3C GT Rusteration

[Todd D.]

I've been slowly working on my Flaminia GT for years. The carbs have been re built and the engine runs fine. The gas tank is restored as well as the drive shaft and front suspension and brakes. But in reality I've been avoiding the the very serious task of replacing the entire floor pan. I figured I had better tackle it soon while there was still a floor left to make patterns from. The patterns are made and the fabrication has started. I will post before and after pics when I'm further ahead.
In the mean time....a funny thing happened while dis-assembling the car. When I removed the exhaust system (which I made about a year ago) I tipped it on its end and no fewer
than 76 big hazel nuts came tumbling out of the muffler! I'm sure some critter is pissed at me
finding his stash. There was nothing in the right hand exhaust...only the left.
No wonder the car wasn't running quite right.

[1,6 HF]

Todd,

Looks great so far. I think you're right to start on the floors while you still have viable patterns.

I do love that carb set-up...

[Geoff]

The floors used to be available from Italy, FWIW.

[Todd D.]

If floor pans are available, I've never seen them.
I only know of Cavalito in Italy. Is there another source?
I see Fulvia pans quite often but they are quite different.
Todd

[Geoff]

http://www.biondilamierati.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=postkart&file=index&req=categoryview&CID=2

Well, they list everything but Flaminia, but ask them.

Also, Omicron might have some ideas.

[1,6 HF]

If you've got someone with decent metalworking skills, you can probably fabricate them for a lot less than they'll cost from Biondi. (There's probably a joke in there about blondes and money, but nevermind...)

[Geoff]

If you've got someone with decent metalworking skills, you can probably fabricate them for a lot less than they'll cost from Biondi. (There's probably a joke in there about blondes and money, but nevermind...)

Probably true, but there is that double layer panel, with the stamping... the sills are easy enough, but sometimes people have trouble with the floor pans.

Here's a shot from a B20 restoration of the sills being replaced. Maybe the Fulvia's are a bit simpler?

[1,6 HF]

As you suspect, the Fulvia panels are indeed much simpler.

[Todd D.]

Work continues on the Flaminia. I removed the headliner and discovered a very nasty mess.
Only 3 mummified rats fell out of it! I've attached pics to show what Touring's "superleggera"
framework looks like. Suffice to say you don't ever want to roll one of these. The "A" pillar
is small enough to wrap your thumb and pinky around.
I once saw a picture of Prince Aly Khan's Flaminia GT after he hit a truck head on , killing him,
...the car looked like a rolled up ball of tin foil....not unlike what James Dean's Porsche RSK
looked like.
You can see how the wiring for the ceiling lights was held in place with cloth covered electrical tape then the foam insulation was contact cemented over top of it. The tubes were
wrapped in canvas or felt to insulate them from the aluminum roof. The tubes themselves seem to be painted in an orange paint.
The 3rd picture is hard to see but it illustrates what I love about old cars. When the car was
being trimmed after being painted one of the workers wrote with his finger ,in the still wet paint......either his name...or possibly "Lancia" in the top of the dash board, above the instruments. It starts with an "L" and then the second last letter looks like an "L" but is crossed at the top as if you might be dotting an "i".
These cars were totally hand built but it's always cool to see additional human touches.
I know my Scorpion has "Romeo " written on the frame work.
Todd

[Todd D.]

It's been a while, but I thought I would post some recent pics of the Flaminia 3C GT rusteration.
The passenger floor is now welded in place and painted. In the next couple of days I hope to have the rocker/frame rail in place along with the electrical conduit and gussets. The only thing salvageable was the center drive shaft tunnel,
which was saved only because it was wrapped in a combination of horsehair and tar. I fabricated everything myself using the original as a pattern. Once the passenger side is done, then its on to the drivers side. Unfortunately, they are not quite the same....so new patterns have to be made. At least there are no wires going through the drivers side sill.
I'll keep you posted.
Todd

[fay66]

Looking Great, well worth your undoubted efforts:cheers:

Brian

[1,6 HF]

Todd,

That is some very serious--and very impressive--metal work.

[Todd D.]

Thanks for the compliments guys!
This is the result of fixing rusty Lancia Betas for 20+ years.......you get good at making your own parts from scratch
and welding.
Here are some pics of another project I'm helping out with. Its a 1935 MG. Everything on the car is big and swoopy.
The rear fenders were rusted out where the steel wire reinforced the edge. The entire perimeter was made in 4
pieces, formed with a shrinker/ stretcher.
The front fender was rotted where it meets the frame rail . I made a new bottom for it but I had to buy an english wheel to do it.
The front valance was okay, but I made patterns from it and made a new one just for kicks.
I like to say that if it can be made out of paper, it can be made out of steel.
Its not Italian.....but its still pretty cool.
Todd3733