Strada Rebirth

Post pictures and stories about your cars both present and past. Also post up "blogs" on your restoration projects - the more pictures the better! Note: blog-type threads often get few replies, but are often read by many members, and provide interest and motivation to other enthusiasts so don't be disappointed if you don't get many replies.
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jerry3
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:06 pm

Strada Rebirth

#1 Post by jerry3 » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:19 pm

I've been reading Practical Classics for many years and always take an interest in the rust in peace .
I've always wanted a car with twin 40's.
I've fancied doing a basket case for ages now.
I like cars from the 80's.
I like cars that are a bit unusual.
SO
I've combined all the above and bought a 1985 Strada Abarth basket case.
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It was spotted by my teenage children as we were driving around an industrial estate.
It was parked outside a company that work on italian exotica (Ferrari Maserati etc).
It was used as a donor vehicle for someone who had another fully rebuilt.
I phoned the company who said it was available and it came with a few spare parts.
A deal was done.
It hasn't been started for 10 years but isn't seized, it was sitting in a a garden in London when it was spotted as a donor car.
My plans are to give it a full rebuild and a few subtle mods.
I reckon about 2 years as I have other projects on the go at the moment.
Let me know what you think.

rich.
Posts: 6804
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Strada Rebirth

#2 Post by rich. » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:02 pm

i see you like a challenge! good luck
is it any relation to the fiat ritmo?

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JPB
Posts: 10319
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:24 pm

Re: Strada Rebirth

#3 Post by JPB » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:34 pm

It is the Ritmo, Rich. Ones that came to the UK had the Strada badge instead because some marketroid decided that we Anglo-Saxonists are such a primitive race we'd not have appreciated the Ritmo name.

I saw a lovely convertible one - with a BMW V8 under its bonnet - at the NEC show, it doesn't look quite as unloved as the OP's example and I wish him all the very best of success with this, they really are a "where did they all get off to?" car these days.

For inspiration only, here a piccie of the V8:
Image 8-)
J
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true.. :oops:

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Luxobarge
Posts: 1898
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:12 pm
Location: Horne, Surreyshire

Re: Strada Rebirth

#4 Post by Luxobarge » Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:50 pm

Absolute insanity.


Welcome! :D
Some people are like Slinkies - they serve no useful purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them downstairs.

jerry3
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:06 pm

Re: Strada Rebirth

#5 Post by jerry3 » Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:23 pm

At the moment have removed all glass , rear lamps and bumper, wiring loom where possible. I did want to remove the fuel tank but will try when I get it in the garage as I have a hole in the ground so we don't have to lift it as high.
If any one has any parts could you let me know. Many thanks Jerry

Richard Moss
Posts: 425
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:09 pm

Re: Strada Rebirth

#6 Post by Richard Moss » Sun Jun 02, 2013 5:19 pm

Wow - good luck. It's great to see someone tackle a rare, special car like this - your knighthood will be confirmed when the restoration is complete.

rich.
Posts: 6804
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Strada Rebirth

#7 Post by rich. » Sun Jun 02, 2013 5:54 pm

here are some spares
http://www.leboncoin.fr/annonces/offres ... o=2&q=fiat ritmo
here are some cars, some complete for spares..
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/offres ... fiat+ritmo

thanks for educating me john!! i remember seeing a tidy convertable abandoned in a barn 20 + years ago.. i Wonder if its still there :idea:

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JPB
Posts: 10319
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:24 pm

Re: Strada Rebirth

#8 Post by JPB » Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:43 pm

Maybe someone rescued it, sprayed it green and fitted a mad badstart V8 nutjob engine to it? :lol:

You'd think that people on here had never seen a really rusty car before ;) , that wee Fiat is a bit scabby, granted, but is a whole lot better preserved than many better known cars of the same era. The difficulty comes in when you get something that someone has tried to patch up in its past and in doing so, built more mud traps in.
J
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true.. :oops:

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TerryG
Posts: 6754
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: East Midlands

Re: Strada Rebirth

#9 Post by TerryG » Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:50 pm

You are a brave man. Are you going down the modified route or are you keeping it factory original?
Either way it looks like this is going to be a good thread :)
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.

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Grumpy Northener
Posts: 1637
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Hampshire UK

Re: Strada Rebirth

#10 Post by Grumpy Northener » Sun Jun 02, 2013 9:58 pm

The Talbot / Peugeot dealership that I worked at in the late 70's / early 80's also had a Fiat dealership - the new Fiats used to come in for the pre delivery inspection and in that era most of them required remedial paintwork prior to customer collection - in some cases they were so bad we were having to paint the complete car.

None the less good luck with this one - they are few examples existing and by looking at yours you can see why ;)
1937 Jowett 8 - Project - in less pieces than the Jupiter
1943 Jowett Stationary Engine
1952 Jowett Jupiter - In lots of peices http://Jowett.org/
1952 Jowett Javelin - Largely original
1973 Rover P6 V8 - Original / 22,000 miles

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