Dennison Visit 1/28/21

Normally I only visit the car every month or so, as giving the pandemic I try to limit my outside contacts.  However, I was able to get my first COVID-19 vaccine dose and the location was just a couple of miles from the car, so an extra visit was in the works.

After I got back from my last visit, I realized that I didn't take a couple of pictures that I should have.

A follow-up to the wheel balancing using lead weights that wrap around the wire wheel spokes.  You can see the weights on two of the spokes.

   

The car is ready to go across the parking lot to the upholstery shop.  The sunroof and headliner panel have been fitted.  All of the old leather and panels have been put in the car for the shop to replicate.

           

I did stop at the upholstery shop and they have the door panel backs already made, ready for the leather.

I haven't been able to find the original Italian registration number for the coupe. I know that it was sold new to Bruno Mambretti who lived in Milano.  My inquiries to Massini came up empty except that he replied with:
The license plate range for Milan plates in February 1960 (your car) was MI 458000 until about MI 463000, or MI 458XXX to MI 463XXX."
Since I was going to have to pick a number in that range, I selected MI 461643.  That make the rear plate show my serial number of 1643 on the lower line.  This will look much nicer than the random one I bought on eBay.

   

There are still a lot of parts that can't go on the car until the interior is done.  Here are all the fittings for the luggage straps along with a cabinet of the others.

   

One of the questions that the electrical wiring guy asked was about the interior light locations.  A PF Coupe normally has a single interior light centered in the headliner.  But since this car has the sunroof, they had to install them somewhere else.  He had looked at the kick and door panels, but couldn't locate any signs.  Since these are similar to those on my 330 GT, I thought that they would be in the headliner trim above the doors.  I suggested that he pull out the old headliner material and look there.  It turns out that they are actually mounted on the B pillar and he was able to locate the holes (yellow circles).  He made a template so they can be located as the interior will cover them up.

The rubber hood pads have been cut properly and re-installed.

I also talked to Butch about getting some work done on my 330 GT that I've been putting off for a while.  My first plan was to have them deliver the coupe and pickup the 330 once the coupe is done.  I told Butch that the work could be done as he had time available as I hadn't driven it in 2 years.  He said that they were not busy since usually they would be doing race preparation work for the summer.  However, with the pandemic, no historic races are planned.  I expect to get a call any day that they have an empty trailer after dropping off a car for Jon Shirley and want to pick up the 330.