BRISTOL 409-7355, the flood

The night between 17 and 18 May 2023 the river Lamone broke its bed and flooded Faenza. The water arrived to my garages and the 409 was partially submerged

It was disaster, but a partial stroke of luck was that the water stopped below the dashboard

Not much mud, but lots of dirty water

The recovery was tricky, up a steep ramp in a street filled with stuff thrown out of flooded houses and cellars

The interior had to be stripped bare as muddy water had soaked everything

Quite surprisingly, the battery survived the ordeal

The boot, cleaned and in good condition

This was my manin concern: not losing the original 1966 Connolly leather. AutoInterni made a very good job of stripping the leathers from the seats so were carefully dried and at the end we were able to preserve them

9 June 2023: back in the Gordini garage

Some mechanical work was needed as well...

At Gordini's garage

Dirty but still sound and working

Steam-cleaned

20 June 2023: back to Faenza on its own steam!

Thanks to the invaluable help of Marco Gordini, the 409 made it back to Faenza for the refitting of its interior, this will happen next week

Resurrection

26 June 2023: the beginning of a new interior
The old carpeting was a bit tired anyway. OK, I'd never changed it it wasn't for the flood, but we took this a good moment to replace everything and put some additional sound/heat insulation in as well
The new panels being fitted by Andrea Bedosti
96772 (recorded) miles and a new life begins...

31/07/2023: the 409 fully working again at Passo della Raticosa

A flooded Porsche 996-610