[ossesso]

Greetings and happy fourth of July. My 88 Spider is still in the body shop so I found a 1984 Spider Veloce for $2300 the other day. Here's a picture I thought worthy of a new thread. Can you spot what is seriously wrong in the pic? I thought it was funny:

 

[Tifosi]

The shift knob, the ashtray with no handle to open the lid, the home built AC control panel, the lack of AC ducts on the console side panels, or the cruise control?

 

[ossesso]

Other things:

Radio doesn't work, seats are covered with vinyl seat covers and the turn signal is from a Ford Escort. This car had been systematically de-Italianized. And of course, the Speedometer only goes to 85. Also there's a strange screw wedged to the right of the indicator bank. Since she is a 1984 we could call it an ORWELLIAN NIGHTMARE.

 

[Tifosi]

Escort turn stalk? That's what I thought was an add-on cruise control gizmo.
How on earth did they get that in there, or is it just the stem portion and not the whole doomaflatchy?

More importantly though: does the clock work, or is it one of those Klingonese models?

That radio faceplate looks really familiar..... late 80's vintage JVC perhaps?

 

[ossesso]

Jensen tape deck with Blaupunkt speakers from 1984. Looks like just the stem from the Escort. Funny you'd say the Klingonese joke, The clock is a digital BORG© type. And the red LCD still works! I'm sure that's where the Star Trek writers found the name. There's also the intoxicating smell of gear oil, which means it has leaked out and is probably a greasy mess under the boots. But hey, she drives fine and she has a new cloth top with a clear, flexible window. Better than life without an Alfa. (Sophia Loren #2 is supposed to be ready by August 1st)

 

[Tifosi]

Y'know, I might have a functional match for that head unit laying around out in the garage. (auto reverse cassette, AM/FM)

I know I did a couple years back anyway. If I stumble across it while I'm out there in the next couple days rebuilding my starter motor, do you want it?

No promises that I actually have it still around, but if so, I won't feel the least bit bad giving it away.

 

[ossesso]

Wow thanks Darren. That would be cool. I may just pop an Alpine w/iPod cable in there, but I do still have a bunch of classic cassettes, including the required Jimmy Buffet and Stevie Wonder ones... here's a video I made to celebrate July 4th, enjoy: HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FROM RURAL OMG CAT from RENGACORP - Video

 

[ossesso]

Minor update on 1984 Spider's interior cluster****:

Replaced the AC ducts only, and removed a strange screw that seemed to be pinning down the indicator bank.

 

[Tifosi]

That head unit never did come up unfortunately.

 

[ossesso]

At least the speakers are in the right place. I come across many forums where I hear people complaining about not enough bass after mounting speakers in the door panels. Blaupunkt 5 1/4" speakers down forward above the feet produces a great bass chamber naturally. The original 5 1/4" Blaupunkts in this car are not up to the task to deal with 50 watts. So next week they'll be replaced by their newer 2010 cousins. And it is fitting that the car was made the same year as Terry Gilliam's BRAZIL, as there are two conspicuous DUCTS front and center.

 

[rogerspeed]

upside down shiftknob

 

[garwood1]

steering wheel on the wrong side of the car !!

 

[Tifosi]

That won't fly as the car is driven correctly on the right, not wrong on the left.