Tag Archives: 1969

1969 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600

July 29, 2012 Graham

At first glance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan doesn’t do much to suggest just how remarkable this small car is. With a lower drag coefficient than a 911 from the period, a robust twin cam, four cylinder engine and a curb weight under 2,300 pounds, this was a lively car. As a result of this performance, these were popular cars with the Carabinieri in Italy. Today, these sporty sedans tend to be a more affordable way into classic Italian car ownership than their more sporting two door counterparts. This Giulia for sale in Nebraska was imported to the US in 2003 after being owned by the same owner in Rome for 30 years.

1969 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600

ALFA ROMEO 1969 GIULIA SUPER 1600
TIPO 105.26
VIN AR*889715
Color: Beige Cava

Although Alfa Romeo's sports cars may be better known in the US, the Giulia sedan was far more popular in its day, combining the practicality of a family car with the same chassis and drive trains used in Alfa's sports models. With the Giulia, Alfa Romeo deserves the credit for developing the sports sedan well before BMW conceived the 2002. This Giulia Super is one of the desirable 1600 “Biscione” variants, manufactured only from 1968 to 1971. The 1600 Biscione cars (named for the serpent badge in the roof pillar) incorporated mechanical updates from the 1750 series and had more powerful engines and a higher level of interior and exterior trim than other Giulia models.

889715 a preservation car, registered continuously to the original owner in Rome for 30 years before I bought it through a Dutch dealer and brought it to the United States in 2003. It has been conserved, rather than restored. It still has the original Italian windshield sticker and insurance papers from 1969. To my knowledge the engine, transmission and differential are original, and the paint, interior and trim are conserved in very nice condition. All mechanical and electrical systems (except the electric clock) are in good working order and the car is reliable and a pleasure to drive.

In the 9 years I have owned this car I have maintained its originality and integrity while making necessary repairs and tasteful updates/upgrades to improve practicality, safety and performance. I have replaced worn parts with new factory, NOS, or good-quality reproduction items, whenever possible. It appears the previous owners did the same. The result is a beautiful, drivable vintage car that retains the unique combination of style, performance and practicality the Giulia was designed to provide.

Significant modifications and repairs are listed below. A collection of spare parts and Alfa Romeo factory manuals is available to the interested buyer for an additional price to be negotiated at the time of sale.

Modifications/updates
Marelli-Plex ignition (original Bosch distributor available)
Magnecor ignition wires
Halogen headlights (reproduction of Carello, originals available)
IAP Sport Springs (originals available)
Koni red shock absorbers
Weber 40 DCOE carb conversion (from Solex)

Repairs/restorations
New clutch and clutch hydraulics
New center and rear mufflers and exhaust pipes
Front suspension rebuilt with Lemfoder parts
Front turn signal lenses replaced with reproduction Carello
Reproduction hubcaps (originals available)
Bottom cushion of driver’s seat re-upholstered with original-style material by previous owner
Partial repaint of lower panels by previous owner
Reproduction carpets from Re-Originals. Note: the carpets I was sent were for the wrong car; correct replacements are being made and will be included with the sale.

Known issues
The electric clock does not work
The steering box drips oil when the car sits for a long time.
Rust is minimal for a 43-year old Alfa. No rust is visible on the outside of the car. I know about the following areas: an old, welded repair in the front passenger-side footwell, which seems to be holding up well; two holes about 1/8” in diameter in the spare tire well; small perforations where the left inner fender meets the slanted panel of the driver’s footwell beside the wash/wipe switch.

The asking price of $25,000 is a bit on the high side for Giulias of this vintage, even considering the condition and ownership history. This is creeping into GTV territory and I’m not sure the market is quite there yet on these four door Alfas. Around the $20,000 mark would probably be more reasonable, considering you can find similar, if not as original, Giulias for about $5,000 less on a regular basis.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1969 Bizzarini 1900 Europa

July 22, 2012 Graham 2 Comments

Bizzarini is one of those names bandied about that many enthusiasts may have heard of before but few are deeply familiar with. For a few short years in the 1960s, this company produced some of the most wild sports cars to hail from Italy. Founded by Giotto Bizzarini, an Italian engineer famous for his work with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and involvement with Iso and the Rivolta, which we featured a few days ago. Bizzarini’s designs were low slung and featured both Corvette V8 engines and a V-12 of his own design. The 1900 Europe featured here was designed for Opel and based on the Opel 1900 chassis with their 1.9 liter four cylinder engine. Twenty were said to have been built, with five featuring a 1.5 liter Fiat four cylinder engine.

1969 Bizzarini 1900 Europa

Bizzarrini 1900 Europa, this particular Bizzarrini is the best exemple of the Bizzarrini Europa. Powered by a Opel 1900 cc, the car have been fully restore and his the best of the best. The car have powered windows, air co, leather. Documented, please call me if interested and you are welcome to test it.

I’ll admit that before viewing this auction, I had no idea of this car’s existence. However, I’m intrigued by it, as I always thought the larger 5300GT was a bit outlandish. This Europa scales down that idea nicely and has a delicate nature about it. A Europa came up for sale at a Coys auction in Padova, Italy and did not sell with a high bid of €90,000 (~ $110,000 USD). Bidding here has already surpassed that mark. Cars this rare are always harder to put a value on but one would guess the smaller engine Bizzarini would bring in less than the bigger engine machines. Or will it?

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1969 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

June 17, 2012 Graham 6 Comments

The original 105 Series Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider, known to some as the boat tail Spider, is one of the prettiest and most iconic designs to emerge from the design house of Pininfarina. This example comes to us from our reader Ping in the Los Angeles area. It has had a host of work done to it and has been used reliably on a semi-regular basis. Now all it needs is a new owner to look after it and enjoy it.

1969 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

The car is in great condition and is extremely reliable (for a 43 year old car). I purchased the car in 2002 from a car collector in Wisconsin and drive it to work on average once a week, weather permitting. In the last ten years that I have owned it, the car has never been driven in the rain and has always been garaged (day and night). I don’t think it has been outside for more than an hour and a half at a time. It had 72k miles on the car when I bought it and it now has 103k. I have receipts totaling over $12k for maintenance done over the past 10 years, the major items which are listed below.

Just prior purchasing the car, the prior owner replaced both brake boosters with OEM ones (which he said he paid $600 for the pair). He also had the fuel injection pump, 2 lower ball joints, center bearing and support, 3 tie rod ends, front brake calipers, rear transmission mount bushing replaced along with other odds and ends.

Feb ’03 – I had the drive shaft u-joints replaced and the gas tank cleaned and refinished.

April ’03 – Replaced clutch master cylinder

Nov ’03 – purchased new convertible boot cover, replaced rear shocks and front and rear emblems.

Aug ’05 – Replaced heater valve membrane, replaced left and right motor mounts

Aug ’06 – replaced front brakes and rotors, replaced left tie rod end, replaced belts

Sep’ 06 – replaced battery

Oct’ 07 – New 14”x7” wheels, new tires (original 14”x5.5” wheels are included in the sale)

Nov ’07 – replaced rear proportion brake valve, rebuilt brake master cylinder, replaced front arm ball joint bushing

April ’08 – Installed new exhaust heat shield, installed new speedo cable (melted due to missing heat shield)

Oct ’08 – Rebuilt differential

May ’09 – replaced head gasket, replaced gas tank sending unit, replaced trunk cable

Jan ’10 – replaced convertible top, refinished convertible top frame

Oct ’10 – reupholstered seats

Sep ’10 – Replaced front brakes

Aug ’11 – Replaced center muffler, Tune up and oil change

The car was repainted in 1980 and still shines like new, but there a few small flaws here and there. I tried to take pics to show what I can but most of it is so minor that it does not show up in the pics. The bottom side of the hood is also pealing in a few spots. The engine compartment was not painted with the rest of the car and is some very light surface rust on the side by the battery. There is not other rust that I am aware of. Everything works on the car except for the cigarette lighter and the day/night toggle switch on the rear view mirror. The 2nd gear synchros were weak when I purchased the car but shifts smoothly if you just pause for a moment between 1st and 2nd gear. I was planning on replacing them when it got a little worse, but after a while I just got use to it.

There is a minor oil leak coming from the transmission and the car burns about a quart of motor oil every 1,500 miles (I believe this is typical of Alfas, at least all that I have owned). The car was manufactured in 1969, but due to the strike in 1969, this one was shipped to the States in spring of 1970 ad therefore titled as a 1970 model year. The only reason I am selling the car is my work recently moved and my commute is now much further. I need to keep my Chevy Tahoe for the family, but I also need to find another car that is more economical to commute in and more comfortable than the Alfa. Did I mention the Alfa does not have air conditioning or a radio?

Duettos in good shape that have been used as intended will usually trade hands in the $20,000 to $25,000 range. The very best concours examples can crest north of $30,000. Of the 105/115 Spiders, the Duettos are prized most in large part because of their design purity, versus later models that suffered from crash bumpers and fussier design details. I never thought I'd like silver so much on an early Spider, but with the simple steel wheels complimented with chrome hubcaps and a tidy black leather interior, this car cuts a clean pose. The California black plates are also a great finishing touch. Overall, a great example of an early 105 Spider that deserves another forty years of TLC.

-Paul

Lancia

1969 Lancia Flavia

March 23, 2012 Graham

Subaru may have popularized the idea of a front engined, front-wheel drive sedan with a horizontally opposed four cylinder engine, but it surely wasn't the first vehicle to feature such a layout. Once again, that technical tour de force that is Lancia strikes again. Introduced in 1961 with a 1.5 liter engine and four-wheel disc brakes, the Flavia was a very advanced vehicle for the time. This example for sale is advertised on eBay Germany but is located in Culver City, California. It is an original example and represents the final year for the Flavia with a larger, 1.8 liter engine with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection.

1969 Lancia Flavia

1969 Lancia Flavia 1.8 Iniezione. Light gray (original paint), original burgundy interior. Vehicle is totally unrestored. Engine is running. Vehicle with euros KM speedometer etc. Last inspection in 1993 and since then parked in a warehouse in the desert. California black license plates that have always been on the car. Mechanical fuel injection. Price includes shipping and tax levies released Rotterdam.

At about $7,800 USD, this is a very neat alternative for Italian car enthusiasts to the contemporary Alfa Romeo Giulia. These Lancias were rather expensive in their day and known for their attention to detail and over engineering. Hopefully someone stateside can snatch this up before embarking on a boat back to the home continent.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1969 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

February 7, 2012 Graham 4 Comments

The Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 is one of the greatest Italian sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s and this is reflected in recent market values. With a twin cam, 1779cc four cylinder engine, slick 5 speed gearbox and disc brakes at all four wheels wrapped in Bertone styling, what’s not to like? While you usually see these coupes in red, blue or silver, this particular GTV in Giallo Orca strikes a nice period look for one of Alfa Romeo’s most legendary sports cars.

1969 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

This 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 in Giallo Ocra (Yellow Ocra) embodies the style and performance of the Italian car maker in the late 1960's. This is a rare opportunity to own and drive a classice piece of Alfa Romeo history. Everything about this classic is in working condition (all instruments, panels, switches, etc.)

After 42 years, this car is still running beautifully. The engine is in pristine condition and still rides wonderfully. The transmission works great and gear shifts are smooth. The transition to 2nd gear is free from the grinding that was common among several Alfa models. With the exception of some minor dents and dings (highlighted in the photos) the body looks great. The rare, and distinctive Giallo Ocra paint is completely original with the exception of the rocker panels which are coated in a black, texturized paint which was meant to protect from rocks and chipping. It is unfortunate that the paint was not applied to match the rest of the car, but it has served its purpose in protecting the rockers.

The car is protected with both a Ziebart undercoating as well as an additional rust-proofer. There is no traces of rust anywhere on the car including the normal trouble spots (ie. door jams, tire wells, jack points, etc.) Please note that in photo of spare tire well, there is an overspill of the Ziebart which is the black tar seen in the photo. The interior is like new and features the "flying buttress" seats made for both comfort and a sport-like feel. Brand new custom floor mats with golden emblems are a great compliment to the interior. As mentioned earlier, everything is in working condition. There is no need to ask if something works, everything functions properly.

Listed below are all of the updates and repairs that have been made recently.

New fuel pump and fuel filters; Fuel tank has been re-coated with Tephlon
1 New Brake Booster
Master cylinder has been rebuilt
New Straight Tailpipe
New Pads and Rotors
New U-joint, Center Supports and bearing
2 New Motor Mounts
New Trans Mount
All new Tie Rods
New Clutch Master and Clutch Slave, Flex Hose and Clutch Disc
New Custom Gold Emblem Floor Mats
2 New Rear quarter panel badges
New Caster Bushing
New Inner and Outer Shift Boot
New Battery
New Tires

With a starting bid of $18,000, we’re in the ball park in terms of value. With a no reserve, I would guess this example would fetch just shy of $25,000, given the cosmetic blemishes and non-original Ziebart rust proofing. These were not inexpensive cars in their day, as they cost significantly more than the Ford Lotus Cortina and BMW 2002 while costing just a tad less than the contemporary Jaguar E-Type. Parts are still relatively easy to find and servicing should not be as challenging as some Italian exotics, as long as you can source a mechanic with diversified experience in European motors. With Alfa Romeo’s imminent return to the US market, I would wager to say it’s a good time to buy one of these classic sports coupes, as they would be a more sound investment than common stock given current economic conditions.

-Paul