Aprilia Cabrio - here we go again

[simonandjuliet]

A few weeks ago I received an email from a friend in Toulouse who said that it was time to thin his fleet (largely Alfas) and would I be interested in his Aprilia Cabrio

Of course I was interested !

Shortly afterwards, Tim Heath and I (he was here on hols by chance) went to see the car. I was charmed, but then I'm an Aprilia person ......

To cut a long story short, I collected her today. I will start a proper post soon.

Thanks to Tim for being a "voice of sanity" (which I ignored), Noel for some identification pointers, Ade and James for their input

Basics: 1937 chassis with irs, body probably by a Swiss coachbuilder, 4 seats, suicide doors, originally 6V 1350cc but converted to 1500 , 12v

More soon .......

[Neil]

Another interesting challenge...  on a Paris plate is that correct?

[Parisien]

That is fabulous Simon, looking forward to all the trials, tribulations and ultimately bringing this one back to life!

Yup, Parisian plate.

P

[the.cern]

The words "insanely jealous" were the immediate response!!!! Fortunately I did not have to battle with my sanity ..... or is it insanity???

Good luck with the restoration. I am sure we can count on you to provide the usual high quality work accompanied by the usual high quality posts on a new thread!!

                             Andy

[stanley sweet]

Have you told Juliet? Or is it going to be a case of 'What? That old thing? You know I've had it for years!'. That's going to be gorgeous and you live in the right part of the world to enjoy it.

[DavidLaver]

There I was worried you'd get bored...

IRS not a live axle?   How many of the coach-builts were like that?

David

[lancialulu]

"Thanks to Tim for being a "voice of sanity" (which I ignored)".

2 points: 1 I was Juliet's emissary, and 2 - I was not against the idea just the costings which seem to have been reviewed accordingly!

So well done for getting it!

David - we found out during the"investigative period" that many of the S1 chassis had standard Aprilia rear axle set up, making it a lighter proposition thahan the Live axle chassis.....

[chriswgawne]

If this car is fundamentally sound (and I feel sure it is as  Simon would know) then I reckon it will be a lovely car to drive and use, particularly on fine evenings with the roof down. The larger engine is a bonus and 12v is helpful so all round a great buy.
The only other one I have ever examined had been restored cosmetically but actually not so well under the skin on closer examination and didn't seem to drive especially well. Maybe the body was flexing too much?
I am looking forward to reading about it being brought back to life.
Chris
 

[Sebastien]

Simon,
compliments for finding and acquiring such a nice restoration project! I am sure you will do an excellent job on it, and I look forward to your illustrated reports.

Here in Switzerland Urs Göldi has specialized in Aprilias, and has done quite a few of them. You might want to check his website, where many Aprilia restorations and parts are illustrated:
http://www.lancia-oldtimer.ch/index.php?class=DSPInterfaceAction&method=linkDocument&param0=CMSPortal&param1=CMSDefault&param2=9
For Aprilia parts, see:
http://www.lancia-oldtimer.ch/index.php?class=DSPInterfaceAction&method=linkDocument&param0=CMSPortal&param1=CMSDefault&param2=10
The Aprilia Viotti page has photos of suspension and engine details on 40 slides - pure mechanical porn... !

[stanley sweet]

It always intrigues me with cars of this age to think of what happened to them during the war. Was it stashed away? Was it requisitioned and used by an officer to visit his favourite Parisian restaurants? Do you have much history with it?

[ColinMarr]

Let's not forget that there is a least one very nice Aprilia PF Cabriolet in residence in the UK - photos attached.

Colin

[the.cern]

That is beautiful .... a real inspiration for you Simon!!!!

Those headlights are quite something!!!

More photographs please Simon, I am sure you must a few!!!

                                  Andy

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks everyone for your comments

I have had time over the last couple of days to carry out an inventory of all the bits and see what is missing - very, very little I am glad to say. Just the aluminium strip that goes between the wings and body, plus the half-bead for the running boards.

If anyone knows of a source of this trim which looks to be the same as standard Aprilia  ??

Overall the car looks very sound but I will need to inspect the sill repairs more closely when she is up on the ramp. I suspect that I will need to redo these properly

The biggest job will be the interior, there is enough to copy, but very little to keep. The roof doesn't sit quite flat when it is down which is either due to hard cloth not folding as it should or needing a slight mod when I redo it

The engine(s) are in bits, but all there bar a few nuts and bolts, but the front and rear axles have apparently been overhauled - but again needs to be stripped and checked

The previous owner of the car was an Italian gentleman, married to a German and living in Paris, so already we know that there is going to be some interesting history - but I know very little at the moment. I suspect I will save the "digging" for the long winter nights

There were a reasonable number of coachbuilt Aprilias, maybe as many as 7000 if you include those offered by Lancia as well. Of the (2)39 or 1st series chassis, Bruce Lyndsay (Lancia - 70 Years of Trailblazing) quotes 4350 being built. Obviously not all were cabriolets ! The first (239) and second (439) series chassis had IRS and only the later 5/6/7/8-39 chassis had the live axle

To satisfy Andy (!) here are a few more pictures ......

[simonandjuliet]

More ....

[Parisien]

Very impressive Simon, just shows you what dry storage can do as regards keeping a car away from the tin worm.

I suspect for you and Dog, its a couple of weeks work, then a paint job!!!!!

All the very best with it!

P