Even after Fiat’s exit from the US market in 1982, two of its models soldiered on in the US market, the 124 Spider, which was dubbed the Pininfarina Spider, and mid-engine X1/9, dubbed the Bertone X1/9. Production of the car was transferred to importer Malcolm Bricklin, who had a hand in bringing Subaru to the US market and later brought us the Yugo. The X1/9 had staying power, hanging on until 1989. Even with the large, federally mandated bumpers, this example for sale in Florida looks great in basic red over black and is just in time for some summertime enjoyment.
Very few Fiats X19 in this condition. This 1986 Fiat X19 Bertone only has 32,786 miles on it and it shows great . When you drive it you will fall in love. There is nothing mechanically wrong with it. It does not have a radio. It does have AC but it is not cold although all the components are there. Undercarriage is fine ....NO RUST. It has a ding the size of a nickel on the drivers door that is hard to show on pictures. Bid with confidence...this car is as good as they come!
It’s nice that this seller has set a no reserve auction, which will help to give us an idea of where the market is right now for X1/9s. If I had to guess, I’d assume this one would probably wind up at around $8,000 to $10,000. If it sells for less than that, the buyer got a true Italian car bargain. Few come as nice as or unmolested as this one.
Back in January, we featured a rare Fiat Abarth Allemano Spider that was prepped for competition use. Here we have a nice example that car's road going brother up for sale in Santa Barbara, California.
Gorgeous 1959 Fiat Abarth 750 Spider. Coachwork by Allemano. Chassis No. 635135. Numbers Matching Example. 1 of 750 Allemano Spiders Built. Fitted with Optional Campagnolo Wheels
Offered for sale is a fantastic example of an exceedingly rare and beautifully presented 1959 Fiat Abarth 750 Spider with coachwork by Allemano. While a vast majority of Carlo Abarth’s offerings were closed cars, some of his clientele preferred open cars for competition and he was aware that a roadster could be successful in the profitable U.S. market. As such, he commissioned a Spider from Zagato based upon the 750GT. With Zagato's initial designs drawing only limited appeal, Abarth turned to Carrozzeria Allemano, the Turin based coachbuilder famous for their work with Maserati throughout the 1950s. The result of their efforts is a Spider that's entirely unique, sleek and sporty while retaining a period Italian charm. It’s believed that Allemano only built 750 Spiders for Abarth and complete correct cars are especially difficult to find, making this a truly uncommon opportunity.
Tastefully finished in a rich dark blue over black, this car is turns heads and garners attention wherever it goes. The distinctive curved bumpers are in excellent condition, as is all of the chrome and polished alloy trim. The car doesn’t appear to have ever been in any accidents, all of the panel fits and gaps are excellent and the finish is free of any dings or scratches. The car is factory correct with three exceptions: the optional and extremely rare period Campagnolo wheels (which happened to have caught the sunset in the pictures and therefore look much more gold than they actually are – send us an inquiry and we can forward you a picture of them when they’re not in direct sunlight), leather seats (they were originally vinyl), and squareweave interior carpeting (originally just rubber mats). The car’s interior is equally as clean. The seats aand carpets are flawless, as is the original dash, which retains its correct Abarth gauges and switchgear. The door trim is complete with proper storage pockets and the car’s navy soft top and boot cover are in perfect condition.
The original 747 CC inline 4-Cylinder engine with correct 2-Barrel Weber carburetor runs beautifully, starting without any smoke or hesitation, idling consistently and pulling strongly through each of its four gears. The car’s four wheel drum brakes function effectively (it hardly weighs anything, after all), and the car’s wheelbase, front transverse leaf-spring suspension and rear independent coil-spring suspension make it handle like a go-cart. It’s undeniably fun to drive and one immediately understands Abarth’s legendary racing history from behind the steering wheel.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an exceptionally rare and unique Abarth Spider that’s ready for club events, shows, or even just weekend drives. Finding another 750 Allemano bodied Spider is nearly impossible, so serious Etceterini or Abarth enthusiasts and collectors ought to give this car significant consideration.
My favorite part about this car has to be those gorgeous, original Campagnolo wheels. Even though they aren't stock, you just don't see period accessories like this on a regular basis. Like most vintage Abarths, this Spider will not come cheap, but whoever lands this car will have a fun runabout and be able to give a little bit of a history lesson to buyers of the new Fiat 500 Abarth and the legend behind the Scorpion badge.
There have been many collaborations between Italian and American automobile manufacturers over the years, but possibly none as maligned as much as the Chrysler TC by Maserati. Having met Alejandro DeTomaso while at Ford, Lee Iacocca collaborated with DeTomaso to build a sports car incorporating the best of Italian and American design and engineering. What resulted was the TC, a convertible based on the Dodge Daytona chassis available with three different engines throughout the car's three year production run. On offer was a 2.2 liter turbocharged engine with a 3 speed automatic, a 3.0 liter Mitsubishi V6 with a four speed automatic. The rarest engine and drivetrain combination of all was a 2.2 liter, turbocharged 16 valve four cylinder with a Maserati designed twin came head produced by Cosworth, mated to a Japanese IHI turbocharger and hooked up to a 5 speed manual Getrag transaxle. To add further diversity, the pistons in this engine were made by Mahle in Germany. The alloy wheels, while Italian, were sourced by Fondmetal, a Formula One supplier.
This was certainly an interesting vehicle, but sadly, few took notice. It also didn't help that the motoring press derided this car as little more than a warmed over Chrysler LeBaron. Only 500 TCs were made with the 2.2 liter engine with the Cosworth/Maserati designed head. There are clean examples of TCs to be had in the market, but it's quite uncommon to stumble across a low mileage example of one with the Getrag gearbox and Maserati/Cosworth engine. Here is one for sale with just under 50,000 miles in Michigan.
1990 Chrysler TC Convertible by Maserati. Only 49,000 original miles. Very rare TC with only 500 ever being built with a 5 speed Getrag manual transmission and a 16 valve Cosworth "Maserati" head on a 2.2L turbocharged inline 4 cylinder engine. The TC was a vehicle built in partnership with Chrysler's Lee Iacocca and Alejandro DeTomaso of Maserati. Produced to give the availability of a luxury sport coupe with both Italian and American heritage.
This low mileage TC is presented in brilliant red with plush hand stitched Italian leather seats. Equipped with a body colored hard top and tan soft top. Power windows, locks and mirrors. Infinity sound system, power driver and passenger seats. Leather dash, armrest and door trim and speciality designed aluminum wheels. This TC is in excellent condition throughout. Leather has less than average wear and exterior is free of rust or problem areas. Issues noted: passenger side hard top window is delaminating and the engine has a bad valve cover gasket, a very common problem but is able to be fixed. Runs and drives excellent. Starts right up and transmission shifts smooth through each gear. Vehicle is being sold as-is.
To be honest, I never liked the TC. And I still don't. But the TC has its loyal following and an active owners club, which will no doubt help in sourcing bespoke parts for this car's engine. For an enthusiast looking for something out of the mainstream, it is hard to beat the uniqueness of this vehicle for the price.
Most of the cars we feature here at CICFS are mint condition examples of Italian motoring icons. However, a recent inquiry from a reader looking for a Topolino to restore had me come across this 1972 Fiat 500, the successor to the "little mouse." While this car looks a little tired, it would make a solid candidate for a cosmetic and mechanical overhaul.
This is a 1972 Sky Blue, team Gigi Maroni Fiat 500 with a retractable roof. This car was imported from Italy it has around 71,369 miles. I say around because this car runs and drives and is occasionally driven around. This car is registered and has recently past inspection. This car is an excellent restoration candidate. I posted as many pictures as I can so you can see what I mean. This car has a sold body, interior with no rips, beautiful dash and as I said the car runs and drives! I say restorable because it has some surface rust but needs little to be perfect.
With the return of Fiat to the US market, prices continue to rise for well preserved examples of the original Cinquecentos. A fairly easy vehicle to restore and maintain, this car represents a good basis for the novice restorer or someone looking to save a bit of money from the outset and have a project which they can enjoy completing themselves.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of those sedans that defined a segment in the 1960s. When it was introduced in 1962, it was one of the most aerodynamic vehicles on the market, even if it’s upright, boxy shape suggested otherwise. With a curb weight of around 2,200 lbs. and twin carburetors featured on the Giulia Super, this was a 100 mph plus car in an era where some sports cars weren’t even capable of that figure. This car, then, forever transformed people’s ideas of what a four-door vehicle could be capable of. This Giulia Super for sale in Washington looks very well kept and from underneath looks very solid and free of rust.
1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super. It's the 50th anniversary of Giulia. Here is a chance to own part of this historic celebration. A fine example of this celebrated model. The Giulia Super is always included in the lists of all-time great automobiles. Stock and unmodified except for the desirable upgrades of the 1750 motor with veloce cams, Koni shocks and adjustable upper control arms.
It has rebuilt suspension, rebuilt transmission and fresh motor. New imported Italian factory upholstery and carpeting, new, original headliner (there's a name for the pattern, but I forgot it) new windshield. Original dash board with a rare, original, radio block-out plate. Good examples of these cars do not come on the market very often, and this is a very decent old car.
This is a great driver grade restoration, starting with a mostly straight virtually rust free California car. The car belongs to one of my friends who is also a client. He has asked me to help him sell the car. Below is his description, I am happy to answer any and all questions regarding the car, so feel free to ask. While a car that anyone would enjoy owning the new owner may want to enhance this great starting point further to make it more showable. Most of the work on this car has been carried out over the last couple of years. Car is Ivory with dark gray interior. Shows 78227 miles on the speedometer, which I believe could be correct.
Guilias of this vintage in this kind of condition are hovering in the $12,000 to low $20,000 range. If I had to guess, this car may being a little upwards of $15,000. Overall, this is a very nice example of someone looking for a vintage Alfa but seeks something outside of the Spider norm.
While we featured a Maserati Ghibli a few days ago on CICFS, it was the more common hardtop variant. Out of the 1,274 Ghiblis ever produced, only 125 had their roofs chopped off beginning with the 1969 model year. This example for sale in The Netherlands is one of the original 125 produced and has had three owners. It has benefitted from a restoration but retains its original interior.
This is a rare and original Maserati Ghibli Spyder, chassis number 1161st (an example of only 125 cars produced). This car has had three owners and has been driven 41,000 original miles. A few years ago, the car was completely restored and technically gone over. The car has the original engine (matching numbers) and Borrani chrome wire wheels. The bodywork is immaculate, mechanically it is 100% and drives fabulous. The interior is completely original and in beautiful condition. In summary, a unique and rare vehicle in beautiful condition.
Hardtop Ghiblis in good nick usually hover around the $100,000 mark, but the Spyder is an altogether different proposition. This is one of the nicest Ghiblis I’ve seen on the market as of late, and its price reflects that. I’m not certain how fast this car will move at over $400,000 USD, as recent auctions have set the bar for the Ghibli Spyder around $275,000 to $350,000. Even though some hardtops were converted to Spyders over the years, as in most cases, the originals will always command more money than the copies. In this stunning shade of blue, this Ghibli is a triumph of Italian design and engineering in one arrested package.
While the Urraco wasn't the first mid-engined Lamborghini, it was certainly more accessible to ordinary enthusiasts than what many consider the original supercar, the Miura. True to Lamborghini form, few Uraccos were ever built, even though this model was in production for a decade. Even if you count the Silhouette and Jalpa models, which drew heavily on Urraco hardware, a mere 1,255 examples left the factory. With a V8 engine ranging in size from 2.0 liters to 3.0 liters and 2+2 seating, this car was a direct competitor to the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4. This particular Urraco for sale in Florida is a looker. From its pristine interior to attractive Capagnolo wheels, it's a great example of an oft overlooked Lambo.
1976 Lamborghini Uracco 300
Type: Lamborghini P300 Urraco
Years built: 1974 - 1979
Production: 190
Chassisnr.: 20.000 - 20.570
Presentation: November 1974 Turin Auto Show
Designed by: Marcello Gandini for Bertone
Built by: Bertone
Structure: Sheet steel, floor incorporated into the body
Suspension: All-independent, McPhersons with coil springs, telescopic dampers
Brakes: All-wheel ventilated Girling disc brakes, vacuum assisted by double hydraulic circuit and two servo's
Type: V-8 90 degree, light-alloy and aluminium block with gearbox and differential built in the same block and pressed-in liners, mid mounted, rear wheel drive
Distribution: Dual overhead camshaft with chain drive, two valves/cylinder
Main bearings: 5
Cyl. Capacity: 2995.8 cc
Bore & stroke: 86 x 64.5 mm
Compr. ratio: 10.5:1
Max. power: 250 bhp at 7500 rpm
From 1976 on: 260 bhp at 7500 rmp
Max. torque: 195 lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm
From 1976 on: 201 lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm
Cooling system: Water cooled, pump, thermostat and two electric fans
Ignition: Two Magnetti Marelli coils and one Marelli distributor
Plugs: Bosch 235 P21
Electr. system: 12 V
Alternator: 770 W Bosch
Fuel system: Electric Bendix fuel pump, 4 twin-barrel down-draught Weber 40 DCNF carburetors
Type: Lamborghini five-speed + reverse manual all-synchromesh Lamborghini differential
Clutch: Dry-single plate, hydraulically operated
I'm always disappointed by dealers that do not give detailed descriptions of vehicle history, especially when it's a Lamborghini dealer handling a classic exotic like this. That being said, the asking price of $85,888 seems way off, as most Urraco's I've seen for sale reside in the $30,000 to $50,000 territory. This car looks every bit of it's claimed 37,658 miles, but that's just not enough to put its value in the stratosphere.
Summer is coming, so what better time than to consider a sporting little roadster? Preferably an Italian one. We love the Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider here at CICFS, and this example for sale in Arizona has had but one careful owner and has covered a scant 52,000 miles in 21 years.
This '91 Alfa Romeo Spider is absolutely beautiful, all original. This is a one owner car, owned by a mature woman since new. The car has never been abused, never driven in winter, garage kept and always maintained. There has never been any paint or body work done on this vehicle. The interior is in perfect condition. I want to stress that everything on this car is original. Everything works including all gauges, switches, original radio, remote rear view mirrors, door locks etc. The air conditioner blows very cold and the heater works as new. All the original books and service receipts and tools, including the “Alfa” tire pressure gauge are included. The engine and transmission work as new. The alloy wheels are in new condition. ALL ORIGINAL, ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! COLLECTABLE!
I've noticed prices are creeping up a little for these cars, the last of the classic open top Alfa Romeos. While this is a base Spider, there's not much difference in value between this trim level and the uplevel Veloce. I would wager to say anywhere between $13,000 to $15,000 would be a reasonable estimate for this pristine example.
Originally intended to be the savoir for the DeTomaso nameplate, what was supposed to be the Biguà became the Qvale Mangusta. Short on capital, Alejandro de Tomaso teamed up with American Bruce Qvale, son of Kjell Qvale, who was the first distributor of Jaguars on the West Coast of the US. Powered by a Ford 4.6 liter V8 in a front mid-engine fashion, only 284 were produced between 2000 and 2002, with all but 18 of these sent to the US market. It was an interesting vehicle, with a lot of Ford bits in the inside and an interesting targa top with a pivoting rear section to transform this sports car into a full convertible. This example for sale in Las Vegas has covered a scant 16,000 miles and looks showroom new.
VIN NUMBER: ZF4AH01A4YM000036. New tires, just serviced. Dealer Brochures, owners manuals, magazine articles, all keys with FOBs. Noting Missing. Complete Mangusta. Introduced in the 1996 Geneva motor show, Bigua was arguably the last new De Tomaso launched before the company ceased production. However, Bigua was never produced under the name of De Tomaso. Instead, most people knew it as “Qvale Mangusta.” The Qvale Mangusta was manufactured Modena Italy, just like Ferraris, Maserati's and Lamborghini's, and penned by Marcello Gandini who also designed the Lambo Miura, Countach, Diablo, Bugatti EB110 and various Maserati's.
Chassis: Designed by former Formula 1 designer Enrique Scalabroni, who worked for Scuderia Ferrari, Williams F1 and Dallara.
Engine: SVT Cobra Engine: Double overhead cams, all aluminium V8 32 valve displaced 4.6 litres that produces 320 hp.
Transmission: Borg-Warner 5-speed manual transmission.
Suspension: Double-wishbones suspension all round with Bilstein (adjustable)
Brakes: BREMBO four piston calipers.
Tail light covers are metal mesh like the Ferrari Challenge Grills. It has a very special roto retractable roof, which could transform the car from a coupe to convertible or Targa. Tubi exhaust system designed exclusively for the Mangusta.
At $29,500, you can look at this car two ways: either it's an affordable exotic or an expensive used Mustang. Granted, an F1 engineer did the chassis, but there's a lot of Ford bits in this car. While the Mangusta was the swan song for DeTomaso and Qvale, in an interesting twist, this car's chassis lived on in the limited production MG XPower SV.
Even though they were one of the few Lancias to be sold new in the United States, examples of the Lancia Beta, whether it is the coupe, sedan, shooting brake HPE or open roofed Spider, are few and far between. Rust was the Beta’s nemesis and sank the company’s reputation shortly after the car’s introduction. This problem was one of the main reasons you see so few on the road today. When they were new, these were priced above a Datsun 280Z and a little bit below a BMW 320i, so this was a car that appealed to Lancia fans or those who sought something outside of the mainstream. This 1978 Beta Coupe has beaten the odds and as the seller describes, could be the very finest example you could purchase on these shores.
1976 Lancia Beta Coupe. The color is the rare Marrone Parioli with Tan leather. 26K miles from new. One family owner. No rust of any kind, ever. This car was stored for about 15 years before mechanical recommissioning began about 18 months ago. Since then, $11,400 has been spent to ensure that this the finest original Beta Coupe available anywhere.
It was in the summer of 1975, at age 11, that I began to notice advertisements in my parents New Yorker magazine for a new import car: the Lancia. Billed as "The Intelligent Alternative", the Lancia Beta came in four body styles. I'm sure I asked my parents to buy one, but my father was dedicated to Peugeots and just wasn't interested. The '76 through '78 Series 1 cars are the ones to have today, as by 1979 slow sales forced Lancia to degrade the interiors with cheap vinyl and an ugly steering wheel and dash. Little over 3000 of these S1 Beta Coupes were ever delivered in the U.S. Today almost all are in wrecking yards. A stunning, original car like this is almost unheard of.
Completely outfitted with every option: they include power steering ($333), power windows ($218), air conditioning ($589), and a sunroof ($290). These options would have raised the already expensive P.O.E. list price from $7750 to an eye-poping $9180 for a 1976 automobile.
New battery, fuel lines, fuel filters, timing belt, water pump, crank seals, cam seals, thermostat, timing belt tensioner, accessory belts, front brake rotors, front brake pads, grease seals, brake hoses, shifter bushings, clutch, pressure plate, release bearing, spark plug wires, radiator fan switch, and wipers. Reconditioned rear struts. Fuel tank removed and cleaned. Reconditioned power steering rack. Head machined with new head gasket. Valves ground. Oil pan gasket replaced. New Dunlop tires. Distributor serviced. Air conditioning fully serviced and converted to R134 refrigerant...blows cold. Very rare power window switches found and installed. NOS tachometer installed (last one in the world?). Countless hours spent on the internet to find some or the rarest reconditioned and NOS parts to complete the car. EVERYTHING WORKS...even the clock. Original interior in very fine condition...no dash cracks. New Coco floor mats. The old paint has buffed out very nicely. Wheels repainted. You will likely never find another original-condition Beta Coupe like this. This car is destined to cross the receiving ramp at Concorso Italiano in the near future. The question is: will you be driving it?
Back in 2007, I was pleased to see Jeremy Clarkson drive a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe across Botswana in Top Gear’s Africa Challenge. While the car was a constant nuisance in terms of reliability, it made the trek (albeit barely). Some may deride the Beta for being too much of a Fiat rehash, but for a design from the mid-1970s, it looks surprisingly fresh, if you don’t take into account the oversized bumpers. Values are very hard to place on Betas, since few exist and even fewer come up for sale on a regular basis. With about a week left and the reserve not yet met, I’ll be curious to see if this car sells. Considering its condition, I’d wager to guess $6,000 to $7,000 would be reasonable for such a rare piece.
