Monthly Archives: March 2019

Abarth, Bertone, Fiat

1981 Fiat 131 Abarth Replica

How does a small sedan from 1981 go from a nomination for the most "trouble prone" car in Popular Mechanics during its time on the market to being a rare and somewhat coveted eBay lot with an asking price close to $20,000? We'll follow that up with another question - when was the last time that you saw a Fiat Brava (131) on the road? Fiat made 1.5 million of them, so scarcity has not always been a defining trait of the series - perhaps Popular Mechanics was right. What they failed to mention? The 131 isn't particularly difficult to repair.

We'll be upfront with the fact that this example falls short of the actual Fiat 131 Abarth Rally homologation car. Those cars were yanked off of the Fiat line in Mirafiori as bodyshells, shuttled to Bertone for fitment of the modified bodywork, and sent along to the Fiat Rivalta plant for installation of Abarth running gear and mechanicals. This car? It just has an aftermarket bodykit from Italy. No 138hp double Weber twin cam with a rally gearbox, and no independent rear suspension like on the homologation cars.

1981 Fiat 131 Abarth Replica red rear view 2.0L Lampredi twin cam
Click to view listing

Year: 1981
Model: Fiat 131 Abarth Replica
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  unknown
Price: $18,500
Location: La Canada Flintridge, CA

1981 Fiat 131 Abarth Replica red Sparco interior 2.0L Lampredi twin cam
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1981 Fiat 131 Abarth Replica


got this 131 fiat with Abarth Body kit its 1981 I bought the body kit from Italy and and had the rims custom made from London. also had the original engine rebuild. brand new paint job car is almost ready to go just needs the final touches more then welcome to come see it anytime

1981 Fiat 131 Abarth Replica red engine bay 2.0L Lampredi twin cam
Click to view listing

Not a lot of effort from the seller of this machine, which is unsurprising. The more eccentric listings usually accompany eccentric sellers, and those guys seem to depend on mind reading to sell cars. We can't be too critical, as where are we going to find another? Needless to say, potential buyers will need to iron out some of the details of the car with the seller.

With bidding starting at $5,000, some semblance of sanity is preserved with this listing, though the overall attractiveness of the offering really depends on where the reserve is set. Finding a similar bodykit won't be easy, and the amount of bodywork required to install it on a standard car would be considerable. Does that increase the value of this example? We would say yes, unfortunately. And, if the rust is in control, the deal is even sweeter. With some good communication with the seller and careful bidding, we think that this Abarth replica could make for a very nice addition to someone's garage.

-Graham

Uncategorized

1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR 51 Matta

Talk about foreshadowing - nearly 70 years after Alfa Romeo introduced the Matta, Alfa Romeo and Jeep would be collaborating with a vehicle almost identical in spirit, the Jeep Wrangler. The modern Wrangler design harks back to military vehicles such as the Matta, and today, is powered by the same power plant used in the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The Matta, too, was powered by an Alfa Romeo luxury sedan engine. At the time of the Matta's production, the Alfa Romeo 1900 led the marque's offerings. Displacing 1,884cc, the iron block, aluminum hemi head 4-cylinder produced 64hp from its long-stroke design. In a departure from the 1900, the Matta utilized a dry sump design, likely to keep oil pressure at the bearings during off-road articulation.

1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR 51 driver rear quarter
Click to view listing

Year: 1953
Model:  Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR 51 Matta
Engine: 1,884cc 4-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  5,000
Price: Auction
Location: Casabianca, Italy

1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR 51 interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR 51 Matta


For sale  an extremely rare ALFA ROMEO AR51 (1900M), a very good example of the car better known as "MATTA" (crazy in Italian). Conceived on request of the Italian Ministry of Defense in order to have a modern replacement for the ubiquitous Willys MB the Alfa AR51 (AR stands for Autovettura da Ricognizione modello 1951, Reconaissance  Car, model year 1951) revealed itself as a very sophisticated vehicle, its engine (type 1307) a 1884 cc four cylinder twin cam derived from that used on 1900 saloons and GTs (type 1306) and here detuned at 65 HP, dry sump lubrication, indipendent front suspension with torsion bars, a low range transfer box enabling it to climb on 120% slopes. A very good car, a brilliant technical excercise, but very expensive to built so only 2054 cars were handbuilt (yes, no production line) at the Alfa old aero engine factory at Pomigliano d'Arco near Naples from 1952 to 1954; less than 500 were assigned to the Police, mainly at the various Reparti Celere (rapid intervention units) as in this case. This Matta is chassis#1374 and left the factory in 1953 with engine #1462, the same unit it still has today, a very rare case of matching numbers vehicle. It was kept by the Ministry of Interior until 1979, then was sold on the market gtting the civilian registration GR 173393; the original maroon livery used by the Italian Police during the Fifties was covered by a questionable metallic burgundy paint which the car sports still today (the interior, also originally maroon, was sprayed in grey). In its civilian life the car saw very limited and careful use by its two registered owners (as showed by the valid logbook): in fact it runs and drives very well (an electric fuel pump has replaced the mechanical type), the engine pulls smoothly without any smoke, transmission ok, no steering or suspension play; the chassis is absolutely straight and sound, the body is sound too with only some surface rust in limited areas (of course it needs a respray). The ugly rollover bar showed in some picture has now desappeared and the wiper motors and arms are now in place again alongside the original Ulpio type hook towbar, the spare wheel, jack, basic tool kit and copies of owner's, workshop and parts manuals. This car is located near Turin and have to be collected locally, shipping can be arranged easily by myself.

1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 M AR 51 engine bay 1900 dry sump
Click to view listing

Given the length of time that must have elapsed between this car being useful and this car being desirable, with a long period of market indifference in between, this example appears to be in great shape. Underneath, you can spot rust at many of the seams, and yet, it is the sort of rust that a hobbyist could address in their garage with a wire wheel and some rust converter. The exterior is said to be repainted in a metallic burgundy, beneath which lies the original maroon paint found in Italian Police liveries.

We'll be the first to admit that we know very little about off-road vehicles, but what we do know is that they travel very slowly. With only 64hp, driving slowly should not be in issue in the Matta. Given its condition, we wouldn't be too heartbroken to suffer some minor off-roading damage in this example. The 1900 engine, while no Nord, won't be too hard to keep in good tune, either. All-in-all, we welcome the idea of slowly bringing this Matta back into original condition while using it as intended.

-Graham

Lancia, Pininfarina, Uncategorized

1963 Lancia Flavia Coupe

Let's take a quick inventory of the flat-engined sports coupe market. Porsche is still plugging along with the 911 and its flat six, and there is the Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ pair with their flat fours. In both examples, power is routed to the rear wheels, whether through a transaxle in the rear-engined Porsche, or a driveshaft and differential in the Japanese twins.

But, a flat four powering a long, low front wheel drive sports coupe is no longer available. In the case of the Flavia, the reasons for the format are not readily apparent. There is, of course, the benefit of lowering the vehicles center of mass by situating the cylinder heads low to the ground in the flat format, but the byproduct of this is the added mass of an additional cylinder head. Interestingly, the camshaft count does not multiply, as the flat four in the Flavia is of a pushrod design, locating its single camshaft in the engine block.

1963 Lancia Flavia coupe side view
Click to view listing

Year: 1963
Model:  Lancia Flavia Coupe
Engine: 1,488cc flat four
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  60,587
Price: Auction
Location: Millstone Township, NJ

1963 Lancia Flavia Coupe interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1963 Lancia Flavia Coupe

This spectacular 1963 Lancia Flavia Coupe was purchased in Italy roughly 4 years ago from a gentlemen in north Italy where he participated in the 1995 Vintage Montecarlo. The car is rust free, very solid, had a 1.5 liter engine with a 4 gear box and mechanically sound. There are a lot of new parts in the steering compartment. This car is ready for vintage racing, or a cruise on the road with a little bit of work. All lights are working properly including brake lights. Paint is in fair condition for possibly original. Brakes are brand new. Roll cage is for it's era. Speedometer needs some attention. Car sells with Italian papers and customs form. For more information on this car please contact Franco at (917)-596-4331. Good luck!!

1963 Lancia Flavia Coupe 1488cc engine bay
Click to view listing

This particular car has been outfitted for use in Vintage Montecarlo events, though the last event took place in 1995. Fortunately, given the nature of vintage events, this vehicle should be ready to go - once you're stuck in an era, there isn't a real reason to update. The interior is stripped out, but the floors look to be cleaned up and the dash appears to be in great shape.

We like the way that this Pininfarina coupe sits on its relatively large alloy wheels. The hoodline is low, the dash sits far back from the front axle, and the roofline is interesting. Our admiration for the car extends to its innovative FWD and aluminum flat four engine. If the price on this car stays reasonable, it could make for a great car to take on vintage events.

-Graham

Lamborghini

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

The Macau Grand Prix has morphed and shifted over the years, the Guia Circuit on which it takes place standing constant throughout the changes. Presently, the weekend of racing comprises a Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Formula Three Grand Prix, and the FIA GT World Cup. Italian marques have the most success in the Formula Three Grand Prix, where Dallara racecars have dominated since 1993, though that could be due to a lack of any competitors. On the Motorcycle side of things, Ducatis have won a handful of races as well. In the GT World Cup, where GT3 cars compete, the Gallardo remains the sole Italian car to win, besting the competition in 2009 and 2010.

Today's Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 is a standard Gallardo GT3 racecar prepared by Reiter for the Macau Grand Prix GT3 race. It maintains its livery for the 2009 race, where it took first place. GT3 Gallardos are converted to RWD and outfitted with Brembo racing brakes, centerlock OZ racing wheels, and a rollcage. The naturally-aspirated 5.2L V10 produces 520hp and is managed by a 6-speed automated manual supplied by Holinger.

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 Reiter Macau Grand Prix Cup GT3 rear
Click to view listing

Year: 2008
Model:  Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
Engine: 5.2L V10
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual
Mileage:  1,000
Price: $99,500
Location: Costa Mesa, CA

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 Reiter Macau Grand Prix Cup GT3 interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

We are pleased to offer 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064, the winner of the 2009 Macau GT Cup. Designed, built and developed by Lamborghini’s German motorsport specialists Reiter Engineering, the Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 cars were race winners right out of the box. Since their introduction in 2008, they have been successfully campaigned in the European, Asian, British, Italian, Australian and numerous other National and International FIA GT3 Championships, plus the Blancpain Endurance Series. A Gallardo GT3 won the 2008 Australian GT Championship, another Gallardo GT3 won the 2010 Asian GT Championship. Indeed, during the Gallardo’s 2007 to 2013 championship race seasons Gallardo GT3s won 199 races and had 350 podium finishes! Thanks to their all-alloy space frame and alloy body with carbon fiber front fenders, front and rear lids and a carbon front bumper and extractors, weight is a mere 1238 kg or 2,724 lbs. Power comes from a dry-sump quad-cam 5.2 liter V-10 putting out 520 Bhp at 7800 rpm, and that power is put to the ground through a Holinger six-speed sequential paddle-shifter. Lightweight 18 x 11-inch front and 18 x 12.5-inch OZ rear wheels put the rubber to the road while Brembo supplied calipers haul it down from racing speeds. Like all GT3 cars, the Gallardo GT3 was converted to rear wheel drive only rather than the four wheel drive used in the Gallardo street cars. A massive front splitter and front fender air extractors combined with an equally massive and fully adjustable Carbon rear wing provide the aerodynamic downforce, while side skirts keep air out from underneath the car, helping the downforce.

Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 was sold new to SPS Automotive in Hong Kong in mid-2008 for Y.L. Siu’s LKM Steel race team. With Japanese driver Keita Sawa at the wheel and carrying race #62, GT3 s/n 07064 finished 3rd in the 2008 Macau GT Cup and then came back with race #6 to win the 2009 Macau GT Cup, beating a horde of thirty Porsche 997 GT3s, Ferrari 430 GT3s, Audi R8 LMS GT3s, Ford GT based GT3s, Corvete ZO6 GT3s and Aston Martin Vantage GT3s. In 2010, Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 was entered in the Macau GT Cup and several Asian GT Series races and was driven by team owner Y.L. Siu at a far more leisure pace. In late 2011 Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 was fitted with a new motor and the spares package was updated before being put on display in the LKM Steel team’s warehouse showroom before coming to our warehouse in California. The FIA GT3 series was developed to provide a level playing field for amateur “Gentlemen” drivers in multiple National GT3 Championships while creating an opportunity to expand manufacturer involvement in motorsports. The GT3 Series regulations demand that race-ready cars closely resemble their road-going counterpart. Unlike the FIA GT1 Series, the GT3 class cars are not allowed to be developed by their manufacturers over the course of a racing season. Manufacturers simply provide a very cost-effective, ready-to-race car to a customer. Teams are limited to springs, shocks, ride heights and wing adjustments that they can alter from production specs. All cars are equalized by weight, horsepower and restrictor allowances to remain competition by the FIA.


Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 has just been test run, serviced, safety inspected and put through a detailed pre-purchase inspection by Dugan Enterprises in Oceanside, CA. The compression and leak down are perfect, report on file! Like all GT3 race cars, services are reasonable with the full inspection, engine oil and filter change, coolant flush, expansion tank cleaning, sealing washers, brake inspection, installation of new fuel cell foam, pressure test the fuel system, nut and bolt inspection. The total service invoice was $7,480.94 and the compression and leak down test was $625.00. Today Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 is eligible for a multitude of track events for retired GT3 cars such as the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour, billed by the SCCA as the pinnacle of championship road racing in North America, the SCCA’s just introduced GT-X car, specifically for older GT3 cars or the SCCA’s ITX (Improved Touring unlimited) as well as any HSR or NASA weekend, the Daytona Classic of four one-hour races, the Sebring classic with three one-hour races, the Spring Classic at Laguna Seca and a multitude of other track events.


Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 is currently in the same livery it carried when it won the 2009 Macau GT Cup. Thanks to its striking color combination and stunning styling, the Gallardo GT3 is easily the most exotic car on the grid, yet it shares many of the same mechanicals as the Audi LMS GT3, so both parts and service are readily available and Reiter Engineering carries any parts that might be needed. The “Halo” driver’s seat, the center console and door inner panels are all lightweight Carbon fiber in as-new condition. The Carbon fiber digital dash gives the driver instant information on all mechanical systems and the paddle shift responds instantly. The GT3 cars offer an incredibly low cost state-of-the-art car that needs only gas and tires for most track events,and can easily be maintained at the track with the help of a single mechanic. Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 comes with two complete sets of OZ race wheels with used tires, eight sets of new Performance Friction Carbon Metallic brake pads in their boxes, two new front and two rear brake rotors in their boxes, a new aluminum honeycomb front splitter, a good used aluminum honeycomb front splitter, a full set of new aluminum honeycomb floor pans, a set of springs, a set of lightweight spare knockoffs and several boxes of bearings and bits.


As state-of-the-art modern race cars, the Gallardo GT3s are both blindingly fast yet very civilized to drive thanks to light electric power steering, massive brakes and the easy-to-use Holinger six-speed sequential paddle-shifter. The FIA approved NASCAR style roll cage and halo driver’s seat make it a safe and user-friendly track day car and a second seat can be added to terrorize your passenger! Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 is race-prepared and ready to go, allowing the skilled driver to offer very fast rides at private or club track days or to compete wheel to wheel at the dozens of SCCA, NASA, HSR and other sanctioned events and at half the price of a comparable used 458 GT3. E-mail us for photos from Macau 2008, 2009 and 2010 or for links to the race videos. Priced at 320,000 €uro or almost $400,000 when new, Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 is fully-serviced and needs nothing but a new home and driver. We know the FIA GT3 race car market well and Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 is the best priced Italian GT3 car in North America. Seriously for sale and priced to sell at $99,500, or best offer.


S/n 07064. Lamborghini Gallardo GT3.


2008, March, built new by Reiter Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, Leobendorfer Str. 39, 83417 Kirchanschöring, Germany.
2008, new to SPS Automotive Perform LTD., Unit A5 G/F Hoplite IND CTR, 3-5 Wang Tai Road, Knowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
2008, 16 Nov., raced in the 2008 Macau GP, Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup on race #62 with Japanese driver Keita Sawa, qualified 3rd, finished 3rd.
2009, 22 Nov., raced in the 2009 Macau GP, Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup on race #6 with Japanese driver Keita Sawa, qualified 2nd, finished 1st.
Click on http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/cogpm/video/index.php?year=2009&cid=99&page_no=1&lang=en for the 2009 Macau GP video archives.
2010, 21 Nov., raced in the Macau GP, Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup with race #8 by the LKM Steel team’s team owner Y.L. Siu, qualified 17th, finished 16th.
2011, 21 Aug., raced in the Asian GT3 series, rounds 7&8 at Suzuka by the LKM Steel team’s team owner Y.L. Siu.
2011, 09 Sept., large spares package and a new engine ordered by SPS Automotive Performance, Hong Kong.
2011, 02 Oct., raced in the Asian GT3 series, rounds 9&10 at Autopolis by the LKM Steel team’s team owner Y.L. Siu.
2011, 20 Nov., raced in the Macau GP, by the LKM Steel team’s team owner Y.L. Siu.
2012–2018, on display in the LKM Steel team’s warehouse showroom.
2018, June, shipped to Ferraris-Online.Com LLC.
2018, July, test run, serviced and safety inspected by Dugan Enterprises in Oceanside, CA. Full safety inspection, engine oil and filter change, coolant flush, expansion tank cleaning, sealing washers, brake inspection, installation of new fuel cell foam, pressure test the fuel system, nut and bolt inspection. Total invoice $7,480.94.
Today Gallardo GT3 s/n 07064 is eligible for a multitude of track events for retired GT3 cars such as the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour, billed by the SCCA as the pinnacle of championship road racing in North America, the SCCA’s just introduced GT-X car, specifically for older GT3 cars or the SCCA’s ITX (Improved Touring unlimited) as well as any HSR or NASA weekend, the Daytona Classic of four one-hour races, the Sebring classic with three one-hour races, the Spring Classic at Laguna Seca and a multitude of other track events.
2018, December, offered for sale by Ferraris-Online.Com LLC.


http://ferraris-online.com/pages/cardetail.php?reqcardir=LA-LP520-07064 

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 Reiter Macau Grand Prix Cup GT3 engine V10
Click to view listing

The seller notes a recent service, including fluid flushes and replacement of fuel cell foam, at a cost of almost $8,000. It would appear that the car sat in a showroom from 2012-2018 - whether that bodes well for the car's condition is up to debate. The racing history of the car seems to span only 2-3 years and 1,000 miles. We would wager that the car has plenty of life left in it.

We're not quite sure of the target market for this Gallardo GT3. $100,000 will buy you a much faster track car these days - the Corvette Z06 - and you can drive one of those to the track and back in complete comfort. The seller advises that multiple series exist for retired GT3 cars, and perhaps this car would be competitive in one of those series. We see it as a possible purchase for the Lamborghini owner who simply wants a no-excuses racecar for the occasional day at the track.

-Graham

Fiat, Pininfarina

1983 Fiat 124 Spider Restomod

We weren't expecting to find a Fiat Spider restomod service while searching for a car to post today. In fact, we didn't even realize that it was a restomod until reading the listing. The real reason for clicking on this Fiat Spider was to check out the hubcaps - look familiar? They're the hubcaps off of the Fiat 500 1957 Edition. Normally one of our favorite hubcaps, they are a bit too large for the Spider, and seem to make the car look shorter than it really is.

Taking a look at the ad description, the details of the restomod side of things are sparse. The car has been stripped to a bare metal and repainted. The suspension, brakes, and engine have been upgraded, but the exact details of the upgrades are absent from the listing. The interior work looks to be of high quality, and is inspired by Maserati on this car, apparently.

1983 Fiat Spider restomod blue side
Click to view listing

Year: 1983
Model:  Fiat 124 Spider
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  25,000mi
Price: $89,995
Location: Barrington, IL

1983 Fiat Spider restomod maserati tribute interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1983 Fiat Spider Restomod

This is a Roadster Salon Spider Tributo resto-mod based on a 1983 Pininfarina Spider with only 25K miles. The pictures show a version with some additional key options, like the hand made Spider America hood and body work, and upgraded engine. Lead times are currently 18-24 months. However this particular project was started for an older customer with health concerns that will prevent him from taking delivery. Car is in later stages of build, but can still be customized toyour particular taste. Lead time is Spring delivery, depending on options and trim selected.

Roadster Salon only builds about 30 vehicles per year, with a fraction of them Tributo models. These cars can be finished with Ferrari or Maserati influences. All are numbered and signed by our craftsman. The version shown has our exclusive Maserati tribute interior, and other touring features. Please call and ask about the detail differences between the two versions.

Every Tributo features bare metal tub and body treatments. Interiors from the finest leather hides, hand stitched with old world craftsmanship. The Tributo is the ideal car for enthusiasts who love the vintage looks of older sports cars, but do not like the old school driving experience. Roadster Salon upgrades all the most important safety and performance elements such as steering, braking, handling, engine and structural rigidity- so that the car feels like a contemporary automobile. Electrical components and wiring are also upgraded to a more modern standard, so that reliability is significantly improved.

While stunningly beautiful, the Spider Tributo is meant to be admired but driven frequently if desired. Please contact us for more specific details. This is a re-engineered automobile with full warranty coverage. It is not a conventional restoration. Efforts were made to improve the car in every respect, not adhere to tenants of originality.

1983 Fiat Spider restomod engine bay
Click to view listing

Looking at the photographs, the car sure seems to be in good condition. And, the car comes with some sort of warranty. We would inquire as to what brand of parts were used in the mechanical side of the restoration, but suspect that high-quality components were utilized.

A new Fiat 124 Spider runs around $30k. Reviews of the current Spider are mostly positive, though the engine is a bit dated. The new Spider can't compete with the original on appearance, no doubt. But, if it were our money, we'd buy a new Spider for when we needed modern comfort, and a classic Spider when we wanted something more charming. Spending $90k for one Spider just seems a bit frivolous for our tastes. That said, we salute the builders of these cars and hope to see more like them - surely there are enthusiasts out there willing to pay for perfection.

-Graham

Bizzarrini, Dallara, Lamborghini, Uncategorized

1969 Lamborghini Islero S

We would like to think that the marketing department at the fledgling Automobili Lamborghini had a hand in selecting the color combination for this Islero S, but we aren't really sure if they had a marketing department at this point, having sold only a couple hundred cars. Either way, it sends a message to Modena in no uncertain terms; Sr. Lamborghini was displeased with Ferrari road cars and was out to sell more competent alternatives.

Interestingly, the Islero is no wild departure from the 350GT that got Lamborghini's feet off the ground. No longer produced by Touring like the 400GT and 350GT before it, the Islero was constructed by Carrozzeria Marazzi following the bankruptcy of Touring. The resulting Lamborghini was a 350GT underneath, featuring its ZF 5-speed manual transmission, assisted Girling disc brakes, and Pirelli tires. Unequal front double wishbones and double wishbones in the rear with anti-squat design comprised the suspension, which attached to a rigid chassis, designed by Gianpaolo Dallara to utilize square tubing. Power was up on the S model - differentiated by its hood scoop, among other subtle cues - to a healthy 350hp, good for 161mph on the open road.

1969 Lamborghini Islero S red rear quarter
Click to view listing

Year: 1969
Model:  Lamborghini Islero S
Engine: 3.9L V12
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  N/A
Price: $425,000
Location: Lynnwood, WA

1969 Lamborghini Islero S red tan interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1969 Lamborghini Islero S

1969 Lamborghini Islero V12 GT "S" Series finished in Red over Tan leather interior.

Chassis number 6531, this Islero is 1 of ONLY 100 "S" Series produced worldwide and the 54th unit built.

This "S" variant Islero features a higher horsepower MATCHING NUMBERS V12 motor that increased horsepower to 350, larger disc brakes, reversed rear suspension, updated dashboard/interior, power windows, updated brightwork and trim pieces on the hood/fenders, and updated round side marker lights.
Recipient of a no expense spared extensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration completed by Lamborghini specialist Gary Bobileff of San Diego in the OEM specifications.
The car has covered less than 400 km (249 miles) since the mechanical rebuild, and is beautiful overall condition.
Coming to us with 37,270 miles (59,981 kilometers showing on the odometer).
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2018 "Best of Show" Participant. Displayed for the 50th anniversary of the Lamborghini Espada and Islero. Promotional material included with sale.
2018 Quail "Best of Show" Participant.
Five speed manual transmission.
Four-wheel independent suspension.
Coil springs.
Anti-roll bars.
Four wheel hydraulic disc brakes. 
Beautiful tan leather interior, woodgrain interior trim including steering wheel and power windows.
Prominently displaying the original Marazzi production sequence tag of 25179 in the engine bay as well as the chassis plate & VIN tag on the dashboard. 
Included with the car is an original sales brochure, owner's manual, and restoration records.
Service records available upon request. 

1969 Lamborghini Islero S red tan engine bay
Click to view listing

We won't attempt an assessment of the condition of this machine other than to say that the seat leather looks to be in great shape, and that the restoration work shows very well in photographs. These sorts of transactions require a bit more diligence and inspection, so we'll leave that up to prospective buyers.

It's said that Ferruccio Lamborghini himself drove an Islero during their time - a high compliment in our books. We are happy to go by the recommendation of a man who successfully challenged Enzo Ferrari at his own game. In the case of the Islero, we would say that he defeated Ferrari - never before have we been so taken aback by the long and low design of a GT. We're sort of surprised that Mario Marazzi, the designer, didn't go on to have a successful design career. Put another way, this Islero S is a great opportunity to support an unsung hero of the automotive design world!

-Graham

Alfa Romeo, Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, Uncategorized

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

No, this isn't an early, pre-production Giulia Quadrifoglio from 2003, though the date stamps on the photographs might suggest otherwise. Not to put too fine a point on it, but we imagine that the owner of this Giulia was around for the introduction of the original Giulia as well, and we respect that.

The Type 952 Alfa Romeo Giulia design comes from Marco Tencone at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. Mr. Tencone is responsible for 2/3 of the exterior designs at Alfa Romeo today, having also designed the 4C. We are big fans of the overall shape of the Giulia, which we believe successfully navigated the challenge of differentiating itself in a sea of smart sedans.

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio red rear quarter
Click to view listing

Year: 2017
Model:  Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mileage:  18,170
Price: $54,500
Location: Colorado Springs, CO

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio red black interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Beautiful Quadrifoglio. I am the original owner, ordered new.  Has sport steering wheel, carbon ceramic brakes, new Michelin Pilot 4 tires, clear bra on entire hood, front and fenders, quarters and a-pillars and roof. Still has factory warranty through June 2021.

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio red rear
Click to view listing

If you were to buy a Giulia Quadrifoglio in this configuration today, you'd be looking at a $85,000 price tag, thanks mostly to the carbon ceramic brakes. We would be hard-pressed to option those carbon ceramic brakes, unless the car were a dedicated track car. Is a Giulia Quadrifoglio dedicated track car such a bad idea? Certainly not, especially when modern M3/M4s are used as such. But we think that street time is equally important to the Alfa Romeo ownership experience. Otherwise, we like the classic red over black color combination and the optional carbon fiber sport steering wheel on this model.

The elephant in the room is the complexity of these cars. No, Alfa Romeos are not particularly unreliable, but the bad reputation seems to hold somewhat true on the Quadrifoglio, which was rushed to market with a smorgasbord of new technology. Would we be willing to risk the purchase with just 27 months of warranty left? We are not so sure. Perhaps an extended warranty is in order. Seems like a great purchase for an Alfa Romeo dealer technician - certainly work is easy to come by these days?

-Graham

Ferrari, Pininfarina, Uncategorized

2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Our childhood Ferrari experience, like for most, was of the Matchbox car variety. As far as we can remember, it was a yellow Ferrari 250 GTO that introduced us to the brand. And later, there was the yellow Testors Ferrari F50 model car kit to complement our black Lamborghini Diablo. As such, we're more drawn to Ferraris in the bright Giallo Modena than in the traditional Rosso Corsa.

Today's yellow example of a Ferrari 612 is standard 612 fare. Its Tipo F 133 F 5.7L V12 engine represents the pinnacle of that engine range, on street cars at least. Debuting in 1992 in the 612's predecessor, the Ferrari 456, the series of 65 degree V12s peaked with the 612 and its 530hp at a lofty 7,250 RPM - screaming for a GT, and yet so appropriate for a Ferrari.

2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti yellow giallo rear passenger quarter
Click to view listing

Year: 2006
Model:  Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Engine: 5.7L V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  20,552
Price: $104,999
Location: Miami, FL

2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti yellow giallo black daytona seats interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

2006 FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI 20552 ORIGINAL MILES CLEAN VEHICLE - ONE OWNER FULL DETAILED - CLEAN CAR FAX NO STICKY BOTTONS This is a unique Yellow Ferrari Scaglietti. Very Rare Ferrari Color Combination. BRAND NEW CLUTCH Original Ferrari Parts 2 YEARS SERVICED OIL CHANGE, FILTERS,BRAKERS,TRANSMISSION MORE THAN U$6K IN SERVICES Car in amazing condition and fully detailed Ferrari Challenge Wheels Contact today our sales team for more information Bruno Vargas 877-534-3017

2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti yellow giallo V12 engine bay
Click to view listing

The advantage to buying a car with a tried-and-true engine platform comes in the service department. Despite the 612's modern appearance, it retains a simpler engine design than the later Enzo-based Tipo F 140 engine series. Unfortunately, the transaxles on the 612 aren't the best at managing clutch slip, as evidenced by the 20k mile clutch replacement on this car. Another negative of this car is the front bumper alignment - we can't tell if it's just contracted for some reason, or whether it's a result of accident repair.

Our ideal yellow 612 would encompass a light tan interior, if only to avoid the bumblebee color scheme. The dark grey wheels would also see replacement with lighter silver units, though we do really like the Ferrari Challenge style of wheel on the big Ferraris. We could also do without the yellow interior trim, but that is easily rectified. At around $100k and only 20k miles, we won't say that this car represents a great value. But, are there really any great values with V12 Ferraris?

-Graham

Fiat

1973 Fiat 124 Familiare

We read yesterday that Americans referred to pasta as macaroni up until the late 80s, when the Italian word started to gain prominence in the US. We grew up calling pasta noodles, and still call it that, so make of that what you will. So, while we believe that 124 wagons like today's example were sold as the Fiat 124 Station Wagon in North America, we've gone with the European moniker Familiare, because we like it.

While the 124 Familiare appears to have plenty of room for, say, a family of five, we hope it's a tight five on the scale, because each family member will be allotted 13hp for forward progress. In the old country, that must have been a real surplus, but we'd suggest packing light, lest you strain the sweet little 1200 single cam engine.

1973 Fiat 124 wagon green passenger rear quarter
Click to view listing

Year: 1973
Model:  Fiat 124 Familiare
Engine: 1,197cc 4-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  35,309mi
Price: Auction
Location: El Monte, CA

1973 Fiat 124 wagon green interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1973 Fiat 124 Familiare

Minor surface rust. Nice floor board, not running, Missing rear seat. Needs minor body work. Will put 4 good tires to roll. Needs total restoration.All stock only two owners. Price reverse

1973 Fiat 124 wagon green engine bay 1200 single cam
Click to view listing

Looking at the underside photos provided by the seller, the condition of this California car appears to be very redeeming. The floors seem to be - and are claimed to be - very solid, with little rust to find underneath. Exterior sheetmetal shows some flaking of paint due to rust, but it appears to be the sort of surface rust that the seller is claiming. Mechanically speaking, the car has needs. The seller says that it does not run or drive, so expect the worst, but given the simplicity of these engines, we wouldn't be too worried.

This car clearly requires a bit of cleaning up, but we don't agree with the seller on the need for a full restoration. The interior will probably clean up pretty nicely, though new seats will be in order. And, the mechanicals could be brought back to driving condition with a reasonable effort. We're running a crank, some rods and pistons, and two cylinder heads to the machine shop this afternoon. Our Fiat 500 Abarth will suffice, but this 124 Familiare? Well, that would be ideal for the job.

-Graham

Alfa Romeo, Pininfarina

1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS

We came to a realization this morning: we can share automatic transmission cars here because we aren't personally shopping for each and every car that we post up to the blog. Well, we sort of are shopping for all of the cars, but the point about automatics stands. We'll borrow the seller's description of the 164LS as a diplomat's car, and allow for the automatic transmission as a luxury feature befitting that image.

That said, manual transmission versions of the 164LS exist, and we've owned one. The LS, available from 1994-1995, featured the new 24V Busso V6, making 210hp, compared to the factory 232hp rating of the contemporary 164Q. Fortunately, the differences between the engines are limited to engine tuning and intake runner diameters; swapping the runners from a Q onto the LS and installing a Squadra chip will get power to a claimed 240hp. Our car was equipped as such, and the sweep up the tach happened surprisingly quickly.

1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS automatic green
Click to view listing

Year: 1995
Model:  Alfa Romeo 164 LS
Engine: 3.0L V6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage:  106,000
Price: Auction, no reserve
Location: San Francisco, CA

1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS automatic green tan interior
Click to view listing

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS

This stately Italian has been my daily driver for the past 4+ years and it’s been a fantastic ride! There have been ups and downs, but that’s the joy of driving a vintage Alfa Romeo. The good news is that I’ve already paid to take care of most the things that go wrong with these cars, including the mostly costly (timing belt) and most infuriating (LCD display).

So If you’re looking to feel like an Italian diplomat circa 1995 this is the car for you!

Talk about luxury!
Power seats, moon roof, climate control, plush Italian leather, wooden steering wheel, heated seats—this car was $55,000 new in 2019 dollars.

The Good:

• Timing Belt and all associated parts were replaced at 86k miles. You don’t want to buy a 164 if you don’t know when this was last done!
• Passed CA smog with NO issues. (But come 2020 this car should be smog exempt)
• LCD display was replaced and looks sharp with no dead spots
• Sweet Euro Spec upgrades (Bosch projector headlights, wooden steering wheel, euro side markers, color logo center caps)
• Leather interior is in fantastic shape!
• Epic upgraded all aluminum radiator—this car stays cool 
• Tires are new with only a couple thousand miles on them
• Engine is powerful and strong, transmission shifts smoothly
• 3M 70% Crystalline tints on all windows including both windshields—DANG does this keep the heat out.
• Optima yellow top battery
• Replaced brake master cylinder
• Replaced Alternator
• stainless brake lines
• lots of other work done with receipts.


Known issues:
The idle sounds rough—RPMs are steady, but from outside the car it sounds rough, not sure if this is muffler or motor mount related, haven’t had time to investigate. Once the car is under power you wouldn’t know.

The upper motor mount is loose—the bushing has worn out. You can feel this in the steering a little bit at high speeds.

The A/C doesn’t often work, I spent some time investigating, but couldn’t get to the bottom of it. For those familiar with this car when I adjust the A/C flow, I can see the vent control arm moving behind the firewall—indicating that the stepper motors are working as intended. My best guess is that there is an issue with the vent door that controls the mix of hot air and cold air.

There is a brake fluid leak somewhere. I haven’t really investigated this, I’ve been adding a bit of brake fluid every month or two as the light comes on.

Hood was replaced after an incredibly low-speed accident that resulted in a dent next to the front grill.

Driver seat heater switch is finicky

Like I said this car has been my daily driver for 4+ years, ask me anything, I want to be honest here—I’d love to pass this car off to someone else who will truly enjoy it.

1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS automatic green engine bay 24V Busso V6 chrome runners
Click to view listing

The mechanical condition of this car is in a safe spot, but will require continuous attention to maintain. The LCD screen has been repaired, and the stepper motors are said to be operational. Still, the A/C does not work properly, and the issue is said to be electronic, rather than thermodynamic. Repairing that might require a lot of patience. No mention of timing belt and water pump service is made - interested parties would be wise to inquire as to their service status. 3 years and 30,000 miles is all that we can stomach on a 24V car, with double the valves at stake.

We really like the color combination on this example. The tan leather interiors can be surprisingly nice, if maintained at all, as this one appears. Reach into the front seat backs and you will feel the suede side of the hides - not something you'll find in most vehicles. The Bosch euro headlights are a smart upgrade, as is the wood-rimmed airbag steering wheel. For those with a taste for automatics in their luxury sedans, this no-reserve 164LS could make for a very nice purchase.

-Graham