Tag Archives: 1983

Alfa Romeo

1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 Balocco Edition

The BMW E30 325is and M3 have become the darling of the enthusiast who wants a bit more than just the typical boy racer sports coupe. But, as with all good things, even E30 ownership is starting to become a bit cliche. So where's an enthusiast to turn if he or she wants something a bit more unique? Enter the Alfa Romeo GTV6. Rear-wheel drive, rear mounted transaxle with inboard brakes, a lusty V6...this coupe has got it all. Unlike the BMW E30, you have to search far and wide for a good GTV6, but this 1982 Balocco Edition for sale in Las Vegas should catch the attention of the Alfisti.

Year: 1982
Model: GTV6 Balocco Edition
Engine: 2.5 liter V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 57,700 mi
Price: £19,100 (~ $30,314 USD)

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 Balocco Edition

Fourth owner of documented AR 1004177 built on 20 April 1982, Original owner Jimmy Lukman – This Alfa was delivered to Alfa Romeo of Santa Barbara, California; In 1984 it was sold to, Charles Berryessa – Santa Cruz ; In 2000 it was sold to, Doug Colacicco - Santa Cruz. Since 2005 this Alfa has been in Portland, Oregon United States used as track vehicle at Alfa Romeo club events and occasional tours. Current mileage 57,700. Balocco #211 - Alfetta GTV6 in pristine shape!

Specifics:
Refreshed entire Upper Control Arms, Lower Control Arms, and dion suspension with poly bushings, renewed upper and lower balljoints, tie rods, modified with Ron Simmons racing coil over suspension, reinforced mounting using a 30 mm front sway bar, 25.4mm rear Shankle sway bar; rose jointed front sway and rose jointed adjustable RSR watts link; 105 style caster rods installed, Jarmo Kekarainen of Finland shortened ratio 2.2 turns steering gear, shaved lower arm spacers - lowered; toe set at 3.5mm, caster LH + 7.25 RH +7.5, camber set - 1.5.

Retains original 2.5 liter motor # 0A52020, fire-rings head gasket updated to one piece unit, de-tensionor updated with alfa romeo mechanical unit, fuel injectors balanced, maintained valves triple cut w/ new stem seals, timing advanced and exhaust rocker duration adjusted; Ansa euro down pipes, Ansa center muffler delete, Ansa sport exhaust rear. Motor resting in urethane motor mounts wrapped in heat reflective tape. Total oil syn 10-60w used. Coolant fluid is VW G12.

Original 3.42:1 ratio transaxle maintained, rebuilt with Merritt Carden back-cut and cross drilled gears all 5 gears plus reverse and idler gear (reduce rotating mass at 3%1st gear, 17% 2nd gear, 11% 3rd gear, 6% 4th gear, and 7% fifth gear). Shifter modified with lengthened bottom lever; plastic sleeves replaced with needle bearings for smooth positive engagement. Alfa 75 limited slip added with twin slip discs for 47% rear lock up. Dual disc clutch retained but rebuilt with sinter clutch discs for better bite at engagement. Braided Stainless steel clutch hose used. Rear flywheel lightened. 10 row, 6 AN transmission cooler added with 12v - 2 gal. per minute Titan racing oil pump. Trans cooler installed up under driver rear with aluminum scoop to draw air, inline filter screen installed and thermo switch. Trans cooler located away safely from FIA curbing damage. Using Redline NS 75-90w oil with limited slip additive only to adjustment.

All three guibos in driveline in healthy condition.

Wilwood Dyna pro 4 pot calipers in front with Giro disc aluminum floating hat spacers and Wilwood slotted discs. Front rotor is 5% larger in diameter, and 15% larger in width vs. OEM. SZ Alfa spacers added to Alfa rear brakes with two-piece, Giro disc ventilated rotor that help shed heat in problematic area. Combination of Raypestos ST-43 compound front and Ferodo DS-3000 rear. Braided stainless steel brake hoses all around.

Original black leather interior with black and red seat piping, red carpet. Six point Willians quick lock harness installed on driver's side. Becker 612 Chassis "gran prix" cassette stereo with Becker installed auxiliary plug for an modern day 3.5mm audio connection. MOMO 350mm Veloce leather steering wheel with MOMO steering interface and OMP 60MM steering wheel extension for correct steering wheel placement. Dash flawless without cracks.
Sale includes 6 Original Campanolo magnesium Alfa Romeo wheels with (4) Toyo RA 788 - 205x50x15, (2) original Pirelli P6 (2); Gotti J55B 2 piece 15 x 6 shod with (4) Michelin Pilot W rated 215x55x15; also set of Team Dynamics Pro 1.2 Race 15 x 7 with (4) Toyo RA1 205x50x15.

Standard Balocco options remain and original take offs + some spares; AirConditioning is present but has slight R12 leak and has had throughout ownership history - never been repaired (alfa romeo patina)

Inspection available at one of four Alfa Romeo specialist in area.

Link to photos:

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=93a055228ce68bb8&id=93A055228CE68BB8%21524#cid=93A055228CE68BB8

This is one seriously clean and dialed in GTV6. The fact that it is a rare Balocco Edition makes it all the more tempting. The price is listed at 19,900 GBP, which is steep for one of these cars. The owner may have meant to reflect the price in USD, so it would be worth verifying, as it is a US car marketed on a British site. The best GTV6s of this era are hovering around the $11,000 to $15,000 mark currently. With its extensive amount of modifications, this would make one seriously cool track day car that you could daily rather easily.

-Paul

Fiat, Revisit

1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC – REVISIT

The Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC we featured last fall is back up for sale with a much lower Buy It Now price, in contrast the the previous ask of $23,500.

1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC on eBay - REVISIT

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The below post originally appeared on our site November 28, 2012:

Hot hatches were all the rage in the 1980s and Fiat's answer to the GTI was a series of hot Ritmos (known as the Strada in the US) tuned by Abarth. The final evolution in the Ritmo Abarth saga, the 130TC, packed a 2.0 liter twin cam, dual carb four cylinder engine capable of 128 horsepower. We've featured two 130TCs here at CICFS already, but this is the first one that has appeared on US shores, making it attractive for Abarth fans who want something just a little different than the 500 Abarth currently being offered by the company today.

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Year: 1983
Model: Ritmo
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 69,000 mi
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC - REVISIT

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Here is for sale my 1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC (2 liters) 5-speed, this car does not need any thing other than TLC. I have a clear Florida title, engine very strong, drives as an Abarth should do, 5 speed manual all original, make no mistake this is not, just a Ritmo 130, it is a factory made Abarth, force to sell due to lack of space and time, too many cars, please text or call at 305-401-7469 mail me at tony1961@msn.com

VIN: ZFA138A0002968221, 1983 model, 69,000 miles

VERY GOOD CONDITION

NO DENTS OR DINGS,

HAD NO ACCIDENTS

RECARO ORIGINAL (OPTIONS) SEATS

PERFECT INTERIOR, ALL ORIGINAL

TWO OWNERS FROM NEW

DRIVE FANTASTIC: TOP SPEED 195 Km/h ( 121 MPH ) - 0-100km/h ( 0-60 MPH ): 7,6

THE CAR HAS FLORIDA TITLE - IMPORTED FROM EUROPE IN 2012

In 1984 Fiat released the final production model of the Ritmo, the 130 TC Abarth. The car is based on the Ritmo 2 body, but contains exciting modifications. Abarth modifications to suspension and engine gave this car ample quantities of both acceleration and handling. The 125TC (130TC predecessor based on Ritmo 1 shell) won the 1982 Italian Group A Championship. The Ritmo 130TC was with Group N rallying in mind, and when released in 1984, was the quickest production hatch available. The Ritmo 130TC was produced between 1984 - 1988, developed 130 bhp at 5900 rpm, and could sprint to 100kmh in just under 8 seconds. This car had a very firm ride that some people would have found uncomfortable. The optional Recaro seats look the business but lack lumbar and under thigh support. They do offer good lateral support while cornering. One cannot help but wonder what the 131 Rally's 16 valve head may have added to this already impressive equation.

An October 1982 facelift saw the Ritmo's styling become more restrained with more conventional re-designed front and rear ends.[9] Base models sold on the continent featured the by-now familiar corporate five-bar grille with single round headlamps set in a conventional grille, whilst all other models featured twin round headlamps (in the UK, all models of this generation featured twin headlamps). The rear gained conventional light clusters either side of the rear numberplate. The 1.05 litre "Brazil" engine was no longer available.

The 105TC was relaunched with revised interior trim, a dashboard mirroring that of the earlier Ritmo Super, and an upper hatchback spoiler in place of the lower one. In the UK, 7-spoke alloy wheels replaced the earlier Speedline ones. The advertising name was revised to Strada II in the UK, although the car remained badged as a Strada. The US version was unchanged but was finally discontinued at the end of the 1982 model year, leaving only sports cars in the US Fiat lineup (the X1/9 and the 124 Spider).

Most significantly, a hot hatch version — the Abarth 130TC — was added. This model was based on the 125TC with a 1,995 cc engine, but with performance increased to 130 PS (96 kW; 128 bhp) by replacing the single Weber carb used in the 125TC with twin Solex/Weber carbs on a side-draught manifold, and improved cam profiles. The 130TC was capable of 195 km/h (121 mph) and accelerated from 0 to100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.8 seconds.[6] It was a raw hot hatch fitted with Recaro bucket seats as standard in the UK (optional in Europe), and significantly it was the only 1980s hot hatch to continue utilise carburettors instead of fuel injection coming with either twin Solex ADDHE or Weber DCOE40 carburetors. Ignition timing was controlled electronically. Although appearing outwardly similar to the restyled 105TC with its lower door & wheelarch trims, the 130TC could be distinguished by its polished four-spoke alloy wheels (continued from the earlier 125TC), aerodynamic perspex front door wind deflectors, and lower hatchback spoiler. The raw powerful twin-cam mated to a close ratio ZF gearbox made it a handful to drive, with the performance to outpace many of its contemporary rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf GTi, Ford Escort XR3i, Vauxhall Astra GTE and the MG Maestro.

more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ritmo

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The last 130TC we featured for sale was priced at about $11,000, and that was located in Italy. Is $23,500 the price of unobtanium these days? For this Fiat, I doubt it. While it is certainly in good shape and quite possibly the only example of its kind in the US, that doesn't necessitate such a huge markup. It seems the seller is hoping to recoup the shipping and importation costs while making a tidy profit. With a market for a car this small, this price is just way too out of the ballpark.

-Paul

Maserati, Modern Classic

1983 Maserati Quattroporte

With a new Quattroporte debuting this year, now is a good time to take a step back in time and look back at prior generations of this executive saloon. The third generation Quattroporte debuted in the late 1970s shortly after Alejandro De Tomaso took the reigns of the company. He envisioned an Italian competitor to the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9. This would be one of the last truly handbuilt Italian cars with all exterior seams filled in and an interior trimmed in leather as only the Italians could do. While most Quattroportes from this generation were fitted with a Chrysler 3-speed Torqueflite automatic, a ZF 5-speed manual was available. This exceptionally clean Quattroporte for sale in Germany has the 5-speed gearbox and must be a pleasure to drive at high speeds down the Autobahn.

1983 Maserati Quattroporte

The Maserati Quattroporte III is the last hand-built Maserati, it also has the historic 450-S-derived 4.9-liter V8, which is the final evolution of a similar engine fitted in the Gibli, Bora, Indy, Khamsin and Kyalami. For the design, Giorgetto Giugiaro was committed. Under the De Tomaso era such a luxury sedan was built, which was both elegant and sporty. The direct competitors were the Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, Jaguar XJ12, Bentley Mulsanne and Aston Martin Lagonda.

The vehicle offered was delivered to the Bank of Italy in Venice. The car was recently imported from Italy. The sunny climate results in a very good body with no rust. The overall condition is to be assessed as excellent. The car has just had a full service at the prestigious Maserati specialists Schiemenz in Bonn. Here, the clutch was replaced and transmission was sealed; it also has had all wear parts replaced. The costs amounted to more than €13,000.

The aim of this beautiful Maserati is long, carefree pleasure and look forward to its H-plates in two years. Since the paint was used up, the car was bare metal resprayed at prestigious specialists, fixed what little damage there was to the body and then painted in Nero (black) at a cost of €12,200. It is a rare car, in which a 5-speed transmission was specified, that increases driving enjoyment and the appreciation potential. The interior is entirely lined with the finest leather, which is also in very good shape. If you are looking for an individual car that is guaranteed to evolve into a classic, then you will find it here. The car will be sold with full TÜV report, German vehicle registration.

At €35,990 (~ $46,290 USD), this is by far the most expensive Series III Quattroporte I've ever seen on offer. Interestingly, the seller's website lists the car at an even higher price of €44,980 (~ $57,911 USD). Whatever the case may be, the 5-speed Series III Quattroportes are a rare car indeed. A big, V8 executive saloon with a manual transmission isn't something your average manufacturer would attempt nowadays, save for the D2 chassis Audi S8 with its available 6-speed manual. But then again, Maserati isn't your average manufacturer.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1983 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Autodelta Turbo

Creating a follow up act to the Giulia was never going to be an easy task for Alfa Romeo. This compact sedan helped define the emerging sports sedan segment in the 1970s and was a favorite of the Carabinieri. Introduced in 1977, this car was based on the new Alfetta, featuring its rear-mounted gearbox layout. With its three box design featuring a short trunk with a beltline that raised up at the rear, this car would foreshadow styling trends to come in the next decade.

Alfa Romeo decided to kick it up a notch in 1982 with the Giulietta Autodelta Turbo. Under the hood was a 2.0 liter, twin cam four cylinder aided by a KKK turbocharger which helped this unit pump out 168 horsepower. This was quite a heady number for a four cylinder engine from this era. Only 361 of these small, lively sedans were ever made; fewer still exist today. This rare Alfa is for sale in Livorno, on the coast due east of Florence, Italy.

1983 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Autodelta Turbo

Alfa Romeo Autodelta Turbo, type 116.A1B, only 361 units built, produced on 09/21/1983 (source documentation service Alfa Romeo Historic Motoring), LI original black plate. The car has been fully reconditioned along with the mechanicals while maintaining the original features from the Alfa Romeo factory. The upholstery is original, preserved as new because the car was always garaged. TRX tires on 365mm original rims. Possessing Certificate of Historical Importance and collecting ASI. Price on arrival and adequate to the car.

This is one seriously low mileage Alfa, with just over 40,000 miles on the clock. While no price is given, I'd suspect this car is rare enough to warrant a price of around what similarly mint Alfa Milanos and 75s are going for these days, which is anywhere between $7,000 and $10,000 USD. This car is rare enough in Europe, but you'd almost be guaranteed to be the only one on US soil to have a Giulietta Autodelta Turbo if you went to the lengths to import it.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1983 Ferrari 512BBi

The march towards a mid-engined, 12 cylinder Ferrari was a slow one, but after Enzo Ferrari came under increased pressure from racing competition in the 1960s, he eventually warmed to the idea with the mid-engined Dino race cars, the street versions of the Dino that entered series production and the rear engined, V12 powered P and LM race cars. With the introduction of the 512BB, or Berlinetta Boxer, at the Turin Motor Show in 1971, Ferrari shot an arrow across the bow of Lamborghini and their Miura, the original mid-engined supercar. The BB would go on sale in 1973 and was powered by a longitudally mounted flat 12 engine that produced 380 horsepower, a heady number for the time.

None of these BBs were ever sold new in the US, as Enzo Ferrari didn't think it was worth the bother to federalize them. Luckily, some of these stunning cars made it over. This particular example, however, wasn't one of them. It is for sale in Luxembourg and painted in a rather uncommon shade a black, a hue which matches its sharp, ready to pounce looks.

1983 Ferrari 512BBi

It was not an easy task for Ferrari to replace the mythical Daytona in the early 70s. Begun in 1969 the “BB” project focused all of the best knowledge available at the factory to be putted into the design from what was aimed to be the ultimate sports car. The first prototype was shown in 1971, it was an extremely modern car compared to the period production. Many technical solution directly came from the track such as the flat 12 engine as the ones used in F1 or sport prototypes. The first “365 Berlinetta Boxer” were delivered in late 73 and in 1976 the car was renamed 512 BB to rebirth the famous le Mans cars’ name capacity being increased from 4.4 to 5.0 liter.

Finally in 1981 the fuel injected version 512 BBi was introduced and gained very much in terms of building quality, road holding (Michelin TRX tyres) and reliability. It was a stressless car easy to drive in the daily traffic, a big improvement to the previous carburated ones. From the supercars of the 70s and early 80s, the BB was the quickest and best driving one, only 1007 fuel injected versions were built.

This rare 1983 black Boxer is in exceptional original condition having never been repainted and always maintained to the highest level. It was delivered in US but soon came back to Europe in the early 90s as the owner was looking for a mint black BB. It comes with an interesting history file, books and tools and it recently received an important service including a new clutch. The car drives magnificently and is still lovely to drive at high speed on highways.

Price: €135,000

At $176,000 USD equivalent, this BB is a bit on the high side in terms of value. While they were a top performer at Ferrari in the day, the similar looking 308 that came along later can be had for much less, offers adequate performance and is cheaper to maintain. True, the BB offers more speed, but for most enthusiasts, the 308 would do just fine. This year, a 1983 BBi sold at RM Auctions for $112,750. Given that these cars weren't sold here new, it adds to their obscurity and seems to affect values a bit. Since this car is for sale in Europe, collectors might be willing to pony up more cash, but I'm not sure it would bring the premium being asked here.

-Paul

Fiat, Revisit

1983 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth – REVISIT

2 Comments

The Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC we featured in the summer is back up for sale with no reserve. While it is rare, I doubt the sale price will come close to the $23,500 the owner was seeking a few months ago:

1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC on eBay - REVISIT

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The below post originally appeared on our site July 2, 2012:

Hot hatches were all the rage in the 1980s and Fiat's answer to the GTI was a series of hot Ritmos (known as the Strada in the US) tuned by Abarth. The final evolution in the Ritmo Abarth saga, the 130TC, packed a 2.0 liter twin cam, dual carb four cylinder engine capable of 128 horsepower. We've featured two 130TCs here at CICFS already, but this is the first one that has appeared on US shores, making it attractive for Abarth fans who want something just a little different than the 500 Abarth currently being offered by the company today.

1983 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth

Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC (2 liters), 5-speed. VIN : ZFA138A0002968221. 1983 model, 69,000 miles, very good condition. No dents or dings, see pictures. Like new! Had no major accidents, original Recaro seats (optional). Perfect interior, all original. Two owners from new. Drives fantastic. Top speed 195 km/h (121 mph). 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph): 7.6 seconds. The car has a Florida title, imported from Europe in 2012.

In 1984 Fiat released the final production model of the Ritmo, the 130 TC Abarth. The car is based on the Ritmo 2 body, but contains exciting modifications. Abarth modifications to suspension and engine gave this car ample quantities of both acceleration and handling. The 125TC (130TC predecessor based on Ritmo 1 shell) won the 1982 Italian Group A Championship. The Ritmo 130TC was with Group N rallying in mind, and when released in 1984, was the quickest production hatch available.

The Ritmo 130TC was produced between 1984 - 1988 , developed 130 bhp at 5900 rpm, and could sprint to 100kmh in just under 8 seconds. This car had a very firm ride that some people would have found uncomfortable. The optional Recaro seats look the business but lack lumbar and under thigh support. They do offer good lateral support while cornering . One cannot help but wonder what the 131 Rally's 16 valve head may have added to this already impressive equation.

The last 130TC we featured for sale was priced at about $11,000, and that was located in Italy. Is $23,500 the price of unobtanium these days? For this Fiat, I doubt it. While it is certainly in good shape and quite possibly the only example of its kind in the US, that doesn't necessitate such a huge markup. It seems the seller is hoping to recoup the shipping and importation costs while making a tidy profit. With a market for a car this small, this price is just way too out of the ballpark.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1983 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 1.5 QV

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud is an interesting car. It acquired a bit of a bad rap due to mechanical malfeasance, but with over one million vehicles sold, is one of Alfa Romeo's most successful models in its history. This car was the product of a joint venture between Alfa Romeo and Finmeccanica and a new plant was set up in the south of Italy as part of a labor agreement, hence the "Sud" part of the car's name. This 1983 model is the last year the Alfasud moniker appeared. After that, this car was called simply the "Sprint" as its lifecycle wound down in the late 1980s. Alfasuds weren't the heartiest of vehicles; as a result, many have disappeared from the roads, primarily due to rust issues. This survivor in Rome has an astoundingly low 22,000 miles on the clock, but I'm not sure I'd call the green carpet "bella."

1983 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 1.5 QV

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint 1.5 Quadrifoglio Verde, 105 hp, four-wheel disc brakes (front inboard). 1983 model year, white, upholstery in good condition, beautiful green carpet, very nice body paint, well functioning mechanically. One owner until 2010. New tires added in 2012.

At $5,800, there's other ways of getting into a classic Alfa Romeo but perhaps not with such little mileage or in such great condition. So what'll it be then? A slightly tatty Spider or a mint condition example of what some consider a forgettable Alfa. For me, it would probably be the Spider but for all the Alfasud's faults, the later Sprint iteration is charming in its own right.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1983 Ferrari 400i

2 Comments

Ferrari has been in the business of making grand touring coupes for years, but the 400 and later 412 seem to have been relegated to the dust bin in terms of the history of the Prancing Horse. This was a car of many firsts for Ferrari, two of which were the automatic transmission and anti-lock brakes. This car also enjoyed the longest production run of any Ferrari in history, from 1976 through 1989. While not officially imported to the US, many have made their way over here throughout the years. While this one isn’t for sale in the states, it is tantalizingly close in Toronto.

1983 Ferrari 400i

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Re-listed due to a rogue high bid, this 1983 Ferrari 400i is a beautifully preserved and very presentable example of Ferrari's V12 flagship GT car of the 1980's. Finished in grigio fumo over tan hides this is a superb example of one of Enzo Ferrari's most elegant and eye-catching designs. The vehicle is well maintained with good compression all around and boasts Ferrari’s classic V12 Columbo engine with its characteristically fantastic exhaust note. The car was treated to a very good respray some years ago and it still looks fresh today with only a few minor chips and dings. The interior is in excellent overall condition.

The car is complete with the original owners manuals and pouch, the complete original kidney style leather tool kit and first aid kit along with copies of the original shop and parts manuals. Car is a 1983 but is listed as a 1980 due to ebay not accepting a 5 digit VIN for vehicles made after 1981. Major service recently completed included valve adjustment, timing chain adjustment, all new belts and ignition wires, new water hoses, new fuel injectors, new fuel accumulators and fuel pump, new master cylinder, new flexible brake hoses, new front hood shocks, new water pump seal, rebuilt self leveling shocks, repacked differential and recent front end alignment.

The prior owner owned the vehicle for 26 years before I purchased the vehicle from Bobileff Motor Car in San Diego. Car was sold to me as not legal in CA due to modifications to exhaust made by previous owner. Since the pictures were taken the window tint has been removed. Reason for selling is that I have recently had the unexpected opportunity to purchase a Ferrari 365 GTC4 and cannot now accommodate both vehicles. This car is an excellent example of a rare collectable and potentially appreciating Ferrari V12.

Bidders with zero feedback will not be considered unless by prior arrangement. Car is located in Toronto, Ontario Canada and is available for inspection by appointment. Buyer is responsible for making all shipping and export arrangements and paying all costs. US buyers may contact TFXinternational.com or similar companies who specialize in trans-border shipping and brokerage of vehicles for questions re shipping and/or export arrangements.

At $22,500, this 400i seems cheap for Ferrari standards, but is actually right in line with where the market is for these large V12 coupes. Between $20,000 to $30,000 should buy you a decent runner these days with a good history, while anything above $30,000 will be the cream of the crop.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo, Modern Classic

1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6

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The Alfa Romeo GTV6 is a fantastic way to get into the Italian car hobby without spending a lot of money. With its V6 engine, well balanced rear drive chassis and history of racing in its bloodlines, it's an attractive piece for the sporting enthusiast. These coupes are not too hard to come by these days. While many have been beaten to within an inch of their lives, there's a surprising amount of well kept examples out there to choose from. This GTV6 for sale is a survivor that was stored for many years but recently revived to a reliable driver.

1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6

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1983 Alfa Romeo GTV 6 With 39,103 Original Miles. The Auto Check mileage has been corrected. I bought the transmission in it, years before I found the car, knowing this was special and the transmission I would want in the car I was going to keep the rest of my life. It is from a Milano Verde with taller gearing and a limited slip differential. The standard GTV 6 transmission does not have a limited slip differential. The transmission was rebuilt by Merritt Carden and features lightened gears. It has a Merritt made copy of a Shankle short throw shift linkage with Hyme joints. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old transmission, all the synchros were (and are) fine and there were no issues what-so-ever. My mechanic said the transmission was perfect! I put in the LSD with the taller gearing for better mileage as I was going to use the car on road trips. This transmission has only about 1,000 miles on it; it is just breaking in nicely and is superb! Another thing to bear in mind; it is getting close to impossible to find new synchros that are OEM parts and the aftermarket ones are frequently junk. Lightening the gears allows the synchros to last close to forever, if you DON'T lighten the gears, your synchros will not last. With this transmission, you can expect 100k (or more) miles of flawless shifting.

I got this car from the Carden family in the San Francisco Bay Area. It belonged to one of the older brothers but he got to the point he couldn’t climb in and out of it, so it was sitting in a horse barn and needed a complete resurrection which was done properly as I planned on keeping this car for the rest of my life. It had the original timing belt in it with the original hydraulic chain tensioner. There is no question this is a 39,000 mile car. All work was done by Alfaman Jim Cestarolo, whose family still runs Alfa Center in San Francisco and has for many years. I have all the service records since I had Jim do the work and you can talk to Jim. This is not just an average GTV 6, this is a really GOOD car! If you fins another GTV 6 with the same mileage on it that hasn't had all the work that I've done on mine, you will need to put $5,000 into it. All the rubber rots, the fuel pump will go bad, etc.

A friend and car guy I've known for over 30 years, told me this story about when he bought his Jaguar XK 120, "If I'd spent $5,000 more for a better car, I would have saved money in the long run." Again, everything was done as if I was keeping the car and I wanted it all done right. I have put about 1,000 miles on it getting it fully sorted out. If you have questions and want to speak to the mechanic, I will give you his number. He’s in Novato, California.

The good:

It still has the original dual fans and they work. New water pump, rebuilt hydraulic tensioner with OEM rebuild kit and timing belt. Stainless steel brake lines, rebuilt alloy front calipers and steel rear calipers, new master cylinder. Replaced all injector rubber hoses underneath the plenum. All new hoses for the radiator and heater, radiator checked. The clutch is excellent with 98% + of material remaining, the bearing and fork are excellent, new clutch slave cylinder. New center bearing for the driveshaft and new Giubos. New fuel pump and fuel lines. Air conditioning converted to the new refrigerant.

Fresh Michelin tires. 195/60 R 15 XSE, Pilot Exalto A/S. They appear to have less than 2,000 miles on them. There are still some “nubs” from the mould. The good condition leather interior has been treated with Connolly Hide Food. There is one small hole in the driver’s side front seat bolster, facing toward the door, probably from the previous owner getting into the car. There are surface cracks in the leather, but if treated and kept parked in a garage, the seats will last a long time. What kills the leather is lack of treatment and being left in the sun. It has the $200 sunroof handle surround that is machined out of ¼” thick material. The stock ones are all broken, they’re all cr*p. The guy is on the fence about making any more, he may and he may not. I got one of the last 4. The power windows work. There are no dings or chips in the glass. I have the windshield washer tank, although it is not pictured installed. It has a good pump on it. The paint is generally very good with a few chips here and there. There are a few very minor areas of surface rust. It does NOT have the usual rust in the wheel wells. The car has a clean California title and is registered. If the buyer is from California I will supply a recent smog certificate. It passed when I registered it.

The bad:

The left front corner of the car and part of the front around the grill has been repainted. The bodywork was done well but the paint is not an exact match in terms of shade or sheen. (it’s really not very bad) The plastic piece on the top left of the rear bumper that covers the gap, is separated from the center joint piece, (also not very bad). Some of the usual minor cracking on the dash. I have a dash pad for it that also cuts down on glare. It is not installed and comes with the car. The radio is nothing special but works. The car still has the “in the windshield” radio antenna, which never did work even when they were new.

There is no ugly!

The conclusion:

If you buy a car with this kind of low mileage that’s been sitting for 20+ years, plan on having to do everything I’ve had to do to have a reliable car. I have receipts for over $7,000 + plus the transmission which was a $1,500 overhaul, not including finding a Milano Verde transmission to be rebuilt, plus the cost of the car! Everything was checked for reliability and longevity. I have all the repair receipts. I’ve invested between $9,000 and $10,000 in total, to make a car that will give no surprises. I would not hesitate an instant to get in this car and drive from California to New York, or anywhere else on the east Coast. If you want a good one, buy this car!

A good GTV6 will run someone anywhere between $8,000 to $12,000 these days. The opening bid of $8,000 is a bit high and doesn't leave a lot of breathing room for bidders, but given the work done to it, plus the later transmission with the limited slip differential, I'd say this GTV6 would be as good as any if you're in the market for one of these.

-Paul

Lancia, Modern Classic

1983 Lancia Delta 1500

When it was introduced in 1979, few could believe that the Lancia Delta would eventually go on to be the vehicle that would win six World Rally Championships in a row for Lancia, from 1987 to 1992. But before the four wheel drive arrived, before the championships began to amass, there was the car you see before you here. Introduced in 1979, the original Delta featured a 1.5 liter four cylinder engine with 85 horsepower, front-wheel drive and squared off lines penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The combination was attractive enough to win the European Car of the Year award for 1980. This like new example residing in the Netherlands is possibly one of the best examples of an early Delta left.

1983 Lancia Delta 1500

The Lancia Delta was introduced in 1979 and was voted European Car of the Year in 1980 by an international jury. It was a Giorgietto Giugiaro design. With the total concept of the Delta with its transversal mounted engine, front wheel drive and independent suspension a new era began in the Lancia history. The engine’s of the Delta had 1300 cc and 1500 cc with 75 hp and 85 hp. The larger engine had electronic ignition. The Delta was manufactured on a computer controlled assembly line, a guarantee for a better than average quality. From 1980 until 1986 the Delta was exported to the Scandinavian countries as "Saab-Lancia 600." Later the Delta was very successful in many international rallies in the HF Integrale version until the early nineties.

The 1983 Lancia Delta 1500 of the 1st series now available at Montagna ha had only one previous lady owner from Germany who drove 62.600 km with the car. The car is in an extraordinary condition and looks, drives and handles like a new car, a real collector’s item!

For a thirty year old vehicle, this Lancia is in amazing condition. Showroom condition is a term often thrown about on vehicle forecoruts, but this car lives up to that hype. For $7,500 USD, this is an amazing piece of Lancia history. Even if it isn't one of the faster Integrale versions, the appeal of this car lies beyond speed. This was where an icon began.

-Paul