Projects - 1977 Alfasud Giardinetta complete body restoration

 
 
June 2010: This time an oddity arrives in the operation chamber. A 1977 (first series) Alfasud Giardinetta. I can't remember seeing one of these vehicles on the road for a long time. This patient unfortunately suffers from several different diseases / issues. During the nineties this car was apparently restored/tuned, but that work has perished with the years and in general the cars surviving today are usually more appreciated in their factory original configuration. Besides all corrosion issues additionally the modifications which have been made during the nineties or earlier have to be returned to the factory original specification. A shallow evaluation of the car showed quite some issues to take care off but still manage-able. We'll see how my Sud experience will come in handy with this particular project, I restored my series 3 1.5 Ti QV and maintained my series 2 1.5 Ti (my first car ever). I'm pretty sure that some unexpected disasters will pop up. An advantage of this project is that there is absolutely no timing pressure at all.

July 2010: The first activities to get the body in good and factory original condition will commence. At first an inventory of the activities to be done to the front end of the car will be made, probably several additional issues will be added when going along.

 

Rare set of cars, left a GTV6 Grand Prix, right a 1st series Sud Giardinetta.

 

Front valance rust damage and many unnecessary holes for previously assembled spoiler.

 

Bonnet with rust damage, unwanted holes for ventilation spoiler not applicable to a 1st series Sud.

 

Windshield frame right hand side severely affected by rust, luckily a NOS one is included.

 

Windshield frame left hand side severely affected by rust, luckily a NOS one is included.

 

The left & right front wings are welded to the sill at the A-pillar, why would anyone do that?????

 

This rearview mirror position is applicable for a 3rd series Sud, not for a 1st series Sud.

 

Left and right front inner wings completely rusted away, typical Sud issue.

 

No other way then to just start and see where we end up. The issues for the front end I knew, now we just have to find out how severe they actually are. As a first item I make a trial fit of the NOS windscreen frame. Just to be sure it is the correct geometry before material is removed. The Sud Berlina & Giardinetta have a different frame compared to the Alfasud Sprint and the right hand drive ones are different from the left hand drive ones as well (windscreen wipers in different location). Luckily the frame seems to be the correct one. These repair pieces are really a needle in a haystack so it would be a shame if this would have been an incorrect one.

 

ANOS windscreen frame trial fit, seems to be the correct one.

 

First additional issue found, left hand front wing has dent near indicator light hole.

Lh front wing during removal of rather stupid welded connection to the sill.

 

Lh front wing, welded connection to sill cut.

 

Second additional issue found, lh front wing rust damage at bottom section.

 

After removal of rh front wing inner wing rust damage becomes clearly visible.

Rh side inner wing, just as crispy as my breakfast serial.

 

Lh inner wing with a serious "airconditioning" hole.

Skin disease attacked in a rigorous manner.

 

Initial setup of handmade repair piece.

 

August 2010: There is a saying that time flies when you're having fun, this project shows that time also flies when the fun factor is "a bit" less. The month August started and the project just started. The repair activities to the front inner wings on the left and right side will continue. The left side shows some serious rust holes, but the right side beats everything I guess, the material completely decomposes upon touching it with a tool.

 

Repair piece welded into position and excessive weld material removed.

 

Left hand front wing rail completed & treated with anti-corrosive coating.

 

Rh front wing rail with very severe rust issues however a convenient tool hole is available ;-)

 

Completely decomposed material, no salvage-able material available.

 

 

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Last update: April 17th 2017  
 
    

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