<VV> 65 Corsa questions

[Norman C. Witte]

See below for replies.  Sorry, Outlook didn't insert the > at the beginning
of lines (gotta fix that).

-----Original Message-----

<snip>

     I want to verify that this is not an original Fitch Sprint before I put
the car back to stock.  If, by some small chance, this is an original Sprint
I would do my best to restore the car back to that status.  I need advice on
how to determine if this car was an actual Fitch Sprint or not before I
begin working on it.  The car has been fairly heavily customized so it's
going to be hard to tell.




>>>>>>Ray, you could build a Fitch Sprint yourself with parts ordered from
Fitch.  There was, to my knowledge, no numbering system or such to identify
them.  Basically, if the car has three qualifying Fitch options, it's a
Sprint.


<snip>

Car sits lower then stock and seems to stay much closer to level when
cornering, I'd say it definitely has had suspension mods for performance,
but dont know if they are "Fitch" or just aftermarket.  

The dash pad of the car extends down in the center to the ash tray, and the
factory radio is not in the dash.  I have noticed in old Sprint interior
pictures (car and driver) that the radio is not present in its stock
location.


>>>>>>That sounds like the '67-69 dash pad installed on an earlier car.


<snip>

     One thought I had was to check the turns of the steering wheel lock to
lock.  I know the Sprint tested by car and driver was 3.8 but I don't know
for sure that the stock Corsa was different.  I have not yet tested to see
what mine is. 


>>>>>>Stock Corsa (or any other '65) would be 4.5 lock to lock.  My
convertible has the Sprint fast arms and I noticed a kind of "springiness"
at lock, while my stock Corsa coupe seems to be much more firm at lock.
 

     One final question I have is about the steering wheel.  I dont believe
this to be a fitch item but it may be worth something.  The steering wheel
in this car is what I believe to be the "grant gt" variety.  It is a small
diameter three spoke steering wheel with a thick leather covered rim.  What
caught my attention here is the fact that there is a nice corsa emblem
center in the steering wheel that appears to fit it correctly.  Is this a
common item?  This steering wheel would need the leather redone but is
otherwise in nice condition.  Where did this come from, and is it worth
something?  I will post a picture as soon as possible.

>>>>>>No clue on the origins of that wheel but I believe the Sprint unit had
the Sprint checkerboard pattern on it.


Regards, 

Norm Witte