In the 1970s, even the most exotic of machinery was not exempt by the overarching ideas of federal lawmakers, as is witnessed by this Series III Lamborghini Espada. Debuting in 1972, the final iteration of Lamborghini’s grand touring coupe brought a redesigned interior and, in the case of this model year, the dreaded, larger impact bumpers. This particular Espada 400 GT is a California car and has the automatic transmission, which is a two speed Chrysler Torque Flite unit mated to the familiar 4.0 liter V12 with 350 horsepower.
This 1975 Lamborghini Espada Series III is in White with Burgungdy. The Espada Series III was introduced in the 1972 Turin Auto Show. With a total production of 1217 cars made, this is the most successful model of the time. Some updates for the series III included a redisigned front grill, rear tail lights, power steering made standard along with air conditioning. This Lamborghini has a V12, independent susupension, four wheel disc brakes and an automatic transmission. The car has excellent paint, finished in it’s original color of White. The interior is original with correct steering wheel and appointments. This car has factory Campagnolo mag wheels and matching tires. This Lamborghini is a California car documented back to 1984. It was sold in ’84 to Glendale, California with 42,033 miles. The car last changed hands in 2006. The original manual and pouch, original spare, jack and tool bag will be presented to the new owner.
I’ve always been a big fan of the low slung look of the Espada and its curious details, such as the passenger footrest, top hinging rear windows and the massive shifter for the automatic transmission. This is a curious beast; one which deserves more respect than it currently garners. Subsequently, prices have stayed rather bargain basement as compared to other Lamborghinis. With this car’s provenance and mileage, $48,000 is a little bit high, but not by much. Good drivers start in the low $40,000 range these days, with excellent show Espadas commanding another $10,000 to $20,000 over that.
As a follow on to the Ferrari F550 Barchetta we featured last week, here is that car's direct successor, the 575M Superamerica. At the time this car was released, folding hard tops were coming into their own. However, Ferrari decided to be different and opted for a glass targa roof that articulated 180 degrees to lie flat on the trunk lid. The curiousness didn't stop there. The glass employed electrochromic technology, developed by Saint Gobain, which was a first for automotive applications. This enabled the passengers to control the exact level of light they wanted to enter the cabin through the mere turn of a dial. Only 599 of these flip top Ferraris were made. This one for sale in Florida is being offered by the dealer which sold it on when it was new.
2005 575 Superamerica! 1 of only 559 worldwide. This is a local car sold new by us. Options include GTC Package, Electric Daytona Seats, Scuderia Shields, Yellow Tachometer, Rear Wall in Beige Leather, High Power HiFi Sound System, 6 Disc Changer, Black Stitching and Daytona Inserts.
While the Superamerica offers greater all weather practicality with none of the compromises of the F550 Barchetta, I still can't help that a premium is being charged for an aesthetically less pleasing Ferrari. As neat as the electrochromic roof is, it does appear a bit awkward when the roof is lowered over trunk lid. So either you get good top down looks with the F550 Barchetta or more usability with the 575M. Personally, I'd choose the Superamerica over the Barchetta, as the flying buttresses do a better job of masking the long trunk lid. When new, these cars were around $280,000. Today, you can expect prices for low mileage examples to hover around $200,000.
Since it is almost summer, I can't help but think another Alfa Romeo Spider feature this week isn't really one too many. This 1991 Spider for sale in Pennsylvania is a base model 5-speed with a low 23,000 miles under its belt spread between three owners.
This auction is for my extra-clean 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider with approx. 24,000 original miles! Check out the details below of this fine car and be ready for a fun ride! First, the story behind this low mile car. This car was purchased originally by a guy in Maryland, he traded in his '87 Spider on this '91. I have the paperwork to show the original transaction that will be included in this sale, along with service records on the car. That first owner apparently sold the car to a local shop here in PA that specializes in imports/Italian cars. This car was then purchased by a friend of a friend from that shop in 1996 with a little over 22,000 miles on it.
The 2nd owner drove the car a whopping 1,201 miles in 15 years, he only drove the car to shows and around the block for fun. I know he appreciated this type of car, it is just a shame he didn't take it out and really enjoy it. I bought the car and finally registered and titled it last month. I have driven it 350-400 miles in the last 2 weeks, this is a fun car to drive! I would love to keep it, but I have a small Jeep collection that required me to rent a 2,000 sq ft garage and I'm already out of space! I really just don't have the room to park this or the time to play with it. This car needs a new owner that appreciates these cars and will take it out and enjoy it!!
This is what I have recently done to the car:
New Battery (7 year DieHard Gold)
Installed 4 brand new Michelin tires
New PA state inspection and emissions stickers
New brake pads (installed by prev owner)
The car runs and drives very nice! It starts up every time and has great passing power for a 4cyl 16 valve. The stick shift in this car is extremely nice and the car does NOT have any 2nd gear synchro issues. The shifts are nice and firm every time, downshifting into 2nd does not produce any grinding. Alfa owners will tell you that the 2nd gear synchro can be the week link in the tranny. The car will grind going into reverse unless you shift into a forward gear first. I usually shift to 4th, then R and I have no issues. I had thought this was a problem until I read about this on the AlfaBB.... apparently that's "just how they are".
The car has a few (common) needs right now:
A/C functions but does not blow cold. I have only driven the car on nice days with the top down, so I haven't checked this out yet.
There is a small dent on the leading edge of the bumper above the Alfa emblem. (see pics)
The airbag light is flashing grounding codes. This is common on these cars, the codes can be reset.
Sometimes there is an intermittent clutch throw out bearing squeak when taking off from a stop (it wont do it when you take it to the mechanic... trust me)
Please check out the pics and ask any questions! Check out how nice the interior is, the seats are just about perfect. Carpet and mats are nice too! The top boot is included in the trunk. Speaking of the top, it is in excellent condition. The window is clear, there is no holes, and it functions as it should. There is also a full size spare under the trunk carpet. Jack points on the car are all in nice shape. Tires and brakes are brand new! Any stone chips/dings on the paint were touched up by previous owner, a nice paint job could make it really perfect! I personally don't paint cars, because then I would be afraid to drive them. This car has averaged 28 mpg for me, not too shabby. This car always runs cool, on the highway and in traffic. All of the original books and papers are included in this sale. The window sticker, owner's manual, tire books, etc., see the pics. I have the full Autocheck report for this car. Title is clear, no lien, and is in my name.
Even with this car's minor faults, I can't help but think it won't last long at $9,500. This leaves room for repair costs and then some when compared to completely sorted examples that are selling in the $14,000 to $20,000 range. For a Series 4 Spider, even if it is a base model, anything under $10,000 in this kind of shape could be considered well bought.
Depreciation can be a wonderful thing. Almost a decade on, the Maserati Coupe GT can now be had for about a third of its original list price. Designed by Giugiaro, these coupes signaled a renaissance of the Trident brand from the dark days of the late 1980s and early 1990s and brought exotic Italian machinery within the reach of consumers who would have normally found themselves behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 or Jaguar XK-R. This Coupe GT for sale in North Carolina has the less complex 6 speed manual gearbox and is lightly run in with 28,000 miles.
Beautiful black 2003 Maserati Coupe GT with the 400HP 4.2l engine shared with the V8 Ferraris of that year. Tan leather interior with darker tan piping (additional cost option). Pleated leather headliner, Skyhook adaptive suspension, Xenon headlamps, CD, Nav, cruise, power everything. This vehicle has every option offered except the paddle shifted auto-manual (the Cambiocorsa option), and honestly the 6-speed is the transmission you want anyway. Turning the key gives you a front row seat to an Italian symphony - the 4.2l V8 sounds like nothing else on the road. The car sounds wonderful at every day RPMs, but really opens up about 4000. My other car is a '68 Mustang, and the novelty of a V8 that keeps pulling happily past 6000 RPM just never wears off. The wheels have been refinished back to factory color - the previous owner had them painted gold. The Michelin Pilot Sport tires still have plenty of tread, and the vehicle handles like a dream.
I've had the vehicle for two years and put less than 1200 miles on it. Only one major repair - the Mass Air Flow sensor went out, and was replaced at the local Maserati dealership. The oil was changed there two (at the same time) and I had them go through the vehicle looking for anything that looked out of the ordinary. It got a clean bill of health. I don't have the receipts from the previous owner, but I have the name of the dealership it was serviced at. (A state law prevents them from releasing service records to anyone other than than the person they were performed for, but if you call up (like I did) with the VIN, they'll read off the service history to you. It was serviced regularly by the owner who put most of the 20,000 miles on the vehicle, at an authorized Maserati dealership. The previous owner had information that the clutch had been replaced within the previous 2-3K miles, and I believe it. It feels solid. It recently passed North Carolina emissions with no trouble.
In the interest of full disclosure, some small quibbles. The shift boot sometimes releases from the console at the base. There's a snap-in plastic ring that holds the leather boot in place, and pressing it back in fixes it. I've thought about shimming the snaps (which are under aggressive for the job) to fix the boot there semi-permanently, but have never done it. A couple of the A/C vent plastic trim rings have a chrome-like coating which is flaking a little after 10 years. The automatic positioning of the front seats, when they are tipped forward to allow (very compact) people to sit in the back seats, don't alway work. The motors work fine - the seats are fully adjustable with the switches on the sides. But sometimes you tip the seats forward and they automatically motor forward to allow someone in the back, and sometimes they don't. I have a feeling it is the switch in the seat itself that isn't signaling the computer properly, but since it is a rarity to have someone try to squeeze into the back seat I haven't tracked it down. There are two minor dings, one in the front bumper and one in the rear. (Very shallow depth - 1/16th of an inch, perhaps?) They are both small enough not to be noticeable unless you are looking for them, and are quite fixable. They haven't detracted from my enjoyment of the vehicle so I haven't fixed them.
This is a vehicle that turns heads wherever it goes. The black over two-tone tan interior is a rare option, and fits the vehicle wonderfully. It has been garaged it's whole life and well cared for. To be honest, I never anticipated selling this vehicle. I still don't want to. But circumstances are forcing me to do so. I would really like to see this amazing vehicle go to a good home - end up with an owner who will appreciate it's beauty and capability, and take good care of it. It may sound corny, but that's my desire. If you're local, I'd be happy to let you take the car out for a spin. If you're out of town, I'm also happy to run it to the Maserati dealership where they can perform a once-over to your satisfaction (at your expense.) I'm not interested in arranging shipping for the car, but I will certainly arrange to have the car at whatever location is convenient for pickup by a carrier service you specify and handle logistics for.
It’s tempting to think that one could have a like new Maserati for the cost of a well-equipped Toyota Camry, but as with many cars on this site, these are vehicles that require more care and attention than your average grocery getter. Still, at this price point, one could conceivably purchase this machine and for a fraction of a new Maserati, still have funds left over to maintain the car without breaking the bank. I am a big fan of these coupes. While they aren’t the most flamboyant Italian design exercise, the fact that they are some of the last Maseratis to come with a third pedal has me naturally attracted to them.
The Fiat Millicento, or 1100, is a cheeky post war subcompact that served as a staple family sedan in Italy in the 1950s and went on to be produced under license in India until 2000 as the Premier Padmini. This was one of the first cars to be mass produced in India and was popular for taxi use. Today these cars are rather collectible, if scarce, and remind us just how much fun and efficient certain practical classics are, even if they do appear a bit pedestrian at first.
Up for sale is a 1958 FIAT Millecento (1100-103D) Berlina; we call her Mille. A California car believed to be from the Bay Area up until 2011 when I purchased the car and brought it to Virginia. I regularly use the car for errands around town and occasionally drive it to work. If you like meeting new people, you probably should buy this car. It you like spending 15 minutes in the grocery or hardware store parking lot talking about your car, the Mille is just for you. The “cute factor” is off the scale which usually means every red-light and retail store parking lot finds you having a conversation with complete strangers about the Mille.
The previous Bay Area owner brought the car out of hibernation protected from the elements and gave it a complete tune up, changed the fluids and filters, cleaned the fuel tank, replaced the rubber fuel lines and rubber brake lines, relined the brake shoes, installed bias-ply whitewall tires, and gave her a good scrubbing inside and out. The exterior was repainted in its original and correct two tone Grigio/Blu and the interior seating surfaces were re-upholstered in the correct complementary two tone color. Finally, new weather-stripping was fitted, a new headliner was installed, and a new steering wheel fitted to round out the refresh. The vehicle is available immediately and is located in Waynesboro, Virginia.
Body and passenger area floors are solid and show no repairs. There is one spot bubbling on the lower driver door, and a few bubbles on the lower passenger side front and rear door. None come through the paint and none are larger than a pencil eraser. See photos. The only location that rust has perforated the body is in the passenger side trunk pocket floor behind the rear wheel. This area is hidden from view, is not structural, and could be easily repaired but certainly not needed to enjoy the car as is. See photos in shutterfly link. The exterior has been repainted, not a professional job, but not a hack either. The paint as some orange peel and there is an occasional spec of dirt in the paint. There are some very light polishing scratches on the top. No overspray is found on the trim, glass, or rubber. Chrome bumpers and trim are original and is starting to dull, some pitting can be seen (someone say patina please). There is no evidence anywhere of body damage.
Interior is fitted with new two tone upholstery in the original and correct gray and blue, complementing the exterior colors. A new headliner has been installed along with an NOS steering wheel. The car still has the original rubber mats and kick panels in front, and carpets in the rear along with the vinyl rear tire trim are original and in excellent condition considering the age. The car is accessorized with period correct orange/black Everest rubber floor mats front and rear. Accessories almost all work perfectly on the car including the headlights, turn-signals, brake-lights, oil pressure indicator, speedometer, odometer, water temperature, wipers, heater fan, heater, horn, under-hood and trunk lights, etc. Not currently working are the two rear interior lights, the rear-view mirror light, and the license plate lights.
Drivetrain is original to the car and not modified from its original specification. The 1089cc motor with its single barrel Weber 32IMP downdraught carburetor puts out only 43 HP (rounded up) but is adequate for around-town driving. Some say gas mileage exceeds 40 mpg, I’ve never measured it. The four on-the-tree manual transmission shifts smoothly through the gears; first is non-syncro, 2-4 are synchronized. The mechanical linkage clutch has absolutely no slip. As for oil leaks, after sitting for a week the engine has one quarter-size spot under the drain plug, tranny has one dime-size spot under the drain plug, and the diff has one quarter-size spot below the drain plug. The car currently operates without a thermostat and the water temperature on the hottest Virginia summer days does not exceed 190 degrees in traffic. Once moving, the temp drops below 180 degF again. The fuel pump is still mechanical and the distributor is still points and condenser. The water pump has a small leak from the weep hole but does not spot. The generator and voltage regulator function properly and maintain battery charge.
The car comes with period FIAT documentation including advertisements, sales brochures, postcards, photographs, original “running in” decal for the windshield, the Everest floor mat docs, original instruction manual, original FIAT parts catalog, and an original FIAT body parts catalog. A jack and tool kit is also included. Everyone asks me about parts. Yes they are available but not as readily as your MGB or Triumph parts; they made a million of these things in Europe but only a few made it to the USA. Suppliers advertise their 1100 parts on E-bay and E-bay.it and there are two popular FIAT 1100 Bulletin Boards on the web that provide great technical advice and can assist with finding parts as well.
The seller of this car had this on the market back in October 2011 on the Fiat Lancia Unlimited marketplace for $9,950. For those in the market for a Millicento, there isn’t a lot of choice and it would be wise to buy a complete, mint example like this. Restoration costs could exceed what you could expect to get out of the car upon selling it. Under $10,000 for such a nice example is a practical way to enter into the Italian car club and make some new friends along the way with this instant conversation starter.
In 1971, Dan Gurney and Brock Yates innagurated the Cannonball Run Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Dash at the helm of a Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona. With an average speed of over 80 miles per hour, the pair went from New York to Los Angeles in 35 hours, 54 minutes. While not a record, this was an impossibly fast time in one of the most revered Ferraris of all time. These days, you rarely see a Daytona used as intended, but this example for sale outside of Boston isn't the usual museum quality piece that we are used to seeing at concours events.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona coupe, Serial Number 14427, Rosso Corsa with tan/black inserts, European specification, 66,100km, (41,000 miles), 4.4 litre 352hp V12 engine, 5-speed gearbox, power windows, air conditioning, correct non-matching number engine, decade old interior re-trim and re-painting, 5 Cromodora wheels, well cared for California “driver quality” Daytona coupe.
This is a good car, but not great. With a non numbers matching engine, older restoration and mileage almost hitting the half century mark, this also isn't your typical Daytona. For those that want to enjoy their investment, this is the perfect car. While $300,000 might seem reasonable for a Daytona, with the wear of a driver quality car coming into play, $250,000 to $275,000 would make this offering even more attractive.
Three pedal manual transmissions are becoming a thing of the past with Italian sports car manufacturers. While the newer automated manuals may shift faster and return greater efficiency than the traditional manual gearbox, driver involvement is diluted and more often than not these transmissions are a bit cranky at lower speeds around town. The debate on which solution is better will continue for a long time, but for me, I'll always choose three pedals over two. This Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is the last of the breed when it comes to Ferrari touring coupes with a V12 engine mounted up front backed up by a traditional 6 speed manual transmission. Though a bit more awkward proportionally than it's predecessor, the 456M, these cars do a good job of masking just how large they are.
2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti six speed finished in Nero over Nero hides. This is a nice 612, books and records, new clutch at 37K miles (always at the dealer). Ferrari car cover and tools. Don’t miss out on this four seater V12 with a six speed. Only 70 six speeds made in 2005.
The miles this Ferrari has covered is no mean feat, but it is heartening to hear that the clutch has been replaced. One should comb through the rest of the records to see if any further servicing would be needed, as any fixes for this car will not be an inexpensive proposition. Originally this car carried a sticker price of about $250,000. Like most four place Ferraris, depreciation hits these grand touring machines hard. After seven years, a discount of 58% is rather attractive, but if this was priced just under $100,000, say, around $90,000 to $95,000, it would be more in line with the market for an earlier model like this with above average mileage.
In 1993, Alfa Romeo wound down production of the long lived Spider, with some of the remaining inventory being sold as 1994 models. Before parting ways with the US market in 1995, Alfa Romeo sold 190 Spiders in 1994 badged as a CE, or Commemorative Edition. The differences between a regular Spider and CE were minor, limited to burlwood interior trim, special badging front and rear, gold trimmed emblems on the alloy wheel centers and an owners kit comprised of a leather portfolio, numbered keychain, and documentation. Also, a plaque was affixed to the dashboard denoting the number in the CE series you were driving. This was a rather inexpensive way to celebrate the end of almost thirty years of Spiders, beginning with the Duetto in 1966. This CE Spider for sale outside of Philadelphia has a reasonable 51,000 miles on the clock.
This classic Italian roadster has only 51k miles. If you are familiar with these cars, you will know that they were a very successful model for Alfa, originally offered in 1966, this 1994 C.E. model is represents the pinnacle of this platform. Bosch motronic engine management, burlwood trim, dash plaque, unique leather/suede seating surfaces. This is a nice clean car, current PA state inspection, well maintained, came from a true collector/enthusiast. He is moving some cars around in his collection (30+) and this is being made available.
Although it is not pictured, the factory supplied hard top is included with the sale. Aftermarket stereo system/speakers looks to be of high quality and installation, however the head unit does not currently power on. Could be something simple, we have not looked into it. Have all keys, manuals (Including the C.E. packet) and many service records.
Given the limited difference between a Spider Veloce and a CE, there is not a lot of variance in value between the two models. The most important aspect of a 1994 Spiders is that these are the final Spiders to have been sold new stateside. Clean Spiders with under 50,000 miles can bring between $15,000 to $20,000 on a good day. This example comes with service records and appears straight and clean. The only detractor for me is the aftermarket stereo, which is inoperable. Provided the mechanicals are sorted and there are no hidden issues, one could expect this Spider to bring somewhere between $14,000 to $16,000.
We've featured a few Lancia Scorpions for sale here on Classic Italian Cars for Sale, but I must admit, I think this is the best one yet. Looking sharp in silver over red leather, this mid engined sports car is a rare sight on these shores, as they were only sold here for the 1976 and 1977 model years. Differing from it's foreign market counterpart, the Montecarlo, the US market Scorpion had a smaller 1.8 liter engine, crash bumpers, taller suspension springs and semi pop up headlights, as opposed to fixed, flush units. Still, this car struck a very modern pose in the mid 1970s and they are revered by a small group of enthusiasts to this day. This example is for sale in Arizona and includes an impressive amount of documentation.
Up for auction is a 1976 Lancia Scorpion Beta sports coupe. This lovely little treasure is exceptionally clean inside and out. Extremely rare and nearly impossible to find in this near mint condition. This Lancia comes equipped with the original factory mid-engine 1.8L twin cam motor mounted to her five speed manual transmission. The Beta also has 4 wheel independent suspension and 4 wheel power disk brakes. Factor Air-conditioning that is complete and a rear defrost window as well. The rack and pinion steering makes the car handle great and a true sports pleasure to drive.
These Lancia Scorpions were only produced in an extremely limited quantity with this unit being number 383 out of about only fourteen hundred for the year 1976. They only produced them for two years total, ceasing production the following year, in seventy seven. The exterior is a stunning silver with red leather upholstery. Factor alloy wheels with Pirelli tires all around. She runs fantastic and hustles down the open road. This Scorpion Beta has a clean, straight and very dry body throughout. The Lancia has a very unique retractable sports roof that opens up and is a sheer pleasure when driving the automobile.
The rarity of this model makes people take notice immediately as the car demands attention. Styling by Pinin Farina attracts all from the Ferrari crowd at any car show it enters or attends. This Lancia has only sixty five thousand original miles with a clean Arizona title and complete factory paperwork including window sticker, shop manuals, dealer literature and much more. This is a fabulous car and will make a great auto for the astute aficionado and avid collector.
This car really does a good job of masking its 65,000 miles, even if this is a nominal amount for a 36 year old car. It's unreal to think this car is that old, as it still looks contemporary to this day. Scorpions in good condition can range anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 these days. If this example brings well over $10,000, I won't be surprised, as you'd be hard pressed to find a better one.
