We don't have a problem with cars that aren't rare, so please don't take this the wrong way, but we think some perspective on rarity is helpful when approaching something such as this run-down Espada. We'll compare it to the Fiat 128, a car we never see on the road today.
Lamborghini produced around 1,200 Espadas over roughly ten years, working out to one car every three days. Fiat produced around 2.7 million 128 sedans and wagons in Italy over the course of around 16 years. That works out to roughly 14,000 cars every 3 days - more than entire model run of Espadas in the time it took to build a single Espada. I can't tell you the last time that I saw either car, but the odds are clearly stacked against the Espada.
We're following yesterday's high-mileage Ferrari 456 GT with a high-mileage Ferrari 308 GT4. To make it interesting, we've featured a 308 GT4 with even less collector appeal; this one has a 3.2L V8 from the later Ferrari 328 swapped in placed of its original 3.0L V8.
This is an interesting buy when compared to, say, a CIS-injected 16-valve 1981-1982 Ferrari 308 GTB with only 202 bhp. Styling is subjective - the GT4 is classic Gandini wedge, while the GTB is TV star cool. The nearly 70 hp advantage of this swapped 308 GT4 would be easy to sense by the seat of the pants, and we have to imagine that the acceleration would be startling for a car of this era.
We've ventured back into the Volkswagen 8V engine world recently. Making good power for cheap is very possible - if you're willing to sacrifice originality. Making good power on original style equipment is also possible - if you're willing to sacrifice unreasonable wads of cash.
The X1/9 and its 8V engine present a similar problem: do you keep it original and patiently tolerate the crossover SUVs tailgating you from very stoplight? Do you resort to an expensive, peaky engine build? What about a cheaper force-induction build? When you're done with either, you should be able to keep up with the 1.0L Ford fiestas at least. This isn't to say that a stock X1/9 wouldn't be enjoyable, but the environment on roads today does really require some urgent acceleration.
The 2000s weren't a great time to spend on ostentatious displays of wealth. A hot single could lead to endorsements, sold-out tours, and piles of cash, but the cars and houses available to make a splash didn't have the quality on the inside to match the flash visible from the outside. The early Diablo would fall squarely within this category of lackluster quality propping up an impressive design.
Somewhere along the line, high-quality and durable goods became status symbols. Say what you will about the cost to repair, but a modern Rolls-Royce Ghost, designed and manufactured by BMW, must pass the same durability tests as a lowly, high-volume 1-series. The result is a pretty appealing product that can boast of innovative technology and first-class engineering as much as it can of exclusivity. And, just take a look at the sorts of mansions that rappers are building today. In the 2000s, 50 Cent basically had his home appointed with the same level of construction that you'd see in a bowling alley or chain restaurant - bespoke, but just vinyl stapled to particle board at the end of the day. Today, you see Drake building a Limestone mansion in Toronto; the contrast in quality is stark.
There's virtue in starting with a hopeless example of a classic car, investing years of time and loads of cash into a restoration, and coming out with one more example of that particular classic on the road and able to visit shows. We can all hope that we aren't the ones to foot the bill or spend the hours in the garage massaging the panels, but for every car we've spent a little bit too much time, money, or effort on, there's a net benefit to the automotive community.
Sometimes - in the case of cars of significant historic value - these restorations can lead to some financial benefit. In order for this to happen, the car must be acquired prior to renewed interest in the particular model in question. Time it right, and by the time the restoration is complete, the vehicle is ready for sale in a competitive market. We've seen this with nearly every 1960s Ferrari, among other Italian classics.
How often have you heard of someone who had a Lamborghini Countach hung up on their bedroom wall in their childhood? We weren't around for Cannonball Run, so we never bonded with the Countach. Instead, we idolized the Diablo - in scale model form in place of the bedroom poster. And, the reason we picked this particular Diablo is due to its resemblance to the 1993 Diablo featured in Dumb & Dumber.
Really, the red on tan caught our eye because of the movie association. The movie car was actually not a VT model like this one, so it would have been a more hardcore Diablo, lacking the AWD and power steering of the VT models. We've always been puzzled by AWD roadsters when a RWD version exists, but the two features don't necessarily need to be utilized at the same time.
We make a trip to rural Illinois every summer, usually in the Milano Verde or the Maserati, to see our friend Andrew and check in on his German cars. Invariably the Milano and Andrew's 1991 BMW 535i are lined up to see who has the edge on acceleration. Even after building up a hot 3.0L Busso V6 with higher compression pistons, hotter cams, and ported heads, we have failed to keep up with the Bimmer.
Today's Alfa 90, or Novanta, would be a closer competitor to our friend's 5-series in terms of passenger space, but would stand an even worse chance of embarrassing the 5er in a straight line. Clean lines come courtesy of Marcello Gandini at Bertone, and the underpinnings - torsion beam front suspension, rear-mounted transaxle and DeDion rear suspension - are largely shared with the Giulietta, just like in the Milano / 75. The Quadrioglio Oro models like this one share their 2.5L Busso V6 with the Milano too.
Our 1984 VW GTI is still unmatched among all of the cars we've owned. A German hot hatch in a sharp Giugiaro suit, ours was a US model built in Pennsylvania. We drove it clear across the country with a 90hp under the hood and a trunk full of tools.
We aim to keep on theme with the whole Italian car thing, so instead of sharing a GTI, let's take a look at this 1980 Autobianchi A112 Abarth. A supermini with more in common with the VW Polo than the Golf GTI, the A112 relies on a 70hp 1050cc four to hurl it down the road.
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Year: 1980 Model: Autobianchi A112 Abarth Engine: 1050cc 4-cylinder Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 19,398 Price: $24,999 Location: San Lorenzo, CA
I'm selling my 1983 Autobianchi Abarth with only 19000km (11000 miles)! This car is still like new! These car had great success from 1971-86 in Hill Climbs and Rallies. This example is the last and most desirable series A112 produced. It has a 5-speed manual gearbox. Power was increased from 58hp stock to 70hp stock in the Abarth trim as shown. The car has a special Ferrari ANSA muffler exhaust system and special, rare Campagnolo alloy wheels made famous on Lamborghinis and other super cars of the day. This car runs exceptionally well and is very peppy and quick and a joy to drive. This car has it's original engine and is matching numbers. The black, original paint looks great and there is absolutely zero rust or corrosion anywhere. It has always been stored in an indoor collection that was inland and away from the ocean. The upholstery is all-original and in exceptional condition for being almost 40 years old. There are no rips, tears or stains and it has never been smoked in which is extremely rare for an Italian car! The car was brought in to Long Beach, CA from Italy in 2018 as a Fiat since these car were never offered in the United States. This car is sold with a clean, Montana title and is currently located in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The glass is all-original, the rubber and plastics are in near perfect condition. The tires are new and a recent tune-up was just preformed. It has won "Best In Show" at several local car shows. This car needs nothing but a new owner. A beautiful example to add to your collection. I can assist with shipping worldwide from the Port of Oakland and it is able to re-enter Europe with no problem being that it has already been cleared through customs less than two years ago. It's only $1300 to Rotterdam and about the same on an open carrier to the East Coast. This is your chance to own and extremely rare and collectible car. One that you will probably never see again in the states. There are a lot more pictures available on request of this beautiful Italian machine! Please take a minute to click on the video links and see this car in action! This is an AS-IS sale with NO Warranty expressed or implied. Good luck and thanks for looking!
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US buyers will have their work cut out for them when it comes to servicing, even if they take it upon themselves to keep the vehicle on the road. The lack of Autobianchi parts in the US will hurt to begin with, but the Abarth-specific parts will really prove difficult to source.
We can't get on board with the price, though we haven't driven one, so what do we know? Sound and fury of the Abarth grade aren't readily available in the US, so maybe the seller is onto something. For those deterred by the large ask, nabbing a clean MK1 GTI wouldn't be the largest betrayal of classic Italian enthusiasm.
Hopefully our loyal readers are aware by now that our 1970s Gandani preferences lie with the Lamborghini Urraco. Gandani did not limit himself to a single wedge, though. His preferred form appeared in not only in the mid-engined Miura, Urraco, and Dino GT4, but also, to a lesser extent in front-engined GTs, such as today's Montreal.
We've touched before on the fact that the 2.6L V8 in the Montreal makes use of some proven engine development from the Nord 4-cylinder cars from Alfa Romeo. Compared to the later Busso V6, the Montreal's V8 features two camshafts per cylinder head, and benefits from the port angles that made the 1300cc Alfa Nord engines so successful. 197hp out of a 2.6L is very impressive for Montreal's era.
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Year: 1973 Model: Alfa Romeo Montreal Engine: 2.6L V8 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 57,553 Price: $98,500 Location: Huntington Station, NY
1973 ALFA ROMEO MONTREAL: --Orange, Black interior with Beige cloth inserts, Black dashboard, Grey carpeting, Restored, Serviced, 92,000Km/57,000 miles, 2.6 Liter V8 engine, 5-speed manual gearbox.
The Montreal is one of the most sophisticated and striking post-war Alfa Romeo production cars. It uses a detuned version of the quad-cam, fuel-injected, dry sump V8 used in the legendary Tipo 33 prototype racecar. The Montreal has a Spica mechanical fuel injection system, a five-speed ZF manual gearbox, front independent suspension, a live rear axle with coil-spring suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and a chassis derived from the iconic 105-series cars. Designed by Bertone, the Montreal was wide and low with a shark-like nose extending through a curved fender and shoulder haunches into a truncated tail. The headlight “blinds” and stacked horizontal vents on the C-pillar were rather attractive and very futuristic at the time. The V8 produces 200bhp taking only 7.1 seconds to get to 60mph and reaching 140mph back in 1971! Besides its stunning looks, the Montreal is practical with a 2+2 seating configuration and a full trunk enclosed by a glass hatchback.
This Montreal was sold new to its first owner in The Netherlands in February 1973. It was reportedly with the original owner until 1989 when sold to its second owner also in The Netherlands. History resumes in 2017 when acquired by its next custodian. This owner entrusted Italclassic of Alicante, Spain to carry out restoration work. This included refinishing the exterior in orange, refreshing the interior, tuning the fuel-injection system, and installing a new exhaust system and jacking points. In 2018 Alfa Romeo specialist, Sam Van Lingen of the Netherlands, installed new fuel injectors and set the valve clearance. The Montreal also received new fluids, filters, and hoses along with an upgraded water pump.
The Montreal was then sold in 2019 and imported to its previous owner in California.
A truly iconic sports car, this Alfa is comfortable, yet dialed in for around-town or long highway cruising. A recent road test attests to the car performing excellent in every way and it is ready for immediate use and enjoyment. The engine pulls extremely well with plenty of horsepower and torque, the mechanical injection is set up properly and the gearbox and clutch feel as new. Over the years we have owned several Montreal’s, this is one of the finest in all areas.
With just 3,925 examples built between 1971 and 1977, this Montreal is both rare, exotic and a lot of fun to drive and worthy of a place in any collection. This Montreal is complete with its original service book, original Netherlands registrations, spare tire and recent service records.
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The tidiness of this car is pretty appealing. With so many risky design concepts in the interior, any deterioration can lend to a really sad state of health, which this car seems to avoid well. The very 1970s design of the cockpit shows well and loses very little fidelity in transmitting the designer's original vision.
At the almost $100,000 asking price, we start to lose interest in the Montreal. Our money would go to something from Lamborghini, were we shopping GTs from this era. As far as Montreals go, though, this looks like a good buy.
The practical Lamborghini shopper has no use for something as mild as the US-spec Tipo P111 P250 Urraco. In his eyes, $119,000 buys a 3-4 nice Lotus Elises, and the math tracks. Both are mid-engined, make around 180hp, and proclaim their sporting intentions unabashedly. Only one is really worth driving around a racetrack in anger. In fact, that same money would buy a reliable Gallardo, which would show up the whole lot at the track, and would make for a more comfortable weekend getaway machine to boot.
And yet, here we are, suggesting that you take a real look at one of 21 Urracos built for the US market. The seriously (86x53mm) over-square 2.5L V8 - a Paolo Stanzani creation - is derated from 220hp to a relatively wheezy 180hp. If our Milano Verde is any indication of how enjoyable 180 Italian horsepower can be, we'd be prepared for a pleasant surprise in the acceleration department. US-spec bumpers hardly detract from the Gandini wedge, and originality considerations aside, we'd leave them be regardless.
We have it on good authority that the Stanzani V8s are difficult to rebuild. As in, a mechanic who regularly builds Colombo V12s and Lancia Aurelia V6s informed us that it takes a true nut to keep one on the road. So, count us in. Can't be the bad?
We've made it fairly clear that we prefer these to the contemporary Ferrari Dino 308 in spite of the dearer pricing. The design has more room to spread out, and while the Ferrari V8 and chassis would, in all likelihood, make for a better driving experience, we can't help but imagine how much cooler it would be to open the garage to reveal one of these low-slung wedges. This might be a good one to buy.
