Barn find Fiat twin cam...

[hammerbeirne]

Thats some find there Kev Best of luck with it

[kev131]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys.....I'm really thrilled to find this.

Driving impressions to follow once she's ready for the road, especially how she compares with a Supermirafiori!! One immediate comparison is how firm the front seats are. They feel like a 70s BMW! Also, the instrument binnacle is properly illuminated .....in a nice orange.

The car is a "no pets/kids/smoking" survivor and the owner told me I was the first to sit on the back seat.

There are a couple of electrical challenges eg some of the gauges don't work yet and the check control panel is dead.

Parts are so much cheaper than for 131s. Two new and boxed rear lights from Austria...?20! The boot lid Fiat badge is unique to the Series 1 and mine is a bit faded... ?12 on Subito. A full set of chrome centre caps from Germany...?40! Happy days.....

[kev131]

Thanks to Chris for the introduction. Whilst my collection is not complete (will it ever be?) I'm delighted to find this car and I'm sure I'll get as much fun from it as I do my 131s.  

Your very welcome Kev when the owner told me he had a Argenta locked away in his garage ! That he owned from new I knew it was the Argenta of you Kev

It's funny how you knew I was going to end up with it before I did!!  

Jacquie has taken one look at it and rolled her eyes! Can't see the appeal...and I can sort of see her point if view. It's a barge! However, she did christen the car...the name occurring to her almost immediately....namely, SuZY!

[simon131]

Many, many congratulations Kev. A real find - and in Ireland too!

I love the colour, as you know  Looks like a thing of beauty, I'm sure it will be a wonderfully worthy addition to your ever expanding fleet of interesting cars. Can't wait to see it in the metal.

Enjoy it buddy.

[daverwd]

Health to drive her Kevin , looks good..

[kevin]

what a great find
the rarer the better ,
health to drive!!
kevin

[Irish Mike]

Nice one there Kevin. The shot from the rear makes it look very like the Lancia Trevi. Enjoy. Mike

[sam22]

 well done kevin,nice car .it has been a long time since one of those on the road, look foreward to seeing it during the year, seamus

[hammerbeirne]

Are the headlights the same as a mirafiori Kevin?

[kev131]

Are the headlights the same as a mirafiori Kevin?

I've heard that said Enda - although they generally don't say that when advertised on Ebay.

[mirafioriman]

Series 1 Argenta headlamps are the same as the 131 although the mounting brackets are different, but you can swap those over. Series 2 Argenta headlamps however are unique and more or less impossible to find in RHD

[sid131]

Good luck with the Argenta Kevin
there is another SuZY lol!

[kev131]

That Ritmo will be nice when she's done.

Got the car back on Friday last so spent the weekend starting the deep clean. It didn't take much effort to remove the evidence of use although there is quite a bit of cosmetic work to get her looking like I want. Primarily the bumpers and side trims need lifting...or replacing. The standard speakers sound dreadful and she'll have a modern radio soon. I had the wheels powder coated and lacquered and then treated to a set of new chromed centres. Five new Pirelli P6's are on their way and a new rear boot badge was a major find on Subito.

Mechanically she drives very well. The engine fires instantly and ticks over evenly. The handling is a lot better than I expected and this is still on the original suspension. No funny noises from anywhere and all of the electrics now work. A fixed faulty earth behind the clocks brought everything to life.

I'm delighted with the paint condition. It's a deep and lustrous shade that can't be far off what she looked like when new. In fact almost everything is blue and what might have looked too chintzy inside when the car was launched, now has a unique and stylish feel. The outside has a few small chips here and there but it looks to be an honest car. For the 14 years it was in use up to 1996, it covered less than 4000 miles a year. Just enough for the previous owner to take his Mum to mass and the shops! 

For re-commissioning she has had:

All new fluids using Miller oils.
All new belts and cam belt tensioner.
All brake hoses replaced with new
Master cylinder
Recored radiator
All service consumables
Ignition lead pick up
Bosch wiper blades
New Bosch battery

Here are some pics from the weekend....

[simon131]

I love the 'sexy' shoots with the rain water trickling down the paintwork Kev! 

[jack1]

Looks fantastic kev 
 You never know  you may be up for a swap