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Author Topic: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor  (Read 13311 times)

ctaylor738

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FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« on: July 03, 2013, 14:12:24 »
Working on a 1965 euro 230, with a very odd part in the engine compartment.  At first I thought it was an aftermarket fuel filter, but then I noticed that it had the remnants of electrical connections.  It turns out that it is a FIAMM Roadmaster compressor for an air horn setup.  The hose fits over the nipple and runs to the horns, and the red fitting is where a special oil is added.  There is a very official-looking hole in the radio plate that I suspect was for a button to activate the compressor and honk the horn.

High-end stuff, used on Ferraris and Porsches back in the day.

What I found most interesting is the bracket.  That is a serious piece and makes me think that there was an install kit for the 113 unless someone went to a lot of trouble for this particular car.

Cheers,
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Chuck Taylor
1963 230SL #00133
1970 280SL #13027 (restored and sold)
1966 230SL #15274 (sold)
1970 280SL #14076 (sold)
Falls Church VA

66andBlue

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2013, 16:27:01 »
Chuck,
could that be option code 452: Two-tone horn ?
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Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

mdsalemi

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2013, 17:52:10 »
There were two-tone "fanfare" style Bosch horns; my guess is they would have been the installed option, probably not an Italian version...while I don't read German they sure look electric (not air) to me!
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Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

66andBlue

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2013, 03:54:46 »
Michael,
that makes sense - probably code 452 was one of these Bosch two-tone horns.
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Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

ctaylor738

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2013, 17:01:29 »
I found a "town horn for France" (one can only imagine what sound it might make) in the EPC, but that was definitely electric as well.

Happy 4th!
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Chuck Taylor
1963 230SL #00133
1970 280SL #13027 (restored and sold)
1966 230SL #15274 (sold)
1970 280SL #14076 (sold)
Falls Church VA

Tomnistuff

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2013, 19:59:52 »
Here are typical Ferrari FIAMM horns from the 1960s that were powered by the compressor in the first post.  The ones pictured were two different tones and could not be ignored - they were painful to hear.
Tom Kizer
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Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

Alf

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2013, 22:13:47 »
My Pagoda has had a set of Maserati air horns fitted since I bought it 16 years ago. LOUD! They look old enough but does anyone know if they're period?

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Alf
'69 280SL. Silver (180 G) with black hardtop

Tomnistuff

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2013, 22:44:43 »
They certainly look period correct for the 1960s to me.  The color of the horns varied, even from year to year and from body style to body style.  Here`s a photo from my ex-car.  The color is the color I found after stripping 40 years of paint and undercoating layer by layer.  It is period correct, but so are many others, including yours - all garish! 
Tom Kizer
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Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

ejboyd5

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Re: FIAMM Air Horn Compressor
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2013, 10:58:18 »
Quote from: ctaylor738 on July 03, 2013, 14:12:24
What I found most interesting is the bracket.  That is a serious piece and makes me think that there was an install kit for the 113 unless someone went to a lot of trouble for this particular car.
The FIAMM "install kit" ends with the U-shaped bracket surrounding the compressor.  The rest is purpose built and looks like something I might have done back in the day.
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