While cleaning out# 209, discovered the previous owner was Robert Carpenter by a gasoline station credit card slip. Credit card slip was dated about 1981. Believe he was a member of Fiat America, a club based in Silicon Valley. Does any one know Robert Carpenter?
~Would be interesting to discover precisely what happened to# 209. What is know based on car archeology:
~Original color was metallic silver, re-painted red (not an economy paint job as the paint appears too smooth with all the trim removed during the repaint).
~At some point, an aftermarket turbo kit was installed. This turbo exposed the engine (not taken apart the engine yet, but will just to learn what happened, what failed and why).
~After the engine failure, it appears to have been parked then at some point broken into as there is a LOT of broken glass on the carpet all over the interior.
~This could be when Robert Carpenter gave up ownership to Rob Dietsch who planned to put it all back together. During his ownership it sat in the shop while Rob collected a pile-O-parts including a complete MonteCarlo bumper, trim and head light conversion kit. Then Rob decided to give up on this project and where ownership transferred about 2005. Since then, this Lancia has been in storage until now.
If anyone could fill in any of the history details, it would be interesting and useful.
Due to the long term indoor storage of# 209, it has very little rust. Worst area is the battery compartment and hood vents (nee 100% problem area by design). Otherwise, the body appears very solid and rust free.
The interior after hours of scrubbing and clean up. The seats are out as the recline adjusters are busted (most if not all of them are) due to their design. They are being re-designed and two of them made so this problem can never happen again.
Original color was metallic silver, little if any rust on the body due indoor storage for decades. It is mostly a time capsule.
Worst rust area is the battery box, rusty but not rust penetrated by holes. Might clean up sort of OK.
And the famous foam cored hood rust problem:
Visit, sure once the current mess has settled down.
Bernice
BTW, the 74' x1/9 is still here. It's a turn-key driver. Mostly sitting in storage, when it's time for a drive, pull the choke, allow the e-fuel pump to fill up the carb, turn the key (starts up first try), warm up a bit, go for a drive.
