springs to mind with you being located where you are, is Iain Tyrrell's? If not please can you confirm, happy to take a DM if you wish to keep it private.


Regards
Rob

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Rob---contact me direct ([email protected]) and I will let you into the secret!

 

[fiat500]

Only place that springs to mind with you being located where you are, is Iain Tyrrell's? If not please can you confirm, happy to take a DM if you wish to keep it private.

.....obviously, you would want to keep it to yourself if you worked for that incompetent shower of cowboys...

https://youtu.be/aBXuv7KXPc8

 

[lazylobster]

.....obviously, you would want to keep it to yourself if you worked for that incompetent shower of cowboys...

https://youtu.be/aBXuv7KXPc8

Harry's Espada, 30K + of engine rebuild . . . ouch

 

[fiat500]

Harry's Espada, 30K + of engine rebuild . . . ouch

Once you realise how Harry spends money, it starts to sound cheap, considering the level of detail they went to. I liked the way he says, "I've been paying it in installments."...... as if he needed to .