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Car · Floor, mechanics, engine and interior
Fiat 2300 Speciale
A large 1960s Fiat saloon on its black Genoa plates: rust on the roof and under the carpet, floor repaired and primed, mechanics, the six-cylinder engine and a grey cloth interior.
- Model
- Fiat 2300 Speciale, saloon
- Era
- 1960s
- Engine
- Straight six, 2279 cc
- Colour
- Dark grey, light grey cloth interior
- Work
- Floor and panels, primer, mechanics, engine bay, upholstery
- Restoration
- Full
The story
In the 1960s the 2300 was Fiat's flagship: a long, understated saloon with a straight-six engine and four round headlamps. The Speciale was the better-trimmed version.
This one arrived at the workshop still looking respectable, but the paint on the roof had flaked off and, under the carpet, the floor had been eaten by rust. Interior out, metal repaired, mechanics checked: it is back on the road in dark grey, with a new interior and its black Genoa plates.
The restoration step by step
From hidden rust to new cloth
- Step 1 of 6
How it arrived
From a distance it still looked the part. Up close, less so: flaking paint on the roof with rust underneath, a dirty engine bay and a tired interior.
as it arrived at the workshop 
the roof with flaking paint and rust 
the engine bay before cleaning - Step 2 of 6
Rust under the carpet
With seats, carpet and sound deadening out, the floor showed the real job: metal rusted through around the tunnel, under the seats and in the hidden corners of the body. Where the screwdriver goes through, the metal has to be cut out.
the floor around the tunnel, eaten by rust 
probing with a screwdriver to find where the metal gives 
rust on the inner panels of the body 
rust even in the most hidden corners - Step 3 of 6
The mechanics underneath
With the body empty, everything underneath is in plain view: rear axle, propshaft, dampers, disc brakes. Every part is checked before it goes back on.
rear axle and propshaft 
a front disc brake before the overhaul - Step 4 of 6
Sound metal and primer
The rotten sections were remade and the whole floor went into grey primer. Meanwhile the chrome trim strips, removed at the start, were set aside and put right.
the floor in grey primer 
the chrome trim strips, removed - Step 5 of 6
The six-cylinder
Engine bay cleaned and repainted, the straight six in good order, with manifolds, air filter and hoses in place.
the straight six with its manifolds 
the engine bay after the restoration - Step 6 of 6
Grey cloth interior
Front seats, rear bench and door cards redone in light grey ribbed cloth, with grey carpet. The dashboard keeps its wooden fascia.
the front seats redone in grey cloth 
the driver's seat with the wooden fascia 
a new door card 
the rear bench and the front seat backs
As it is today
Do you have a 1960s saloon to restore?
Hidden rust, mechanics and interior: Mimmo handles the whole restoration in the workshop, including for clients in Switzerland. Tell him about your car.
More restorations
This is only a small selection: over the years Mimmo has restored many more cars and trucks, and we'll keep adding them from the workshop's photo books.
