Lancia Motor Club

General => General Chat => Topic started by: Kevin MacBride on 24 April, 2014, 11:02:21 PM



Title: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: Kevin MacBride on 24 April, 2014, 11:02:21 PM
Some of you may know that I've worked for Fiat/Lancia/Alfa Romeo related Dealerships for a long time now, over 30 years. In the past few years I've started a new venture, basically breaking cars/vans for parts.
One interesting thing cropped up over the past few months. I've begun to get enquiries for 'subframes'...for Alfa Romeo 159's, and the issue is rust !!!
I've sold 2 so far this year, and just got an order this week for another one.
Now I seem to remember that it was a certain subframe issue that started the rot (excuse the pun), which more or less resulted in the demise of a certain car Italian car brand.
Have times and perceptions changed, or is it simply not newsworthy. Personally I always thought that there was something behind the original 'rust scandal' than simply a health and safety issue.
Pictured is a 35 year old Beta subframe, which we replaced under warranty way back when. Don't ask me why, but it managed to hide itself in the back of the stores all this time. As you can see...it hasn't rotted away.


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: the.cern on 25 April, 2014, 06:37:17 AM
Some time ago, on this Forum, someone recommended a  book entitled 'Turning Back The Clock, The Life and Times of a Motor Trader'. This contains the experience of a second-hand car dealer, working with various makes of car, throughout his working life.

It was recommended because of the way the trader dealt with the Lancia Beta scandal, if you read the book you will see scandal is an appropriate description. Yes, Lancia could have handled it better, but it is apparent that various parts of the media lied, exaggerated and generally played with the whole problem until Lancia was harried out of the country. That was a lot of investment and many jobs lost just to sell a few papers!!!!!!

It is a very readable book and I thoroughly enjoyed it, all of it, not just the Lancia parts.

                                     Andy


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: fay66 on 25 April, 2014, 09:43:56 AM
As Andy says, well worth reading, just wish I could remember who borrowed my copy last year as it still hasn't found it's way home :'(

Brian
8227 8)


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: lancialulu on 25 April, 2014, 10:59:32 AM
As Andy says, well worth reading, just wish I could remember who borrowed my copy last year as it still hasn't found it's way home :'(

Brian
8227 8)
Brian it was me but I gave it back to you I think on the Knights rally. I was going to give it to you at the walled garden but you unfortunately no showed due to a puncture. Hope you find it.

Tim


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: peteracs on 25 April, 2014, 11:39:21 AM
Hi Andy, Kevin et al

Ok sold on the book, just ordered a copy.......

As a follow on from Kevin's comment about the subframe, I recently stripped a Spyder and scrapped it. One of the interesting point was even though this was an early S2 so around 76/77 manufacture there was tons of rust as you would expect, but the areas where there was no rust was on the body part and the subframe where they meet at the rear and the bolts and pins around the subframe were still perfect. Even taking the bolts out proved not difficult and in good condition. I have no idea of the age of the subframe, but it is still usable.

Looking at my Spyder which I suspect still has its original subframe, again the subframe mounts are in great shape, unlike some of the original bodywork, especially the wings and and sills etc.

Peter


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: fay66 on 25 April, 2014, 01:37:51 PM
As Andy says, well worth reading, just wish I could remember who borrowed my copy last year as it still hasn't found it's way home :'(

Brian
8227 8)
Brian it was me but I gave it back to you I think on the Knights rally. I was going to give it to you at the walled garden but you unfortunately no showed due to a puncture. Hope you find it.

Tim

Thanks Tim,
I think it went out again after you returned it.
Not in it's usual place but I'll have a look around.

Brian
8227 8)


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: Tim Ray on 25 April, 2014, 03:39:49 PM
Hello Brian
The book mystery is solved. I've got it, as you kindly left it with me when you visited after the Knights Rally. I'm not at Puy De Gras at the moment but I'll give you a call when I'm back next week.
Regards
Tim


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: fay66 on 25 April, 2014, 10:27:36 PM
Hello Brian
The book mystery is solved. I've got it, as you kindly left it with me when you visited after the Knights Rally. I'm not at Puy De Gras at the moment but I'll give you a call when I'm back next week.
Regards
Tim

Thanks Tim, no problem as I now remember leaving it with you :-[, I can swop it with you next time we meet for Barbara's 6 Million Frenchmen can't be wrong!!

Brian
8227 8)


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: Parisien on 26 April, 2014, 08:23:59 AM
I had also passed on my copy to a member....so it can be passed to some one else if interested

P


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: peteracs on 26 April, 2014, 11:13:09 AM
As it happens I also just reached the section in The Book last night which references this book.

Peter


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: Chris Hopkins on 27 April, 2014, 05:16:00 PM
The Library has a copy too, an entertaining read.


Title: Re: "RUST" yet again.....
Post by: HF_Dave on 28 April, 2014, 08:47:34 PM
I have a small paperback book called "How to buy a car" My dad bought it for me in the late seventies around the time I discovered cheap Lancia's . It was written by someone in the trade with years of experience selling Duff motors . I must look for it as it was a good read at the time I can remember a quote in it where it said " try to avoid foreign motors like large Fiat saloons" So I went out and bought a Fiat 130 ! (eventually)  ;D