Lancia Appia

Description

I was looking for an S3 Appia.
I have owned an S2 previously, ( Augie, his story is here: http://www.eddinsmoto.com/id101.htm )
Customers have been bringing in S3 Appias, and with a bit better elbow room, leading shoe front brakes, and a few more hamsters, I decided I really should be driving one.
A 6 month search of Italy found this example with a collector. He bought it from another collector who had it repainted in the original gray, and had the interior done.
The history I have indicates it has been garaged & well kept the last three decades.
It is also ASI registered in Italy. ( sort of a national register to verify cars are authentic & correct. )
After I finally bought it and imported it, I set out to make it a daily driver.
Like all Appias, it left a puff of smoke leaving stop signs.
I pull pulled the head & figured out how to install some motorcycle stem seals. Now, no smoke.
( I also installed new exhaust guides, faced the valves,lightly faced the valve seats, rounded out the lower throat radii in the inlet ports, & gave it smooth port walls & matched the inlet manifold to the head.
It now runs ( rolls ! ) super smooth on the freeway.
Owning a Lancia shop ( eddinsmoto.com ) of course I went overboard & gradually massaged many of the jewel like little pieces.
Ignition switch now clicks into it's detents, as does the head light switch & turn signal stalk.
Headlight relay now clunks with a beautiful sound.
Hand brake ratchet massaged to give a gorgeous feel on application.
Brake reservoir overhauled ( with an Aurelia rear brake seal no less.) Super important on these that the reservoir pump works and the rod stays up when pulled, otherwise the pedal can be low.
This one now has a high & hard pedal.
Sump off to clean out mook. ( the drainplug is 6mm higher than the sump base, and to fully clean the area, you need to remove the pan. )
Many oil & filter changes to make it happy.
Head re torque & valve adjustments.
Quiet ( non syncro ) fst gear for an Appia.
And the heater is wonderful. It is like driving around in a home living room.
The Appia has 2 thermostats for even temp control, and I repaired the one that activates the radiator louvers so they now work too.
It's a turn key daily driver.
Downfalls ?
It has the usual Appia piston slap.
It has had it since I bought it, and has neever gotten any worse.
A good chance for a new owner to experience the wonderful build quality of an Appia should he choose to take it apart. ( or not )
I know I could could pull the pistons and keep enjoying massaging it, but I am triple upside down price wise already ( passion drives us sometimes ) and my customers are howling for me to fix their cars.
The car is on it's original Italian paperwork, and the customs, import, DOT and EPA paperwork is included and in my name
And there you have it.
Thanks for looking.