Messages

31

428 Frua Forum / engine overhaul

« on: April 18, 2013, 15:33:26 »

I think Thunder Road have already done the fan duct option for a car that spends much of its time on the Spanish border. Incorporates small fans to push the air through and apparently works well.

32

428 Frua Forum / AC 428 nose badges ?

« on: February 21, 2013, 20:13:53 »

Rare as rare can be. Does anyone know who made them? Frua or AC? Andy was looking into having some made a year ago or so.
   From memory the badge is made up from 2 or 3 separate pieces. Mine is hanging on but loose (and inaccessible without dismantling the car!)
   Just another old car issue to worry about.

33

428 Frua Forum / seat belts

« on: August 31, 2012, 13:46:15 »

David,
   
   Not sure if 428's ever had an inertia option - generally Quickfit seem to come up as the prefered option for retrofit. Do let us know how you get on.
   
   The window switches I presume are the squarish rectangular examples (Lucas? as opposed to the long rocker switch type made by Clear Hooters) - said to be all but unobtainable so keep on searching ebay or maybe try Brian Eacott at Chessington 02083978472 who still has a number of useful bits and pieces.
   I'm not aware of anyone reconditioning switches - would dearly love to do so as most of the clear hooter examples are failing and now hard to find.

34

428 Frua Forum / 2013 ACOC International in USA?

« on: June 27, 2012, 14:26:57 »

Any ball park idea on the cost of transporting one's to and from the US?

35

428 Frua Forum / 428 Insurance

« on: May 15, 2012, 21:27:41 »

Lyonheart -that's true.
   As well as collecting classic cars I seem to collect points on my licence! A 100 mph jaunt on a duel carriageway resulted in 5 points and a close shave with a ban - still as long as I stick with open market value then the premium remains at approx. £350 including breakdown cover. Add an agreed value of say £120K and the premium doubles. As ever it's all a balance between risk and cost - the interesting element being whether open market value could prove to be higher than agreed value. Fixing the value might prove to disadvantageous.
   Cliff

36

428 Frua Forum / CF 64 coming up for auction

« on: May 02, 2012, 10:45:15 »

Yes, absolutely. The balancing act is between making sure that you have enough lots (or value)and giving yourself enough time to market them.
   Lets face it Bonhams are doing perfectly well with their formula so it works for them. Still holding off to the last minute for the few late entries has to be to the detriment of the other vendors -

37

428 Frua Forum / CF 64 coming up for auction

« on: May 01, 2012, 15:32:46 »

As a 428 owner who bought his car at Bonhams Henden and also happens to be an auctioneer I thought I'd add my thoughts for what its worth.
   
   I received an email from a Fine Arts based auction search company (Artfact) alerting me to the recent Bonhams sale and posted it here the same day.
   Bonhams bombard me with regular postings regarding their upcoming sales but all only mention the highlights (see the forthcoming Goodwood sale for some really tempting stuff).Catalogues are really only obtainable in exchange for hard cash but their web listing is the same and posts up about a week or so before the sale. BTW buying the catalogue is the cheapest way in to both the Revival and the Festival of Speed (but you have to go on the Friday).
   The marketing of lots for auction should relate to the scarcity and value of the lot/sale concerned. Most auctioneers now post everything on the web with many using additional sites for pre-sale publicity. I think that Bonhams leave it far too late - if you are marketing something in the £50,000 plus category your end buyer is usually someone who is busy earning or spending their money and may well miss a sale that has a short run-up period.
   
   Yesterdays sale price seems low - a full room does not mean that everything will sell well, the buyers may well all be there for one lot or specific collection and Bonhams had a fairly wide ranging selection on offer. The classic car market for vehicles over £15,000 is going from strength to strength but outside of Astons and Ferraris seems to be collector rather than investor driven. Even taking premium into consideration this sale is a little disappointing and surely could have been bettered by a private sale. Okay the Swiss car at over £200,000 seems mad money but the £175,000 convertible (bought at Bonhams for £70,800 and traded upwards)now appears to be sold.
   
   Judging by the past few years 428 sale prices I'd want to buy at Bonhams and sell through either RM or H&H but hey thats the fun of auctions...

38

428 Frua Forum / CF 64 coming up for auction

« on: April 27, 2012, 09:35:50 »

Monaco - Hendon ; not quite the same level of glamour! I must pay closer attention to my emails and not just look at the pretty pictures..
   
   Be very interesting to see if the Middle Eastern money is still chasing Frua's.

39

428 Frua Forum / How to trace the Unknown 428s ?

« on: April 09, 2012, 15:26:09 »

Any chance that archives might publish the list of original 428 sales records; colour, spec, purchaser?

40

428 Frua Forum / YouTube clip Ac 428 tyres

« on: March 01, 2012, 20:30:57 »

I recently visited Vintage Tyres to sort out my ageing rubber. Great service (they let you into the motor museum while you wait for fitting) and good advice.
   
   Ended up with replacing the existing 20 year old 225 70 VR 15's with matching new Avons and keeping the 235 70 VR 15's at the back.
   
   Carrying a 225 as a spare - however this does not fit the spare wheel well when inflated so some adjustment now seems necessary (or keeping the spare un-inflated).
   
   Cliff

41

428 Frua Forum / YouTube clip Ac 428 tyres

« on: February 16, 2012, 15:20:53 »

What's interesting is that the original Avon tyre has a diameter of 708mm, the new Cinturatos are 707mm but the commonly desired replacements such as the Avon and Michelin 215/70VR15 tyres are 677-683 mm in diameter. So to get better grip some of the diameter (and therefore the correct fill of the wheel arch) is lost.
   Will this downsize affect the speedo?

42

428 Frua Forum / CF 56 for sale

« on: December 31, 2011, 23:37:36 »

This is the car that sold at auction with bonhams earlier this year. Probably not a private sale after all.

43

428 Frua Forum / 12 days of AC Christmas

« on: December 19, 2011, 15:09:32 »

All parts that I collected recently on behalf of the Club from a garagiste living near Hamburg in Germany.
   
   He is a collector of the Glas make of motorcar (famous for the Goggomobile)who also produced the Glas 3000 - which was designed and bodied by Frua.
   
   Some years ago he contacted Fruas widow and arranged to buy the entire contents of the Frua workshop which happened to include some 428 parts...
   
   All the parts will go into the club stores. Quantities were mildly manipulated for '12 days' purposes but are broadly correct. Perhaps the glass and grilles will prove the most useful. I guess the random quantities indicate a somewhat chaotic production schedule or maybe it was just a case of an abrupt end.

44

428 Frua Forum / 12 days of AC Christmas

« on: December 12, 2011, 09:34:13 »

On the twelve day of Christmas my true love sent to me...
   
   
   
   Three complete rear ends..!!??
   
   Eleven boxes on a pallet...
   
   Ten left side grilles....
   
   Nine glass panels (and a pair of light surrounds)..
   
   Eight assorted glass side windows...
   
   Seven sills (actually six and an odd elongated x-shaped piece)..
   
   Six door skins...
   
   Five quarterlight frames..
   
   Four inner wheel arches....
   
   Three boot skins..
   
   Two rear coupe windows..
   
   And a dashboard for an AC...

45

428 Frua Forum / 12 days of AC Christmas

« on: December 12, 2011, 09:27:13 »

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
   
   
   
   Eleven boxes on a pallet...
   
   Ten left side grilles....
   
   Nine glass panels (and a pair of light surrounds)..
   
   Eight assorted glass side windows...
   
   Seven sills (actually six and an odd elongated x-shaped piece)..
   
   Six door skins...
   
   Five quarterlight frames..
   
   Four inner wheel arches....
   
   Three boot skins..
   
   Two rear coupe windows..
   
   And a dashboard for an AC...