Tag Archives: 1960

1960 Fiat Abarth 750GT Zagato Sestriere

March 26, 2014 Graham

One of the more memorable Abarth models are the so-called "Double Bubble" models; those "Bubbles" are the giant intake scoops that adorn the rear of the car to suck air in to feed that monster powerhouse 750cc Fiat-sourced motor. Okay, so it's not the fastest car in the world; but these little Italian coupes still were formidable race machines with good balance, lightweight and tenacity. Despite a great reputation, their polarizing looks have kept them much more affordable than equivalent Porsche models like the 356. Today, there's a nice 1960 example on Ebay:

Year: 1960
Model: 750 GT Zagato
Engine: 0.75 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 86,571 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1960 Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato

960 Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato Sestriere
s/n 734541, engine number 100D.000 1372493
Red with Black Interior

Built using Fiat’s 600 as a basis, the Abarth 750 GT was an attractive and competitive Zagato-bodied car that helped establish Carlo Abarth’s firm as a manufacturer of sports cars and not merely tuning components, which is how the company started in the 1930s. Using the floorpan of the 600, Abarth fitted sleek and lightweight Zagato bodies and significantly revamped the motors, fitting lighted and balanced flywheels, and high performance internals including crank, high compression pistons, larger valves, upgraded valve train, and performance camshafts. The resulting displacement was 747cc instead of the 633cc of the standard engine, and nearly twice the power output.

Introduced in 1955, the cars were entered in races almost immediately and were quite successful on both sides of the Atlantic, achieving second in class at the 1956 Mille Miglia, and winning its class at the 1957 Mille Miglia. The cars also achieved class and overall victories at the 1958 and 1959 Rallye de Sestriere. Four out of five examples entered finished the 12 Hours of Sebring, one of which one its class, while another achieved second at the SCCA races at Palm Springs. As was common among Italian cars of the period, the 750 GT Zagato evolved continuously and the Sestriere variant arrived in 1959, which differed in detail and was named for the victories at the Rallye de Sestriere.

This particular example had a long term owner in Southern California for at least thirty years, and the car could be seen at the annual August festivities in Monterey for many years, having been driven up by its enthusiastic owner. Interestingly, the car is aluminum bodied, while most of this period were steel-bodied. Based on the serial number, it is likely that this car was produced in 1959, though it is titled as a 1960, likely the year in which it was first sold, which is a common practice for old cars.

Today, the car is in presentable and attractive condition, with some patina. The body is generally straight and solid, with a few minor areas of electrolysis, such as on the right C pillar and right rocker panel. There is a dent under the right headlamps and one in the right door as well. The body is straight with good fit, likely as good as if not better than when new. The paintwork is in good shape and is reasonably high quality, with some orange peel and a few signs of wear in the form of chips and small scratches. There is some checking present on the roof. The chrome is generally very good, although the hubcaps show some patina. The glass is in good shape, with minor wear to the windscreen. The car has Year of Manufacture yellow license plates.

The interior condition is consistent with the exterior, with strong overall presentation but some patina. The upholstery is in very good shape, while the carpets are good. The dashboard is nice, with lovely Jaeger Abarth instruments. The trim and controls are in good shape. The door weather seals have perished.

The engine compartment is very clean and has a vintage appearance with no untoward or inappropriate modernizations. It is fairly well-detailed and the motor appears to have been well-maintained. The engine is built on a 100D block, indicating it is a Fiat 600D motor. The front compartment is solid and has seen some restoration work in areas, but is unrestored in others. The spare and windscreen washer fluid bag are in place.

This is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a Zagato-bodied Abarth with longtime California history. Fundamentally excellent, this example is in nice driver condition and can be driven and enjoyed as is, or sympathetically restored.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This car is sold AS IS without warranty. A 10% deposit is due upon the successful completion of the auction. Remainder of payment is due within one week of the end of the auction, and prior to the delivery of the vehicle. Fantasy Junction reserves the right to end this auction early in the even of the sale of the car outside of eBay. Inspection is available and encouraged, and should be arranged and completed prior to the completion of bidding. A final bid (if reserve is met) is and should be considered a sale and acceptance of terms, and the vehicle is AS IS and WHERE IS. If you have NEGATIVE or ZERO feedback, please contact us prior to bidding. Please contact us for names and phone numbers of local professionals familiar with this type of car, whom you may interview and with whom you may arrange an inspection. If you are concerned with what the car may need, an inspection is an excellent way to remove surprises. Please allow for normal wear and tear items based on the age of any car and restoration if applicable. Please use your better (or even your best) judgment. We have done and will do our best to describe the car faithfully and correctly, and would like you to know and understand exactly what you are bidding on.

I like that these cars have been driven and used - it's a nice change from the stereotypical roll the car out of a trailer for the show. As a result of that, it's not a perfect example; there's some botched paintwork and the shine on everything isn't condition one. But it certainly makes a special and unique driver in the current state. The best part is that you can get into a neat Abarth 750GT like this one for around the same price as a wreck of a 356; they share a lot of characteristics, but if you want to save a bit of money and stand apart from the crowd, the Abarth is the way to go!

-Carter

Fiat

1960 Fiat 1200 Spider

June 3, 2013 Graham 1 Comment

Sometimes the simple things in life can be the most elegant. This isn't the fastest or most exclusive Italian classic, but this Fiat 1200 Spider for sale in California has undergone a recent refurbishment and would be a unique and economical choice for cruising to the beach this summer.

Year: 1960
Model: 1200 Spider
Engine: 1.2 liter inline four
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 18,987 miles
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1960 Fiat 1200 Spider

Presented formally for sale for the first time since completing a thorough mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment during the summer and fall of 2012, is this beautiful 1960 Fiat 1200 “Vetture Speciali” Spider. Originally purchased at a Fiat dealership in San Francisco, the car was driven very little since new, but remained with the original owner until his passing in 2009. His neighbor bought the car from the original owner’s estate with the intent of bringing it back to its former glory, but eventually he was convinced to sell the car to us.

The cabriolet version of the 1200 or “spider” was restyled in 1959 and given a new body designed by the renowned designer Battitsta Pininfarina. The 1200 Spider was built by Fiat's Vetture Speciali (meaning: special cars) unit, and has amazing similarities to Ferrari's 250 GT PF Cabriolet of the same era (minus 8 of the 12 cylinders of course). Available at a fraction of the cost, the popularity of the 1200 Spider skyrocketed with sports car enthusiasts. A new 1200 Spider sold for $2,595 and proved to be a rather prudent choice, especially in the American sports-car market. In 1960, the Spider was given a boost of power, with the 1221cc engine reaching a peppy 63 horsepower. Production of the Spider continued with few changes through March of 1963.

Now presented in a striking color combination of black paint with two tone red and black interior (available factory options at the time), our special little Italian dish is certainly a head turner. As you can tell from the pictures, a painstaking effort was given to ensure that this wonderful 18,000 mile California original sports car was preserved and presented as if it just left the factory in Italy. The car has competed respectfully in two prestigious Concours d' Elegance events in Southern California, earning second place honors at the La Jolla Concours d' Elegance this past April. As great as this Spider appears in person or in pictures, she performs even better. The engine presents in as new condition after being rebuilt, resealed and repainted in factory colors with everything correct down to the stickers and oil filter cannister. The paint was stripped to bare metal with not an ounce of rust found anywhere. All chrome and stainless has been rechromed and refurbished, and all interior components: gauges, rubber, switches, handles and panels have all been reconditioned. To give an idea of how well preserved this Spider really is, the canvas soft top was replaced on the car in January of 1972 and is still in amazing condition! Seize the opportunity to purchase what is arguably the best original example of this model of Fiat in the world! Certain to increase in value in a fast appreciating European sports-car market, this special Fiat Spider represents a sound financial investment while providing classic Pininfarina styling and Italian panache and performance.

We welcome and recommend any inspection of this truly outstanding machine. Please contact Tim at 760/717-3997 for further information. You'll be glad you did!

These 1200 Spiders can fetch in the low to mid $20,000 range in good shape, and I'd expect this one to come close to that figure. I get used to seeing Spiders of all kinds painted in red, but in black, it kicks this car up a notch in terms of classiness.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Normale

January 5, 2013 Graham 2 Comments

Of all the Alfa Romeo Coupes, I've always preferred the Giulia 105/115 series coupes above the rest. But this car, a Giulietta Sprint Normale, has me looking at the Giulia's predecessor in a different light. For sale in California, this car looks absolutely amazing in green with Panasport wheels. Oftentimes larger wheels on a vintage car doesn't work too well but the stance here is perfect. It's hard to believe this design is almost 60 years old, because trimmed out in this manner, the look transcend decades.

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Normale

Verde Muschio with Cognac interior, 1750 CC with 40 millimeter Webers, equipped with a five-speed gearbox, four wheel ATE disc brakes, Bilstein shocks, 15 inch Panasport wheels, 25 millimeter front sway bar and ATL fuel cell. A very attractive and nicely restored 101 series Sprint with rally style upgrades. $49,500.

At almost $50,000, this Giulietta Sprint is one of the most expensive that I've seen on the market. The last Giulietta Sprint we featured about a month ago was 1959 model for sale at a Ferrari/Maserati dealer. That car was listed just shy of $40,000. A good, restored example will usually bring somewhere between $35,000 and $40,000. While this car certainly presents well and has some desirable updates, I couldn't see paying over $45,000 for it.

-Paul

Fiat

1960 Fiat 500 Giardinera

August 23, 2012 Graham 3 Comments

For years, the Fiat 500 was the car of the people in Italy. While suitable for most Italian lifestyles at the time, Fiat responded to those consumers needing more space. Not only did they come out with a small van, the Multipla, but they offered a two door estate variant, the Giardiniera. With the additional length added behind the doors, this was a popular hauler for families and small businesses. Rarely seen on US shores, this Giardiniera for sale in California is a rare treat for small car enthusiasts.

1960 Fiat 500 Giardiniera

Adorable and in great condition FIAT 500 Giardiniera Trasformabile extremely rare here in the USA or Italy. This FIAT is in great condition cosmetically and mechanically. It was very well taken care of and pampered by its owner who took it here all the way from Southern Italy. I will add more info pictures and video clips before the end of the day. This FIAT 500 runs excellent, shifts beautifully and it is a blast to drive around. Brakes work perfectly and does not leak any oil or any fluids. It is air cooled and after driving it for about 1 hour under 95 degrees here in California didn't give any sign of overheating. Tires are good in the back though could use new ones in the front. I have re charged the battery since it was sitting for some time, battery seems to hold up pretty good although might need a new battery sometime in the future (It uses 12 volt).

Bidding is strong so far on this little estate. We may not see Multipla money here, but given the oddball factor versus the more common 500 it is based on, this Giardiniera will probably bring somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

August 2, 2012 Graham 1 Comment

While we featured an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider just last week, rarely do I see one of these looking as nice as this Spider in classic black for sale Dortmund, Germany. This restored roadster is akin to an automotive cocktail dress: sassy yet dignified at the same time.

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

For sale is an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. The vehicle was fully restored. The gaps in doors and hoods are almost perfect. The paint has good flatness. All chrome parts were rechromed. The vehicle was rebuilt only with original parts. The entire electrical system was replaced and the gearbox, as well as the drive train, chassis, brakes, etc. The interior was re-trimmed in real leather. The roof quality is good and matches the interior in black. This Spider is ready for much driving pleasure and many pleasant hours in the sun. Get in and start driving.

This Spider, at €39,000 (~ $48,000) is at the top of the range for what Giulietta Spiders go for these days. It isn't often that I see these priced above $40,000, but when they are, they must be the best of the best. The restoration quality looks supreme on this one and I never thought I'd say this, but black may be the new red when it comes to these vintage Alfa Spiders.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1960 Vespa 400

July 4, 2012 Graham 4 Comments

For a total of four short years, Piaggio built automobiles in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Vespa 400 was a two seat, rear engine car was about the size of contemporary microcars such as the BMW Isetta and Messerschmitt, which is to say, just a tad smaller than the Fiat Nuova 500. With a top speed of around 50 mph from its 400cc air cooled two cylinder engine, the 400 was intended to be more of a city runabout than a cruiser for the Autostrada. This 400 for sale in St. Louis has had a cosmetic refresh including new paint and upholstery.

1960 Vespa 400

In Italian Vespa means wasp, which couldnt be more appropriate for this bright yellow and black Vespa 400 coupe. Introduced in 1957 and engineered by Piaggio, the Italian manufacturer of the ubiquitous motor scooters which inspired a generation of La Dolce Vita, the Vespa automobile was built in Piaggios French factory. A rear-mounted 393cc 2-stroke twin produced 20 brake horsepower and drove through a 3-speed transmission to the rear wheels. Only one body style was offered, a 2-door coupe with folding fabric sunroof, but it weighed only 850 pounds at the curb. It was only 112 long; two could fit comfortably perpendicular to the curb in an average American parking space. Good performance encouraged weight loss by its occupants -- a couple of generous sized Americans could increase a Vespa 440s mass by 50%. In other word, a Vespa 400 is small. Finished, as mentioned, in yellow with a black folding roof, black upholstery and interior trim piped in yellow, this little wasp has been cosmetically redone recently with fresh paint, upholstery and a detailed engine compartment. It is much more unusual than Isettas, Jollys and Fiat 500s and will bring smiles and cheery waves from onlookers wherever it appears. It is ideal for running errands, weekend jaunts or as a shore tender for classic yachts. In a vehicle this small (and it is small) packaging is a challenge, so if youre looking for the battery, its on a tray that slides out from between the headlights.

Realistically, most of these Vespa microcars tend to sell in the $15,000 to $23,000 range. This 400 appears to be a very tidy example, but is priced quite a bit outside the normal range. There are those rare instances where cars, such as the Amphicar back at Barrett Jackson a few years ago, brought serious money. Perhaps a city dweller that is well to do and needs something small and efficient for around town driving would be willing to pay top dollar for the best example of a Vespa automobile that he can find. Time can only tell.

-Paul

Fiat

1960 Fiat 600 Convertible

May 31, 2012 Graham 5 Comments

The Fiat 600 is often overshadowed by its more diminutive counterpart, the 500, but this car deserves credit in its own right. Slightly larger than the 500, it offered greater interior space and a rear mounted, water cooled, overhead valve inline four cylinder engine. As a result of its upgraded mechanicals, the car had better heating and cooling characteristics. From 1955 through 1969, over 2.6 million 600s were produced at the Mirafiori factory. After production ceased, this car continued in production under several different brands, most notably Seat in Spain, the German concern Neckar (which made use of an old NSU plant) and Zastava in Yugoslavia, where the car ultimately ceased production in 1985. Good 600s are much less common than 500s these days, and this pastel green example for sale in California strikes a decidedly late 1950s pose.

1960 Fiat 600 Convertible

This is a very, very rare rust free 1960 Fiat 600 convertible. This car was found in the dry Arizona environment and has a subsequent two year old ground up restoration that brought new life to this little beauty. Painted in a factory sea foam green color, this particular car is the more desirable U.S. version with oversized “bug eye” or “frog eye” headlights required to meet U.S. standards back in the day. The equally rare and highly desirable suicide doors make this car a standout for the Fiat or Italian car collector. What was considered a “convertible” top on this car is really more like a huge sunroof that opens the full length of the passenger compartment. Brakes, 4 speed transmission and the 4 cylinder water cooled engine have all been redone along with upholstery, convertible top and floor covering. The engine was bored slightly and given a very mild cam along with an ultra rare Abarth header adding extra pep to the original 29 HP factory engine. That extra “pep” makes a difference in this little car. No detail has been overlooked and even includes a hard to find jack/tire changing kit. This model served as the base for the now infamous and highly coveted Fiat Jolly 600 beach car. But if you can’t get your hands on a Jolly, this is the next best thing and perhaps as equally unique with its full roof length “convertible” top.

I have owned a variety of cars over the years from luxury, muscle, sports and high performance and can tell you that this car has gotten more attention than any of those. Therefore be prepared to turn a lot of heads, receive a lot of thumbs up, be paid a lot of compliments and have pictures taken of it. With Fiat’s recent reintroduction success in the U.S., this car should only go up in value. Now for the big question, why am I selling it? Simple answer: I’m unloading a lot of toys including three other collector cars that I no longer drive much and that are taking up too much room. I will try and answer any questions you might have with my limited mechanical knowledge.

The level of care taken in this car’s restoration is admirable. The pictures of the undercarriage are also a nice touch, as these were not the most rust proof vehicles, to put it mildly. Since the car was found in Arizona, this is a good omen for what looks to be a fairly solid car. Even though 600s are less common than 500s, it doesn’t seem to affect value that much. One could expect a 600 in top shape such as this to net around $14,000 to $18,000. If the right buyer is found, the sale price may reach over $20,000, but that territory is usually reserved for the less common Multipla and Jolly variants.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1960 Vespa 400

May 8, 2012 Graham 6 Comments

The Italians have a knack for building small, fun cars. The Fiat 500 was arguably the most famous of these exercises in miniature motoring. Vespa, better known for their scooters, waded into the microcar market rather unnoticed back in the late 1950s. Conceived by the Piaggio company and built in France, the 400 employed an inline two cylinder, two stroke engine mounted in the rear and featured four-wheel independent suspension with double shock absorbers. With 18 horsepower, the car took about 25 seconds to reach it's top speed of about 50 miles per hour. These weren't the best highway cruisers then, but for someone looking for an efficient, tidy runabout, not much else could compete for the money. This example for sale in Oregon has been owned by the same person for quite some time and is one of a few that exists on these shores.

1960 Vespa 400

1960 Vespa 400 car. Original motor rebuilt. Interior redone original style. New tires original size. Driven in several parades. Nice little driver. Owned about 30 years. Located 20 miles west of Eugene Oregon. Will deliver within 200 miles.

This 400 appears to be a rather untouched example, save for the engine and interior refresh. If this was a perfectly restored example, the $17,000 asking price might be justified. As it stands, a car in this condition will most likely sell for somewhere in the $9,000 to $13,000 range, provided the right buyer comes along.

-Paul

Lancia

1960 Lancia Appia Zagato GTE

May 7, 2012 Graham

The Appia was Lancia's small car entry for a decade, from 1953 to 1963. These were the cars of choice for those seeking something a bit more refined than your typical Fiat sedan. They could be considered cars for the thinking man. In true Lancia fashion, these were over engineered vehicles and had an unusual 1.1 liter V4 engine. Most Appias produced were Berlinas, however, there was a convertible built by Vignale, an estate version by Viotti and two very different types of coupes, one made by Pininfarina, and a more sporting variant built by Zagato, as you see here for sale in New York.

1960 Lancia Appia Zagato GTE

1960 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato. This is one of the 350 Rare sought after Alloy Zagato Coupes. Lancias are well known for their outstanding engineering and superb quality construction. This fully restored show quality car is a joy to behold an absolute pleasure to drive. The car has been restored to a high level both cosmetically and mechanically and is ready to be shown or event driven. For someone who can appreciate rarity and high quality, this would be a milestone addition to the astute collectors garage.

The proportions of this Appia are quite interesting. The stretched wheelbase and small greenhouse give this car quite a unique stance. Average prices for these Zagato coupes are hovering these days around $40,000. I would estimate a fully restored example like this may bring anywhere between $60,000 to $80,000.

-Paul

Fiat, Uncategorized

1960 Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile

April 27, 2012 Graham

Before the outbreak of World War II, Bianchi was known as a bicycle manufacturer and a maker of high end vehicles. With the destruction of the Bianchi factory during the war and the death of founder Edoardo Bianchi in 1946, ownership passed on to his son, who kept the business alive, focusing on the bicycle and motorcycle production. It was soon thereafter Bianchi begun to explore the possibility of returning to automobile manufacturing. It was apparent, however, that the costs in doing so were too great for this small company. A partnership with Fiat was thus devised, as this provided Bianchi with the necessary economies of scale and gave Fiat a way to capture the premium small car market under a new nameplate: Autobianchi. This particular car for sale, the Bianchina, was the first product of the partnership. It was based on Fiat 500 mechanicals and had was a rather unique two door body style with a folding canvas roof. Few of these were made, and fewer still made it to the US. This one for sale in Arizona has had a complete restoration and exudes a late 1950s look in turquoise with a white roof.

1960 Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile

Summary: 1960 Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile Special, Series 2, is a very rare Italian micro car only produced from 1959 to 1961. Only 1500 of these semi-convertible ‘transformabile Specials’ models were made. Complete restoration done to show quality. Runs, drives and shows excellent.

Details: Powered by a 500cc/21hp, air cooled, rear mounted 2 cylinder engine, backed by a 4-speed manual gearbox, 4-wheel independent suspension and 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. This is an excellent example of one of the world's most attractive micro cars. A complete high quality restoration done to show standards has been performed. This car was brought down to it’s tub, media blasted with aluminum oxide and all internal floor and doors treated with Por-15 products before body and paint completion. Finished in a classic blue color with cream accents, and sporting Pirelli tires. One look will tell the experienced buyer the level of restoration this Bianchina has received, down to new or rebuilt mechanicals, and attention to details that really make this car a one of a kind. VIN#018118 Motor: FIAT 110.004 #090895

Car History: In 1885, 20-year-old Eduardo Bianchi set up a bicycle-making business in Milan, and before long was making motorized three-wheelers and then, before the turn of the century, four-wheelers. In the 1920s, Bianchi was third behind only Fiat and Lancia in Italian car production. In 1955, following a business alliance with Fiat and Pirelli and a name change to Autobianchi, the reorganized company focused its operations on a long-running series of upscale Fiat 500 variants. Fiat provided the technical components and knowledge, Pirelli provided the tires, and Bianchi created the bodies and assembled the vehicles. The body was designed by Luigi Rapi. The first product produced under this new venture was the Bianchina which was based on the Fiat 500 and offered luxury features not found on the 500. The first body style to roll off the assembly line was the 'Trasformabile' and would remain as the only body-style available until 1960, when the Cabriolet was introduced.

Diminutive yet bursting with an abundance of sporting character, the Bianchina offered sturdy and widely available Fiat 500 mechanical components with luxurious levels of trim for the era. The understated yet captivating Bianchina was further enhanced by a series of mechanical upgrades, including a lowered suspension, which contributed to a sportier ride. Despite its small two-cylinder air-cooled engine mounted in the rear of the car, the Bianchina was quite a capable performer, with a top speed of 60 mph and an estimated range of nearly 300 miles. Fuel economy reportedly approached a very impressive 50 mpg. While the Bianchina was just one of the many fascinating European micro cars that were available during the 1950s and 1960s, it was an unqualified success. In fact, with its decidedly sporty demeanor and limited-production cachet, it was quickly regarded by enthusiasts as the rich mans’ Fiat.

It's always amazing to me that old technology could return such high fuel economy figures, but then, it shows how much of a benefit light weight can be. If manufacturers these days would explore more lightweight materials and work on getting the costs down to reasonable levels, it would only help the drive for greater fuel efficiency.

Fiat 500s of this era, in good condition, regularly trade hands in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, with exceptional or rare examples fetching even more money. If this Bianchina sells, I would probably peg it in the $25,000 to $30,000 range, but if the right bidders are in the mix, it may bring slightly more.

-Paul