Title: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 08:39:02 PM Did some Irish bloke on the forum embark on an Aurelia B12 restoration about 12 years ago?
Whatever became of it........... https://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5254.345 Well fellow forum readers, things indeed have moved on, from the photos below, taken at a very low point in the restoration, which I hadn't shared before as it was dare I say a little traumatized at that time in 2019. Much more to follow, please put your feet up, grab your favourite beverage and read on...... P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 08:40:27 PM Photos a bit big ........one by one ....
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 08:41:38 PM ....more ....
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 08:42:26 PM .......
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 08:44:34 PM ......
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 25 November, 2024, 09:23:20 PM Another twenty months were to pass before I happened on another body/paint guy who said he'd do the job for me. Up til then I'd asked and enquired of at least another dozen guys from far and wide.
This guy was a pleasant enough chap, based about 12 miles away, seemed to be working through endless hours, rubbing and filling, lining up, sorting out minor body work issues, slowly but surely getting there. He'd said initially it would take about six months or so to do. We got around to agreeing a price after 3/4 months but we didn't seem to be getting to a point were it actually would get painted. The six months period came and went , work slowed, busy periods of doing his main type of body repairs, a bout of illness, COVID raised it's ugly head, then a burst pipe. Before I knew it 18 months had passed and I was no further on. Photo of it on its travels again April 2021 P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 26 November, 2024, 09:33:54 AM Can’t wait for the continuation!
Popcorn and cola ready:) Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Richard Fridd on 26 November, 2024, 09:54:03 AM Looking forward to progress. Forgotten about his one.
Richard Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 10:49:08 AM In the interim, via the forum, internet and interactions with other individuals and companies, I'd been amassing information, contacts and supplies.
As the B12 was progressing, albeit slowly towards being ready for paint, I'd browsed the Thornley Kelham site and spotted this fabulous series III B20 in the correct colour, Amaranto. https://www.thornleykelham.com/gallery/lancia-aurelia-b20gt-series-3-2/ I inquired off them as to how they'd sourced the Amaranto colour. They very helpfully came back to say after a spectrum analysis and further research, this was indeed the exact colour as used in the 50s on Lancia Aurelias. As this was done in about 2016, they dug out the tints list used to make up the colour required using the Standox system. They even gave me the address of their paint supplier so I could order it . There then followed another truly facial episode in the B12's story. Firstly they asked their delivery guys to deliver it to NI, sorry we don't deliver to NI any more due to onerous new regulations implemented after Brexit. I tried further delivery companies, one said they would but only after I'd applied for an import license in my name and filled out several forms and then paid them roughly a quarter of the value of the paint to cross the North Channel! I did explore other avenues, and enquired of a local paint shop who informed me that there was a Standox supplier in Belfast, another small celebration took place in my home!!!! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 11:32:35 AM I was putting the cart before the horse in the last post, we had actually tried a local motor factors to mix up a batch, based on the colour found under the dash to see how close we could get it, wasn't bad but it wasn't Amaranto!
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: lancialulu on 26 November, 2024, 12:19:44 PM I was putting the cart before the horse in the last post, we had actually tried a local motor factors to mix up a batch, based on the colour found under the dash to see how close we could get it, wasn't bad but it wasn't Amaranto! P Thats more like Fulvia Rosso York!!! Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 01:01:29 PM As above, work continued
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 01:11:16 PM Constant reworking, the indicator opening, being refashioned, several times, noting again the rear indicator apertures has been cut out of other rear wings and welded back into mine, aluminum welding required
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 01:35:09 PM Time moved on, COVID lockdowns, illness, supply issues continued to stymy work, visits and mood.
These photos were taken in March 2022, it was moving on but, it had been with him for nearly 2 years now Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: chriswgawne on 26 November, 2024, 01:37:28 PM Great to hear that this project is still alive Frank!
When you get it on the road I feel sure you will value it as B12s are great for everyday motoring. Long legged with sufficient power & brakes c/w an excellent ride. Keep up the good work. Chris Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 01:45:31 PM Coming back to the paint, having gotten this far and the promise of it all being painted shortly ( can anyone define shortly, because it doesn't fit the OED definition!)
I'd ordered up the 6 litres plus thinners etc from the paint supplier in Belfast. I told them I'd send up the mix ratios for the Amaranto colour in advance, they'd mix it the following week. Belfast is about an hour and 30 mins away so I'd lined up a few more things to do on that trip As I queued with 4/5 customers to receive my paint, I felt a tad giddy, like an overgrown school boy waiting for his first "99" ice cream of the season on a warm summers day. Standox supplies paid for, then safely stashed in my boot, things are looking up! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Sliding Pillar on 26 November, 2024, 02:27:25 PM I'm looking forward to seeing it painted :)
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 02:34:09 PM And then there was quite an hiatus, weeks turned into months, excuses and reasons why no further progress got a bit tedious and exhausting.
Of course some work was done, I'd inspected it in occasions, noting one of the back doors couldn't be fully opened, realising there was an issue with panel gaps/lines. Eventually he agreed to paint up some panels, to see how they looked. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 02:40:40 PM Usually, as this paint guy told me, when he gets a paint delivery in he does a quick check, but as this was from a different supplier, first time he'd used the Standox paint system ( noting its suitably expensive price as a premium product), plus all neatly labelled and packaged/sealed, he felt confident all would be hunky dory.
Finally after being sat in his store for nearly a year he opened one of the tins ....... P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 26 November, 2024, 02:44:45 PM the suspense! :D
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 02:49:43 PM Quelle horreur! (As they'd say in South Kensington!)
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 02:56:03 PM Upon receipt of the attachment on his text message I felt quite nauseous/panicked even.
How could this have happened, was the ratio from Thornley Kelham completely wrong, was it the suppliers fault? A quick flurry of phonecalls/emails resulted in this information. "My paint supplier got back to me, they incorrectly added each tint to overall figure each time instead of clearing scales and doing each tint individually!" Thankfully they agreed to remix and deliver the correct colour later that week! Panic mode dialled down several notches! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 26 November, 2024, 03:09:53 PM I'll let you all recover from the paint cauchemar as relayed above. .......
I'd signed off on the first segment concerning the water pump. I'd left it with James Parry in Wales a while back, I'd also left the refurbishment kit from Cavilitto with him too. As James reported the body of the original pump was completely corroded and unuseable, luckily a member of the forum was able to help me out with a decent one, looks magnificent doesn't it? Turned out it needed both bearing replaced, Omicron helped out for second one. Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: peteracs on 27 November, 2024, 06:32:00 AM Hi Frank
I was only thinking about this project about a month or so ago and wondered what had happened. Glad to see it is still ongoing albeit very delayed, cannot imagine your frustration. You started this a couple of years after I started my Beta Spider, that was finished in 2021, but the difference was the time taken was due to me, not any third party which is not the same. All the best for the future, hope the road is less stressful…. Peter Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 09:40:35 AM Thank you gentlemen for your kind words and support, yes it's been a struggle especially for a first timer in fully restoring any car never mind an Aurelia B12!
The posts in the first two pages are from the previous years, soon I'll bring you into the present. I delayed posting as I truly wanted to get to another milestone stage before restarting my story More anon. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 09:46:40 AM More progress in building up and getting the car as good as it could be, it still ( on reflection not near being to in a good enough condition to be fully painted
Remember, these little improvements were over a number of months. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 09:47:58 AM Please don't ask any questions about the bumpers, they are a story in themselves!
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 27 November, 2024, 10:19:39 AM Looks better and better!
But hey, what’s going on with those bumpers? ;D Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: GG on 27 November, 2024, 01:15:01 PM Who needs bumpers?
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 01:58:00 PM Just a reminder of the B12 in 2011 as advertised on eBay.
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 02:05:22 PM Before the archeological "dig"
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: simonandjuliet on 27 November, 2024, 03:30:34 PM I've been playing with colours for my B20 which was originally Amaranto - I sprayed up an Appia wing and left it in the kitchen for the girls to look at
I was keen to go "original" but even after living with the wing next to the breakfast table for 3 weeks, the girls were not convinced unfortunately .... It is a beautiful colour to my mind, it will look fab on your Aurelia berlina Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 05:29:59 PM These Thornley Kelham pics might persuade you .......
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 27 November, 2024, 10:58:24 PM Eventually sample panels were painted in Amaranto, the colour was as expected, but on closer examination an "orange peel" finish was easily visible, I was disappointed, he could tell by what I didn't say that the work carried out wasn't up to standard.
The issue with the doors hadn't been resolved either. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 28 November, 2024, 12:33:40 PM I was delighted with the colour, but not the execution.
Awaiting a further update that the remainder of car would be in paint, plus the required alignment and reviewed paint of the three panels. The weeks passed, but wasn't invited out to workshop for a look-see. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 28 November, 2024, 01:12:20 PM Then one morning we heard a lorry slowly approaching our address, glanced up when near to see the B12 on the back of a recovery truck!
His brother in law (owner of said lorry), then proceeded to unload my B12 onto the drive, no explanation, no offer to in anyway mitigate why he decided to end his involvement. Nada! The brother in law did say that he wasn't looking for any further payment from me ( I'm sure he'd done much more than I'd already paid him for!) I was flabbergasted. Car dually pushed into my garage, and so ended another chapter in the eventful life of the Portuguese Aurelia! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 28 November, 2024, 01:58:52 PM And so another period of being laid up, doing the rounds of asking/re-asking body paint guys far and near, but drew a blank.
Enquiring off another mechanic, he told me he'd met a guy near Belfast who more or less specialized in restoring older cars. Contact was made, turned out his wife was from the town, so he was up and down regularly. A visit was arranged. A few weeks later he inspected the car, had a chat, cup of tea and agreed to take it on. However it would be in a queue so I'd have to wait 3/4 months before he could start I kept in contact, narrowed the week down to last week of July 2023. But on the week concerned, radio silence, no answers to Whatsapp or phone, totally ghosted. I was a tad put out. F Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 28 November, 2024, 07:25:37 PM so many obstacles!
Very impressed by your stamina! Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 28 November, 2024, 08:16:14 PM I always try to get to both the Annual weekend and NEC event, to meet fellow members, admire their respective cars and occasionally make a contact or two.
They are my bi-annual fix! Believe it or not I've never owned or driven a Lancia of any kind before I bought my B12 off eBay in 2011. Indeed the first Lancia I drove was the B12 owned by The Automobile magazine in 2013.......I now digress I'd been accumulating parts over years, had my engine completely restored but realized the transaxle would be a big task also, both it's complexity and cost. So at the Annual weekend in 2022, and having read lots of Tim Burretts articles and pieces in Viva Lancia, I asked some one to point Tim out. Introductions made and knowing he used his B22 on an almost daily basis, plus he'd raced his B20 over many years, and noted he'd advertised refurbished transaxles in VL, I thought I might inquire if he'd be interested in doing mine. After a few minutes chatting I put the question to Tim, he said he'd do it but in a few months time, I was one very pleased B12 owner on that warm July afternoon! Things were looking up P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 28 November, 2024, 08:27:06 PM So January of 2023, I did an inventory of all my transaxle parts, I'd nearly all the wear and tear parts gathered up, plus several gears and a host of other parts, just in case!
After a bit of research I reckoned putting it all on a pallet was the sensible thing to do plus insuring it for a substantial amount. Finally it was delivered to Tims for the full works! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 29 November, 2024, 09:22:24 AM You can catch glimpses of the extremities of my cleaned up transaxle (cleaned in 2012) , I thought it was more than respectable to send off to Tim.
However Tim was not impressed at all and complained bitterly at how filthy it was , indeed probably the filthiest transaxle he'd ever had the displeasure to work on!!! He spent further hours cleaning it before opening the casing. P PS It's a good job I didn't dispatch as first dismounted! Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 29 November, 2024, 03:25:56 PM Continuing in the same vein today, thought I'd clean up the steering box, initial impressions were that this was part of a booster rocket off a Saturn V that had fallen into the Atlantic!
But a scrape, then cleaning as best could without dismantling it was indeed the steering box! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 29 November, 2024, 03:27:07 PM A bit of scraping ....
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 29 November, 2024, 03:31:11 PM Et voila!
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:02:11 AM Having had a forensic examination of my steering box the number on it was indeed as originally left the factory....No 470
Thanks to the kind member who supplied me with build data P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:15:46 AM The gearbox was fully stripped down, all gears, moving parts, wear and tear items were to be checked, replaced or improved by Tim's expert knowledge. The same applied to the rear brakes and clutch.
In effect a full rebuild to factory plus standard P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:17:35 AM I wonder how many Aurelia owners have seen the gearboxes inards?
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:21:49 AM And the same for clutch and brakes.
There wear a couple of unforeseen issues. However Tim remarked on how little wear had occurred in the gears of this box, hardly run in! On reassembly all measurements and tolerances were religiously adhered to P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:22:35 AM A few more
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:25:30 AM Brakes ....
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 10:27:03 AM And then finished
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: lancialulu on 01 December, 2024, 12:50:30 PM Just need the car finished.....
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 01 December, 2024, 01:10:13 PM Great progress!!👍👍👍
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 01 December, 2024, 08:06:21 PM So yet again the restoration had stalled in July 2023.
I tried to regroup, asking again of guys around the locality if anyone else came to mind. Blanks and dead ends came thick and fast. Then in mid August, our local vintage run took place, the Friday evening was the first part of the run through the town, usually around a 120 vehicles took part. They started off from a carpark, it was the wettest Friday start I'd seen for years. I got completely drenched, but one guy I'd helped out a few years ago source headlights for his Alfa Romeo, mentioned a name of a body/ paint guy 30 odd miles away. But he was hard to get, always a queue of cars awaiting his skills, but by now waiting was one of my few virtues. A phone call was made. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 02 December, 2024, 04:56:54 PM A little while later I dually made contact. I explained my situation, as I'm sure you're all aware, body guys are very reluctant to carry on from where one guy left off, in my case were two left off.
He stated he only does a few cars a year, he also restores tractors and runs a small haulage company. However after some further discussion and taking an interest in the Aurelia, given it's rarity and being quite different from British cars he normally works on , he said he'd come and look it over. Down side being it would be December before he could visit and if it passed muster, it would be a few months later before he could do the work. Having just been ghosted by the last guy I was quite anxious the same could happen again! But wait I did......... P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 02 December, 2024, 08:10:22 PM One loom waiting to be delivered to an old school friend who runs an auto electrics business. Noting the labels still attached, 12 years later, to the instrument panel bulb fittings for reference.
Likely ready in January P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 03 December, 2024, 03:15:24 PM The months passed quickly enough, he contacted me to say he'd be down later in December before Christmas.
Sure enough he appeared and we spent two solid hours going over and over the B12. Panel by panel, gap by gap, line by line. All we're critiqued and judgement passed. He spent much time shaking his head, tut tutting and generally making all the wrong noises. To be honest it wasn't looking good. His parting words were, its just too much work especially having to undo and or make good lots of issues that needed addressing But he said he'd contact me in a few days with a yay or nay. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 04 December, 2024, 09:55:03 PM Sure enough, two days later I got a WhatsApp, both in the affirmative and a step by step list of how it would proceed, rough time schedule plus a price.
To say I was pleased is another understatement, I felt I'd been very much drinking at the last chance saloon. But as noted before there's been quite a few slips betwixt cup and lip! Aiming for a March 2024 start, Xmas 2023 will be much more enjoyable I thought! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 04 December, 2024, 10:04:41 PM Fast forward to March, I was now next in line, palpitations all round.
Juggled a few dates, but weather was so hit and miss, windows of opportunity shrank and expanded by the hour, I did not want it to get soaked , so I decided to cling wrap the B12! ( Mostly stayed in place, plus no rain!) Loaded it up on a trailer and off it went on another road trip! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Sliding Pillar on 05 December, 2024, 01:34:02 PM You're just teasing us now, drip feeding pictures, I think you have actually got it back home all painted and looking fantastic ;)
Or maybe you've actually got it finished?? Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 05 December, 2024, 01:45:22 PM I really like this thread:)
The suspense is killing me though!!! :D Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 05 December, 2024, 03:14:57 PM Fellow Aurelian's, would I be so crass as to string you all along?
Nooooooooo Finished.................and SOLD.......!!!! No gentlemen of the forum, I still have it, not finished but passed another significant milestone. As in any decent suspense thriller ( because for me, it's been just that!) you just don't jump to the conclusion just after you've started it! Like lots of stories etc these days there are many sub plots, yet to hove into view! Do bear with me. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 07 December, 2024, 11:22:30 AM April came and went, May and June too before he eventually got around to the B12, as ever life doesn't run smoothly and I just had to accept the reasons for the delay, for which he was very apologetic.
From July onwards he got stuck into it, as we all know many hours can be spent for no real difference in how the car looks, but I'd put my trust in him, he knew what needed done to make the paint work as good as possible. These were the only photos I received in 3 months! But he assured me the correction, redoing and aligning of panels doors were taking up inordinate amounts of time. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: simonandjuliet on 07 December, 2024, 11:53:28 AM It's the detail that takes the time ...
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: DavidLaver on 08 December, 2024, 05:59:41 PM Time vs money vs quality. For most of what I do the motto is "its amazing what you can get done if you set your standards low enough". Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: williamcorke on 08 December, 2024, 08:15:44 PM Which reminds me of...
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 09 December, 2024, 01:22:52 PM In the end, it was like a dam breaking, no warning, no signs at all.
He told me to ring him in 4/5 weeks, or end of October, but the week before that, I got these through, no accompanying message just these. Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 09 December, 2024, 01:28:30 PM I was shocked and delighted in equal measure.
After everything, a final purgatory of preparation and anticipation the B12 was in paint, I honestly could not believe it. He said rather than sending more photos to come and see it for my self, as everyone on the forum knows, in car terms, a picture is NEVER worth a thousand words! A visit was quickly arranged. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Sliding Pillar on 09 December, 2024, 02:28:01 PM Hooray!!!
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 09 December, 2024, 04:01:23 PM A few posts back I'd mentioned the bumpers.
As per photos they'd been "interfered "with, much to the concern of several afficianados, and rightly so. Having saved a B12 owners post about how to repair the brass based bumpers, Brian Long in Australia , I'd set about phoning both chromers and guys who had metalworks in an attempt to organise or sort out a full repair. I'd undertaken this search a couple of years back but again despite numerous calls it seemed impossible to track down someone to carry out the initial annealing due to the size of muffle oven required. Feeling I'd run out of options, someone suggested why not use filler to at least get an even-ish surface ( not bother fixing cracks etc) and then either use a modern chrome look paint or wrap it. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 10 December, 2024, 09:42:13 AM As previously, photos don't really get across what your eyes will see when face to face with a thing of beauty...IMHO.
And there it was, the colour was nicer than I thought possible, the finish magnificent. I was pleasantly blown away...can someone please pinch me! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 10 December, 2024, 09:45:49 AM A few more, contrasting the pics deeper inside workshop and those at door.
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 10 December, 2024, 09:54:04 AM The car has since arrived home, front doors in place, rears stored in a bedroom for the moment until I resolve the wing/body trim issue.
The main reason I hadn't posted until now was because, more uncertainty came my way. The mechanic who'd stripped the car with me back in 2012 had told me he would not be doing the rebuild ( he had retired plus had a temporary health issue) a more than deflating moment. However I did ask him to come view the B12, finally in paint and looking fabulous. He did indeed visit and he did say, if I got another mechanic/restorer to actually do the hands on work, he would indeed act as adviser/consultant as it progressed! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 10 December, 2024, 03:03:02 PM looks WONDERFUL!!
that color is stunning! Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 11 December, 2024, 10:52:13 AM Referencing the ongoing uncertainty about the continuation of the restoration.
I'd mentioned to my son, that I now needed to find someone experienced, interested and skillful enough to put the B12 back together, those sort of guys are pretty thin on the ground locally! He sorta nonchalantly said why don't you ask my band mate Ciaran ( a guy with a national profile in restoring almost exclusively Peugeot 205s). I thought no harm would come of asking, holding out very little hope. But a fortnight later a voicemail to my son stated that yes he will do it! This was the main reason I'd restarted the thread again, I thought it would take me months to find someone else plus likely be much further away. Delighted, over the moon, relieved...... didn't quite cover how I felt at that moment! A meeting is scheduled in January, see how it pans out over 2025. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Richard Fridd on 11 December, 2024, 12:09:20 PM Incredible who comes out of the woodwork at times like these.
Brilliant! Richard Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: chriswgawne on 11 December, 2024, 02:10:06 PM Wing/body trim issue?
I presume you have all of this trim as the car has come from a pretty dry climate? One problem I have had with my B21S restoration is the aluminium 'C' section which holds some of the door rubbers. It had either corroded away or become perforated and so was unusable. Cicognani sell a plastic equivalent but its a b*****r to bend and secure properly. Chris Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 11 December, 2024, 02:45:45 PM My body guy has told me it's not suitable to reuse, previous damage, loss of chrome, deformed.
I had to replace plenty of metal on the B13, they all eventually rust! I must have a closer look at them Your thoughts on the pics? P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 11 December, 2024, 03:00:05 PM Coming back to the bumpers, I'd noted a few FB adverts from a company in Vietnam making stainless steel versions. I went through their catalogue noting they only had a small selection of Lancia bumpers and no reference to a B12's bumpers.
Having heard so much about the number of scams on the go, I fired off a very tentative email. I received a quick response, this was back in mid 2023, the only snag was Id have to send them mine, which they then would keep and from which they could remake a new set. I didn't really want to let them do far out of my sight, I took cold feet. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: chriswgawne on 11 December, 2024, 04:22:39 PM Ref B12 Bumpers I feel sure I have seen new SS ones offered for sale by a Vietnamese company recently?
I was surprised because the demand for these must be very small as there are so few B12s on the road. Chris Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 11 December, 2024, 07:36:39 PM Yes, there have been some adverts on the Facebook group from the Vietnamese company.
They seem legitimate. I have considered using them as my bumpers are badly damaged. "Tienbumper Tran" is the FB-profile, and the website is bumperautomobile.com Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 11 December, 2024, 07:38:08 PM ...they seem to offer new B12 bumpers now, without an exchange?
https://bumperautomobile.com/lancia-aurelia-b12-bumpers-year-1950-1958-new/ Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 11 December, 2024, 07:43:15 PM I haven't finished this sub plot gentlemen!!
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: impaw on 11 December, 2024, 07:44:29 PM sorry:D
Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 12 December, 2024, 08:29:10 AM And as 2024 dawned, the prospect of getting the B12 into paint seemed to have thawed my cold feet.
Now my car was being actively worked on, I re-established contact with bumper cars in Vietnam, over a period of several weeks, trying to dot "Is" and cross "Ts", we came to a clear understanding. They undertook to completely remanufacture my B12 bumper set based on receipt of my original bumpers, which would then be kept by them for reference in future. It was a step into the unknown. My wife told me to up my daily dose of whatever tablets helped put my big girl pants on and put my trust in them and the couriers involved. At the end of August they were collected, then phew, delivered! P PS But not before I'd done some work! Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 12 December, 2024, 10:20:27 AM Dually picked up and delivered, seemingly none the worse for 5/6 stops on their journey.
It's seemed to take forever getting them made, but two months in I got these, endless polishing then followed. P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 12 December, 2024, 01:57:27 PM And just like that, after they left Vietnam on Monday, they've arrived just now
I'm coming the conclusion very quickly that Santa Claus may well be Vietnamese! P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 12 December, 2024, 02:00:38 PM A few more. Wrapped in a very soft inner material then bubble wrapped. Spare set of front bumper supports, all bolts to assemble rear three piece bumper
P Title: Re: The Portuguese Aurelia .........the Phoenix has arisen...... Post by: Parisien on 13 December, 2024, 05:28:19 PM And the final few interior metal parts, plus other smaller under dash items collected today
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