Club126UK

Fiat 126 Chat => Your Restorations => Topic started by: Bar Vitelli on April 07, 2013, 09:40:44 AM

Title: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on April 07, 2013, 09:40:44 AM
I bought this car about a year ago with just 8249 miles on the clock and originally planned to use it as my runaround.  In fact, I got a bit carried away and did over 3,000 miles in it and drove it like a  Ferrari! It now needs some TLC to secure it's future.  It's costing a fair bit and will mean I'll be on tinned food for a while but like all our cars I've ended up faling for it so there's no choice really!

I've found a really good VW chap who is doing the work and for those of you that like pictures you can check out the progress on his website under the blog section.

www.vwrestorations.co.uk

Once this one's done, there's another, even more special car in line (if I can find the funds!)
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Kent126 on April 10, 2013, 07:27:33 PM
Any news or pics Gary? Their website doesnt seem to work.  :(

Tom
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Pete126 on April 10, 2013, 07:58:02 PM
Seems to be working Tom, Try this http://www.vwrestorations.co.uk/fiat126.html :D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on April 10, 2013, 10:01:41 PM
It's taking some time, which is good actually, because the chap is doing the body and the paintwork very thoroughly.  Should be another 4-6 weeks and then I'm going to treat my favourite blue car and another very special car to the same treatment!   ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Kent126 on April 12, 2013, 06:20:26 PM
Thanks Pete, must be my computer.  :$

Hopefully they will update it as they go along. Gary are they giving you the opportunity to take photos along the way, or doing it for you?

Tom
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on April 12, 2013, 09:52:29 PM
They're doing the pictures although I have taken some myself but just haven't figured out how to load them to this site.  To be honest, it kinda breaks my heart to see it all dismantled with the rust exposed so I'm just focussing on the end result. 

Tell you what, it's been a tough old week, I've sold my maroon car to help pay for everything and just blowN (part of) that cash on drinks to drown my sorrows at my local bar, nice stuff though, a beautiful (bottle of) red, followed by grappa, coffee (with a quarter bottle of disarronno) finished off with limoncello.  Don't feel too bad now, until I wake up tomorrow that is!
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Kent126 on April 14, 2013, 12:10:16 AM
How was the hangover?  ;D

Tom
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on April 14, 2013, 02:51:59 PM
Had my stomach pumped, sounds grim but just like an engine rebuild really, lots of gink came out, but now much leaner and meaner and as ever the Haynes manual came in really handy!

Miss my DeVille, it's my ''DeVille in disguise'', another 4-8 weeks and it should be mintissimo and I can toot it about all summer long!
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Kent126 on April 26, 2013, 12:10:33 AM
Hopefully you can bring it to retro rides?  ;D

Tom
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on June 01, 2013, 10:50:29 AM
I went to see my DeVille again today, I wish I could load pictures because it's looking amazing, all sanded down and ready to be painted which is happening next week after which the chappy is going to load some pictures on his blog site so they can be viewed.  8)

The best bit was seeing the actual paint, really hard to find, it's the original stuff not the new lacquered version, looked good enough to drink!  Arancia Rossa - Orange Red!  ;D

It's going to be left for 2 weeks after painting to dry out properly before being put back together so could be ready in time for an Italiann party we are due to hold at Villa Vitelli in July which would be brilliant as I could match it up with my green and white car to make the Italian flag!  8)

Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on June 01, 2013, 12:38:02 PM
I did once have a red , white & a blue 126 at the same time but BV you can already do blue , white & green . Sierra Leone will be very proud of you  ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on June 01, 2013, 01:48:10 PM
I did do a red, white and blue formation and attributed it to Slovakia out of respect to a mutual friend...  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Pete126 on June 02, 2013, 05:47:03 PM
Here are the photos you sent me :D

(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/DeVille.jpg)

(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/DeVille-1.jpg)

(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/DeVille-1-1.jpg)

(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m152/pedro126/DeVille-2.jpg)

Won't be long now ;D


Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on June 02, 2013, 06:27:09 PM
Cheers,Pete, I was going to soup it up with some work on the carb but I've got a go faster stripe that I might stick on instead which should do just as good!  It's touch and go whether it will be ready for our big party on the 6th July but it will be brilliant if it is!  ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Pete126 on June 02, 2013, 06:36:26 PM
You Can't afford to soup it up, You won't be able to afford the Petrol! well thats what you keep telling us :P
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Hazey-n-Marc on June 02, 2013, 08:22:55 PM
You Can't afford to soup it up, You won't be able to afford the Petrol! well thats what you keep telling us :P

You're forgetting that two of his cars have become tax exempt recently Pete.  :P

Marc
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on June 04, 2013, 10:24:34 PM
That's right, Marc...every morning I wake up with a smile...it's like winning a years worth of free petrol!   ;D ;D ;D  With that and getting all my cars on a block policy for less than I used to pay for one...my savings are almost paying for the restoration (almost!)   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: wsmitwil on June 04, 2013, 10:42:20 PM

It's looking good  ;D ,wish I could have more 126s
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on June 13, 2013, 07:05:56 PM
Thanks, Will, it's looking even better now...it's just been painted!

I've sent Pete126 a copy and asked him (nicely!) if he'll load it for me as I still haven't figured out how to (!!)  It's very shiny...even shinier than ChrisDeVille's car (!!)  ;)

Vroom! Vroom!  Just needs putting back together now...hopefully in time for my big party on 6th July!

 ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Pete126 on June 13, 2013, 07:29:51 PM
There you go :P
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on June 13, 2013, 07:33:32 PM
Cheers, Pete, I owe you a pint of Black Sheep...I've got 8 cans left but will save you one!  ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: DeVilleChris on June 13, 2013, 08:01:39 PM
put mine to shame!!
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: futfutfiat on June 13, 2013, 10:21:34 PM
Looking great there , looking forward to seeing it all back together ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: skoda_norman on June 14, 2013, 09:06:15 AM
That looks fantastic! I'd love to have all my cars resprayed like that.
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on August 17, 2013, 12:35:04 PM
It's back!  Picked it up this morning and it looks fantastic!  There's some pictures on the link at the start of this thread and I'll be uploading some more soon when I figure out how (or when Pete's back from RR  ;D).  The sunroof fram is the only odd one out, we've got a new sunroof but the frame don't fit but once that's sorted it will look absolutely mint.

Cost me a mint and more than it's probably worth but to be honest I'd recommend it to anyone because it has extended the life and also just looks amazing - even better than a new car.  8)

Only problem is my other cars look tatty in comparison!  :o
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: Bar Vitelli on August 21, 2013, 02:00:05 PM
Drove back from Leeds late last night and was coasting at 60mph with capacity for at least another 15mph!  No special modifications just resetting, a bit of tuning , a new exhasut and proper lubrication!  As simple as that and shows what's possible - it's like having a modern car!  8)

Can't wait to burn Pete126 off at the lights and overtake Lloyd on the way to Leeds Classic in September!  ;D
Title: Re: 1979 Fiat 126 De Ville Restoration
Post by: DeVilleChris on August 21, 2013, 03:33:42 PM
I cant wait to see that either  ;)