Tag Archives: 1973

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

May 23, 2014 Graham

The large executive Coupe was something that was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s in America; but in Europe, the idea took a bit longer to catch on. Still, by the 1970s we saw increasing examples from manufacturers going through major growth - BMW and Mercedes joined the big coupe market, along with new examples from Ferrari and Lamborghini. But one that is seldom thought of in that company is the Fiat 130 Coupe; Pininfarina designed and with a Ferrari-designed V6 mated to a ZF 5-speed, it's the forgotten sleeper of the large executive coupe market in the 1970s:

Year: 1973
Model: 130 Coupe
Engine: 3.2 liter V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 67,000 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

Somehow it seems the words "luxury" and "Fiat" should never be used in the same sentence. For some unknown reason the folks at Fiat decided they wanted to compete in the high end with the likes of Mercedes and BMW ... and the 130 was born. As was expected of a luxury car it needed to be spacious and has a lot of user amenities.

The first time I saw a 130 I had to tell myself ... now that is as weird as they come ... and of course I loved it! The car has a very 70's look with a lot of glass. Remember that these were the days when BMW had the 2002 and Mercedes were boxes with tons of glass. Unfortunately the Fiat 130 was never imported into the USA therefore finding one on these shores is rare. This car was just imported in 2012 and spent all its life in Italy. Several things attracted me to this particular car:

I love the color combination as it is very 1970's. The blue exterior has a hint of purple and what is not to like of the mustard leather! What makes this Fiat 130 rather unique is that most had velour interior. This has the optional leather interior. The leather is original and in really nice condition. It really makes the car look quite elegant. The other big plus is that it has the optional 5-speed ZF gearbox which was also used on the 2.4 liter Fiat Dino. Only about 10% of the Fiat 140 had this gearbox, the rest were automatic.

So how is it to drive? Surprisingly the car feels a lot smaller on the road than it really is. The V6 engine was designed by Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi and is loosely based on the Dino V6 engine. The engine feels very peppy and likes to rev. The gearbox has very short throws and gives the car a sporty feel. It has ZF power steering which gives the car a very good handling. The independent rear suspension is identical to the Fiat Dino and is rather sophisticated.

Paint is quite nice and the interior speaks for itself. The body is in excellent condition. There are a few rust bubbles on the right fender which were this way when I bought the car and has not gotten worst. The undercarriage is straight and rust free. Chrome is nice as is the glass. There is a crack on the inner laminate of the rear glass. The crack does not extend to the outside of the glass and it is barely noticeable. Mechanically the car is very good with no smoke or major oil leaks. AC works as do the gauges, power windows, power steering etc.

The car was imported into the USA a couple of years ago from Modena, Italy. It falls under the 25 years exemption which permits cars to be imported and not be subject to the DOT and EPA regulations of that year. Therefore this car retains the beautiful European headlights which I am sure would have been modified had Fiat brought the car into the USA ... also it would have had much bigger (and uglier) bumpers.

Overall this is the type of car that shows that it has been loved all of its life. It is what I would call an honest car which has its expected faults as it is after all 41 years old.I have really enjoyed owning this Fiat 130 but it is time to move on as I need the garage space for other stuff.

Car comes with its original owner's manual plus a copy of the shop manual.

Feel free to call me if you have questions: 770-998-0923 Ivan

Terms of Sale

Buyer is responsible for shipping and insurance costs.

Please only serious bidders. I have described the above mentioned vehicle to the best of my ability. However, with all pre-owned automobiles, the condition is subjective, so I recommend that the potential buyer inspects as well as test drives the vehicle before finalizing purchase.

NO BIDDERS WITH ZERO OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH ME!

THIS VEHICLE IS BEING ADVERTISED ELSEWHERE AND COULD BE SOLD BEFORE THE AUCTION HAS COMPLETED. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE AUCTION AT ANY TIME.

I realize buying a car based on a few photos on an internet auction may carry some risks. I want to make sure the buyer feels comfortable with his/her purchase. I will promptly respond to e-mail questions.

- $1,000 deposit 24 hours after the end of the auction, Paypal is accepted for the deposit

- Balance to be paid via bank wire within 5 days of end of auction

- Seller reserves the right to end auction prior to its end.

- If the vehicle is not as represented upon personal inspection, I will promptly refund your deposit. No refund after final Bill of Sale is signed.

- I always strongly encourage a pre-purchase inspection before making final payment.

My intent is for you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase! Please check my eBay rating

The condition on this car is impressive, and the styling really stands out. Sure, it's not as much of a draw as some of the more exotic metal from the other Italian manufacturers and you could easily argue that the BMW 3.0CS is a better looking car. But really good examples of the 3.0 are heading up towards $100,000 these days and the same is true of any of the Lamborghini or Ferrari examples. So what you have here is a budget exotic; few will know what it is, but you'll have the driving experience that relies on ties to the more exotic siblings it is related to. At the end of the day, this car screams cool 1970s Italian and I'd love to be seen in it; slap your best suit on, pack the Campari, slick your hair back and head for Lake Como. But this car can be had for a fraction of the cost of anything else that would give you the feeling this package would.

-Carter

Lancia

1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S

May 18, 2014 Graham

Lancia has been in a period of decline since the mid 1990s. Around that time the rally legend, the Delta Integrale, disappeared. Since then, the lineup has consisted of Fiat rehashes and more recently, rebadged Chryslers. Now with news that Fiat is restricting Lancia sales to Italy, it seems the writing is on the wall and this is another marque that will disappear. For now, let's enjoy some of the classics, like this 1973 Fulvia 1.3S for sale in Florida.

vCLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3SYear: 1973
Model: Fulvia 1.3S
Engine: 1.3 liter V4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 61,000 mi
Price: $30,000 Buy It Now

1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S. Originally purchased from one of the best dealers, Fantasy Junction of California, who imported it from Milan. Excellent condition and Rust free. Good driver. New Muffler. Original wool and silk interior. All interior parts in good condition. All mechanical parts in good condition. Engine runs great. Sport Steering wheel, Original available. Radio in glove box. Tool kit and manual available. All electronics work, clock is a bit temperamental.

SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY

Buyer responsible for all transportation of vehicle.

It's often said that the 1970s were a sort of wasteland of car design. While the Fulvia's origins date from the 1960s, this car lasted well into the 1970s and was an exercise in restrained elegance. For a while, these Fulvias hovered in the realm of affordability, but like many classic cars, prices are on the rise. We featured a 1976 Fulvia 1.3S last month for sale at $22,000. Most Fulvias of this vintage and trim level can be had in the low to mid $20,000 range, so this one at $30,000 is certainly testing the waters. If it's as good in person as it looks in pictures, this one may be worth a premium.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Classic

1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

May 4, 2014 Graham

There's something very special and very right about the styling on the 105/115 GTV; it's just a proper looking car, no matter if it's in stock configuration or modified with huge arches. The overhangs are just right, the proportion of glass to roofline works, the fenders have lovely compound curves, the chrome is just so; it's a fine looking automobile from a period when there were a lot of forgettable automobiles in general. Because of this, it's also been a traditionally popular model for modifications - some look great, and others so so. The other day I wrote up an updated GTV 1750; it kept the original style while adding a touch of modernity with an updated drivetrain. Today's example is a little more wild - turned up a few notches and rest-modded, what it lacks in originality it's made up in charisma:

Year: 1973
Model: GTV 20000
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 11,038 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

1973 ALFA ROMEO GTV 2000

Up for auction is a 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000, rust free, accident free, California car with clean title.
This GTV has a recent cosmetic restoration, and extensive performance tuning in the recent years of 13 years of ownership.

COSMETICS - The Alfa has been repainted in Rosso Corsa Red within the last 3 months. Before the repaint, the body was straight, but had an older paint job with peeling clear coat throughout. No body work was done, no rust issues or bubbling to repair. Brand new grill was added and painted. All trim, bumpers, and mirrors repainted gloss black as before.
Freshly powder coated 15" "Turbine" wheels on sport tires. H4 Headlights.

MECHANICS - The Alfa has just had a break job with new pads in front and back. New Carburetor mounts have recently been installed and Weber DCOE 45s have been tuned. New alternator.
Sperry Valve Works is a reputable Alfa Romeo tuner and was responsible for an extensive overhaul with their STAGE 5 package. This package is suitable for high performance street and track engines. Some of the package features includes: High performance valve job, silicon/aluminum bronze valve guides with Viton seals, performance valve springs, port & polish head and intake manifold, Euro manifold, oversized valves and seats, HP-4 Cam with 11.5mm cam lift, and more. Weber DCOE 45s, electric fuel pump, water pump, electric cooling fans, Hi-Po pistons and sleeves just to name a few of the other upgrades.
This extensive performance overhaul resulted in 165hp and 7,000rpm red line.

The suspension was upgraded with performance springs reducing height by 1 inch. Performance "Stinger" exhaust.
The clutch is good with master cylinder and slave cylinder previously replaced. The gearbox shifts well through all gears except the typical Alfa 2nd gear, which grinds a bit when shifting at high rpm.
Original spare, original jack tools are in the trunk. New battery with quick release, strapped in the trunk.

The Alfa been extensively upgraded for street performance, but is a few safety upgrades short of track competition. Thousands of dollars was spent on all the upgrades, and I have LOTS of receipts and engine built sheet to prove it. With all the performance upgrades, this GTV has lots of power with a huge power band, has a vicious exhaust note, handles very well, and is a blast to drive.

I can be reached for question at (424) 442-9042 Edgar

I can assist with getting a transportation quote from a reliable carrier.

Certainly there's a lot of work that's gone into this car and it looks the part. I stared at the wheels for a while before finally recognizing the model they came from; they're Mustang GT wheels, believe it or not, without the centercaps. While I'm typically not a fan of black wheels, the combination of the Rosso Corsa with the black details really makes this GTV stand out, coupled with an upgraded suspension and more power, there's a lot to like here. However, I'd still want to inspect the car closely before purchasing; that glossy paint could easily be hiding some body work, or worse - rust. Value on these GTVs has been flat for a few years, and I'd expect this car to be valued in the $25,000 - $28,000 range. At that price, it's a great alternative to the 2002 tii crowd, and much cheaper than the car it shares some traits with in this setup - the Hakosuka GTR.

-Carter

Classic, Lamborghini

1973 Lamborghini Espada

March 23, 2014 Graham 1 Comment

When it comes to revolutionary designs in Italian car history, there are plenty to choose from. However, when it comes to controversial and polarizing car designs, few manufacturers manage to embody these traits quite as well as Lamborghini. Spurred on by his rivalry of Ferrari in the early 1960s, Ferruccio Lamborghini went from making cars that were in the mold of Ferraris - the 350 GT - to cars that simply broke the mold. First to emerge was the revolutionary Miura, with its transverse mid-mounted V12 and unbelievable looks. Soon after followed one of the wildest Grand Tourers the world has seen; lesser known than the Miura but sharing some of its otherworldly DNA was the Espada. A more conventional front engine platform meant there was room for two in the back, but that didn't stop the Gandini shape from being unconventional at the same time. Full of ducts, vents and grills in the front, the Espada was all glass in the rear with a rather unique see-through design. It was indescribably cool, and the Espada sold in great numbers as a result with over 1,200 produced. This 1973 model comes from the middle of the production run:

Year: 1973
Model: Espada
Engine: 3.9 liter V12
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: Not Listed
Price: $89,500

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Lamborghini Espada

1973 Lamborghini Espada Series III red with tan interior. 5- speed . Very rare dual air conditioning. This is an excellent original California car. The paint has some blemishes but is mechanically superb. For only $89,500.

While not much mechanical history on this car is offered, it certainly looks like one of the better examples that has come to market recently. It's a great color combination and shows the Gandini design well. Typically these cars have been somewhat neglected in the classic Italian car realm, though the significance of the design is starting to show through; after all, in the past few years we've seen the "Grand Coupe" design reappear at BMW, Mercedes and Audi amongst others. At just shy of $90,000, this car represents pretty accurately the going rate for a series 3 Espada in such condition.

-Carter

Alfa Romeo

1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

August 13, 2013 Graham 2 Comments

While the Alfa Romeo Spider could be considered one of the most popular Italian collector vehicles in the US, not everyone is a convertible fan. What to do, then? How about that car’s sibling, the GTV? Introduced in 1963, this coupe lived a long live up through the late 1970s and was a popular alternative stateside to the car that made BMW’s bones, the 2002. This particular GTV is rather special, as it was owned by our reader George who has been a long time owner of Alfa Romeos in addition to being a sales agent at Mediterranean Motors, back when Alfa sold cars in this market. It is a fully documented car and is sure make for a great motoring companion for the next owner.

Year: 1973
Model: GTV 2000
Engine: 2.0 liter inline four
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 38,420 miles
Price: $25,500

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

1973 2000 GTV Gorgeous ALFA, All original with no body modifications and no rust and no accident history. Always garaged with a car cover. The engine and gear box rebuilt with 15k miles. Approximately 9 years ago the car was taken down to bare metal and repainted with the Ferrari Yellow paint, minor blemishes.

I have history of the car with all the work that was done in very detailed documents from mechanics of a Lamborghini dealer. It drives like a GTV should drive! If need to inspect the car you are more than welcome I am in PA at the Poconos area. Car starts up with no problems, without any ifs or buts!

Car Upgrades:
Fast Road Suspension Kit (C) from Alfaholics
All bushes have been changed with polyurethane...
Koni Sport Damper's (Yellow)
10:43 LSD differential 65% new friction plates, wheel bearings and seals.
Engine was blueprinted..cylinder heads upgraded, over size valves 46mm inlet & 38mm exhaust, 10.1 pistons'. Carrillo rods.
Colombo & Bariani 12mm camshafts.
Heavy duty engine mounts
The Fuel Injection Spica is done by INGRAM Enterprises...
Stainless exhaust..sounds unbelievable....
175 hp... breathtaking acceleration
Alfaholics 4-Pot Brake Kit (One of the best for the GTV's)
The paint is in very! very! good condition
All leather seats...car is free of rust...no cracks anywhere of the dashboard
New Panasport Racing rims 15x8 Dunlop Direzza Sport tires 205/50
Never driven in the rain. I've owned Alfas for 45 years. This is one of my favorite GT's
CD AM/FM Radio with 2 6x9 speakers ….($600)
Original Bumpers they are (like new) are included
The car can be driving cross country at any time
More information...570-801-1762

It's One of the Best in the US....

With the Panasport wheels and yellow paintwork, this GTV does a great deal to stand out from the crowd, as you usually see these painted in red, silver, or various shades of blue. With the bumpers removed it also loses a bit of weight and lends a bit of a club sport feel to it. The seller has priced this GTV rather attractively, as late model examples in good condition can run you north of $30,000. For those interested in this vehicle, they can touch base with the seller, George, at 570-801-1762.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1973 Lamborghini Espada

June 6, 2013 Graham 2 Comments

Like the LM002A we featured on Tuesday, the Espada was one of those oddball Lamborghinis. Other than its outlandish styling, the concept of this four seater GT car seems a distant relic from the supercars that make up the lineup today. Even though this low slung coupe may be long forgotten, it represents one of the best values in terms of classic Lamborghinis today. This silver example for sale in Nevada needs some attention but nothing that would scare off the more serious classic Italian car enthusiasts.

Year: 1973
Model: Espada
Engine: 4.0 liter V12
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 85,089 miles
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1973 Lamborghini Espada

1973 Espada III, 2-door, 4 passanger coupe (really seats 4 adults) very good color combo, it always atrracts a lot of attention. Car was restored in 2000: engine, suspension, brakes all rebuilt; new paint and new full leather interior. Transmission was NOT rebuilt so 1st/2nd syncros are weak (double clutch it). Car only driven summers, mostly to car shows. Car took 1st place at Concourso Italiano in '08 - Espada/Islaro/Jerama class. Car has been stored for two years, so probably needs tuneup and tires are well worn.

With the transmission needing attention and the added issues of worn tires and a tune up needed, I’d suspect this Espada may bring in the neighborhood of $45,000 to $55,000, as that would leave room for such maintenance costs. It would be worth spending the time and money to bring this brute back to tip top condition. These V12 tourers represent a period in Lamborghini’s history when more conventional, four seater sports cars would give way to the wild and brash Countach and smaller, V8 engined Uracco and Jalpa that would carry the company through turbulent times in the 1980s. For a V12 Italian exotic, it’s certainly an uncommon bargain in comparison to its contemporaries.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1973 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato 1600

March 14, 2013 Graham

Zagato has always been good at turning the ordinary into extraordinary. And so it goes with the Junior Zagato, based off the Alfa Romeo 1300 and 1600 105/115 series Giulia coupes. These were very modern looking cars for their time, with fastback styling and headlamps made flush via Perspex covers. The Zagato 1600 wound up being a tad longer than the 1300, with a longer sloping back and slightly revised rear panel. Just over 400 of these diminutive sports coupes were made and but a handful exist in the US. This one for sale in Michigan is one of them.

1973 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato 1600

1973 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato 1600: 402 produced, 12 in the U.S. I imported the car in 1977. The car is in excellent condition, no rust, drives great, new interior. 33,750 miles. Price: $64,000

We featured a 1971 Junior Zagato 1300 last year, which had a starting bid of $28,500. At $64,000, this is quite a dear price for this small Alfa and is closing in on exotic territory. This car has been for sale since late last year, so I'd suspect a little will have to come off the asking price to move the metal. I'd suspect it might wind up selling eventually for somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1973 DeTomaso Pantera L

January 15, 2013 Graham 2 Comments

One of the most famous Italian-American vehicle collaborations, the DeTomaso Pantera succeeded the Mangusta and would go on to be a much more successful sports car, with over 7,000 produced. These cars would be sold through Lincoln Mercury dealers in the US, and it gave Ford something exotic to draw people into the showrooms. Powered by a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 and a ZF gearbox, these cars had a lot more pulling power from the low end as compared to their Italian competitors. Pantera imports to the US stopped in 1975, but the car soldiered on all the way until 1991. This 1973 example for sale in Arizona has aged well, aided by the relatively neutral dark silver hue.

1973 DeTomaso Pantera L

1973 DeTomaso Pantera L

Body: The car was originally silver and was media blasted to bare metal and professionally painted by Finishing Touch Refinish in Fountain Hills Arizona in 2007. Aston Martin Tungsten Silver is now the cars color. Wheels are painted with a matte finish Mercedes Benz 744 Silver. Rocker panels and the exposed plastic portion of the door handles, generally black from the factory, are color matched to the car. This is a 1973 DeTomaso Pantera L which came from the factory with the large front rubber bumper and large projecting rear metal bumper. The rear bumper has been deleted from the car to give the body a nicer line and allow for the use of an original ANSA GTS header and muffler system. The rear bumper and mounts will be included in the sale. The Ford style rectangular drivers’ side mirror has been replaced by one from a Dino Ferrari which gives a nice line to the car. A Ford NOS drivers’ side mirror will be included with the sale. “Ghia”, “DeTomaso” and “Pantera” emblems were not installed on the car. Fresh DeTomaso / Pantera and original Ghia emblems come with the car. The car is badged with the front bumper DeTomaso “Family Crest” emblem and the “Powered By Ford” rear deck emblem. Clear bra added to rocker panels and rear haunches where tires could throw debris.

Engine: Numbers Matching 351CJ
Engine Rebuilt by Don Woodard, Phoenix, AZ October 2001.
Completely balanced, TRW pistons #L2379, SS valves, Crowler Cam #15242, Crowler roller rockers #73615, Gear Drive, Holley 700 cfm #0-4778C, Ford Drua-Spark Ignition with Ford Motorsport Ignition Module (made by MSD for Ford Motorsport), Pantera specific McLoud clutch, Jet Hot Coated ANSA GTS headers and mufflers, Carbon Fiber Air Cleaner Assembly. Ford high torque starter.

Transaxle: Numbers matching ZF 5 speed in excellent working order. New Spicer half-shafts and u-joints. Transaxle was inspected by Roy Butfoy in the late 1970’s.

Suspension: Powder coated A-arms, new bushings (non-polyurethane), freshly rebuilt Koni shocks with spring spacers removed. Fresh ball joints, front and rear wheel bearings. Chrome on springs and torsion bars.

Brakes: Stock Girling front brakes.
Upgraded 3 piston rear Girling Brakes (as used on Ferrari Lamborghini & Jaguar) and Brembo Emergency brakes. New master cylinder. Vented brake rotors. Fresh Front brake pressure reducer – not installed secondary to wheel and tire combination.

Wheels / Tires: Freshly painted (matte finish Mercedes Benz 744 Silver) Campagnolo Pantera Magnesium Alloy wheels.
Rear: 10 x 15 GTS wheels mounted to AVON CR6-zz 295/50R/15 (DOT approved tire)
Front: 7 x 15 front wheels mounted to TOYO Proxes RA1 225/50ZR/15 (DOT approved tire)
(also have the original 8 inch rear wheels)

Cooling: Fluidyne aluminum radiator and upgraded cooling fans, Ford GT expansion tank upgrade (modern cooling system), all new rubber hoses.

Electrical: Ford 100 amp 3G alternator, 12 volt relay switching to reduce current to electric windows, horn and headlight switches. Tachometer reworked by North Hollywood Speedometer to be compliant with ignition module.
Ammeter, included with sale, was removed and replaced by a period Veglia clock. (There is a potential fire danger when using a high amperage alternator with the Veglia Borletti ammeter.) Windshield wiper conversion to a single arm unit which parks on the passenger’s side. New Hella (H4) headlights and two color rear lights (orange blinker section).

Heater / AC: Blower box installed and wired, but AC and Heater hoses are not routed to the box. New AC condenser. Heater hoses and AC compressor and hoses are not installed on car but are included with the sale.

Interior: Fresh molded seat foams. Seating surfaces are from Wilkinson Pantera from the 1970’s and are in good shape with no tears. Radio delete plate with “DeTomaso” script. New floor and rear bulkhead carpets. New head liner (very rare snake bite pattern) purchased years ago and just installed fall 2011. Fresh, speaker delete, door panels. No tears in arm rests. Sun visors are tight - they will not drift down when driving the car. Fresh leather on a Vintage MOMO Steering wheel with a flush mounted MOMO center cap. Have a perfect stock steering wheel that will be included with the car. Window glass and stainless accents are in good to excellent shape. All stainless trim was polished when it was off the car.

Front Compartment: Old felt removed during restoration and final body color added to front compartment. Fluydine radiator, Optima Battery, highly detailed power brake booster, brake and clutch cylinders. Fresh weather-strip. All factory badges attached. Small area of paint blistering under windshield wash reservoir secondary to spillage of brake fluid.

Rear Compartment: Old factory coating removed during restoration and final body color added to rear compartment. All factory badges attached. Fiberglass cargo carrier has new felt and new locking Dzus style fasteners. Original spare tire. Original tool bag with original jack, jack handle and ratchet. Have replaced the wrenches with vintage HAZET’s. Wiring is routed through the body frame. Very few exposed wires in the engine compartment. Fresh rear deck shocks. Fresh weather-strip.

Undercarriage: Clean. Undercoating was not removed during restoration. Powder coated water tubes. New brake and clutch tubing. Rebuilt steering rack.

I purchased this car in 1976, sold it to my brother while I attended college and repurchased the car. Prior to being licensed in Arizona (2011), the car was licensed in Washington State. The last renewal date on the Washing tabs was in 1978. Prior to Arizona licensing and road testing in 2011, the car was inspected by Les Gray (current president of Pantera Owners Club of America). The car was appraised in November 2011 for 92,500 dollars by Penn Black of “Auto Appraisal Network”. The appraiser has a YouTube video of the car taken in Nov. 2011 under the title “PennBlack Pantera”.

The great thing about the Pantera is that you can get a lot of exotic Italian style with American reliability for not a lot of cash as compared to the usual Ferraris or Lamborghinis. At a shade under $45,000 to about $70,000 is the order of the day when it comes to Panteras of this vintage and I'd suspect this example would probably reach to the upper end of that range.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1973 Lamborghini Jarama 400GTS

December 11, 2012 Graham

Lamborghinis have a reputation for being brash; over the top some may say. But the company that builds these exotic, high-end sport cars started out in the 1960s with a goal to create a more refined car than Ferrari. The Jarama came along in 1970 and was built on a shortened Espada chassis. Not many of these coupes were manufactured. Only 328 emerged from the factory over a six year span. Not your typical car you'd find in Wisconsin, this bright orange GTS version we see here has the higher horsepower 4.0 liter V12 engine with 350 horsepower.

1973 Lamborghini Jarama 400GTS

This stunning 1973 Lamborghini Jarama GTS (also known as Jarama S and 400 GTS) is 1 of only 152 GTS models produced between 1973 and 1976 which features many desirable improvements over the previous Jarama GT model, including an exterior makeover, a completely restyled interior, cooling improvements, and a more powerful version of the legendary 4-cam V12 engine delivering 365 horsepower. With only 8,797 miles, this is likely not only the lowest mileage example in existence, but also likely the most pristine cosmetically in existence. This Jarama GTS is well known among the Lamborghini community and has been featured in the book The Complete Book of Lamborghini by Pete Lyons. Below is a detailed description illustrating how pristine this Jarama GTS is in all aspects:

Exterior: The body has been subjected to a comprehensive and top-quality color change from silver to stunning Arancio (a period-correct orange) where the engine, glass, and interior were removed during the process. As of this time, the paint and exterior trim remain in pristine condition as it they have been carefully preserved and there is no rust. The original Campagnolo magnesium wheels are also pristine and feature correct decals.

Interior: The carpet and seats have been changed from tan to black utilizing the finest quality of leather and carpet, all of which is in pristine condition. The interior features the original factory Phillips am/fm cassette stereo mounted overhead between the sun visors as well as air conditioning and power windows. All of the instrumentation, seatbelts, switchgear, interior trim, dash and headliner are in the pristine cosmetic condition and visual appeal you would expect of a carefully loved 8,797 mile Lamborghini.

Engine: The engine received a full service this spring due having been used so little, which included the timing chains being re-tensioned, camshafts timed, valves adjusted, distributors rebuilt, ignition timed, belts/filters/fluids/plugs changed, and carburetors completely rebuilt by GT Motorsports. The engine idles exceptionally steady and pulls aggressively and smoothly throughout the entire RPM range during acceleration. The transmission is very tight and shifts smoothly into all gears. Noted Lamborghini specialist George Evans of Evans Automotive overhauled the braking and system over the past winter months. The next owner of this car should have peace of mind not having to incur the expense and time that is usually associated with revitalizing an ultra-low mileage Lamborghini as so much has been completed recently.

Summary: This 1973 Lamborghini Jarama GTS is the ideal example for the Lamborghini enthusiast who demands the best and understands the it is financially prudent to purchase a vintage Lamborghini that is in top-condition as one can spend two to threee times the purchase price of a “driver” or “project car” to bring it up to the standard this example is in, yet still have a high mileage car. This Lamborghini should easily pass any rational pre-purchase inspection with flying colors. Please note that the following items are included:

3-ring binder containing service paperwork
Clear Wisconsin title that is free of liens
Full-size Campagnolo spare wheel and tire
Original jack and tool kits
Owner’s manual
Two sets of keys

This car appears to be the same Jarama that came up for sale in Arizona last December for $79,000. One year later, we're at $84,950. Not a terrible increase in one year, but I'm not sure that this would be the kind of market where you could flip an obscure sports car like this in one year and make $5,000. I still love this car, though. The color just draws me in and the black leather interior peppered with the little bit of wood on the steering wheel and shift knob has the aura of a gentleman's lounge.

-Paul

Fiat, Revisit

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe – REVISIT

November 15, 2012 Graham 1 Comment

The Fiat 130 Coupe in Florida that we have featured twice on CICFS is back up for sale once again. The seller has lifted the reserve and we are currently well below the $41,900 reserve he had set back in the summer.

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe on eBay - REVISIT

The below post originally appeared on our site July 26, 2012:

The Fiat 130 Coupethat we featured back in June has been relisted with a Buy It Now price of $41,900. These large cruisers were rare to begin with and even rarer still today, so I thought we'd highlight this nicely preserved example one last time.

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe

Fiat 130 Coupe Pininfarina Automatic. It has had only two owners, the vehicle belonged to the owner of the Fiat Dealer of Modena Italy (Mr. Sereni Pier Antonio) in 1973. As the picture shows, it still preserves the original stamp on the rear window from the "Sereni" Dealer Fiat di Vignola (Modena, Italy). The second owner, Mr. Bartolini Ermanno, bougnt the car in Modena, Italy, in 1977 but after Mr. Bartolini passed away, the vehicle was not used for the next 20 years. The vehicle is always been kept in a garage (see pics). It have kept the original paint with some minor lateral retounces due mostly to the time it was kept unused.

Some changes have been done for the maintenance in Italy (for wich we provide a recipt)

- Full tune up (oil change, filter, spark plugs, etc.)
- Exhaust system replacement
- Cleaning of interior
- Transmission tune up and change filter
- Service caburetors

The total maintenance was approximately 3,000 Euro (we have invoices). When the wehicle was brougnt it was given maintenance to the A/C and gas review ($500 USD). This car is incredible original condition: interior, carpets and also door and trunk gasket. Vehicle still has original plastic wraps on doors. This car is unique. 33,000 miles, Florida title, everything works perfectly (A/C, hydraulic steering, etc.)

The vehicle was imported from Italy to USA in 2012.

The asking price is rather steep on this car, but so is the Abarth 130TC that the seller is also offering. Realistically, this car might bring somewhere in the $20,000 to $25,000 range at the maximum. The amount of people that would be interested in this kind of a car on these shores is limited, but that shouldn't take away from this coupe's significance in Fiat history. While they do have an Aurelio Lampredi designed V6, these coupes never garnered as much interest as the admired Fiat Dino Coupes and Spiders. But as a grand touring machine, they succeeded with strikingly modern looks in a class known for more reserved styling.

-Paul