Our very own "barn find"...

[Evan Bottcher]

Here's the steering wheel.  As it was, and after restoration.

This one knocked my socks off.  It's going to be nice to sit behind this wheel (one day). 

[Sportscar Nut]

Evan

Can understand why you are happy with the steering wheel - looks fantastic. Who/ how was it restored and what did you do with the Cross & serpent centre??

Appreciate the info.

Paul

[Evan Bottcher]

Who/ how was it restored and what did you do with the Cross & serpent centre??

Hi Paul, you probably missed my first message on the previous page?  http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=363.msg56776#msg56776

Franjo in Slovenia did the wheel.  He supplied the cross & serpent centre, I'm not sure where.  PM me if you want his contact details to ask yourself.

cheers,
Evan.

[Evan Bottcher]

Franjo has a website now - http://www.alfafranjo.com/

[Evan Bottcher]

Hoo haa - we've been busy with other projects so not much to report until the other day, when out of the blue Bruno and Dean started some reassembly!  The front suspension has started going back on the car, which is really nice to see.

[AikenDrum105]

Love those first suspension back in shots - gets the motivation going again too when you have them back on wheels after a respray...   

That first muddy puddle is going to hurt...   

[Evan Bottcher]

Recent evil-Bay acquisitions... a NOS 1750 GTV boot (trunk) badge which came in a bag and is totally pristine.  A pair of NOS C-pillar badges have weathered slightly but are still much nicer than the reproductions.  Even though they have the same part number, they are supposed to have a different curve for left and right sides – I can't see it by eye, will be interesting when we come to fit these.  The white enamel is much creamier on this pair than on the reproductions.  Wonder if I can polish up the gold part of the badges?

[pancho]

Nice work Evan. I'd take the badges to a specialist in these things before you polish them - if it goes pear shaped you'll cry.

[Davidm1600]

Hi Evan, I think Pancho's advice makes sense, but if wished to try, perhaps using something like brasso might be worth a go.  It shouldn't hurt the gold as its abrasiveness is so slight.  I only suggest this as I have known of guys who after having repainted and wet/dry cut back finished up polishing with brasso.  An incredibly slow process but the effect was superb.   The other option and equally effective and mild could be jeweler's rouge.  Just a thought.

[Evan Bottcher]

Noticed my post count on the forum hit 1968 - reminded me of this little project...  no progress to report sadly.  Making some more plans for the race car for this year though!

[Evan Bottcher]

My how time flies.  Work on the GTV is progressing again, first step is to get the car back on it's own feet.  The front suspension is mostly fitted, apart from springs and dampers.  The rear suspension went on today, with the axle tidied up and painted.  It's such a relatively clean job putting clean parts onto a clean body.

[aggie57]

Looking great Evan - nice job.  Time is only there to be lost so take as much of it as you need!

[Evan Bottcher]

To be clear - while I did most of the cleaning, sandblasting and painting of the suspension parts, the chaps at Maranello Pur Sang are doing the mechanical reassembly.  I lack time, patience, and aptitude - I just know I'll muck something up and have to pull it apart again...  I'll do anything on sh*tboxes but this car I want to be just right...

[Evan Bottcher]

Some further progress – the remanufactured wiring loom is roughly fitted.  The windscreen wiper mechanism and NOS three-wire motor installed.

[Evan Bottcher]

A couple of more shots...