Posts

Showing posts from September 8, 2019

Readers' Photos # 48: Lancia # 76 and an Alfa 105 GT 1300

Image
Uppermiddlepetrolhead does feature some pretty special cars, even if I do have to say so myself!  There are some true classics featured, including all the "big" names like E-Type Jags, Porsches, Ferraris, a "Gull-wing" Merc, plus plenty of Aussie muscle - even a trio of Galant hardtops! I strongly suspect that this superb classic Italian racer - reportedly an Alfa, but in my mind probably a Lancia - is as special, if not more so, than any other car featured on the whole 'blog.  I'd love to tell you more about it but I can't, other than it was recently snapped in Rye, Victoria, by UMPH's special correspondent for Green Acres.  The Green Acres special correspondent also photographed this lovely Alfa 1300 GT Junior at the same time and place as the Lancia.  Again, I'm less than full-bottle when it comes to this car, as I thought all the single headlight per side 105s were "step-noses," but this one doesn't appear to...

X1/9 Window, Door and Top Rubbers (A Work in Progress 4.2)

Image
The new seal being fitted as a continuous length. Work has continued tidying up my "new" Series 1, with one of the easier and more satisfying tasks being the replacement of the cracked and crumbly rubbers that once upon a time sealed the side windows, doors and and top.  They've certainly improved the look, the doors don't bang shut like they did and the car's a bit less breezy, too!   Having searched the 'net for some suitable seals, I chose Midwest-Bayless' three piece set that were on special for a fairly reasonable U$69 (AU$100 +/-).  Well, they were reasonably priced until U$92 (AU$134!) was added for freight!! A pleasing finish. Members of the Australian X1/9s Facebook site soon had me sorted, putting me onto Aussie company Clark Rubber, a crowd that I ignorantly associated with pool noodles, lilo patches and not much else.  Silly me!   Not only did my local Clark Rubber store stock way more that swimming pool acces...

A work in progress # 4.1: 1978 Serie 1 Fiat X1/9

Image
Ne vinci un po ', ne perdi un po'! Questo è solo come è a volte. Prima il lato del debito del registro: il precedente stato "totalmente privo di ruggine" ha messo un grosso asterisco contro di esso, in attesa di ulteriori indagini sul sistema di raffreddamento. In sua difesa, la macchina non si surriscalda, né c'è alcuna prova di pianto dal radiatore o dai tubi di raffreddamento, il che è motivo di ottimismo. Il fluido - o "arancia metallica liquida" - è arrivato sul cemento attraverso il serbatoio di troppopieno, suggerendo che il sistema è abbastanza robusto per far fronte a un po 'di pressione interna senza scoppiare nulla. Un buon flush-out è saltato in cima alla lista delle priorità e si unisce a una messa a punto e servizio urgenti come un must. Qualche cosa allo yang (o è yang a ying?): Sotto le fodere dei sedili c'erano questi sedili un po 'ruvidi ma relativamente nuovi e mai indossati. Si...