818.330.006978

[Sam Danenberger IV]

Hello all-

Excited to have purchased a Fulvia Rallye Coupe over the weekend!
Car has been resting/waiting for 25+ years in a garage in Wisconsin.
99% complete and original, needs floor boards, but the interior is near perfect and original!!
Classic Lancia White(Saratoga?) exterior w/ Black inside.
Mechanical renovation planned and while at it, try to conserve as much of the original car as possible.
It makes me wonder how many more useable & restoreable Fulvias are sitting in garages all across the USA.
Ciao!!

Sam Danenberger IV

[Ed Levin]

Hey Sam,
Congratulations! Great find; sounds like a good, solid car. (Unless it's been repainted, the color is certainly bianco saratoga.)
I'm sure there are a number of decent S1 Coupes waiting to be discovered. In the meantime, I've just added this one to the register.
Regards, Ed

[Sam Danenberger IV]

Thanks Ed,

The car looks just like Shaun Ponds' car, except for the white/cream wheels.
Don't know for sure just yet, but I think it is original paint.
Car is just crying for TLC!! Good thing is that it appears to be so complete(missing a jack though).

I'd like to talk to you more sometime regarding the US Fulvia Registry.
Do what I can to help complete and collect data on anything Fulvia.
Send me your email address again.
Ciao!

Sam

[Huib Geurink]

Congratulations, Sam! Another lucky Fulvia that found a good owner!

[Sam Danenberger IV]

Thanks Huib-

It really is like finding buried treasure to discover one of these little jewels just sitting and wating to be put back on the road!

I cannot afford a complete tear down restoration on her at the moment,
but would like to go through the brakes/hydraulics and electrics while accessing the engine condition.
I am pretty sure we will rebuild it though.
First thing I will do, are the floor boards, and make sure the rest of the car is stucturally sound.
Anything specific you would recommend checking?
Odometer reads 97, 738 miles, and I believe that sounds about right, if it was parked in 1983!

Will send pictures soon.
Ciao!
Sam

[Huib Geurink]

I would like to know how the sills are and the A and C pillars near the sills. Unfortunately the only way to be really sure is to cut open the four panels between doors and wheel arches. It means repainting. Personally I have no problem with repainting by hand. I prefer a car with obvious signs of loving care and maintenance any time over a car which has quickly been sprayed over to look good.

A good initial test is to jack the car up on the 4 jacking points. If the jack goes up and the car does not, there is trouble. If the car goes up without deformation of the sills they are at least reasonable but not guaranteed to be good.

[Shaun Pond]

Sam, congratulations! Sounds like a great find!

I think you'll like the white exterior color, particularly during the summer when it's hot. We've been having a series of heat waves here in Northern California, with temperatures in the 80-90F range. But the car doesn't soak up the heat like our other, darker cars.

Do post pictures!

Regards

[Sam Danenberger IV]

Hi Shaun-

Thanks for the kind words.
Yes, I think its your cars midwest cousin.
Not rust-free like a California Fulvia would be,
but not bad for having lived in Milwaukee for most of its life!
I am probably going to go at it slow and methodical, so it probably will be a while before it on the road again, but it will get there!

Once I get some photos, I will post them if Huib can talk through the procedure.
Take Care.
Ciao!
Sam