Following on to the Innocenti de Tomaso Turbo we featured yesterday, here is another, larger hot Italian hatchback. Known as the Strada ("road" in Italian) where it was sold in North America until 1982, the Ritmo, or "rhythm," was Fiat's answer to the Volkswagen Golf GTI. With the rise in popularity of the hot hatchback in the 1980s, Fiat was not about to be shortchanged. The first sporty Ritmo, the 105TC, appeared in 1981. This car had a 1.5 liter, 104 horsepower twin cam four cylinder engine, however, it lacked the Abarth name. Later that year, the Abarth 125TC was unleashed with a 2.0 liter, 123 horsepower engine. The final evolution of the Abarth Ritmo was the 130TC, with a higher output 2.0 liter engine, producing 128 horsepower. The 130TC was upgraded with twin carburetors, Recaro seats and upgraded alloy wheels. This car could reach 60 mph in 7.8 second, which was extremely fast for its day and outpaced many of its rivals. Our feature car is for sale in the south of Italy with about 40,000 miles on the clock.
From my private collection I am selling my Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC series 3, 1985. Amazing undercarriage, perfect Recaro interior, 65,000 km with excellent mechanicals. All documentation, new rubber, trim, fast with excellent roadholding. Price is negotiable, just €9,800 (~ $12,800), plus expenses for the ride. I do not respond to e-mail, I evaluate trade-ins of old cars to my liking, or exchange for a red Alfa Romeo 155 Q4, 156 GTA, 75 turbo America, 3000, 3000 V6, 147 GTA, Escort Cosworth, Renault 5 GT Turbo or other interesting trades.
The Ritmo has was never a favorite of mine, but with the twin cam engine, styling tweaks and Abarth's DNA enfused into it, suddenly this becomes an attractive package. It might not be engineered as well as the VW GTI (most certainly the reason they are more scarce), but it exudes that Latin flair which turns what appears to be an irrational choice into an almost irresistible one.
Like its older, bigger brother the 037, the Delta helped solidify Lancia's long standing reign on the World Rally scene. This very vehicle racked up 46 WRC wins and nabbed the Constructors' Championship six times in a row from 1987 through 1992. The saying of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" would certainly apply to this car, as these Deltas achieved popularity from the moment Lancia started marketing them. In the beginning, there was little to distinguish the Delta HF 4WD from its lesser brethern, other than the quad headlights, discreet badging and deeper sills. The four wheel drive system had three differentials with a built in torque splitting action, which ensured power would go to the wheels with the most grip. Not surprising then why this car was a success on the circuit.
Later on, the Delta would spawn the Integrale, which brought about the more butch boxed fender look, upgraded interiors and turbocharged engines coupled to evolving four wheel drive systems with varying degrees of torque split. This Delta is an early non-Integrale version which would be legal for import to the US, falling under the 25 year rule. It is located on the eastern coast of Italy near San Marino.
1987 Delta 4wd, beautiful red metallic, all original, 94,000 km. Timing belt done at 87,000, clutch, new tires at 60%, engine overhauled completely. Included in the price is 2 front doors, 2 rear doors, Portelone post, Glass front, Skirts, 4 original rims. THe car has always been in the garage and is in fantastic condition for true connoisseurs and collectors! Price €8500.00.
For about $11,000, this is a lot cheaper than what a similar example already in the US would cost. If one could keep the shipping and importation costs to a minimum, this would be a very practical classic, rain or shine. I like this car, as it represents the simpler, earlier version of Lancia's rally legend and in the deeper shade of red, it looks sublime. Personally, I'm waiting for the day when I can import one of the last Integrale's, preferably an Evolution version. I've always felt that Lancia was a marque that never got the due respect it deserved and it seems that the boys over at Top Gear are in agreement with me, as evidenced by this short clip:
With the new year upon us, no doubt everyone is busy making their resolutions. I, on the other hand, am busy figuring out what new cars are legal to import, now that 1987 vehicles fall outside of the 25 year importation ban imposed on enthusiasts living in the United States.
One car that has always fascinated me is the Lancia Thema 8.32. If you aren't familiar with the Thema, this large Lancia shared it’s platform architecture with the Fiat Croma, Saab 9000 and Alfa Romeo 164. The Thema was rather sedate styling wise, but in true Lancia form, their engineers went ahead and did something completely off the wall. They stuffed a 3.0 liter V8 taken from a Ferrari 308 under the hood. This V8 was pretty much unchanged, save for a cross plane crankshaft which replaced the Ferrari’s flat plane crank, a different firing order and smaller valves. This was a rather exotic engine, as some of the engine components came from not only the Ferrari factory in Maranello, but from famed motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, as well.
The resulting car put up numbers which were impressive for a sedan at the time; 212 horsepower, 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds and a top speed glancing 150 mph. The interior included added luxuries such as wood trim and leather by Poltrona Frau. And electronically deployable rear spoiler rounded off the package. In total, 3,971 examples of the Thema 8.32 were built. For the intrepid US Italian automotive enthusiast, here is an example for sale in Germany.
ABS, alloy wheels, central locking, ESP, leather seats, warranty. Car is in excellent condition, service receipts available at the official Ferrari shop.
For someone brave enough to tackle importation to the US and the servicing costs that come along with Ferrari V8 ownership, this is a Q ship right up there in rarity, if not desirability, with the Mercedes-Benz 500E and Lotus Carlton. You would certainly be the center of attention at any Fiat Lancia Unlimited meet up. With 65,000 km under its belt (~ 40,000 miles) it has been lightly used. The asking price of €13,800 (~ $18,000 USD) is at the high end of the range for these sedans and similar money can buy equally fast (and more reliable) new and used vehicles. For the Lancia or Ferrari enthusiast, however, this is a nicely preserved example of a rarely seen and forgotten Autostrade beast.
The Alfa Romeo Milano, or 75 as it was known outside of the US market, was the end of an era. It was the last Alfa Romeo designed before the Fiat takeover, and was the last rear drive Alfa Romeo sedan to be produced. Introduced as a replacement for the Giulietta in 1985, the 75 and Milano enjoyed good sales, selling almost a quarter million units over a three year period.
Milanos are noted for their rear mounted transaxle and sonorous 2.5 and 3.0 V6 engines. Few examples survive today stateside and this particular car with a shade under 54,000 miles under its belt is certainly one of the best you could find.
Perfect Interior/no rips in seats/no stains/headliner is perfect
Body is ding and dent free. No scratches.Original paint
Glass is original
Moldings perfect
Paint shines like new!!!
-Original wheels/no scuffs or marks
-Bumpers are perfect
-Everything on exterior and interior is show condition!
-All power windows and locks work.
-Original radio and power antenna work.
-Dash has no cracks
-Exhaust is perfect and factory.
-A/C blows cold!
-Spare in trunk new.
-Original keys.
All emblems glow! Side view mirrors perfect. Clutch is great. Trans shifts great. Engine bay area is showroom new! This might be the nicest Milano left in the US. A true needle in a haystack!
I don't doubt the dealer's claim that this could possibly be the nicest Milano left in the US. It certainly appears from the pictures that this car lives up to the seller's claim that it needs nothing. Also, the timing belt change at 35,000 miles is reassuring. With a few days left in the auction, bidding is strong and heading towards $10,000. A final estimate of around $7,000 to $8,000 seems reasonable, but you more than likely won't come across another Milano in this shape for some time.
If I was making a short list of iconic Italian sports cars, the 1966-1993 Alfa Romeo Spider would be in the top five of that list. While it wasn't the most powerful or outlandish vehicle to emerge from Italy, the Spider represented qualities we come to expect from Italian motoring: a sonorous exhaust note, handling that encourages spirited driving and the ability to drive al fresco.
While the Spiders of the late 1970s and 1980s might not be the most favorite for enthusiasts due to emissions equipment and larger bumpers, this particular 1987 Spider is too nice to ignore. It's black paintwork lends a monochromatic look and with less than 10,000 miles, this car is almost certainly one of the lowest mileage Spiders in the US.
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional and stunning example of this rare ultra low original 7,905 miles and original owner 1987 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate Fuel Injection Convertible in the highly desirable color combination of black exterior paint with matching black original soft top with a gorgeous light tan original seats interior with dark brown carpets! Obviously always garaged and covered with no rust or accident damage whatsoever; this particular example must be seen to be believed and driven to be truly appreciated! Only driven by one very meticulous and mature driver since new; this car has been babied all the way!
The original factory 'Black' paint is in exceptional condition with only very minor imperfections, if any, noticeable upon very close inspection. The car boasts its original factory canvas black soft top and original and always covered and still as new vinyl seats and the interior is quite stunning throughout with no cracks in the dashboard or noticeable imperfections!
The Graduate, named in honor of the movie 'The Graduate' where an Alfa Romeo had a starring role, is a legendary Italian roadster born in the sixties. It featured vinyl seats, steel wheels, and other amenities and the Alfa Romeo Spider (105/115 series) was produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1966 to 1993. Widely regarded as a design classic, it remained in production for almost three decades with only minor aesthetic and mechanical changes. The three first series were assembled by Pininfarina in Grugliasco and the fourth series in San Giorgio Canavese. The last Spider was produced in April 1993, it was also the last rear wheel drive Alfa Romeo produced before Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was introduced.
The series 3 spider came with a 2 liter DOHC engine with electronic Bosch fuel injection or twin Webber carburators as an option in Europe. In the United States emissions devices gave the car a significant 10 hp drop. However, thanks to variable camshaft timing the engine is still lively, especially since the car weighs little over 2500 lbs. (1000 kilos). On both country roads as well as highways, power is more than enough to drive fast. The gearbox has long throws but is very precise, remember your input goes directly to your gearbox and not some elastic band linkage found in "modern" cars. 0-100kmh (0-60mph) is approximately 9 seconds and top speed (top closed) is a real 200kmh (120 mph).
In 1986, the base-level Spider, the Graduate cost just under $14,000. All Spider models shared basic mechanical components such as the 120 cubic-inch engine, and five-speed manual gearbox. Disc brakes could be found on all four corners. Only some 4,339 cars were built in 1987.
This exceptionally well maintained and serviced example drives exactly like such a supremely low mileage example should and you will surely look long and hard to find a finer example of this increasingly desirable and collectible garage kept and rust and accident free Alfa Romeo Spider Roadster with only some 8K original miles in this very striking color combination available anywhere else!
The asking price of $16,500 is certainly the top end of what one would expect to pay for a 1987 Spider. There are always clean, original, low mileage Spiders on the market, but probably only a handful with under 10,000 miles. If I were in the market for a Spider, I'd prefer either the original Series I version made famous by the movie The Graduate (and after which our feature vehicle is named for) or the final Series 4 Spider with it's flush bumpers, clean rear styling and Bosch Motronic fuel injection. Still, there is no denying that this could possibly be one of the best Spiders currently on offer in the US.
It's not much of a secret that the BiTurbo doesn't get much love from enthusiasts. Most were not well cared for and are difficult to bring back to respectable condition once they've gone too far. But every time I see a nice one in photographs I can't help but really like the lines. And on paper, a twin turbo V6 should make this a BMW e30 killer.
What I hadn't seen before was this 4 door variant. For sale in San Diego on eBay, this 425i looks pretty respectable. The seller is honest about the condition and the pictures are representative with worn but not destroyed seats and shiny but not perfect black paint.
For auction is my 1987 Maserati Biturbo 425i. The leather in the interior is extremely luxurious and supple. This is all original - no dyes or paint. The exterior paint is still the original glossy black, but shows it's age in some areas. It's hard to see in the photos. The car was often stored inside. This particular model was purchased with power steering and a sunroof. It was only driving on an average of 4,800 miles per year. The timing belt and oil have been changed and the valves have been adjusted. The clutch disk and pressure plate are new. The engine only has 49,500 miles on it!
The engine is beautiful and always starts on the first attempt, no matter how cold.. Please see the close up engine photos. It's the cleanest that I have seen in years and I own several. This Biturbo 425i has great boost from it's twin turbos. There are some fissures on the front windshield, but would not bother to replace it (see photos). The installation is never as good as the original. The driver and passenger side windows sometimes need assistance. I believe a fuse needs to be replaced for the rear windows and sunroof for them to operate. The paint is beautiful and very straight (no orange peel texture here). The paint is original, so of course there is normal wear, and some scratches here and there. There are several door dings which are hard to see in the photos. Lastly, there is NO RUST except some bubbling around corner passenger rear side window and the drivers side Maserati emblem (see photos). This Maserati Biturbo 425i is extremely rare in this condition and reasonably priced. Its very fast. In fact, you will not find a faster sedan or coupe for the price!
So is this a future classic? Probably not unless the other 2371 examples produced have disappeared off the face of the earth and it's 40 or 50 years from now! But it's unusual and I thought other might be interested in a look.
This is a really self indulgent posting, but aren't they all? I was doing some Sunday morning surfing with my coffee and breakfast when I spotted this one. On one hand a seemingly pedestrian Ferrari (as if there was such a thing), but this color combo just jumped off the page at me. Check out how clean this 328 GTS is:
quote from sellers listing:
BLACK (NERO) METALLIC OVER TAN LEATHER
IMPECCABLE CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT
UNDENIABLY THE NICEST, MOST ORIGINAL 328 WE'VE EVER SEEN
THE ENGINE BAY LOOKS LIKE IT JUST LEFT THE FACTORY
THE SEATS HAVE NEVER BEEN DYED OR REPAIRED
THE DASH HAS NOT SHRUNK, PULLED, OR WARPED
THE CARPETS ARE ORIGINAL, UNDYED, CLEAN, AND AMAZING
THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWS ICE COLD, EVEN IN FLORIDA ON AN 85 DEGREE DAY!
The 308 and 328's are often described as great entry level Ferrari's. While obviously not to be confused with Honda reliability, they are much lighter on the wallet in terms of maintenance costs when compared to the later models. And of course they resemble the Magnum Ferrari, and for a certain slice of the buying demographic, that plays...
I know what they say about these and I don't care; in this case anyway. In most cases, a Maserati Biturbo is to avoided at all costs due to shaky electronics, build quality, and neglected service histories. But this car hasn't had the chance to be neglected yet with only 18k miles on the clock since new! And anyone who knocks the looks is a liar. This is a really good looking car. I know the interior is a bit gaudy, but at least it still shows like new.
quote from seller's listing:
Maserati Coupe one owner for the past 17 years. Purchased from original owner in 1993 w/12,300 miles, now has 18,616 miles. Never in a winter, always kept in heated garage . Interior still has the new car smell! Mint condition inside and out. Prelli P Zero tires with less than 100 miles. Front 205/50 ZR15 and rear 225/50 ZR15, mounted on three peice OZ racing wheels. The catalytic converter, Y pipe and air pump have been removed. All original items including the manuals, all keys w/original key fob, original wheels and tires are part of purchase.
Factory specifications quote the U.S. spec Si at 188hp, but with all the emissions equipment set aside, the power output from this larger-than-Euro-spec 2.5L V6 twin turbo, should meet or exceed the Italy-only 220hp rating. At about 2700lbs dry weight, this should be a quick little car. Interesting...
