Nige's newest nonsense

[RedSparrow]

Another winner! These are weirdly cool.

Just how rusty is it?!

[nigel bickle]

God knows -the owner doesnt. However, he was pretty downbeat on the Abarth he was selling, and this looks a good bit better. Its probably got the usual rot -which I've done on every Strada I own.

However -its a VERY long time since I saw a rhd Mk1 for sale -so , one way or t'other- its going back on the road.

[nigel bickle]

God knows -the owner doesnt. However, he was pretty downbeat on the Abarth he was selling, and this looks a good bit better. Its probably got the usual rot -which I've done on every Strada I own.

However -its a VERY long time since I saw a rhd Mk1 for sale -so , one way or t'other- its going back on the road.

[michiel]

Nice - and what a great sales pic, not immediately after a wash (by a toddler) this time but during...

[michiel]

Nice - and what a great sales pic, not immediately after a wash (by a toddler) this time but during...

[ayd]

IIRC thats just down the road from me and I was considering it...then I remembered I lack most of the skills required to get it back on the road.

[ayd]

IIRC thats just down the road from me and I was considering it...then I remembered I lack most of the skills required to get it back on the road.

[hairnet]

insane hero

[hairnet]

insane hero

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Meraviglioso! Seeing that on eBay I was hoping it would go to someone who'd sort it.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Meraviglioso! Seeing that on eBay I was hoping it would go to someone who'd sort it.

[nigel bickle]

 

Yup. Head gasket pressurising too. And its 150 miles into France.

 

From a hospital bed. I was bored........

[Mr_Bo11ox]

WTF is that?

[nigel bickle]

I reckon someone here will know...

 

 

Does this help?

[bigstraight6]

Volga 24?

[Guest]

Yeah I was thinking Volga

 

[michiel]

  nigel bickle said:

From a hospital bed. I was bored........

 

Straightjacket & straps, or not that kind of hospital? Get well soon anyway!

[trigger]

  nigel bickle said:

its a VERY long time since I saw a rhd Mk1 for sale.

 

Did you not see the green one on there last year which ended around £1000 IIRC?, This one in fact?.

 

1981 Fiat Strada Ritmo 75 CL by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[nigel bickle]

Trig -I did, but the price/ condition was a bit too much for me.

I paid a fifth of that.... Just need to go get it now! I've a nice Fiat 125tc (the predecssor to the 130tc -not a Fiat 125 engine) & box that'll slot in nicely; once the MIG's done its job.

 

Good guess'. Knew it wouldnt take long.

 

 

Leboncoin - been asking way too much. Persistence & the vendors gradual acceptance of its real condition more than halved the asking...

 

Needs both sills, 12 inch's in the boot -and hopefully a replacement thermostat. Its already on a CG -despite the plates, so registration's now a piece of ....

 

So -its another french foray in the next coupla months

[RedSparrow]

I love these. Always had a desire for one in DDR VolksPolizei form. Sure there are a few in existance.

[Adrian_pt]

Bloody hell - congratulations - I have a Volga 24 though not in the UK and they are great fun. Yours looks to be post '77? Let me know if you ever want to get rid...

[nigel bickle]

French registered as an 84.

 

Lets see what its like in reality..

[nigel bickle]

Got it:-

 

Quick 650 mile round trip at the weekend brought this back to deepest Sussex from the very far west coast of Wales. (Lovely part of the country though!)

 

What a crock of shite. Looks absolutely terrible with quite extensive rust - even the windscreen scuttle, (that I've not seen rust on a Strada), & dents in every other panel , knocking big ends (but I knew that) & absolutely filthy. Mileage is 44,000 -probably genuine, but its had a hard life.

 

No paperwork, last tax disc says June 98 but closer inspection reveals a differing number plate, so I suspect it was a hooky extension to a dubious motor 14 years ago. Carefully stored (at the bottom of a welsh sea side garden) ever since its nicely matured into a festering pile of old chod. Lovely.

 

Here's the prev owner attempting to get it running (-successfully) so we could waz it up the 'drive' to the awaiting A frame.

 

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You'll note the crusty wheel archs and collapsing sills that mostly fell off on the way home..

 

 

And here he is trying to persuade some air into the tyres. 2 blew on the way back (-one exploded in the fast lane of the M4;that was exciting.....)

 

 

 

 

Anyway, let me present the latest Strada to join my lil' ol fleet, a base level 65l, Mk1 -in just running condition. There seem to be more differences to the later models than I envisaged- notleast being some bonkers switchs & differing dash that is going to need care recommissioning. No chance of finding replacements.

 

Thankfully I seem to possess most of the panels needed to sort this mess, and a nice 125tc engine (the forerunner to the 130tc) & box which should slot in nicely.

 

Expect to see it roadlegal around summer 2020.

[Guest]

Nice one Nigel, another dream motor added to the fleet.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

This is an ode to shite!

[nigel bickle]

Just agreed terms on this

 

 

Collection hopefully in the next few weeks. Sadly -its back to the depths of southern Wales -for a dead clutchless ........

[Volksy]

Saab 99?

[nigel bickle]

Yup-spot on, Volksy.

 

Off road 10 years following clutch failure- but it looks solid; and I miss my old 900.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Is it the B engine or the H engine? Those clutches can be done in about 10 minutes by someone with nifty fingers and a bit of suitably sized bowden cable.

[scruff]

  Quote

And here he is trying to persuade some air into the tyres. 2 blew on the way back (-one exploded in the fast lane of the M4;that was exciting.....)