Practically Classics Forum

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:39 pm**

Not seen one of these before!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... tory_share

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:30 am**

There's a white one just like that stood in front of a building in Brama Teams, a trading estate just past the Metro centre, by Dunston, which is an easy 90 minutes away from my place. The fella's after a whopping £8000 for it and like the one shown in the link, it's a late one, built long past the end of 500 production in Italy.
Trouble is that the one I'm on about has a very sound underside, looks great at ten yards off, but has completely rotten gutters, so much so that the remains of the connection between the side pressings is reduced to the point where it's possible to push the roof upwards by half an inch from the B posts backover. Maybe this is normal, I don't know, but the fb one looks like the better buy.
It's hellish dear though, especially for a used Fiat..

Yes, GHT, as you predicted I do have a soft spot for the only car in the world to have been built with an opening section of the floor - to allow ice fishing without having to get out and walk, which is fine as long as the warmth from the engine doesn't melt the ice beneath.
Maybe someone can name another car that came with such a thoughtful detail? Thinking about it; Morris Minors, Triumph Dolomites, other small Triumphs and anything else with an (intentional) floor hole, could be put to similar use as their transmission humps are removable for access. Just remove the gearbox and there you have it, a conventional old car that could be used for ice fishing. No need to buy an obscure alternative.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:31 pm**

John, as i recall most 70s cars had traps for fishing in the floor

How do you feel about a Renault 16 auto?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 388888280/

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:15 pm**

R16 autos are lovely things to drive and are almost as desirable as early (pre-Hydragas) Austin Maxi Hi-lines in Mirage paint with a damson interior and that amusing tailpipe trim that BL offered only in the HL. Clearly, people who didn't need an HL were considered unworthy of the (moped silencer lookalike) exhaust finisher.

R16 vs Maxi. Hmm, now there's a good excuse to post on DriveTribe!

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:23 am**

JPB wrote: Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:15 pm R16 autos are lovely things to drive and are almost as desirable as early (pre-Hydragas) Austin Maxi Hi-lines in Mirage paint with a damson interior and that amusing tailpipe trim that BL offered only in the HL. Clearly, people who didn't need an HL were considered unworthy of the (moped silencer lookalike) exhaust finisher.

R16 vs Maxi. Hmm, now there's a good excuse to post on DriveTribe!

You are probably on Autoshite, but just in case you haven't got there yet, this might interest you. The O/P starts of that he hasn't got any autoshite like a Talbot Rancho, then goes on about The Maxi that he has acquired. I had to look around for a paper bag to put over my head. I have bought, brand new, both of those cars. I tell you the shame never goes away.
https://autoshite.com/topic/25546-its-a ... the-media/
There's something about the words Maxi and Fawlty (faulty) that resonate.

: maxi-fawlty.jpg (10.49 KiB) Viewed 6631 times

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:03 pm**

GHT wrote: You are probably on Autoshite...

I am, though I don't spend anywhere near enough time there. My most recent post was probably made somewhen pre-Covid, when travelling hundreds of miles to rescue a broken car was seen as a sensible activity.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:24 pm**

JPB wrote: Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:03 pm
GHT wrote: You are probably on Autoshite...
I am, though I don't spend anywhere near enough time there. My most recent post was probably made somewhen pre-Covid, when travelling hundreds of miles to rescue a broken car was seen as a sensible activity.

When isn't it a sensible activity

In fact how about a trip to Italy?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 993926484/