1959 Fiat Bianchina running driving project

1959 Fiat Autobianchi Bianchina. Ripe for restoration this little fiat was pulled from a local garage where who knows how long it sat. The person I got the car from had it 15 years, and within the paperwork I have a copy of a previous title from Kansas where I presume the previous owner bought it from. This car is a little rough around the edges but is rock solid with only minimal surface rust here and there, the undercarriage, wheel wells, floor pans, spare tire well are all free of rust holes and are solid.
The Body:When I got the car I removed the tattered seats, wire wheeled the inner floor pans and coated them with a rust converter to prevent any further corrosion. I decided not to paint the floor to show how solid it truly is.I did see some repaired crash damage on the passenger rear quarter, and the engine lid...bondo, but not covering any rust. The doors will latch but not tight....both of them do this, I've oiled the strikers with the same result. The parcel tray, tunnel, spring mounts, spare tire well are all free of rust holes....rock solid. The body is a great canvas for this querky little car...it has a dent on the nose, and one on the rear pan under the bumper. The drivers door also had a crease from it opening too far, but no rust to speak of. The chrome is there....but needs redone. I have a new plastic horn grill.
The Engine:The engine turned over by hand, so I removed the tin to clean out the mouse nests and reinstalled. New throttle, choke, and starter cables were installed. I also adjusted the valves, rebuilt the carb, cleaned and reset the points, made up new spark plug wires, and changed the oil. I installed a new starter (at great expense) and got the engine running. It does smoke and leak a little but it doesnt knock or hammer or anything out of the ordinary. The muffler has had a braze repair but is still useable and solid. The cylinder head has had a repair to the exhaust elbow on the rear. Somenone has used a pipe nipple threaded into the head and elbow due to a exhuast probelm? Who knows why....I know its no good for pebble beach but it does get the job done. Overall it runs like an underpowered 1/2 Volkswagen engine of the same vintage....to sum it up nicely. Note- I took the gas tank out to have it cleaned, the shop said it was too far gone, it also has been patched. The sending unit is also no good. So I run the car off a small engine gas can gravity feed. I have a new fuel pump not installed. I know the transmisson mounts are bad/gone. The shift linkage is so loose the car wont go into reverse, also the trans bangs around when you let out the clutch. The trans does shift in all forward gears.
The Brakes:I put on new wheel and master cylinders, new shoes and hoses. The steel lines were good so I left them. I repacked the front wheel bearings. The brakes work good but the car needs to be driven and shoes seated and readjusted. Parking brake works. Tires suck but hold air. I have a spare tire
The Interior:This area is a mess....The drivers door panel is missing and the regulator cable is broken. I have a new window regualtor. I have a brand new set of inner door panels and a rubber floor mat set (both items are close to $1000 if not more) The seat frames and tracks are usable. The steering wheel is cracked, it has the horn button. The dash is uncut. The turn signal swith is broken but I have a new one. Ive never been brave enough to open the top...its intact but somethings you just dont mess with.
The Electrics:Fiat must have taken a lesson from Lucas electrics....Ive gotten the engine to start...and thats about it. No lights on the dash. I had tailights and one headlight once but I haven seen them in a while...Im sure it has something to do with the turn signal switch...all the fuses look good. The keyswitch shuts the coil off....the key is original too!!! thats kinda neat. The car has a new battery.
To sum it up this car needs a total mechanical and cosmetic restoration.
New parts:Reman starterBatteryFuel pumpTurn signal switchThrottle cableStarter cableChoke cableWheel cylindersMaster cylinderBrake shoesHub caps and nutsHorn grilleWindow regulatorInner door panelsRubber floormat setPiston ringsEngine valves CLEAR CURRENT ILLINOIS TITLE IN MY NAME
This car is also for sale locally so bid early and bid often, I reserve the right to end the auction at any time. No warrany implied or expressed . Ive doen my best to describe the strenghts and weaknesses of this car, if youd like to view it in person we can set something up. Im no Fiat expert but I'll try to answer any questions about the car.815 871 8980