Collecting barn find Flavia

[pbharcourt]

26822681I have just collected my latest little project, thankfully with the wife's agreement this time:cheers:
My second Lancia ( I am still working on the Fulvia berlina) and hopefully not too much work to get her going, I will relate some of her history when I get a bit more time.

[ncundy]

Looks in very presentable condition - amazing they still turn up like this!

[1,6 HF]

Wonderful acquisition. Congratulations!

As my Fulvia is currently consuming its rings, and not up to a long drive, I borrowed a frend's Flavia Coupe for the ALC West Coast Reunion last weekend (now that's a friend). I'd driven the car before, but every time I do, I'm reminded just what a delightful car it is--a truly grand tourer.

Good luck with yours.

[Geoff]

Years ago (in graduate school) I had a Flavia Berlina 819 - not imported into the US, but I brought it back from Quebec. It was a lovely dark blue, tan interior, and had this mellow but nice flat four engine. I really liked that car - never too fast, but boy, was it smooth. Curiously, it was very popular with the opposite sex, who somehow responded nicely to its gently sounds. There's a lesson in there somewhere....

[pbharcourt]

Thanks for the support chaps, I feel so lucky to have been able to purchase this car as it is quite unique.
It has had two owners from new, the first owner was a wealthy industrialist and had a personal number plate 'SB 59' , after two years it was sold to a consultant surgeon who previously had a Flavia saloon.
It was shortly afterwards retired to being a high days and holiday car due to the 1970's fuel crises, in 1984 it was finally put away for good with a dust sheet over her and 28,000 miles on the clock.
She has come with full tool kit, documents, including the show room swing tag from the rear view mirror, orginal tyres etc etc...
I am looking forward to bringing her back to life again.
Being a Subaru owner I am quite used to the smooth throb of a good flat 4 engine and yes the wife does love it!!

[pbharcourt]

Pheeww.... What a day I had yesterday..
I have spent the last 4 months tinkering with the Flavia and yesterday I took her for an MOT, the first one in 25 years...... and she passed with only a few minor advisories, Yeee Haaa...
The only down side was that on the way to the testing station I got a bit enthusiastic with the throttle and sucked a load of crud up into the carb... she then cut out right in the middle of a junction going up an incline, blast and damnation! after a bit of fiddling and a further two brakedowns we made it to the garage, where she behaved impecably and passed the MOT!
I then picked her up and started for home in the dark, during rush hour, my second mistake of the day! the 10 min journey took 2 hours and much cursing from myself and a number of other drivers rushing to make it home in time for tea:( junctions and traffic lights took on a new and frightening persona!
Today will be spent removing the petrol tank, fuel pump etc etc etc.....:rolleyes:
I would like to upload some pictures but something has gone wrong with the system and it keeps saying upload error, any ideas?

[fay66]

Paul,
Pleased to know I'm not the only one having problems. I've been trying for about a week to upload photos to the threads and the library with no luck.

Brian

Love the sound of your Flavia!

[riczag]

I like the Flavia a lot. An elegant and sophisticated design and as Ed says, a proper GT (having sufficient space and refinement). I do not know why I have never bought one. I have recommended this car to several friends one of which toiok the plunge and was very pleased.
Glad to hear that the car is up and running, well nearly running. Cr*p in the petrol can be a real pain and can unfortunately take many months to fully work its way through and out of the system.
Good luck, happier motoring times await.

[pbharcourt]

Sorry I still can not upload any new files to my account, can some one please advise?:'(

[DJ]

Sorry I still can not upload any new files to my account, can some one please advise?:'(

I updated the forum code today. Please give it another try now.

I just added a 2 mb picture to this post. We'll see if it works.

[fay66]

I updated the forum code today. Please give it another try now.

I just added a 2 mb picture to this post. We'll see if it works.


Dj,
Thank you, we're back in business, I've just uploaded some photos of Lingotto in 2003 in my Album and everything worked ok.
We're back in business!!!.

Brian

[pbharcourt]

36563655Ah ha!! cooking with gas now!3654

[Pete-Bolse]

Beautiful car.

[fay66]

Beautiful car.

Very very nice.

Brian

[DJ]

I want that car!

[pbharcourt]

Thanks guys, she is pretty much as she left the factory but with a bit of the patina of age.
The doors have a couple of small dings where people have opened doors on her in the car park of life and the elderly gent polished the paintwork thin along the top edges of the doors which has led to light surface rust coming through.
I am very reluctant to do too much work on her as she would lose something, a little gentle tidying I think.
I have been wafting around the local area to amazed looks from the normal people:D

[Zsport1.3]

I'll look out for you as I work in Chandlers Ford!

Great car.

[1,6 HF]

It cleaned up beautifully. I'd be very reluctant to do anything to it; you can't beat originality.

[pbharcourt]

Hi zsport,
Where in Chandlers ford do you work?
I could bring the old girl around to show you.