HOW TO BUY AND RESTORE ITALIAN STUFF
Tommy and Ray make regular trips to the big Italian autojumbles at Imola, Reggio Emilia and the Monstro Scambio in Milan. “We drive down in a van on the Thursday, spend Friday and Saturday at the jumble and then drive back on the Sunday. You have to take a van because you come back with so much stuff, but you also need to buy a bike to justify taking the van.
“It’s best to buy a bike that’s as complete as possible – it means less hunting for parts. And don’t set a deadline – they take as long as they take. I just want to get them right.
“You need to sort out the bodywork and chassis before you take them apart. I’m about to start work on the Parilla, but it needs the chassis checking first, as well as some dents knocking out of the mudguards. And the engine covers are missing as well.
“Then you take them to bits and find out what’s worn out and needs fixing or replacing. So then it’s back to the autojumble and scouring ebay. I’ve just found the chainguard for the Benelli on Italian ebay and I got a Ducati seat from Spain. I’m always looking...
“When we go to the Italian jumbles, I print an A4 picture of the bike and then write a list of the parts I need. And I’ll take separate pictures of the parts, or maybe the worn parts as a pattern. It helps get past the language barrier. Paint and plating I get done in the UK.”