Monthly Archives: May 2012

Alfa Romeo

1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina

A few good examples of Alfa Romeo Giulia sedans have cropped up on the market recently, and here is another one that just appeared on Craigslist Philadelphia. The Berlina was available from 1972 through 1974 and was an evolution of the earlier Giulia sedan. The styling was a bit more square and formal and more power was on tap thanks to a larger 2.0 liter twin cam four cylinder, offering more power over the entire RPM range. One feature which was derided was the new white on black on white gauges, which were hard to read for some motorists. The addition of an automatic gearbox as an option signaled a shift in the tastes of the traditional Alfa Romeo buyer. Fortunately, this example has the traditional manual gearbox.

1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina

1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina - rare, especially in this condition. Very quick and responsive. $10,500

109,859 miles. All major mechanical and cosmetic components have been rebuilt or replaced within the last couple years. All service history and receipts back to the early 1980s. Dual Webber carbs, headers, cams, electric ignition, plus a variety of other upgraded mechanical components. Runs and drives perfectly. Shifts thru all gears flawlessly. Upgraded Custom Audio radio and speakers with aux input. Originally a Californian car, where it spent most of its life. Now kept in a climate-controlled garage. Many pictures available upon request. Serious inquires only please.

I can be a bit skeptical of older Italian classic cars that have lived on the East Coast for years, but this car was sourced from California, so that puts a bit of the usual rust concerns to rest. The gray on red color combination looks very classy and suits the lines of this car well. This car is priced just about right for what it is, considering the condition.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1960 Vespa 400

6 Comments

The Italians have a knack for building small, fun cars. The Fiat 500 was arguably the most famous of these exercises in miniature motoring. Vespa, better known for their scooters, waded into the microcar market rather unnoticed back in the late 1950s. Conceived by the Piaggio company and built in France, the 400 employed an inline two cylinder, two stroke engine mounted in the rear and featured four-wheel independent suspension with double shock absorbers. With 18 horsepower, the car took about 25 seconds to reach it's top speed of about 50 miles per hour. These weren't the best highway cruisers then, but for someone looking for an efficient, tidy runabout, not much else could compete for the money. This example for sale in Oregon has been owned by the same person for quite some time and is one of a few that exists on these shores.

1960 Vespa 400

Click to view listing

1960 Vespa 400 car. Original motor rebuilt. Interior redone original style. New tires original size. Driven in several parades. Nice little driver. Owned about 30 years. Located 20 miles west of Eugene Oregon. Will deliver within 200 miles.

This 400 appears to be a rather untouched example, save for the engine and interior refresh. If this was a perfectly restored example, the $17,000 asking price might be justified. As it stands, a car in this condition will most likely sell for somewhere in the $9,000 to $13,000 range, provided the right buyer comes along.

-Paul

Lancia

1960 Lancia Appia Zagato GTE

The Appia was Lancia's small car entry for a decade, from 1953 to 1963. These were the cars of choice for those seeking something a bit more refined than your typical Fiat sedan. They could be considered cars for the thinking man. In true Lancia fashion, these were over engineered vehicles and had an unusual 1.1 liter V4 engine. Most Appias produced were Berlinas, however, there was a convertible built by Vignale, an estate version by Viotti and two very different types of coupes, one made by Pininfarina, and a more sporting variant built by Zagato, as you see here for sale in New York.

1960 Lancia Appia Zagato GTE

1960 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato. This is one of the 350 Rare sought after Alloy Zagato Coupes. Lancias are well known for their outstanding engineering and superb quality construction. This fully restored show quality car is a joy to behold an absolute pleasure to drive. The car has been restored to a high level both cosmetically and mechanically and is ready to be shown or event driven. For someone who can appreciate rarity and high quality, this would be a milestone addition to the astute collectors garage.

The proportions of this Appia are quite interesting. The stretched wheelbase and small greenhouse give this car quite a unique stance. Average prices for these Zagato coupes are hovering these days around $40,000. I would estimate a fully restored example like this may bring anywhere between $60,000 to $80,000.

-Paul

Lancia

1975 Lancia Stratos HF

3 Comments

The Lancia Stratos has a mythical status among car enthusiasts, particularly those whole follow the World Rally Championship. Homologated for Group 4, this Bertone styled sports car was a wild looking beast with the heart of a Ferrari; the Dino V6 to be exact. These Dino engines which found their way into the Stratos were the last built by Ferrari, as they phased the engine out in 1974. The car went on to solidify Lancia's legacy as a World Rally Champion, capturing the constructors title in 1974, 1975 and 1976 and winning the famed Monte Carlo Rally in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Both road going and rally-prepped examples are highly prized by collectors today. This example for sale in Milan has undergone a recent restoration.

1975 Lancia Stratos HF

Private seller proposes Lancia Stratos stradale, 1975 yellow with brown inside and blue seats, totally restored since 3 years. Absolutly and totally new, concourse conditions. Available in Italy only for serious buyer.

The Stratos is not for your average collector. With under 500 built, values for street and competition examples parallel Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the era. At around a quarter of a million dollars, this Stratos is about right in line with current values. The only thing that has left me wanting with this one is the lack of Alitalia livery, possibly one of the best schemes since the myriad of Martini racers, most notably, the Porsche 911.

A few seasons ago, Top Gear aired a feature highlighting some of the greatest Lancias. True to form, they did a good job highlighting this legendary car in a short amount of time.

-Paul

Fiat

1963 Fiat 1200 Convertible

If you were to draw a picture of the quintessential Italian roadster, the Fiat 1200 might be close to the finish product after the pen hits the paper. These were the father of the Fiat 124 Spider, which lived on into the 1980s. With a 1.2 liter four cylinder engine, the 1200 wasn't the fastest open roofed Italian cars of the era, but they offered a lot of style and fun from a small package. This example for sale in Pennsylvania has been freshened up and the hardtop is a nice addition that you don't see every day.

1963 Fiat 1200 Convertible

Click to view listing

This is a very nice 1963 Fiat 1200 Spyder. The paint is in very good condition. It runs and drives extremely well. The seat covers are about a year old. We just redid the door panels, full rubber kit and floor mats/carpet. Mechanically, it is very sound as well, just refreshed. It is very clean. We have the removable hard top only. It needs very little to be a gem. We have the original owner's manuals as well.

The best Fiat 1200 Convertible out there may bring $20,000 to $25,000, so a clean example falling short of perfection, such as this car, should be a little bit under that range. I'd say a fair price is being asked here, especially considering that if you just give it a mere passing glance, you might think you spotted the more expensive Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible of the era.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1988 Ferrari Mondial Cabriolet

2 Comments

A Ferrari for under $30,000 sure is tempting, but is it a smart buy? This 1988 Mondial Cabriolet is certainly attractive at $24,000. While it looks fairly straight, are there potential maintenance pitfalls afoot? The seller describes this Mondial as being mechanically solid, although it was the victim of a minor fender bender at one point.

1988 Ferrari Mondial Convertible

Click to view listing

This is a really nice car in excellent condition. Great paintwork (original except for right fender and bumper). There was a small accident 2 years ago that resulted in right fender damage as well as bumper and right fog light. No frame damage. The car runs very strong and shifts perfectly. It even goes into 2nd gear when cold which is a rarity with 328/308 and Mondial. The interior is almost factory new as well as the top. A new back window was installed about 4 months ago as the old was not clear and cracked. The top is perfect.

The air blows cold and everything works as it should. Heat cold etc. Brakes excellent tires excellent motor and drive excellent. Not sure when belts were changed but had them all checked with ferrari mechanic and he said they were in great condition. Everyone has a different idea when Ferrari belts should be changed. This is a chance to own a very nice Mondial at an incredibly low price. I just don't have time to drive it. The milage is low and this car is something that you can drive anywhere. A real head turner. These cars are starting to really go up in value.

As usual, while this car may only cost $24,000 to purchase, one could theoretically spend almost half that price embarking on a variety of maintenance items this car may need over the next few years. If I was in the position to have a second car, however, I'd certainly kick the tires on this car. Black works well with the slightly awkward proportions of the four seat Mondial and cosmetically, it looks rather good. If anything else, a solid starting point to fix up an average example of this open top Ferrari into an exceptional one.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1970 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super

1 Comment

The Alfa Romeo Giulia was the quintessential sports sedan of its time and is revered by Alfisti today, as it packs a lot of character into a small package. This particular Giulia is a 1600 Super, a model which was never sold in the US. Shipped over to the US in 2006, this is believed to be the only example of its kind on these shores. Quite simply, this is one of the most original examples of a Giulia that I have ever seen.

1970 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super

Click to view listing

Alfa people always recomend that you should get the best example that you can find. If you are thinking about getting a Giulia Sedan, then this would be it! A genuine 'survivor' car with 58,317 kms that has been lovingly kept by 2 owners. Alfa only made the 1600 S model for the home market and produced just 2212 units. I believe that this is the only example in the US.

Its first owner lived in Florence, Italy. He kept the car out of the elements and preserved it for 36 years. In 2006 I bought it thru a German broker and had it shipped to California. Still had her first set of tires - Michelin 165-14. After a quick clean up, I took her to the Concourso Italiano in Monterey where the car took the "Best Alfa" award out of 125 Alfas present. They had never seen such an untouched survivor. Original documents are in hand.

Since then I have kept her in great shape. New clutch, main seals, muffler, brakes, fuel pump and lines, ball joints and tires (165-14 Vredestein). She has been to many club events and shows usually winning first in class or best of show awards. She drives beautifully and easily makes a 90 mile trip to an event at freeway speeds.

The paint is factory Verde Muschio (moss green) and is 90% original. There has been a repaint on the front right fender and some touch up on the right rocker from her time in Italy. Also a minor dent in the right rear door from that time. There is no sign of chassis damage or rust.

Interior is all stock and original including the optional wool cloth seats and the dealer installed Mitsubishi AM cassette radio and electric antenna. It came with dealer floor matts in red which I saved and now wears NOS tan wintermatts from Italy. All of the rubber seals are original and in great condition. The doors open and close like new. Dealer provided key fob and spare bulb/fuse kit. Plates are repros of the original ones.

Cars like this Giulia have me contemplating selling my current ride for a practical classic such as this. I live in an urban area and drive but a few thousand miles per year, so it would be more practical for me than most individuals. Average examples of these Giulias usually run anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000, but I reckon if the reserve is met, this one will probably wind up somewhere in the $20,000 range. This example is a textbook example of a survivor.

-Paul

Lancia, Modern Classic

1987 Lancia Delta 1.6 HF Turbo

With the hot versions of Lancia’s Delta now approaching the 25 year mark, this World Rally Champion is perhaps one of the most tempting Italian forbidden fruits to import to the US. While most are familiar with the four-wheel drive versions, Lancia produced a Delta HF with a smaller 1.6 liter turbocharged engine and front-wheel drive, as we see with this example for sale near Potenza, Italy. These lesser Deltas can be distinguished mainly via their lack of 4WD badging on the rear decklid and lack of air intakes on the hood.

1987 Lancia Delta HF 1.6 Turbo

Rare Lancia Delta HF Turbo 1.6, 1987, dark gray metallic, all original and never modified or messed up. uniproprietario to date, paid as an additional sheet of 19,600,000 lire, 122,000 km, original keys, double keys, book vouchers and canceled the original additional sheet certifies that the car is uniproprietario. Alloy wheels, electric windows, and the rare alcantara Recaro interior. Excellent mechanically, timing belt recently replaced, the rear seats as new, no one ever stood up. Prices are soaring on these cars.

At about $6,300 USD with around 75,000 miles on the clock, this is a rather inexpensive way to get behind the wheel of one of these rally icons. Everything on this example appears to be in good order, from the straight body panels to the unmarred interior. Granted, you don’t get the thrill of all-wheel drive, but the lack of the extra drive axles may provide some reprieve from maintenance down the line.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

1 Comment

The Alfa Romeo GTVs of the late 1960s and early 1970s are some of the most beloved classic Alfa Romeos. These coupes were direct competition to the BMW 2002, as they offered lively four cylinder, rear-wheel drive performance in a tidy package. In an era of muscle cars, it took a different kind of customer to buy one of these cars. One who favored handling and engineering over outright straight line performance. We’ve featured a few exceptional examples of these GTVs here at CICFS, but this example for sale in New Jersey could be best described as a driver. With a bit of rust here and wear there, it’s the perfect car for someone looking for a driver to enjoy or a solid basis for a light restoration.

1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

Click to view listing

1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750. Rare yellow exterior with black interior. 1750 CC 4 cylinder engine. 5-speed manual transmission. 36,000 miles. Runs and drives great for a 41 year old car. This is your chance to own a very original and nice condition Alfa Romeo GTV. This is the sports coupe that everyone wants. It is even more desirable and harder to find than the 2000CC version. This car is very solid with one repaint to original color. It does have some sections of rust down low that isn't that noticable, but please note in my pictures. It also does have some touchups on vehicle. The chrome is in nice shape. The interior is all orginial. The floors are solid. The carpet is in good condition. The seats have a few cracks and could be recovered to make them perfect. There is some small sections of tape right now covering small cracks. The speedometer and odometer work, but the tachometer does not.

The engine runs as it should. It sounds great with ANSA exhaust with polished tips out the back. A recent tune up including fuel filter and oil change was just performed. The brakes have a good pedal and stops great. The caliper on one brake does drag ever so slightly and may free up with more use. The tires are matching Perelli P600 all around with plenty of rubber. It is also missing one center hub cap. All exterior lights(headlamps, turn signals, and brake lights) work as they should. This is a fun car that can be enjoyed as it is, or taken to the next level with very little effort.

A decent GTV 1750 runner can range in price anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on how rust free the example is, along with mileage and maintenance performed. I would say around $13,000 to $14,000 will probably take this one, if indeed the reserve is met. If you are looking for a usable classic and the 2002 seems just a bit too mainstream, a GTV in this period shade of yellow might just be the answer.

-Paul