Wuvvum in MOT shock

[wuvvum]

After twelve years and something like 330 cars, I had only ever put one car through an MOT other than to sell it, and that was the Volvo 164 (and it was, let us say, a very sympathetic MOT). Today I did the deed for the second time ever, with the result that the Innocenti now has a year's ticket. After I got rid of the 406 (I was debating whether to put that through a test, but with the arrival of more inclement weather the stupid automatic wipers were becoming too much of an irritation) I found myself using the Saab as a daily. The Saab is comfortable and extremely fast (it's seen off a Civic Type R and a MINI Cooper S Works in the last few days) but not the most economical of vehicles to be driving to work in. So I went on eBay to look for an AX or a Kia Pride or something to run about in, but then I decided (maybe I'm getting old...) that it would be far more sensible to put a car I already owned back on the road than to buy yet another. The fact that, four and a bit years since its last MOT and after sitting idle for several months on the grass outside my garage, it only failed on two brake pipes and headlight aim was pretty encouraging, and with those fixed I'm now ready to enjoy an 85% drop in horsepower but hopefully a 100% increase in mpg. Or at least I will be once I've given the underside a good going over with waxoyl - I don't think Italian steel and British salt are going to mix too well, and I'd like to keep it in its current rust-free condition if at all possible. And I do fully intend to keep it - it's such a brilliant little thing to drive.

[Milford Cubicle]

Good work on the Innocenti! I love that wee thing.On the 406's automatic wipers, can't you turn them off?

[Ratdat]

Wuv, get some Dynax, it's easier to apply than waxoyl I find and is good stuff. Best do inside the doors and rear quarters too ...and the sills if you can. If it's rust free, now's the time to get it done properly!

[barrett]

what kind of 'centi is it?any pics?as a relative newcomer to these parts i'm still unfamiliar with lots of you guys' fleets....

[Richard]

On the 406's automatic wipers, can't you turn them off?

If it's like the Xantia the automatic wipers take the place of the intermittent wipe position on the wiper switch. There is an optical sensor behind the rear view mirror that makes the wipers sweep when it sees a raindrop.It was one of the few things on my S2 Xantia that didn't irritate me but the new owner hates it so it could be that I'm alone in this. I've always used flick wipe rather than intermittent wipe so maybe that's why it didn't bother me.

[Milford Cubicle]

I might have been getting confused with the automatic headlights there.

[wuvvum]

what kind of 'centi is it?

any pics?

as a relative newcomer to these parts i'm still unfamiliar with lots of you guys' fleets....

 

 

 

It's one of these. 659cc 3-pot, 30bhp of raw powah.

[Guest]

That's an ace car Wuvvum, nice work.

[dollywobbler]

Wow!Another vote for Bilt Hamber's Dynax. it's top stuff. I've got aerosol cans though, which don't like it when it's cold.

[Milford Cubicle]

I like the afterthought badges on the bumper.

 

You've got me looking on ebay.it now.

 

http://cerca.ebay-automobile.it/veicoli ... 122276206&

 

Marvellous

[maximalist]

So envious of that Innocenti!!!

[michiel]

Well done, it's like an Italian Kei car! GR8 interior fabric.

[VWPowered]

i do like the inni mini's wonder if a MG Turb's lump would fit in it...

 

keeping on theme one i've found in the breakers near me

 

[FredTransit]

OK fill me in, that looks like the Reno 5 design, is it or am I imagining it?

[Richard]

Am I right in thinking these are effectively a reskinned Mini?

[wuvvum]

i do like the inni mini's wonder if a MG Turb's lump would fit in it...

 

keeping on theme one i've found in the breakers near me

 

Innocenti Mini and Lada 112 side by side - that's a pretty impressive scrapyard...

 

MG Turbo lump would drop straight in to an early car, but would take a bit more buggering about to fit into mine - easiest swap for mine would be a Charade GTti lump.

[RedSparrow]

They are indeed mini based.Massive shame that money problems meant that only a few were sold in the uk, could have been a big hit.

[wuvvum]

Am I right in thinking these are effectively a reskinned Mini?

Early ones were - later ones like mine were modified quite a bit. The basic floorpan is still Mini (mine's the LWB version - i kid you not, it's based on the Mini Estate floorpan), but suspension and steering are different - it's got coils'n'struts at the front and swing arms with a transverse leaf spring at the back, and the steering column is at a much more sensible angle than earlier cars. It's not quite as chuckable as the earlier cars, but it's still good fun, and it's a lot more comfortable.

[Louise2cv]

Never seen one before this thread, then found one on ebay!

[wuvvum]

Never seen one before this thread, then found one on ebay!

F*** me, that one's right hand drive! Can't be more than three right-hookers anywhere in the world. That's a lot of money for a project car though.

[bigstraight6]

I'd forgot about your Innocenti wuv's, great quirky daily driver that! though as other chaps have already mentioned, you will need to be very generous with the old rust prevention measures to preserve its condition now we are about to plunge into another cold/salty/damp winter .....

[andrew e]

Only the 2nd MOT Is this an intentional purchasing "tat"tic Wuvvum?

[Gompo]

Well done Wuvvum, it seems like me you maybe dont like the old MOT test?

I like the afterthought badges on the bumper.

I was thinking that too, especially the 'Small' one.