A nice trip to Italy
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2026 8:48 pm
I have always wanted to take my '69 Traveller to Italy where we have a small house not far from the French border. For two weeks in October we did just that; a nice 2000km round trip from central Germany.
Earlier in the year there were some engine problems where the timing was incorrect . Last winter, with help from the Forum here I rebuilt the SU carb sucessfully. The timing issue was settled with use of a good scroboscope which also could be used to set the correct dwell angle. I changed the oil and filter and drove 40km afterwards so as to confirm there were no leaks.
So with the car loaded up, we set off intending to have one overnight stop in Lindau just before the Austrian border. Some 6 hours later after 450km we arrived having filled up withpetrol after 40km and using the 5 litre separate canister. Petrol in Austria is cheaper! I had to put maybe 300mL of oil in
Next day after breakfast , a drive through Bregenz, filling up at the Jet "Tankstelle", we got stopped at the border to Switzerland. Switzerland is not an EU Member but is in Schengen area. It seemed the border guards were interested in the car and had a good look round. They did not believe we were on our way to Italy. At least my interpretation. The younger guard spoke a normal German, the older one almost indeciferable in "Schwitzerdeutsch" but after a short exchange we were on our way again.
The way through the Alps via Chur through the Bernadino is a better route than the Gottard Tunnel as there is usually no queue to get through. The only difficulty is getting stuck behind a slow moving vehicle for the last 40km which is not an Autobahn. This time the slow mover was us! Sometimes maximum 50 or 60kmh in third gear. Coming down the other side which is quite steep was a challenge but the brakes were fine.
I took a wrong turn going towards Varese which lost us half an hour but then the A26 down to Genova was easy - a straight 3 lane Autostrada for the most part, another tank refill which was enough to get us to Dolcedo. The last 100km from Genova had a delay and it was dark before we got to the house, total 600km that day. Well done Morris. Interestingly no oil was needed to top up.....mmmm.
We had two weeks of swimming, walking running and eating as well as making the house winter tight. For the return journey we stopped overnight in Verbania - lovely place. We got to the Gottard early enough to avoid any major delay and then got to Freiburg in Germany to stay overnight with relatives. The final journey home of 350km was marred only by a puncture near KArlsruhe - frightening, changing a wheel at the roadside with 3 lanes thundering past.
Well done Morris, you have earned your winter hibernation.
Earlier in the year there were some engine problems where the timing was incorrect . Last winter, with help from the Forum here I rebuilt the SU carb sucessfully. The timing issue was settled with use of a good scroboscope which also could be used to set the correct dwell angle. I changed the oil and filter and drove 40km afterwards so as to confirm there were no leaks.
So with the car loaded up, we set off intending to have one overnight stop in Lindau just before the Austrian border. Some 6 hours later after 450km we arrived having filled up withpetrol after 40km and using the 5 litre separate canister. Petrol in Austria is cheaper! I had to put maybe 300mL of oil in
Next day after breakfast , a drive through Bregenz, filling up at the Jet "Tankstelle", we got stopped at the border to Switzerland. Switzerland is not an EU Member but is in Schengen area. It seemed the border guards were interested in the car and had a good look round. They did not believe we were on our way to Italy. At least my interpretation. The younger guard spoke a normal German, the older one almost indeciferable in "Schwitzerdeutsch" but after a short exchange we were on our way again.
The way through the Alps via Chur through the Bernadino is a better route than the Gottard Tunnel as there is usually no queue to get through. The only difficulty is getting stuck behind a slow moving vehicle for the last 40km which is not an Autobahn. This time the slow mover was us! Sometimes maximum 50 or 60kmh in third gear. Coming down the other side which is quite steep was a challenge but the brakes were fine.
I took a wrong turn going towards Varese which lost us half an hour but then the A26 down to Genova was easy - a straight 3 lane Autostrada for the most part, another tank refill which was enough to get us to Dolcedo. The last 100km from Genova had a delay and it was dark before we got to the house, total 600km that day. Well done Morris. Interestingly no oil was needed to top up.....mmmm.
We had two weeks of swimming, walking running and eating as well as making the house winter tight. For the return journey we stopped overnight in Verbania - lovely place. We got to the Gottard early enough to avoid any major delay and then got to Freiburg in Germany to stay overnight with relatives. The final journey home of 350km was marred only by a puncture near KArlsruhe - frightening, changing a wheel at the roadside with 3 lanes thundering past.
Well done Morris, you have earned your winter hibernation.
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