Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1992 Alfa Romeo Spider

Another week, another Alfa Romeo Spider. I can't get enough of these Series 4 Spiders and here's another good example with low mileage, 5 speed manual transmission and desirable red over black interior. This is not the uplevel Veloce model like the last Spider we featured, but with power windows, leather and suede interior and alloy wheels.

1992 Alfa Romeo Spider

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1991 Alfa Romeo Spider finished in Rosso Corsa over black interior. This Alfa is in fantastic overall condition. Baby red has only 39,600 original miles (only 2,000 miles a year average). If you are looking for a true Italian sports car that looks and runs great this is the car for you. Alfa Spiders are amazing to drive and this little baby loves to rev and sounds fantastic. Runs through all gears smoothly (no second gear grind). Has good brakes, tight suspension and steering. The paint on the car is great, interior looks stellar, cloth top has been replaced recently. Tires are new.

This is a two owner car sold new in Canada. Original owner moved to California. Car has always been garaged. The odometer shows in kilometers. This Alfa is equipped with a Clarion radio, CD. Series 4 Alfas are the last and arguably the best built (Series 4 Alfas have power steering, Bosch Motronic Fuel Injection, twin cooling fans, revised styling with integrated bumpers and more). This car is ready to drive cross country dow to the beach or through winding country roads. Open top motoring joy awaits you. This is an opportunity to buy a classic Alfa with extremely low miles at a reasonable price point.

The price on this Alfa Spider is just about spot on at just under $14,000. I have a suspicion that these cars are about to take off in value, especially looked after examples such as these. If you ever wanted one of these classic roadsters, now is the time to act.

-Paul

Fiat

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

Introduced in 1966 at the Turin motor show, the exotic Fiat Dino Spider was an effort to homologate the Dino V6 engine for Formula 2 competition. The Dino Spider's 2.0 liter V6 produced 158 horsepower and was hooked up to a 5 speed manual. This made for a quick package in the day. The first Spiders were built at Fiat's Mirafiori plant, but by the time the larger engined 2.4 Spider arrived in 1969, assembly shifted to the Ferrari factory and these convertibles were built alongside the Ferrari Dino. Spiders are rather rare to find anywhere in the world these days; only 736 emerged from the factory in 1967. This example for sale in Bavaria is about the best Spider I've ever laid my eyes on.

1967 Fiat Dino Spider

This Fiat Dino Spider in the first series (AB) was prepared in June 1967 at Mirafiori and 1967 in Europe in the color "blu francia" delivered. The Fiat was bought by the current owners in 1993 imported from California to Holland. In the last 15 years numerous work was carried out on the car at Italo-Dutch specialists; verifiable restoration work:

The body was restored and repainted in 1999 by an Italian specialist in "azurro metallizato." In 2001, the interior was completely redone. The original 2.0 liter V-6 engine (135B000252) was rebuilt extensively in 1996. There were new pistons and camshafts, electronic ignition, bigger cooler (by 2.4 L engine), new oil pump and water pump installed. In 2002, the differential was rebuilt. The gearbox was rebuilt at 8000 km (2007) and new synchro rings were installed.

The condition of the Spider can be described as very good. The 12 year old restoration has minimal wear. The partly renewed chrome is in good condition. The body is fine, the interior is good with minor signs of wear. The technique, such as brakes and suspension are free from defect. Since the rebuild of the engine about 22,000 km have been done. The Dino has received an oil and brake service in 2010.

These Ferrari engined Fiats often command Ferrari level prices, and this Spider is no different at €62,000 (~ $81,000 USD). While the Fiat Dino Coupe had a sharp, fastback style to it, the Spider had more sensuous curves and metallic blue paintwork makes for one of the most beautiful Fiats ever made. With cars this rare, buy the best you can fine, as finding parts isn't always the easiest task. This partiuclar one certainly is certainly one of the better examples I've laid eyes on.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1976 De Tomaso Longchamp

Known best for the Pantera sports car with Ford's 351 Cleveland V8 mounted amidship, De Tomaso was also in the business of producing luxury cars in the 1970s and 1980s. Relegated to automotive obscurity these days, the Longchamp was a personal luxury coupe based off the Deauville, a sedan which carried the appearance of a squared off Jaguar XJ sedan. The Longchamp featured the same Ford 351 Cleveland motor as the Pantera and most of the 409 examples built had a Ford 3 speed automatic transmission. De Tomaso happened to own Maserati during most of the Longchamp's production run, and the Maserati Kyalami, built from 1977 through 1983, was based on this coupe. Named after the South African Grand Prix track, the Kyalami eschewed Ford's 351 Cleveland in favor of the 4.2 liter or 4.9 liter Maserati quad cam V8 engines. This example for sale has had the same owner for 15 years and looks sharp in red over tan leather.

1976 DeTomaso Longchamp

1976 De Tomaso Longchamp Red with tan interior 81,000 kilometers, or about 50,000 miles. The engine is a Ford 351 Cleveland engine that produces 330 horse power fitted with an automatic transmission. The Top speed is 149 miles per hour. Suspension is independent front and rear with coil spring and wishbone suspension. Steering is power assisted rack and pinion with vented disc brakes all around, the rear discs being positioned inboard. The interior of the car is quite luxurious and is almost fully covered with leather and this car has the original Nardi wood steering wheel.

Handsome exterior designed by Tom Tjaarda of Ghia. Only 409 examples of this car were made making this car very rare. This example has had the same owner for 15 years, he carefully cared for it doing such things as rebuilding the power steering rack and having the wheels redone. Except for some minor cosmetic flaws, the car is in very nice condition. The great thing about these cars is that you can own what is truly an exotic and rare grand touring car but because they used an American engine in the car, you don't have to worry about expensive service or engine rebuilt costs. These cars are a great value, especially at $32,500.

The first time I laid eyes on a Longchamp, it struck me as a scaled up version of a Mercedes-Benz R107 SL with the European market headlights. Coincidentally, these cars had similar production runs; both cars were produced from 1972 through 1989. While I wouldn't file this car under cheap thrills, $32,500 is a lot less coin than one would pay for a similar vintage Ferrari or Lamborghini. With its Ford engine, drivetrain maintenance would clearly be more reasonable than those aforementioned Italian exotics.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q

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The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a number of manufacturers retreat from the US sales race. Gone were the last two French holdouts, Peugeot and Citroën, and ill-fated attempts at new luxury marques, such as Rover’s Sterling brand and Ford’s Merkur models lasted but a handful of model years. One of the last automakers around this period to leave the States was Alfa Romeo. Having soldiered on for years with only two distinct models, the Spider and 164 sedan, reliability concerns and rising popularity of Japanese luxury brands helped seal the brand’s fate in the face of dwindling sales. The 164 sedan was the only car on offer for Alfa Romeo’s final year in the US market, offered in either LS or Quadrifoglio trim. Few cars were sold that year, and fewer still exist in such good condition as our feature car.

1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q

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Rare 1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q Sport Sedan, 5-speed manual. Garaged, maintained, in excellent condition. Please look at the detail in the photographs to see the quality of this collectable, rare car. This is the last year of importation for the 164Q model. Only 100 of these were brought into this country. 6 cylinder, 240HP sport sedan. A tribute to Italian engineering. This is one of the very few left in this condition and mileage.
Probably one of the finest examples in the country. Alfa red clearcoat, black leather sports seats, original stereo with cassette player, dual 8 way power seats. Working air conditioner and climate control, cruise control, Michelin tires, all power ACC working, power antenna, power sunroof, power folding mirrors, auto dimming rear view mirror. Original Alfa floor mats, original OEM Alfa sport wheels. Gorgeous original sport leather interior.

Just completed the following maintenance from Italy Service, Las Vegas:

- Replace clutch disc
- Throw out bearing
- Pressure plate
- Resurface flywheel
- Valve cover gaskets
- Replace motor mounts
- Replace front and rear engine seals
- Clutch slave cylinder
- Steering rack boot kit
- Oil/Filter/Flush Transmission/RR axle/Front differential/Change coolant
- Replace spark plugs and timing
- Replace timing belt
- Replace water pump
- Replace accessory belt
- Cooland pipe o-rings

This Alfa Romeo 164Q runs strong, shifts smooth, handles like a dream with only 40,045 miles. This 164Q does have the adaptive suspension with auto and sport mode. This 164Q was a new factory demo driven by an Alfa Romeo Factory Representative, Carmine Lamendola. After 5,000 miles, he decided to buy it for himself and has owned it ever since. He traded in at the same dealership he bought it from and I acquired it from them.

This car has had an amazing amount of work done to it, which should put any potential buyer at ease. Alfa Romeo 164 sedans from 1995 are rare enough, but the Q model with the adaptive suspension and 5 speed manual transmission pretty much guarantees you’ll be the only one on the block, if not the state, with a car like this. When it was new, the 164 never garnered the same enthusiasm with die hard Alfisti due to its front wheel drive setup, but I believe time has been kind to this sedan with its chiseled good looks. At over $10,000, this is very strong money for any 164, as the reserve has yet to be met. Given the exception mileage and condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were looking at a reserve closer to $15,000. As most cars which Pininfarina has had a hand in crafting, it has aged well and represents a chance to purchase a nearly new Alfa Romeo without spending six figures on an 8C Competizione.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1985 Alfa Romeo 6 2.5 TD

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One of the things that both the Italians and French are good at, besides making love, cooking and fine wine is manufacturing desirable small cars. When tasked with designing and selling executive-sized sedans, this is where both countries come up short. As interesting as their offerings have been at times, they never really took off, with exception of the Citroën DS. One very forgotten executive sedan from Alfa Romeo is the 6. These were not huge sellers, with only a shade over 12,000 produced from 1979 to 1986. As a result, examples which survive to this day are in extremely rare company.

They were well equipped cars, however, featuring rear-wheel drive, with power steering, power windows, electric mirrors and central locking, along with a limited slip differential as standard. Minor styling tweaks came along for 1983, along with this car’s engine, the 2.5 liter VM 5 cylinder turbodiesel. This particular 6 that is for sale in Spain has the five cylinder turbo diesel engine which was related to the diesel engine that Jeep offered in their Cherokee for certain overseas markets. This 2.5 liter, overhead valve engine pumped out 103 horsepower and produced a respectable 177 lb ft. of torque. It's not the optimal choice for enthusiasts, but with cars these rare, beggars can't be choosers.

1985 Alfa Romeo 6 2.5 TD

Alfa Romeo 6 2.5 TD, fabulous limited edition! Brand new car that belongs to a private collection. Always garaged. Sold only by lack of space.

At €8,000 (~ $10,500 USD), this is not a cheap '80s Alfa. I’m not sure if I would be the type of person to pay for such nostalgia and one must consider that parts must be awfully difficult to source for a vehicle built in such small numbers with a near non-existent following. The diesel engine does add a bit of durability into the package and hopefully this car can find a good home where it can be preserved as one of the last of its kind.

-Paul

Fiat, Modern Classic

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

We've covered a good amount of Lancia's rally history in this past week, but during their spate of wins in the 1970s and 1980s, Fiat had a few successes of their own. Namely, with this car, the 131 Abarth. This car is a three time World Rally Championship, winning the title in 1977, 1978 and 1980 along with 18 race victories between 1976 and 1981. Of course, to go racing, manufacturers had to homologate the vehicle they were entering into competition, which is the genesis behind the road version we see here. These cars had the twin cam 2.0 liter Abarth engine good for 140 horsepower fed through a five speed gearbox driving the rear wheels. The seller states this is about one of 200 of the original 400 built that still exist to this day. I was surprised to see such a rare, original piece of rallying history located a little over an hour due south of my ancestral home in Portugal.

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

131 Abarth - the nightmare of the Escort. 1 of 200 survivors of the 400 built to homologate group 4. Unique in Portugal. Four time winner of the Rally of Portugal, three times with Markku Alen (1977, 1978 and 1981) and one time with Walter Röhrl (1980). World Champion in 1977, 1978 and 1980.

2000cc, independent suspension, limited slip differential exclusive original model (same as group 4), 155-160 hp, lightweight fiber exterior panels built by Bertone, Aluminum doors. Two Weber 44 IDF carburetors with Abarth intake manifold (optional). Cromodora Wheels 15x7 "original manifold and carburetor preserved and included as standard. Engine and chassis numbers correct and original. Totally original/never restored. Imported from private collection in Italy. Much better than having money in the bank!

Beyond its pedigree and butch looks, the 131 is a significant car for me because my mother drove when I was born. Granted, her car was a pale yellow 1978 131 Mirafiori two door with a GM sourced 3 speed automatic transmission, but it still possessed the crisp Italian lines and quite comfortable seats which proved their worth on long trips. It wasn't the most reliable car, evidenced by the fact my parents traded the 131 in for a 1983 Honda Accord hatchback and owned Hondas for 15 years thereafter. Even still, it hasn't soured me on Italian cars and now, over 30 years on, cars such as this 131 Abarth have become a legend in their own right.

The asking price of €66,000 (~ $87,000 USD) is very strong money, even for such a limited run, championship winning vehicle. The exchange rate has not been kind to the dollar, but having been listed for almost two months, I can't help but think we are around $20,000 above the proper price point for this car, especially when you have low mileage Lancia Delta Integrale Evolutions out there in the $25,000 to $40,000 USD equivalent range. Granted, those cars will not be street legal in the US for another four years. For me, though, it would be worth the wait.

-Paul

Lancia

1974 Lancia Fulvia 1300 S3

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We’ve covered a lot of cars on this blog which have contributed to the impressive collection of World Rally victories Lancia has amassed over the years, but the following car is where it all started. In 1972, The Fulvia Coupe won the International Championship and the famed Monte Carlo Rally after the final Alpine Renault retired due to mechanical failure. The Fulvia was praised in the motoring press as being a triumph of engineering, no doubt in part to their front-drive chassis, four wheel disc brakes and innovative V4 set at an angle in the engine bay. Here we have a 1974 example for sale with the famed red and black livery colors of the era. This car has the 1.3 “S” motor producing 92 horsepower.

1974 Lancia Fulvia 1300 S3

Upon its release in 1967, the American magazine Road & Track described the Fulvia as a precision motorcar, an engineering tour de force, mostly because of its original specifications. A front-wheel-drive car in the sports car world was pretty unusual, but not as much as the narrow 1.3 V4 engine, mounted with a 45° angle. This allowed the engine to be mounted in a very forward position, allowing for a roomier cockpit. Offered in numerous bodies, trim levels and engine powers, no Fulvia was as famous as the 1600 HF which allowed Lancia to take first place in the 1972 FIA International Championship for Manufacturers rally series. We are happy to offer for sale this exceptionally well-preserved example of Lancia Fulvia 1300 S 3 Coupe. In fully original specifications, this Fulvia Coupe S3 only has 70,000 km on the clock, which is very likely to be the original mileage given the outstanding preservation of this Fulvia. Still sporting its original Italian Targa Nera, this all original Fulvia Coupe 1300 S3 is immediately available in Italy.

THe asking price of €20,000 (~$26,000 USD) is about in line with where values of Fulvias are going these days. They are not as common or coveted as their contemporary, the Alfa Romeo GTV, but these diminutive, well proportioned coupes are beginning to claim their fair share of the limelight due to Lancia's storied rally history and the innovative engineering manufactured into them.

Here is some vintage footage from the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally, where the Fulvia 1.6 HF claimed victory:

-Paul

Lancia, Modern Classic

1987 Lancia Delta HF 4WD

Like its older, bigger brother the 037, the Delta helped solidify Lancia's long standing reign on the World Rally scene. This very vehicle racked up 46 WRC wins and nabbed the Constructors' Championship six times in a row from 1987 through 1992. The saying of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" would certainly apply to this car, as these Deltas achieved popularity from the moment Lancia started marketing them. In the beginning, there was little to distinguish the Delta HF 4WD from its lesser brethern, other than the quad headlights, discreet badging and deeper sills. The four wheel drive system had three differentials with a built in torque splitting action, which ensured power would go to the wheels with the most grip. Not surprising then why this car was a success on the circuit.

Later on, the Delta would spawn the Integrale, which brought about the more butch boxed fender look, upgraded interiors and turbocharged engines coupled to evolving four wheel drive systems with varying degrees of torque split. This Delta is an early non-Integrale version which would be legal for import to the US, falling under the 25 year rule. It is located on the eastern coast of Italy near San Marino.

1987 Lancia Delta HF 4wd

1987 Delta 4wd, beautiful red metallic, all original, 94,000 km. Timing belt done at 87,000, clutch, new tires at 60%, engine overhauled completely. Included in the price is 2 front doors, 2 rear doors, Portelone post, Glass front, Skirts, 4 original rims. THe car has always been in the garage and is in fantastic condition for true connoisseurs and collectors! Price €8500.00.

For about $11,000, this is a lot cheaper than what a similar example already in the US would cost. If one could keep the shipping and importation costs to a minimum, this would be a very practical classic, rain or shine. I like this car, as it represents the simpler, earlier version of Lancia's rally legend and in the deeper shade of red, it looks sublime. Personally, I'm waiting for the day when I can import one of the last Integrale's, preferably an Evolution version. I've always felt that Lancia was a marque that never got the due respect it deserved and it seems that the boys over at Top Gear are in agreement with me, as evidenced by this short clip:

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV

As Alfa Romeo entered the 1970s, the venerable Giulia chassis saw an upgrade in the form of the 2000 Berlina and GT Veloce, or more commonly known as the GTV. The 2000 series was the replacement for the 1750 and featured a 2.0 liter twin cam four cylinder engine equipped with SPICA fuel injection for the US and Canadian markets. These coupes would be superseded by the Alfetta GT, GTV and GTV6, but those models have not been as collectible as examples such as this 1974 GTV for sale in California.

1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV

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Beautiful 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 in LeMans Blue/Brown Interior, has been a California car since new. The original blue California license plates are intact and in beautiful condition. This Alfa is 100% accident free. Judging by its overall condition, it was very well cared for by its two previous owners. The Alfa looks and drives great with out any issues. This Alfa had one repaint in 1990 with its original color (348 azzuro LeMans) the paint looks very good and shines. Please note its 22 years old paint job does show minor wear. The interior is all original and in amazing condition. This Alfa has 130k miles. Engine and transmission were rebuilt 27k miles ago. This Alfa needs nothing but a fun driver. The new owner of this beautiful GTV will receive with the car, clean and clear California title service records and some new and used parts.

This two owner GTV is well sorted and is the kind of classic you can use without guilt of affecting its value. At around $22,000, this represents good value for a Giulia GTV, as mint condition originals and highly restored examples have been reaching in the high $30,000 to low $40,000 range on average. This shade of blue is also a welcome change from the more common red, silver and green so often seen on these coupes. One also can't overlook the vintage California license plates. They are a great finishing touch.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1990 Lamborghini LM002

Over an eight year time span in the late eighties and early nineties, Lamborghini was in the business of manufacturing a sport utility vehicle before the automotive genre started heating up the sales charts. This shouldn’t be as surprising as it sounds, given Lamborghini was in the business or tractor manufacturing before dabbling in the world of supercars. Most SUVs these days don’t come close to the level of “sport” the LM002 packed, what with its Countach derived V12 under the hood. For the clinically insane, you could request an even larger, marine derived V12 more commonly found in power boats. This particular example for sale is a later production example with low mileage and looks even more sinister than normal in black.

1990 Lamborghini LM002

The seller of this LM002 provided no description, which is disappointing given how rare and unique this vehicle is. While this Lambo only has 16,000 miles on the clock and appears to be well kept, a bit of owner/service history and background on the broad strokes of the vehicle would certainly be nice. It makes me question how serious of a dealer this is, if they can’t bother to take the time to highlight such an important piece of exotic car history. For years, resale values of LM002s have hovered in the $80,000 to $120,000 range, seemingly impervious to any kind of market fluctuations. One can’t help but think how ridiculous of a school run vehicle this would make, but with the cost of keeping this vehicle supplied with oil and fuel, not to mention the bespoke Pirelli Scorpion tires, that idea would be a mere pipe dream for most.

To get an idea of the LM002's finer points, here's an old Top Gear clip where Jeremy Clarkson hustles one around town:

-Paul