All posts by 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

Alfa Romeo, Centro Stile Alfa Romeo

1979 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce

We've fallen prey to the allure of a dry Sprint Veloce before. Disassembled, chock-full of brown boxes from that overzealous attempt at restoration, it arrived at our garage on an auto transporter and left a couple of years later on a U-Haul auto hauler. Ours was half the current bidding of this brown example, and in better shape too.

Peter Egan advises against buying a car disassembled by someone else, and we would tend to agree, for the most part. That's why, despite the obvious cosmetic needs of this example, we're on board. It's completely usable as it sits. Drive it this summer, take care of the seats and dash this winter, and attack the paint next winter, if you get to it.

1979 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce brown driver side
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Year: 1979
Model:  Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  148,635
Price: Auction
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

1979 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce brown beige interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1979 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce

A 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT 2.0 Sunroof coupe. Brown with a cream interior.
An extremely straight body, dry Arizona car. The paint is not perfect, it has cracked all over.
The interior is original but the cloth seams on the seats have split. There are also cracks on the dashboard.
The original engine was taken out and completely rebuilt some years ago.
 Approximately 148k miles are shown on the stopped odometer, with an estimated 2,500 added by the seller and total mileage unknown.
The 2.0L inline-four was rebuilt under the seller’s ownership, with bottom-end assembly performed by Bearing Services of Portland, Oregon. The engine features a resurfaced cylinder head with lapped valve seats and new shims, 10.0:1 Alfa EFI/Motronic pistons, new bearings, a replacement timing chain and oil pump, a balanced rotating assembly, fresh gaskets and seals, and more.
The DOHC four was installed an estimated 2,500 miles ago with a new electronic distributor, thermostatic ignition components, and more as documented on included receipts. An oil and filter change were conducted approximately 200 miles ago. A new stainless exhaust system features a Euro-spec 4-into-2 cast iron header leading to a collector, resonator, and muffler.
The service file is said to include 10-15 years of receipts, with the majority being from current ownership. An owner’s manual is also included along with the collection of used and new spares seen in the gallery, including thermostatic actuator and SPICA components, used giubos, and an extra 5-speed manual transaxle.
The car runs and drives very well.Typical oil leaks in the engine.
Comes with some books, records and an original brochure.

1979 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce brown engine bay SPICA 2.0L Nord twin cam
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The fresh engine bay has us salivating. And, while minimalists might frown upon it, we welcome the functioning air-conditioning system in this example. If the cooling system is in proper functioning order, this car would make a fine companion across lonely landscapes - Reno to the Bay, perhaps.

We love a no-excuses vintage roadtripper like this Giugiaro-designed coupe. With a healthy bump in compression and a nice, free-breathing exhaust system, it will be up to the task, should the traffic clear up. Transaxle Alfas ride wonderfully, especially with stock torsion bars, which we expect this car to ride on. Time to free this Sprint Veloce from Cleveland.

-Graham

Alfa Romeo, Touring

1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Touring

Following close on the heels of this week's 2600 Sprint, we present this early 2000 Spider Touring. Alfa Romeo hasn't really touched this segment of larger cars since perhaps the Alfa 6 sedan, and even then, they didn't offer a coupe or a convertible. Today, rumblings of a new Alfa Romeo GTV emanate from FCA, and for that we are grateful. While the new GTV will be positioned as a more modestly-sized coupe, when compared to Alfa Romeo big coupes of yore, we believe that it will size up just fine.

We read that the 2000 engine, displacing 1975cc in actuality, is similar enough to the 1900 engine to share a common head gasket. What is interesting about this is the fact that the 2000 engine was not derived from the 1900 engine through increased stroke; rather, the bore was increased by 1.95mm, with stroke remaining the same. Both variants are torquey undersquare designs - it wasn't until the 2600 6-cylinder came out that the big Alfas would see power from a snarly oversquare powerplant.

Year: 1959
Model:  Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Touring
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed
Mileage:  N/A
Price: N/A
Location: St. Louis, MO

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Touring

SPECTACULAR NO-EXPENSE-SPARED RESTORATION COMPLETED IN EUROPE!
DRIVEN LESS THAN 1,000 MILES SINCE RESTORATION
CALIFORNIA CAR FROM NEW
RARE & DESIRABLE 1959 ALFA ROMEO 2000 SPIDER
ONE OF ONLY APPROXIMATELY 1,056 BUILT
DISPLAYS ONLY 77,000 MILES!
SHOWN AT THE 2017 CONCORSO ITALIANO
JUST RELEASED FROM LONG TERM OWNERSHIP (NEARLY 25 YEARS)
GORGEOUS COLOR COMBINATION
STUNNING TOURING COACHWORK
RECENTLY SERVICED
PERFORMS WONDERFULLY
ONE OF THE BEST RESTORED EXAMPLES THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE MARKET TODAY!
A COLLECTOR’S DREAM!


OPTIONS INCLUDE:

FRONT & REAR BUMPER GUARDS
LEFT HAND & RIGHT HAND REAR VIEW MIRRORS
400MM VENTILATED WHEELS
AM RADIO

Looking at the underside photos of this example, we would wager that you won't find another 2000 in this shape anytime soon. The flat black finish on the underbody and the rear axle is appreciated in a world where all too many restoration shops go nuts with the glossy black paint. Upgraded springs are pictured, as are aftermarket shock absorbers. These are an interesting addition to a car meant more for high speeds - up to 110mph - but likely result in an improvement in body control.

Based on the high price tag and the level of restoration, this car is destined for a lot of sitting around, which is unfortunate but understandable. We like the concept of the big-body Alfa with the big engine. It doesn't quite bridge the gap between a Giulietta and a contemporary Lamborghini or Maserati, but the effort is appreciated. We highly recommend this example for the collectors, and we'll keep our eyes peeled for a driver example to share in the future.

-Graham

Fiat, Pininfarina

1976 Lancia Scorpion

After last week's mostly negative take on the Lancia Scorpion, here we find ourselves sharing one yet again. The reason for this is twofold. First, we had an unpleasant interaction with a painter earlier this week while stripping down a Milano Verde for some rust repair, and made us think a little bit. He was incredulous as to why anyone would spend the money to repair an 80s Alfa sedan. We don't wish to sound like that painter, so we won't rain on the Scorpion parade just because we don't 'get' the cars. Reason two? Well, we 'get' this one!

The example that we shared last week was actually in better shape, but we like the details on this one much better. First, the BWA basket wheels are all sorts of cool. And then there's the paint color; we love how the black trim works with the bright blue. Finally, this car has a quad headlight conversion from a Lancia Beta Spyder/Zagato. Mind you, these are all aspects of any Lancia Scorpion that could be altered, but seeing them all present on a car for sale is rather compelling.

1976 Lancia beta Montecarlo Scorpion blue exterior rear quarter
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Year: 1976
Model:  Lancia
Engine: 1.8L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  80,786
Price: Auction
Location: Conway, SC

1976 Lancia beta Montecarlo Scorpion blue exterior black seats interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1976 Lancia Scorpion

You're looking at my 1976 Lancia Scorpion targa-top coupe. This is a neat little car that is almost ready to be put back on the road. I purchased this last Summer when I bought a '65 Porsche 912 from an older gentleman and he asked if I'd also buy this as well to help him out. I had always thought they were cool, and had literally only seen one other in person many many years ago, so I bought it. It wasn't running when I got it, but it looked like a pretty well taken care of example overall. 

I had the starter rebuilt, performed a general tune up, oil/filter change, and she fired right up. It runs really well. I was told the motor was rebuilt a few years back. It has an Alquati intake with Weber 42 DCNF's. Exhaust is a CSC system. Bosch alternator, Pertronix ignition. I had a shop install new clutch master and slave cylinders, and new brake master and slave cylinders. The shop had the car for well over 8 months and I was getting peeved. They kept saying "It'll be ready tomorrow" and tomorrow never came. I finally went and took the car back, but they hadn't connected some of the brake lines or bled them, as well as the clutch line. They also had let the hard top fall off the car and get scratched, as well as lost one of the black plastic trim pieces on the hood, and the shift knob is missing! Needless to say I won't be going back to that shop!!! 


The car was originally a different shade of blue as you can see in some of the pics (inside trunks, door jambs). I like the color now as it's very period correct and looks great. The paint job is several years old but looks good. I'd call it a 5 footer. Not really any major paint flaws, it's just not "perfect".The hood has a few small dings in it that a paintless dent repair guy can massage out. The interior is in really good condition and was restored about 10 years ago, and looks very good still. This Carolina's car has been stored indoors, and is very solid underneath for a 43 year old example.

I believe the rims are vintage 15" BWA's. Front brakes are Wilwood 4 piston calipers with slotted rotors. Koni struts in front, KYB in the rear. 

The car comes with two tops...the fiberglass "double bubble" hardtop as seen in the pics, and the folding cloth top that is stored in the front trunk. As I mentioned, the shop let the top fall off the car and it has some minor damage. A paint shop can fix easily. 

I am selling the car as it sits because I have moved on to another project that is more up my alley...another classic air cooled Porsche 911 to bring back to life. You can probably have this car back on the road with a few hours of work connecting and bleeding the lines. Im pretty sure everything is still there, just needs properly hooked up and bled. I'm just not fooling with it any more. Someone might ask "Why don't you just fix it and get more $$$ in the end?".  It's one of those things where I got so disgusted by the shops' BS that I have just moved on. If you're handy, you'll be on the road in no time. 

1976 Lancia beta Montecarlo Scorpion blue exterior engine bay Fiat Lampredi
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The condition of this example is at a juncture where it could either descend into disrepair or emerge victorious, faults having been addressed. We see a fair amount of non-terminal scale on the underside, especially on the shield covering the coolant pipes underneath the car. The engine bay shows signs of neglect, with flaking paint and missing timing belt covers, and the seller states that some brake and clutch bleeding will be required to make the car streetable.

If there is one problem we have with this car, it's the current bidding. Seems pretty high for a repainted car without any sort of refreshing, other than the claimed engine build a few years back. With rust to address, hydraulics to bleed, and a so-so interior, we'd hope to see something under $5k. But, like us, perhaps the bidders are loving the 037 look to the quad headlights - we can blame them!

-Graham

Alfa Romeo, Bertone

1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint

Throughout the years, Alfa Romeo has resorted to a number of different measures to power its range-topping offerings. There was the 2000 series, where the 4-cylinder engine was enlarged to a 1975cc. The Alfa 6 featured an all-new V6 design, while the Montreal's V8 was loosely based on two Alfa Nord 4-cylinder engines. Today even, Alfa specs a V6 version of the Ferrari F154 V8 in its Giulia Quadrifoglio. The 2600 featured today went with a seemingly logical option - an Alfa Nord 4-cylinder with two cylinders stitched on.

Under the hood of the Bertone-built 2600 Sprint, the 2600 engine produced a respectable 145hp, propelling the car to a top speed of 120mph. Keep in mind that at this time, a Maserati Sebring featured a 3.5L straight-6 making 232hp, topping out at 137mph. The more comfort-minded Alfa, offered at a fraction of the cost of the Maserati, stacked up well, then. With disc brakes at all four corners, it was also up to the task of coming back down from impressive speeds.

1963 Alfa Romeo Sprint white rear quarter
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Year: 1963
Model:  Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint
Engine: 2.6L straight-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  38,347
Price: $49,900
Location: Saint Ann, MO

1963 Alfa Romeo Sprint white black interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint

JUST IN FROM CALIFORNIA
RARE & DESIRABLE 2600 SPRINT COUPE
ELEGANT BERTONE BODYWORK
ONE OF 2,856 BUILT
RECENTLY RELEASED FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN THE NETHERLANDS
BELIEVED TO BE 38,347 ACTUAL MILES
ORIGINAL CARELLO HEADLAMPS
BEAUTIFUL AND DESIRABLE COLOR COMBINATION
WONDERFULLY ORIGINAL INTERIOR
RECENTLY SERVICED
PERFORMS WONDERFULLY
A COLLECTOR’S DREAM!


OPTIONS INCLUDE:

POWER WINDOWS
POWER DISC BRAKES
400MM WHEELS
PERIOD MOTOROLA RADIO

1963 Alfa Romeo Sprint white engine bay
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This particular example seems to be in great condition. The interior is claimed to be original, and still shows very well. The air intake, valve cover, and crossover pipe all seem to be refinished, leading us to suspect that the engine has been gone through - a benefit in our eyes. Exterior trim and paintwork all appear very nice in photos, as does the undercarriage. Evidence of undercoating and a resprayed gas tank would have us curious to see some before photographs, but the work seems to be neat and thorough.

We like what this coupe represents. Though it was the range-topper for Alfa Romeo at the time, Sprint Zagato notwithstanding, it was a more modest automobile in the class of Italian cars on offer at the time. With all of the ingredients of a classic sports tourer, it checks off a lot of boxes for us. Think of it as an economy Lamborghini 350 GT, or a 7/8 scale Maserati Sebring, and it starts to make sense. Add in the relative availability of Alfa Romeo repair parts, as well as Alfa's knack for mass-producing cars, and the deal is even sweater. We're inclined to say that, all things considered, this 2600 Sprint represents a nice automotive value. Forget the market speculation - just get this thing out on some long trips!

-Graham

Abarth, Centro Stile Fiat, Fiat

1987 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth

When automotive paradigms shift, we see the production of some very interesting models during the transition years. For example, as Ferrari moved toward its longitudinal midship engine orientation, it saw fit to rotate the engine in the Mondial, resulting in the surprisingly improved Mondial T. Similarly, The Ritmo 130TC straddles the hot hatch era and the epoch surrounding its tried-and-true Lampredi twin cam 4-pot.

By equipping the Ritmo with a 1995cc twin cam four replete with twin sidedraft carbs, the 128bhp Ritmo 130TC Abarth could rip its way to a 121mph top speed. Oddly enough, the carbureted engine had its ignition controlled by a Marelli Digiplex system. We are particularly intrigued by the rear suspension in all Ritmos; a transverse leaf spring meets lower control arms with McPherson struts. It seems like clever packaging and distributes the spring reaction force across a nice area by using a separate rear subframe.

1987 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth driver rear
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Year: 1987
Model:  Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth
Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  31,000 mi
Price: Auction
Location: West New York, NJ

1987 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth

***VIN: ZFA138A0004954933

This 1987 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth is the final evolution of the model, following the 105TC and 125TC. The car was built to compete with the Mk1 VW GTI and is powered by a carbureted 2.0L twin-cam four paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. In addition to the powertrain, the Ritmo Abarth features include sportier exterior accents, bolstered seats, and an uprated suspension system. This example is believed to have been sold new in France prior to being exported to Japan, and the seller recently imported the car into the US. It now shows 51k kilometers (~31k miles) and has been modified with an aftermarket muffler, OMP strut bars, Sparco pedal covers, a push-button start, Sony cassette player, and a wood-rimmed Abarth steering wheel. 

This 130TC is finished in metallic gray with black cladding around the wheel wells and side skirts, the latter featuring red accents. A paint-depth meter has been taken around the body and the results are reportedly consistent, as shown in the attached dropbox gallery. Additional exterior pictures are also provided, including closeups.

Factory alloy wheels wear red Abarth center caps and a set of Michelin Energy tires. Inside, the 130TC was fitted with unique cloth upholstery and bolstered front seats. Interior modifications include a wood-rimmed Abarth steering wheel, Sony cassette player, push-button start, Sparco metal pedal covers, and a few other items. The odometer indicates 50,715 kilometers (~31,500 miles).

Under the hood is a 2.0L DOHC inline-four equipped with dual carburetors. Output was 128 horsepower when new, which is sent to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. Period testing claimed 0 to 60 mph could be achieved in under eight seconds. A mechanical inspection was completed just prior to this listing, during which time the rear driver’s-side shock was replaced and the engine oil was changed. 

This car is being offered with all appropriate import documentation and a clean title. All offers are welcomed and encouraged.

Link to additional Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jjmturnr1w8lrgd/AACGeKMpmMye0xxrDa83geOPa?dl=0

1987 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth engine
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In terms of styling, this car is oddly weaker than its German rival, the MK1 GTI. There is a reason for this; the VW Golf was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and set the standard for hatchback design. The Ritmo design out of Centro Stile Fiat, while certainly handsome, can't quite compete with the work of Giugiaro.

With VW GTI's of the era taking off in price, we aren't surprised that this car, the auction of which ended before we could post it, did not meet the reserve of $11,900. Play your cards right, and you can import one of these from Europe to the US at a competitive price. But, the market in Europe is becoming evermore aware of the predilections of US buyers, and the prices have risen in step with the demand. As former MK1 GTI owners ourselves, we can totally see the appeal, and could very well end up with one of these in our garage in the near future.

-Graham