Help requested about S3 Fulvia being sold

[Johnny48]

Lancia III SERIE 1.3 — EUR 3.900 - is for sale in Frankenthal. Just minutes from here ! Would someone knowledgeable have a internet look at it - under www.mobile.de - I am not exactly sure what is being model is being offered; but since I drive thru this town in 2 or 3 days I would like to at least know something more than I no know ! It looks like a special model of some sort, with fender flares. The asking, pre-haggling price also seems not be out of whack . Any assistance appreciated

[Chasm61]

Looks nice. I'm certainly no expert, however this is the same year (1975) as my 1.3s. I don't believe there was any such thing as a series III 1.3 HF. From '74 to '76 there was the standard "3", the Montecarlo, and the Safari. If I had to guess, I'd say this was either a Montecarlo or Safari (no bumper, etc) with some HF stickers on it.

Note also it has Cromodoras, but they look like the 5.5" wide version that came off the Lancia 2000 HF rather than the 6" from the series II Fulvia 1.6 HF. I also see only 3 (the back left appears to have stock steel wheel, maybe he had a flat and that's his spare).

Price seems quite low for such low mileage and apparent condition. Just my opinion.
Good Luck! Let us know how it goes!

[Chasm61]

When you get a look under the hood, check for that obvious yellow/blue cylinder head. Under normal conditions, that would indicate HF, if I'm not mistaken.

Did you notice that he also has a 1600HF badge on the back? I'm guessing this is just made up to look like a Fanalone. It's still nice, and the price seems reasonable, as long as the seller is honest about what you are getting.

[Ed Levin]

This is a strange car; it has Fulvia 3 white instruments and black headlight surrounds, a 1600HF (S2) badge on the back, and black wheelarch extensions (S1).

All this this tends to suggest that it's a 'Frankenfulvia'. But is it a 1600HF with a dashboard and trim transplant? a Fulvia 3 with a 1.6 engine transplant? or just a Fulvia 3 in drag?

(BTW, Chas, the 1.6 engines in the S2 1600HFs had a solid yellow valve cover--no blue stripe.)

[Johnny48]

I a been a readin a Woody Guthrie Biography fer tha laz few daze; which seems ta have had a strange influence on the followin text; written in a -sorta USA countrhy-boy dialect - which I used ta (joshingly) speak in, when I, a Irish Descent-Yankee* (= *Northeast USA American) was Uncla Sam's Guest in Mississippi & Georgia; aroun the time of tha American Ci'l War.
Depending on (the color of whomse skin) I was a talkin speakin to, I could do the poor, uneducated slick as a wis'le white-boy trash dialect pretty well, (for a foreigner),as well as the poh black boy dialect ... which has a sorta come in very handy oer the last many years of a dealing with Americans in all corners of the wirl. It always makes me happy to slip into a (well done or poorly done - I am not able to say) folksy american-english language that has often elicited a joyful response & the question of "Hey, where did you learn that ?" (pretty fly forra cracka, ya'all !)
Howsever - bout 2 yrs ago, at a very formal meeting in a very high Military Hq's, "Alabama Anthony Smith" (of my Company) had a unplanned, unscheduled & longish (white bread) conversation with "Alabama Andy McClurg" (of the US Military Hq's) , jes befo the official meeting was about ta commence.
Inna a Military-Meetin Room, filled with 20-25 educated & senior Black, Latin & White American Gov't Employees ( & me). We listened to em & unnerstood not a word ! We started the meeting a bit late, because we (the baffled 1's) wanted to know 'more bout / anything bout' what we'd'all jes witnessed.
They didn't & wouldn't tell us...
I think the only words I (think I) unnerstood was "Crawdaddy Fishin", but maybe I didn't understand that either. Them Boys was a jus a cutting up, I tell ya now. An shukin & jivin on us, jes to get are goats.

OK; back to 2007 in Heidelberg, Germany.

I'ma really Xcited 2C what this Fulvia is goin "toin out ta be". I'll a getamyself ova there soon, I swaer, buts itsa currently 2 wet, 2 cole & 2 mizerable 2 go pik -up my own Fulvia in the town next to where this mystery 1 is located. I hope / assume itz a still there & inside sum sorta buildin.
It must really be sum sorta "insider-secret",having been brought across the Alps from somewhere in Italia (under own power ?) & being offered at what seems to be 40% to 100% under other Fulvia Coupes in Italy, NL, UK, Fr, Ge etc..... Of course I'll phone 'em b4 drivin outta my own way ta get there.

Only 1 question (don't ansa) - is - if it is a "4 real somethin or anuther" Fulvia (or if it a super clean "nothin" Fulvia", should I buy another car I'll be afraid to drive in rain/snow &/or park in the sunlight ?)

By the way, this is perhaps the 1st message I've ever posted herein where I won't have to check the spelling or worry about punctuation



Ed Levin wrote:
>
> This is a strange car; it has Fulvia 3 white
> instruments and black headlight surrounds, a 1600HF (S2)
> badge on the back, and black wheelarch extensions (S1).
>
> All this this tends to suggest that it's a 'Frankenfulvia'.
> But is it a 1600HF with a dashboard and trim transplant? a
> Fulvia 3 with a 1.6 engine transplant? or just a Fulvia 3 in
> drag?
>
> (BTW, Chas, the 1.6 engines in the S2 1600HFs had a solid
> yellow valve cover--no blue stripe.)

[Lucas Geheniau]

Hi Johnny,

Very nice story.
To the point, do you believe in Santa? Honest? Oepzzz.
a cosmeticly that nice looking Fulvia for only 3900 Euro. Probably from a little old lady that took her once a month to church as only ride and in a subtropical environment.....

a year ago, we saw a similar Coupe(not this one) that was bought at an official Auction for I believe some 6000 Euro. After a good check, the car was sold for 1000 Euro, wich was the value of the Crommies with new tyres and the nice seats....... may she R.I.P.

So please be very carefull not to fall in love with the wreck of the month.

Lucas

[Johnny48]

if I had to spend $/€ going to look at it, I wouldn't go.
if I had to go far from home or far from where I will go to get my Z in the next days, I wouldn't go
3 years ago this week, I didn't go to look at a white Fulvia3 Coupe - only 30km away.
I did, however speak to the owner 3 years ago - to get details & ask why it was being sold.
It was so close to here, that wasn't even a long distance phone call.
I decided to not go - not even to look at it - because if it was really good I would have bought it !!!
I had no reason to buy another Fulvia ! & many reasons to not buy another Fulvia
Instead I bought another Gamma ! Don't ask why !!!!!!
Instead I told a friend about the Fulvia.
He wasn't looking for a Fulvia; in fact he wasn't even sure what a Fulvia was.
He wasn't even looking to buy any car; unless export to East Europe, at a profit.

He went to look at it & bought it. It was/is excellent.

I won't mention the price I was told I could buy it for, nor what my friend paid for it (he paid more than I was told) , but afterwards we both agreed that :
a) I was very stupid b) Santa Claus exists c) winter time is a good time to buy a non-winter time car
d) seller was very stupid e) divorce, prior to being married, may have been the sellers better choice
f) the owner of Alfa shop where it was stored admitted that he know nothing about Fulvias, but knew a good car when he saw 1 ! He, a friend of seller, wanted it out of his shop by early Jan !

The entire truth about the car had been told by everyone. Isn't that amazing !!
My friend still owns it, but doesn't drive it ! He can't fit in it ; neither can his Son.
However, his wife can, but she doesn't like it (nor me, since it was "my idea" & has never even sat in it.
It now resides in a shop, with German cars being prepared for (legal) export & isn't (yet) for sale.
I've not driven it (yet), nor even heard it run (it does, I've been told) !!

Listed on German ebay in Dec 05- very low start price. No one bid ??? NO ONE !!!!

I was told that it could be had, cash & quick, for even less than starting price ....
since 'putting it in good hands' was more important to the seller than getting a lot of money !!!

Santa Claus lives (unless he has moved) in Viernhein !!!
This recollection is 100% true !!!


Lucas Geheniau wrote:
>
> Hi Johnny,
>
> Very nice story.
> To the point, do you believe in Santa? Honest? Oepzzz.
> a cosmeticly that nice looking Fulvia for only 3900 Euro.
> Probably from a little old lady that took her once a month to
> church as only ride and in a subtropical environment.....
>
> a year ago, we saw a similar Coupe(not this one) that was
> bought at an official Auction for I believe some 6000 Euro.
> After a good check, the car was sold for 1000 Euro, wich was
> the value of the Crommies with new tyres and the nice
> seats....... may she R.I.P.
>
> So please be very carefull not to fall in love with the wreck
> of the month.
>
> Lucas

[Chasm61]

Haven't seen a photo of an all yellow one anywhere. I'll store that tidbit for "future reference".
Thanks!

Ed Levin wrote:
>
> (BTW, Chas, the 1.6 engines in the S2 1600HFs had a solid
> yellow valve cover--no blue stripe.)

[Johnny48]

Viva Lancia Italia - Fulvia - a lovely red S3 - 4 photos, new

[Johnny48]

I reread your sad story today.
I don't know 'owner of Fulvia referred to' or do I ?), but I feel sad for that person.
Perhaps the lesson learned is "always take a older car to a shop with expertise on that model, so it can be "run through the gammit"; for the funds spent will be a wise-investment".
I had this done when buying my Fulvia Z*, with no intention of finding things wrong only in order to renegotiate the price.........I am so glad I did ! * & Gamma # 1, which arrived on same day from same seller !
Recently there have been viva-lancia-fulvia comments on "loose steering".
When I test drove my Z , at low speeds, the steering was right & the exhaust quiet..........when it arrived this was no longer true. The Master Mechanic, Giancarlo Ceccalaro (a nice Jewish Boy from Brooklyn !), who checked it for me was white-with-fuming-anger after 2 min. & he was only warning up !
No blood was spilled, but "boy of boy" were terse words exchanged !!!

Should there be any possible interest in the car I will "eyeball" soon, from myself or anyone else in the Fulvia world...it will be throughly checked-out before any funds changes hands !