Tag Archives: 1966

1966 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C

Lancias from the 1960s are some of my favorite Italian classics. This was the decade that the impossibly gorgeous Fulvia was released to the public. Aside from that small, attractive coupe, Lancia's flagship models were also rather visually arresting. The Flaminia was unique in that three different coupes were offered by three different coach builders, Pininfarina, Zagato, and the Touring version we see here. The Touring was by far my favorite, and had a bit of '60s Americana flair to it. This Flaminia GT 2.5 3C is for sale in Pennsylvania after undergoing an extensive refresh.

1966 Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C

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This Lancia Flaminia GT 2.5 3C Touring bodied coupe being offered is a very well sorted out example of one of the most desirable Flaminia in the model line. It is not a 100 point car, but is a very presentable survivor. The car was repainted in about 1990 and has the original interior, except for new floor mats and carpet. The car has just received extensive mechanical renovation and is ready to use. Please feel free to contact me with any question you may have, Walt Spak - Pittsburgh PA. - 412-720-4334 - b20swalt@gmail.com

I have been very involved with Lancias' since my first ride in an Aurelia Convertible in 1966. Starting in the early '70s, I worked for the American Lancia Club Spares Registrar, importing and supplying parts for Lancias. After nearly ten years of doing this, I left to earn a real living and raise a family. I never left the club though and continued to own a Lancia through out that entire period. I bought my first one, a Flaminia Berlina in 1971 and have not been without at least one since.

In the early 90's I started to restore Lancia engines as a part time endeavor. I have restored 2 Fulvia, 2 Flaminia, 1 Gamma, and over a dozen Aurelia engines. I have also restored a Ferrari 250 GT engine and a couple of Fiat/Siata Otto Vu (8V) engines. Cars that I have restored the engines for have been shown at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Meadow Brook, Hilton Head, Elegance at Hershey, and Radnor Hunt Club. My most recent Lancia Aurelia Spider engine restoration is in a car that won 2nd place in class at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'elegance.

I bought this Flaminia GT in a dismantled state. The engine had been apart and partially re-assembled. The subframe was removed and the entire suspension and steering was dismantled, down to ever last nut and bolt. Some work had been completed, primarily cleaning, sand blasting and powder coating. A small amount of the work that I am describing was performed by the previous owner, but rigorously inspected, and corrected if necessary, by myself. For instance, I discovered that the new cylinder liners had not been machined for proper protrusion above the engine deck. This prompted me to completely disassemble the engine and start from scratch. I subsequently discovered that the ring end gap was too large and that the crank shaft was not balanced to the precision that I require.

I have strived to do as an exacting renovation to this Flaminia. I have replaced any part that I found to have wear and rebuilt all of the components to the best of my ability. If you research pricing of these cars, you will see that they typically go for $65,000.00 and are in need of most, if not all of the work I have preformed. I have expended over 950 man hours on this project and spent nearly $40,000.00 on parts in addition to the machine shop charges. If you purchase the $65K car and do all of this work, you can expect to have over $175,000.00 invested. You are invited to come and inspect the car before you buy. I can pick you up at the airport.

This Flaminia is an excellent example of the better to buy one finished theory. Restoration costs will surely outrun what the car is worth. In this condition, this Flaminia should bring somewhere between $50,000 to $75,000.

-Paul

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider

With an appearance like a scaled-up Giulietta Spider, the Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider is a much different animal. The flagship of the Alfa lineup, the 2600 was available as a Berlina, Coupe and Spider. Highly acclaimed for its 2.6 liter, twin cam inline six cylinder engine, these cars were capable of providing the passengers a fantastic aural experience, especially with the top down. Few of these 2600s exist today, and command higher prices than the four cylinder Spiders. This 2600 Spider for sale in New Jersey is in very good condition and mechanically sound.

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider

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Chance of a lifetime. I would like to sell this car before I need to put it away for the Winter. As such, I am selling it at NO RESERVE. It's going to be sold to the highest bidder.

This car is awesome! I would describe it as completely clean, fully restored mechanically and cosmetically, excellent condition, a pleasure to look at and drive. I cannot call this a show car, however, it can likely be brought up to that standard. It is an excellent example of a daily driver. I am not a dealer, merely a private individual with an enthusiasm for fun, unique cars. THIS CAR IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE. Less than 2300 Spider 2600s were produced and likely only a few hundred remain in existence today. It is possible that another will never appear on eBay again. This car looks as good in person as it does in the photos. As Alfa's all new flagship line, the 2600 marked the end of the Italian company's long standing tradition of producing 4-cylinder cars. I have driven this car 90 mph on the highway without a hiccup or a shake. The car has a black soft top but the top down is the way to go. All electrical parts work, even the cigarette lighter! My mechanic cannot find anything wrong with the car mechanically and it looks gorgeous comsmetically. See photos and particularly photos of the undercarriage which show just how rust free this car is.

A car of this quality and rarity is not cheap. Please understand this and bid accordingly. I am not a car dealer and I have a very active day job. If you are serious (and within a reasonable distance of NYC), please look at it in person or have your mechanic look at it and check it out. No time wasters please. Thank you and anyone who wins this car should be very happy indeed!

As mentioned above, the 2600 Spiders are valued more than the Giulietta Spiders. Since this is a no reserve auction, I would guess the final bid would wind up somewhere between $50,000 to $70,000, considering current market values. This is a great classic for those seeking something a bit different than the usual Duetto or Giulietta Spider, but aren't yet ready to dabble in the six figure Ferrari market.

-Paul

1966 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

A number of Alfa Romeo Spiders have been featured on CICFS, but this is the first example of the Series I Duetto we have covered. Most famous for its role as Dustin Hoffman's ride in The Graduate, this roadster holds the distinction of being the last design of Batista Farina. Versus the later Spiders, this model is revered for its design purity, notably the boat tail rear end. This particular example for sale near Hartford, Connecticut has had the same owner for the last 32 years and has the larger 1750 engine.

1966 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

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1966 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider. VIN: 660229. 111,667 Kilometers (69,360 miles)

HISTORY:

-European model. Privately imported by an American service-man.
-Same meticulous owner since 1980.
-Expertly repainted in 1997, with all trim removed, in original red.

MECHANICAL:

-Engine was replaced with a 1750cc unit
-5-speed manual gearbox
-Brakes upgraded from Dunlop to ATE all around
-No oil leaks
-Car runs and drives well
-When the car sits for extended periods of time, there is a slight hesitation when accelerating. This problem clears up when the car is being used regularly.

BODY/EXTERIOR:
-Very straight sides
-Convertible top in excellent condition
-Solid underneath
-One small rust spot on lower right rear quarter, in front of wheel well (see photos)
-All trim and brightwork is ‘driver quality.’ That is, it’s all presentable but not show quality. The door handles, in particular, are pitted and need to be re-chromed.

INTERIOR:
-Original black vinyl in great condition, showing only moderate signs of wear (see photos)
-Dash is gorgeous!

Overall, the car is a very nice, original, driver that has been sympathetically maintained by the same meticulous owner for 32 years. Pre-purchase inspections are both welcomed and encouraged.

This is not a concours ready Spider, but it appears honest and would be a good starting point for a first time Alfa Romeo buyer that might want to do some tinkering or freshening up. It would also prove an attractive buy for the enthusiast seeking a driver that they can enjoy without the guilt of devaluing an expensive restoration job. Average values for Duettos are concentrated in the mid $20,000 to low $30,000 range. I would suspect a final bid of around $15,000 to $20,000 would represent a good buy.

-Paul

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint

It's unfortunate, but big Alfas never get the proper respect they deserve. Ironically, the smaller models, like the Spider, GTV and Alfetta garnered more of the attention over the years, when there were perfectly good gran touring machines at the top of the range. While based on the smaller 2000 range, the 2600 had an all aluminum, 2.6 liter twin cam six cylinder engine, good for 145 horsepower. Available in Berlina, Sprint or Spider configurations. A little over 11,000 were produced from 1961 through 1968, with the majority (almost 7,000) being the Sprint version, or coupe, you see here.

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint

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1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint Coupe by Bertone

Chassis No. 825680
Engine No. AR00601*07668*

SPECIFICATIONS:
2.6 liter all-alloy DOHC Inline 6 with triple Weber DCOE 45 carburetors and 5 speed manual transmission, disc brakes all around. NOTE: A hand-written notation in registration with Automobile Club D’Italia cites it as a “2600 Super Sprint”.

Original Color: Bianco Spino
Original Mileage: 68,800 KM

Sadly the time has come to sell my beautiful Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint. The 2600 Sprint is considered to be one of the simplest and usable Grand Touring cars of the 1960’s. Introduced to the public at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show, the 2600 (106 series) was seen as the flagship for the marque with its newly developed all-alloy in-line six-cylinder motor. Displacing 2,584cc it was lauded for being a remarkably smooth engine that was well mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The Sprint name was given to the Bertone-bodied coupe. To me the 2600 Sprint is the reason an Alfa is an Alfa. Which are known for its smooth ride, handling, smooth shifting and great performance. They are just so much fun to drive!

This car has had much care and attention. It has nice paint and all original well preserved interior. The color combination is beautiful and the mechanicals are very good. The previous owner to me repaired the bottom of the door sills and the paint does not match exactly to the rest of the car. I just had the Weber Carburetors completely rebuilt and tuned, the brakes completely serviced, it has new Bilstein shocks, new Limiter straps, new clutch master cylinder, and rebuilt fuel pump. My mechanic says it will probably need a new throughout bearing because you can hear a slight jingle from the clutch. The car has power windows, seat belts, and is overall a good quality driver. I have driven it on many back country roads and it is truly a joy! The engine bay and the under carriage are nicely detailed and the trunk is very clean with the spare tire and jack in the right locations. I have not seen any rust on this car. It is very solid throughout. This is not a perfect car, not a show car, simply a good quality driver.

Note: This is a 1966 titled as a 1967. Clear Texas title in hand. Beautiful Touring Italian sports car!
Excellent candidate for vintage tour and rally events! Very original throughout! Recently serviced, brakes, and nicely tuned weber carbs. starts right up with no smoke! Original interior, spare wheel/tire, and jack! Advertised locally for: $39,500.00. Selling with NO RESERVE to the high bidder.

This 2600 is an outstanding example of a little known Alfa Romeo on these shores. The patina on this vehicle is just right; a few scratches here and nicely worn leather to go in hand with that legendary twin cam six mill under the hood. It has also received a proper amount of mechanical and cosmetic attention. I'm a big fan of the Giulias from the period, but this Sprint has me rethinking which vintage Alfa Romeo is my favorite.

-Paul

1966 Fiat 500 Giardiniera

The Fiat 500, or Cinquecento, was Italy's answer to the people's car and had staying power. With a production run of twenty years, these cars still dominate Italy's roads, although the population has been waning a bit as of late. There were many variants of the 500, from the sporting Abarth, the canopy topped Jolly and the Multipla, which could be considered the progenitor of all small MPVs. There was also a longer, estate version of the 500, called the Giardiniera. This car had the engine laid under a flat boot floor and was the only 500 model to continue on with suicide doors into the 1970s. While not as well sorted as the 500 we featured last month, this example is complete and uncommon on these shores.

1966 Fiat 500 Giardiniera

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1966 Fiat Giardiniera, only 327,000 produced! Rare car! 2 doors (suicide doors) 4 seats + rear door. Rear mounted engine 2 cylinder.

Specifications: FIAT/Autobianchi 500 'Giardiniera' Station Wagon.
Engine: Rear mounted, 2 horizontal in-line cylinders with overhead valve layout, air-cooled four-stroke of 499.5cc giving 17.5 bhp at 4,600 rpm.
Engine Lubrication: Pressure
Maximum Speed: 95 kph (59 mph)
Fuel Consumption: 5.2 litres per 100 km (54 mpg)
Gears: 4 speeds forward with 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears in constant mesh, plus reverse.
Final Drive Ratio: 5.125 to 1.
Brakes: Foot operated, manually adjusted hydraulic drum brakes to all four wheels with hand operated mechanical brake to rear wheels.
Note! the brakes of the 'Giardiniera' are larger than those used on the saloons.
Suspension: Front: Independent with transverse lower leaf spring and wishbones.
Rear: Independent with semi-trailing arms and large coil springs.
Note! Although the rear suspension layout is the same as the saloons, the trailing arms and coil springs are stronger to accomodate the weight of the longer body and extra cargo loads.
Telescopic shock absorbers to all four wheels, the rear ones being stronger than those fitted on the rear of the saloons.
12 Volt electrical system.

This car was remodeled approx 8 years ago, it has not been driven for about three years it would be wise to have the car serviced before taking out on the road! People will stop and look as you drive down the street, more then any other cars. Also the extras will go with car, two tires, seat covers, whatever is there I will included with the sale! I also believe that I have a copy of the manual, not the original but good enough.

I'm not sure how "only 327,000 produced" constitutes rare, but there's no telling how many of these little estates exist anymore, especially in the United States. With a bit of tidying up in the interior and a bit of polish, this could be a nice, unique urban runabout.

-Paul

1966 Lamborghini 350GT

This is where it all began for Lamborghini. Designed under the guidance of chief designer Gianpaolo Dallara (of Dallara Motorsports fame), the 350GT was Ferrucio Lamborghini's rebuttal to Ferrari over his dissatisfaction of their vehicles at the time, most notably due to their lack of creature comforts. He sought to create a more comfortable touring car with a sporting edge. The original 350GTV prototype used a variation of the Bizzarini designed 3.5 liter V12, which developed 400 horsepower at 11,000 rpm; astronmical figures for the day.

Practicality won in the end, and the 350GT had a detuned 270 horsepower V12. The bodywork was handled by Carrozzeria Touring, who fabricated the body structure using their Superleggera, or "Super Light" method of attaching aluminium panels to a tubular structure. Here's a 350GT for sale in Kentucky looking rather sharp with it's black on tan color combination.

1966 Lamborghini 350GT on Hemmings Motor News

This 1966 Lamborghini 350 GT Superleggera Coupe features a 270hp 3.5L V12 engine. It is equipped with a 5 Speed Manual transmission. The vehicle is black with a tan leather interior.

To get a short idea of just how sonorous this Lamborghini is, here's a short clip of an example auctioned by RM in late 2008.

-Paul

1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600

The 2600 range represented an end of an era for Alfa Romeo. These were the last Alfas to employ a twin cam six cylinder engine, variations of which had been in use since the 1920s. The 2600 Spider, with its bodywork by Carrozzeria Touring, looks similar to its smaller Giulietta Spider sibling. However, it is a completely different vehicle, with a longer wheelbase and a small rear seat. Only 2,255 Spiders were made and they are a rare sight on US roads.

Here is a mint example in classic Rosso Alfa for sale in Santa Barbara, California.

1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider on eBay

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Offered for sale is a gorgeous, numbers matching 1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Touring finished in its factory correct red (Rosso Alfa) over a black leather interior. With only 2,257 Spiders produced between 61’ to 68’, the 2600 spiders are becoming exceedingly rare to come by. The exterior is gorgeous. The paint is deep and glossy, showing only a few minor imperfections. The body is extraordinarily straight with all doors and panels fitting as they should.

The undercarriage is extremely solid showing no rust or evidence of accidents. This car has been carefully shielded from the elements throughout its proud ownership. The interior is beautiful, the plush leather seats are in great shape and free of any significant wear. We are in the process of restoring the extremely rare companion hard top for the car, which will be included in sale.

As with all classic Alfas, it would be important to source a specialist mechanic, especially in this case, since parts are getting more and more scarce for a limited production model such as this. Still, for the determined collector, this is a nice example of an important model in the history of Alfa Romeo.

-Paul