a) Alan , with over 25 years specifically in the bodywork trade I do know a little about rust protection and preservation of cars
b) thankyou for the picture and advice on the scuttle and I will treat it properly and not with cure rust rubbish that so many people swear by
c) IMHO it saddens me that you both seem to think that I would do that
d) I was unaware that I was known for ruining cars and I will ask you the same as him, when where how?
e) I find it sad not to use a car for regular/ everyday use, what was it designed and built for in the first place and why have an ornament in the garage rather than pleasure on the road?
f) if you were me what would you do with it? let it sit in the shed or try and get some use out of it?
I'm outside tinkering with my Appia, so I'll do a quick reply, labelled for ease:
a) I can claim 41 - started in 1973. Mostly hobby rather than trade, but you can take your time more when it's a hobby...
b) The two people whose car work I respect the most are you (and your Dad) and Simon Ingman & Dog, his body man. I am not trying to impugn your abilities at all; merely trying to ensure that others don't see this as carte blanche to drive Appias all the year round and not bother to look after them. How do you think the one you've got got into that state to begin with? Lots of people don't read from our hymn sheet.
c) I don't - you invented that bit, because it's not in anything I wrote.
d) As I said, not aimed at you. Your work is fantastic, especially the Ardea pickup and your Dad's 'Carrozzeria Parry' Astura.
e) This might be where we diverge a bit. Everyday use - yes. Everyday use without A LOT of hard work to keep it looking nice, drying it regularly, keeping the salt off - no.
I don't know if you are familiar with the American expression 'rode hard and put up wet' (which is what kills horses), but riding cars hard and putting them up wet is what kills them.
If you wash the salt off and dry them every day before you store them - fine. Most people, however, haven't got the sophisticated knowledge of car construction and care to take the proper care of their cars, which is why there are so many knackered and rusty Lancias (and other cars) around. They can be made to last indefinitely if looked after properly, but most people don't do it.
I had a Lotus 7 customer who had a 1962 Lotus 7 that he had owned since new (he's getting on a bit), and he uses it EVERY DAY throughout the year, and it is in all original and absolutely perfect condition. I don't know if you have ever looked closely at the suspension of a 7, but keeping that uncorroded is virtually impossible. He told me that he NEVER put the car away without cleaning and drying all of it (including the suspension), and polishing it where necessary. That's the level of commitment necessary if you want to use it all year and keep it in any kind of reasonable state.
Most people (in fact virtually all of them) don't 'get' that. Like Will, I found out the hard way (by ruining a car driving it all the time and storing it outside). Like Will I still have the car, but unlike Will I haven't restored it (again) yet. That's for the future - and boy, do I wish I'd looked after it better.
f) See e)
