Monthly Archives: January 2012

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q

2 Comments

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a number of manufacturers retreat from the US sales race. Gone were the last two French holdouts, Peugeot and Citroën, and ill-fated attempts at new luxury marques, such as Rover’s Sterling brand and Ford’s Merkur models lasted but a handful of model years. One of the last automakers around this period to leave the States was Alfa Romeo. Having soldiered on for years with only two distinct models, the Spider and 164 sedan, reliability concerns and rising popularity of Japanese luxury brands helped seal the brand’s fate in the face of dwindling sales. The 164 sedan was the only car on offer for Alfa Romeo’s final year in the US market, offered in either LS or Quadrifoglio trim. Few cars were sold that year, and fewer still exist in such good condition as our feature car.

1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q

Click to view listing

Rare 1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q Sport Sedan, 5-speed manual. Garaged, maintained, in excellent condition. Please look at the detail in the photographs to see the quality of this collectable, rare car. This is the last year of importation for the 164Q model. Only 100 of these were brought into this country. 6 cylinder, 240HP sport sedan. A tribute to Italian engineering. This is one of the very few left in this condition and mileage.
Probably one of the finest examples in the country. Alfa red clearcoat, black leather sports seats, original stereo with cassette player, dual 8 way power seats. Working air conditioner and climate control, cruise control, Michelin tires, all power ACC working, power antenna, power sunroof, power folding mirrors, auto dimming rear view mirror. Original Alfa floor mats, original OEM Alfa sport wheels. Gorgeous original sport leather interior.

Just completed the following maintenance from Italy Service, Las Vegas:

- Replace clutch disc
- Throw out bearing
- Pressure plate
- Resurface flywheel
- Valve cover gaskets
- Replace motor mounts
- Replace front and rear engine seals
- Clutch slave cylinder
- Steering rack boot kit
- Oil/Filter/Flush Transmission/RR axle/Front differential/Change coolant
- Replace spark plugs and timing
- Replace timing belt
- Replace water pump
- Replace accessory belt
- Cooland pipe o-rings

This Alfa Romeo 164Q runs strong, shifts smooth, handles like a dream with only 40,045 miles. This 164Q does have the adaptive suspension with auto and sport mode. This 164Q was a new factory demo driven by an Alfa Romeo Factory Representative, Carmine Lamendola. After 5,000 miles, he decided to buy it for himself and has owned it ever since. He traded in at the same dealership he bought it from and I acquired it from them.

This car has had an amazing amount of work done to it, which should put any potential buyer at ease. Alfa Romeo 164 sedans from 1995 are rare enough, but the Q model with the adaptive suspension and 5 speed manual transmission pretty much guarantees you’ll be the only one on the block, if not the state, with a car like this. When it was new, the 164 never garnered the same enthusiasm with die hard Alfisti due to its front wheel drive setup, but I believe time has been kind to this sedan with its chiseled good looks. At over $10,000, this is very strong money for any 164, as the reserve has yet to be met. Given the exception mileage and condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were looking at a reserve closer to $15,000. As most cars which Pininfarina has had a hand in crafting, it has aged well and represents a chance to purchase a nearly new Alfa Romeo without spending six figures on an 8C Competizione.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1985 Alfa Romeo 6 2.5 TD

1 Comment

One of the things that both the Italians and French are good at, besides making love, cooking and fine wine is manufacturing desirable small cars. When tasked with designing and selling executive-sized sedans, this is where both countries come up short. As interesting as their offerings have been at times, they never really took off, with exception of the Citroën DS. One very forgotten executive sedan from Alfa Romeo is the 6. These were not huge sellers, with only a shade over 12,000 produced from 1979 to 1986. As a result, examples which survive to this day are in extremely rare company.

They were well equipped cars, however, featuring rear-wheel drive, with power steering, power windows, electric mirrors and central locking, along with a limited slip differential as standard. Minor styling tweaks came along for 1983, along with this car’s engine, the 2.5 liter VM 5 cylinder turbodiesel. This particular 6 that is for sale in Spain has the five cylinder turbo diesel engine which was related to the diesel engine that Jeep offered in their Cherokee for certain overseas markets. This 2.5 liter, overhead valve engine pumped out 103 horsepower and produced a respectable 177 lb ft. of torque. It's not the optimal choice for enthusiasts, but with cars these rare, beggars can't be choosers.

1985 Alfa Romeo 6 2.5 TD

Alfa Romeo 6 2.5 TD, fabulous limited edition! Brand new car that belongs to a private collection. Always garaged. Sold only by lack of space.

At €8,000 (~ $10,500 USD), this is not a cheap '80s Alfa. I’m not sure if I would be the type of person to pay for such nostalgia and one must consider that parts must be awfully difficult to source for a vehicle built in such small numbers with a near non-existent following. The diesel engine does add a bit of durability into the package and hopefully this car can find a good home where it can be preserved as one of the last of its kind.

-Paul

Fiat, Modern Classic

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

We've covered a good amount of Lancia's rally history in this past week, but during their spate of wins in the 1970s and 1980s, Fiat had a few successes of their own. Namely, with this car, the 131 Abarth. This car is a three time World Rally Championship, winning the title in 1977, 1978 and 1980 along with 18 race victories between 1976 and 1981. Of course, to go racing, manufacturers had to homologate the vehicle they were entering into competition, which is the genesis behind the road version we see here. These cars had the twin cam 2.0 liter Abarth engine good for 140 horsepower fed through a five speed gearbox driving the rear wheels. The seller states this is about one of 200 of the original 400 built that still exist to this day. I was surprised to see such a rare, original piece of rallying history located a little over an hour due south of my ancestral home in Portugal.

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

131 Abarth - the nightmare of the Escort. 1 of 200 survivors of the 400 built to homologate group 4. Unique in Portugal. Four time winner of the Rally of Portugal, three times with Markku Alen (1977, 1978 and 1981) and one time with Walter Röhrl (1980). World Champion in 1977, 1978 and 1980.

2000cc, independent suspension, limited slip differential exclusive original model (same as group 4), 155-160 hp, lightweight fiber exterior panels built by Bertone, Aluminum doors. Two Weber 44 IDF carburetors with Abarth intake manifold (optional). Cromodora Wheels 15x7 "original manifold and carburetor preserved and included as standard. Engine and chassis numbers correct and original. Totally original/never restored. Imported from private collection in Italy. Much better than having money in the bank!

Beyond its pedigree and butch looks, the 131 is a significant car for me because my mother drove when I was born. Granted, her car was a pale yellow 1978 131 Mirafiori two door with a GM sourced 3 speed automatic transmission, but it still possessed the crisp Italian lines and quite comfortable seats which proved their worth on long trips. It wasn't the most reliable car, evidenced by the fact my parents traded the 131 in for a 1983 Honda Accord hatchback and owned Hondas for 15 years thereafter. Even still, it hasn't soured me on Italian cars and now, over 30 years on, cars such as this 131 Abarth have become a legend in their own right.

The asking price of €66,000 (~ $87,000 USD) is very strong money, even for such a limited run, championship winning vehicle. The exchange rate has not been kind to the dollar, but having been listed for almost two months, I can't help but think we are around $20,000 above the proper price point for this car, especially when you have low mileage Lancia Delta Integrale Evolutions out there in the $25,000 to $40,000 USD equivalent range. Granted, those cars will not be street legal in the US for another four years. For me, though, it would be worth the wait.

-Paul

Lancia

1974 Lancia Fulvia 1300 S3

1 Comment

We’ve covered a lot of cars on this blog which have contributed to the impressive collection of World Rally victories Lancia has amassed over the years, but the following car is where it all started. In 1972, The Fulvia Coupe won the International Championship and the famed Monte Carlo Rally after the final Alpine Renault retired due to mechanical failure. The Fulvia was praised in the motoring press as being a triumph of engineering, no doubt in part to their front-drive chassis, four wheel disc brakes and innovative V4 set at an angle in the engine bay. Here we have a 1974 example for sale with the famed red and black livery colors of the era. This car has the 1.3 “S” motor producing 92 horsepower.

1974 Lancia Fulvia 1300 S3

Upon its release in 1967, the American magazine Road & Track described the Fulvia as a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force, mostly because of its original specifications. A front-wheel-drive car in the sports car world was pretty unusual, but not as much as the narrow 1.3 V4 engine, mounted with a 45° angle. This allowed the engine to be mounted in a very forward position, allowing for a roomier cockpit. Offered in numerous bodies, trim levels and engine powers, no Fulvia was as famous as the 1600 HF which allowed Lancia to take first place in the 1972 FIA International Championship for Manufacturers rally series. We are happy to offer for sale this exceptionally well-preserved example of Lancia Fulvia 1300 S 3 Coupe. In fully original specifications, this Fulvia Coupe S3 only has 70,000 km on the clock, which is very likely to be the original mileage given the outstanding preservation of this Fulvia. Still sporting its original Italian Targa Nera, this all original Fulvia Coupe 1300 S3 is immediately available in Italy.

THe asking price of €20,000 (~$26,000 USD) is about in line with where values of Fulvias are going these days. They are not as common or coveted as their contemporary, the Alfa Romeo GTV, but these diminutive, well proportioned coupes are beginning to claim their fair share of the limelight due to Lancia's storied rally history and the innovative engineering manufactured into them.

Here is some vintage footage from the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally, where the Fulvia 1.6 HF claimed victory:

-Paul

Lancia, Modern Classic

1987 Lancia Delta HF 4WD

Like its older, bigger brother the 037, the Delta helped solidify Lancia's long standing reign on the World Rally scene. This very vehicle racked up 46 WRC wins and nabbed the Constructors' Championship six times in a row from 1987 through 1992. The saying of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" would certainly apply to this car, as these Deltas achieved popularity from the moment Lancia started marketing them. In the beginning, there was little to distinguish the Delta HF 4WD from its lesser brethern, other than the quad headlights, discreet badging and deeper sills. The four wheel drive system had three differentials with a built in torque splitting action, which ensured power would go to the wheels with the most grip. Not surprising then why this car was a success on the circuit.

Later on, the Delta would spawn the Integrale, which brought about the more butch boxed fender look, upgraded interiors and turbocharged engines coupled to evolving four wheel drive systems with varying degrees of torque split. This Delta is an early non-Integrale version which would be legal for import to the US, falling under the 25 year rule. It is located on the eastern coast of Italy near San Marino.

1987 Lancia Delta HF 4wd

1987 Delta 4wd, beautiful red metallic, all original, 94,000 km. Timing belt done at 87,000, clutch, new tires at 60%, engine overhauled completely. Included in the price is 2 front doors, 2 rear doors, Portelone post, Glass front, Skirts, 4 original rims. THe car has always been in the garage and is in fantastic condition for true connoisseurs and collectors! Price €8500.00.

For about $11,000, this is a lot cheaper than what a similar example already in the US would cost. If one could keep the shipping and importation costs to a minimum, this would be a very practical classic, rain or shine. I like this car, as it represents the simpler, earlier version of Lancia's rally legend and in the deeper shade of red, it looks sublime. Personally, I'm waiting for the day when I can import one of the last Integrale's, preferably an Evolution version. I've always felt that Lancia was a marque that never got the due respect it deserved and it seems that the boys over at Top Gear are in agreement with me, as evidenced by this short clip:

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV

As Alfa Romeo entered the 1970s, the venerable Giulia chassis saw an upgrade in the form of the 2000 Berlina and GT Veloce, or more commonly known as the GTV. The 2000 series was the replacement for the 1750 and featured a 2.0 liter twin cam four cylinder engine equipped with SPICA fuel injection for the US and Canadian markets. These coupes would be superseded by the Alfetta GT, GTV and GTV6, but those models have not been as collectible as examples such as this 1974 GTV for sale in California.

1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV

Click to view listing

Beautiful 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 in LeMans Blue/Brown Interior, has been a California car since new. The original blue California license plates are intact and in beautiful condition. This Alfa is 100% accident free. Judging by its overall condition, it was very well cared for by its two previous owners. The Alfa looks and drives great with out any issues. This Alfa had one repaint in 1990 with its original color (348 azzuro LeMans) the paint looks very good and shines. Please note its 22 years old paint job does show minor wear. The interior is all original and in amazing condition. This Alfa has 130k miles. Engine and transmission were rebuilt 27k miles ago. This Alfa needs nothing but a fun driver. The new owner of this beautiful GTV will receive with the car, clean and clear California title service records and some new and used parts.

This two owner GTV is well sorted and is the kind of classic you can use without guilt of affecting its value. At around $22,000, this represents good value for a Giulia GTV, as mint condition originals and highly restored examples have been reaching in the high $30,000 to low $40,000 range on average. This shade of blue is also a welcome change from the more common red, silver and green so often seen on these coupes. One also can't overlook the vintage California license plates. They are a great finishing touch.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1990 Lamborghini LM002

Over an eight year time span in the late eighties and early nineties, Lamborghini was in the business of manufacturing a sport utility vehicle before the automotive genre started heating up the sales charts. This shouldn’t be as surprising as it sounds, given Lamborghini was in the business or tractor manufacturing before dabbling in the world of supercars. Most SUVs these days don’t come close to the level of “sport” the LM002 packed, what with its Countach derived V12 under the hood. For the clinically insane, you could request an even larger, marine derived V12 more commonly found in power boats. This particular example for sale is a later production example with low mileage and looks even more sinister than normal in black.

1990 Lamborghini LM002

The seller of this LM002 provided no description, which is disappointing given how rare and unique this vehicle is. While this Lambo only has 16,000 miles on the clock and appears to be well kept, a bit of owner/service history and background on the broad strokes of the vehicle would certainly be nice. It makes me question how serious of a dealer this is, if they can’t bother to take the time to highlight such an important piece of exotic car history. For years, resale values of LM002s have hovered in the $80,000 to $120,000 range, seemingly impervious to any kind of market fluctuations. One can’t help but think how ridiculous of a school run vehicle this would make, but with the cost of keeping this vehicle supplied with oil and fuel, not to mention the bespoke Pirelli Scorpion tires, that idea would be a mere pipe dream for most.

To get an idea of the LM002's finer points, here's an old Top Gear clip where Jeremy Clarkson hustles one around town:

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider

1 Comment

The modern roadster revival began in 1990 with the introduction of the Mazda Miata. Harkening back to famous British two seater convertibles such as the MG and Lotus Elan, this car blended sporty looks, rear-wheel drive and reliability the levels of which were unheard in this class. However, the Italians had been going strong all along, with the Alfa Romeo Spider carrying the roadster torch for nearly three decades. As we highlighted with the 1991 Spider we featured last month, the Series 4 Spider brought about many improvements and refinements that make this a reasonable proposition for an everyday classic.

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider

Click to view listing

1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce. This vehicle is featured in green over beige interior with a black soft top. This fourth generation Spider is powered by a 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine producing 125 bhp and 122 ft lbs of torque attached to a 5 speed manual transmission.

The fourth generation Alfa Spider's primary mechanical upgrade was the Bosch monotronic fuel injection with an electric fan introduced in 1990. The handsome cosmetic changes did not appear in the United States until the 1991 model. The external changes included larger rear lights, monochromatic colored bumpers without the front and rear spoilers. This is one of the finest examples of a classic Alfa Romeo and especially a rare find with such low miles!

Verde Inglese (English Green) is possibly my favorite color for the Series 4 Spider, with Rosso Vinaccia (Wine Red) coming in a close second. These colors add an air of sophistication to these cars that is lacking on with the more common primary colors. If this example could be had in the $13,000 to $15,000 range, it would be well bought.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1991 Alfa Romeo 164L

As Alfa Romeo moved towards the 1990s, big changes were in store for the marque. Chief among these was the switch to front wheel drive for the entire lineup, include their large executive sedan, the 164. This was the last car to be designed by Alfa Romeo before Fiat purchased the company and was the first Alfa Romeo to be designed with computer aided technology. The 164 shared it's platform with the Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000. It was the last to be introduced among the four models and had a bespoke front suspension and notably better build quality than earlier Alfa Romeos. Even an electronically controlled suspension was available in the 164 Cloverleaf and 164 S models. This particular 1991 164L represents the first year the 164 was sold in the US market and has the earlier 12 valve V6 engine mated to a 5-speed manual.

1991 Alfa Romeo 164L

Click to view listing

1991 Alfa Romeo 164L. Two-owner California car from new with 143,672 miles. All original. New front factory leather seats that cost thousands of dollars. Rear seats are in very good condition, with the exception of the stitching coming loose at the tops (a common problem with these seats). A side marker lens is cracked. Leather wrap on steering wheel is nice, but not perfect showing some wear. Engine runs strong, clutch and brakes are good. All gears shift smoothly. Horn, lights, heater good. AC needs re-charging. Rear windows need switches replaced.

Front windows are fine. Mostly original paint – a few dings, chips and small repairable dents. One area, about ¼ inch square, at the upper right rear window surround needs repair since a small rust hole is present (see photo), there is surface rust where the paint peeled away around the top of the left front strut – otherwise no rust and an area was previously bumped out at the right rear corner (see photo). Side view mirrors and driver’s door handle need re-paint. A tie rod end may need replacing, since I hear a “clunk” when I back up and turn the wheel. The car rides and drives great. Really a nice road car for the money, with everything covered with leather inside.

The interior is in great shape – dash, gauges, door panels, carpet etc… all are very nice. Headliner is good – but needs cleaning. Driver’s side seatbelt retracting spring is not working. Horn knobs are worn and the on/off button for the radio shows wear from use. Engine is clean. Fluids are clean, with new Castrol oil and filter. Tires are very nice, almost brand new, but fronts and rears are different brands. Car is quick and a blast to drive. One set of keys comes with the car. It has the small alarm box key. Comes with the correct spare, tools, jack and an added bonus – a battery shutoff switch professionally installed. This is a lot of car for the money.

The previous owner was an Alfa enthusiast since the early 1960s, purchased the car in 1996 with 57,821 miles. He recently passed away. The correct documentation comes with the title to register the car. The car has been out of registration since 10/2011. The car is sold as is, where is. Low reserve for a very nice Alfa. With some cosmetic work, this Alfa could be spectacular. You’re starting with a beautiful interior and a mechanically sound car.

This isn't the most mint condition vehicle we have featured, but with a little bit of TLC and for the right price, you could have a daily driver and stand out from the crowd, especially when you put your foot down and hear that sonorous V6 exhaust note.

-Paul

Dallara, Lancia, Pininfarina

1983 Lancia 037

1 Comment

The number 037 is infamous in both Lancia and World Rally Circles. Built solely for the FIA Group B World Rally Championship, this was the last rear wheel drive vehicle to win the championship. Group B regulations required 200 road going models to be built for sale. Some might notice a resemblance between this 037 and the Lancia Scorpion featured a few days ago, and that's no coincidence. The 037 shares its center section with the Scorpion/Montecarlo, while the front and rear ends are steel subframes with kevlar body panels. As for the engine, in true Lancia fashion, the road less traveled was taken. Lancia fitted a supercharger to the Fiat 131 rally car engine developed by Abarth, as they were seeking to improve throttle response. Most of us are used to seeing 037s in Martini or other racing livery, so this red example brought to the US in 1990 is quite a unique find.

1983 Lancia 037

1983 Lancia 037. This amazing original example was purchased new by Ana Traub of Germany in 1983. Purchased December 12, 1989 by Manfredo Lippmann of Guatemala, then imported into the USA on January 08, 1990. Mr. Lippmann brought the car to his Denver, Colorado home for his son, Guillermo. Introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1982, the Lancia Rally 037 is a light and powerful touring-car, studied in collaboration with Lancia races department, Abarth and Pininfarina study center. Planned for a high level employment in the rallies, it has been realized in a series of 200 samples, in order to obtain the homologation in the group B, the maximum rally category where cars purposely elaborated raced and, in any case, derived from production-model cars.

Powered by its original Supercharged 4 cylinder 1995 cc engine with 205 horsepower. Also comes equipped with its original ZF 5-Speed manual transmission. It is still equipped with its Speedline wheels and original Pirelli tires. The body is Kevlar-reinforced with glassfibre. 0-60 MPH in less than 6 seconds! Top speed is over 140MPH. It would be extremely difficult to find a better original example!

The asking price is not for the faint of heart but I can't remember the last time I saw an 037 for sale. These are beastly cars with a very notorious reputation in motorsport, as rally driver Attilio Bettega lost his life in an 037 in the Tour de Corse on May 2, 1985. In a very eerie twist of fate, fellow rally driver Henri Toivonen died in the exact same race on May 2, 1986 in an all wheel drive Lancia Delta S4, which replaced the 037 and was an evolution of that car. The S4 had a twin charged engine (supercharged and turbocharged). It produced roughly 480 horsepower and was reported to have acceleration from 0 to 62 in under 2.3 seconds. Toivonen had complained that the car was too powerful and twitchy at the limits for this particular race but nevertheless pressed on, when suddenly he lost control of his car and went off the side of the road where no guardrail was present and plunged down a cliff. The car exploded killing Toivonen and his co-driver, Sergio Cresto, instantly. These events sealed the fate of Group B and the series would be banned by the FIA following the 1986 season.

For a taste of what it's like to ride in an 037, here is a clip of Stig Blomqvist demonstrating one on a dirt track:

-Paul