Tag Archives: Berlina

1969 Alfa Romeo Berlina

November 30, 2018 Graham

BMW is the household name in sports sedans in North America, and deservedly so. But, Alfa certainly produced some equally-appealing, if less beloved models in the category. While Europe saw even more models, North America was fortunate enough to receive the Giulietta, Giulia, Berlina, Milano, and 164 sedans, with the modern Giulia arriving for the 2017 model year.

Folks are usually surprised when I share that Alfa sports sedans benefit from being largely derived from their sports car counterparts and not vice versa. The Berlina is no exception to this, sharing its powertrain, brakes, and suspension with 115 series Alfa sports cars. The additional mass of a sedan body style might no be so welcome, but the proven hardware is up for the task.

Year: 1969
Model: Alfa Romeo Berlina
Engine: 1750cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 94,419 mi
Price: auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1969 Alfa Romeo Berlina

Offered for sale is a 1969 Alfa Romeo Berlina 1750, that is powered by the improved 2000cc inline-four engine.

Recent mechanical and cosmetic improvements were made to make this Berlina a reliable and comfortable daily driver. Mechanical improvements include new brakes, tune up, and installation of the Shankle Sure Start replacing the thermostatic actuator to assist in cold starts. With the exception of the clock, all gauges, lights, heater and radio (new speakers) operate. Mechanical improvements to the car were performed by an experienced Alfa mechanic, resulting in the car running strong with solid handling and quick acceleration.

The car has also had an interior refresh, including new carpet and reupholstered front seats complementing the classic Nardi steering wheel and wood dash. There is one crack in the dash top and the console wood is showing wear (see pictures) - otherwise the interior is in excellent condition.

Rust repairs were made to the rocker panels and the car has been resprayed in Amarante/Maroon, which was a color change at some earlier point in the life of the car with the original color appearing to be Verde Olivia/Olive Green.

This Berlina is a perfect candidate for a complete restoration or with attention to a few more areas such as improving the suspension and addressing minimal rust spots, specifically in the tire well, this Berlina could become an even stronger daily driver.

With Spiders and GTVs dominating the Alfa classic market, the Berlina is a rare fine and this one is a solid performer and great fun to drive.

We've seen this particular Berlina before, and we've even considered buying it. When it was shared on Bring A Trailer in November 2016, the photos were not very promising. The underside showed a discouraging amount of rust. The car certainly didn't look beyond repair, and at the $5,900 asking price, didn't show too much optimism on the seller's part.

Now with bidding over $12,000 at the time of posting, we are curious to see the rust repairs to the sills claimed by the new seller. If completed correctly and thoroughly, the car stands to be a great purchase. The 115 series sedans don't share the plucky proportions or driving experience of the 105 series Giulia sedans. But, all accounts point to these being comfortable and rewarding sports sedans in their own regard. If the rust repairs check out, this could be an enjoyable Berlina to sink your teeth into.

-Graham

Lancia

1972 Lancia Fulvia

December 25, 2013 Graham 1 Comment

While the Lancia Fulvia Coupe was out racking up rally victories, it's four-door counterpart went rather unnoticed throughout its production run. Perhaps it was the Fulvia Berlina's homely yet tailored looks, but beneath lied advanced technology for the age. The engine was a narrow angle V4, mounted at a 45° angle. One camshaft operated all intake valves and another operated the exhaust valves. The use of a narrow angle allowed Lancia to package the engine with one cylinder head. Add to this engine four-wheel disc brakes, front-wheel drive and front independent suspension and you had a formula for fun. This Fulvia Berlina for sale in Maryland is a little rough but is perfect for someone looking for a collectible to tinker with and improve this winter.

Year: 1972
Model: Fulvia Berlina
Engine: 1.3 liter V-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 52,000 mi
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1972 Lancia Fulvia Berlina

Need a last minute gift for that incorrigible Italian car enthusiast in the family? Look no further!

Here is one of the last TRUE Lancia automobiles. That illustrious company was bought by Fiat in 1969, and built their last Fulvia Berlina in 1972. Though a few Fulvia Coupes were built until 1976, the rest of the line was converted to Fiat-designed vehicles (of much lower quality).

The Fulvia probably killed Lancia because it cost too much to produce. Though it was only a small-displacement car, it was engineered with the same high standards as the more expensive Lancias. Many details of these last Lancias show amazing attention to detail, and extraordinary engineering creativity. Many parts are cast, not stamped steel.

I imported this car from the Venice area of Italy in November 2004. It has been a wonderful car to own and drive and even enjoy as garage-art. But it does very few miles and needs attention in a number of areas, and it is time for someone with fewer vehicles (or more resources!) to bring it back to its former glory.

Pros

- Original engine/trans/rear work well and this is a wonderful driving car. Bend it through a corner and it will track like an arrow through the apex.
- The body is fundamentally solid. There have been a few body repairs done, and it does show some rust damage around the windshield, but this is not one of those Italian cars that swam through salt water to get here!
- All electrical systems/lights work
- Great color combo
- All original down to the hubcaps with their beautiful cast centers
- Shortly after the car landed, we dropped the front sub-frame and did an extensive update, including clutch, rear main seal, steering box bushings, axle boots and all rubber bushings that mount the sub-frame to the body. We painted the body mount boxes with anti-rust paint to assure future integrity.

Cons

- The car needs minor body work and paint. Ideally, you'd have a body shop do all the minor imperfections, including removing the windshield to repair the rust there, then paint the same solid dark blue color it is now.
- It needs tires. The Fulvia still has the European tires I bought it with and I hate to replace them if the next owner wants a wider tire or different wheel.
- There are a number of small projects to be done (it is a 1972!) including aligning the steering wheel, new weatherstripping, and gaskets in the gauges.
- There is a slight exhaust leak. It sounds lovely going through the gears, but I now hear a slight leak closer to the manifold.

Btw, parts for this car are not hard to find. Not necessarily cheap, but they are available. I understand that this is an odd time to list a car (Christmas week), so if you cover the deposit, you are welcome to pick up the car anytime in January. Please call for more detail as required.

Al
410-353-3896

A show quality Fulvia Berlina will currently run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000. Given the amount of work needed on this example, I would peg this car somewhere in the $6,500 to $8,500 range. This is a very complete example that could be run on a daily basis with a little TLC or prove a solid base for a concours restoration project.

-Paul

Fiat

1972 Fiat 124 Sedan

April 8, 2013 Graham 4 Comments

If you count all the variations of the Fiat 124 that were ever produced, including all the licensed vehicles such as Ladas, Seats, Murats and the like, the production total comes to over 20 million vehicles. So how come we don't see any of these on US roads today? Well, rust proofing wasn't what it once was, and since these were sold here early in the production run under the Fiat badge, it's not hard to guess why they are scarce. This 124 Sedan for sale in Southern California is a pretty honest example of a car that went on to become a ubiquitous mode of transportation in emerging markets.

1972 Fiat 124 Sedan

Have you ever been so smitted by a car that you fell in love? That is the type of feeling you can get from a clean vintage car. This little gem has been lovingly cared for by a gentleman known in collector circuits as a lover of fine Italian cars. Generations of people in many countries grew up with this car or similar cars with different names like the Russian Lada or Zhuguli. In fact, many folks first learned how to drive in or had a very successful date with a young lady in one. The Italians know what I am talking about.

The reaction drawn from vintage Fiats is something that has to be experienced. People of all walks of life seem drawn to them from children and old folks as well as young ladies. Great beach cruiser. These cars are very rare these days, in fact almost impossible to find in an automatic. This example has been cared for by the same collector for over 10 years. The previous owner before was a certified and well known car mechanic. He has more than a dozen cars and drives this one in Beverly Hills, California almost daily.

The current owner is only selling because he is making some room for some more cars. This one has had all of the maintenance done including new head gasket and full brake job. Decent tires and a very clean original dash board. The seats could use some redoing but he decided to leave them as they were because they are not terrible, just a little ripped in places. She has chrome European bumpers and everything is in working order with current registration and a clean title. The VIN number is 124A1129029. For more information or to make an offer please contact Jeff at 949-910-1206.

We feature a lot of flashy sports cars and sumptuous luxury sedans here at CICFS, but it's refreshing to see an honest, vintage family sedan such as this with all its flaws readily visible. The automatic transmission might hold this car back a bit for the more sporting enthusiast, but for something different to get around town in, you couldn't go wrong with this car. Back in June 2011, one of these with a manual gearbox went unsold, not meeting its reserve at $3,800. Have these 124 Sedans appreciated much in that time? Probably not. I'd suspect somewhere around $3,000 to $3,500 would take it. Any more, and you are getting into territory where more interesting Italian iron can be had.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina

February 17, 2013 Graham

As the old saying goes, they're only original once. This Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina was owned by the same owner from new until 2005, where it changed hands successively amongst Alfa club enthusiasts. This is and unrestored car with exception of a bit of fresh paint here and there and a few minor repairs to keep it roadworthy. This Canadian market car is for sale in Washington and is a great chance to own a piece of Alfa history at a reasonable price.

1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina

With retirement looming I've been made aware that the number of vehicles in the garage must decrease. I can’t sell the Mini so as much as I hate to do it, the 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina is now available. It is a Canadian-market car and was purchased new in Vancouver, BC. It stayed with the original owner until 2005 when it was sold to an Alfa club member in the Portland, Oregon area. It changed hands once more in 2010 (another Portland Alfa club member) and was then purchased by me in October of 2011.

It is an original, matching-numbers car, has never been molested and has always been garaged. It is quick, quiet and comfortable with around 140,000 original miles on the odometer. The engine starts easily, runs smoothly and does not burn oil. The transmission shifts smoothly, with no grinding going into 2nd or any other gear. It’s a great running car.

For safety sake, dual door mirrors and 3-point Securon inertia-reel seat belts have been installed. The mounting holes on the front fender for the old rear-view mirror have not been patched. New clutch master and slave cylinders have just been installed and also a new battery. The 185/70 Michelin tires are almost new. It also has a new OEM-style exhaust system.

The paint is tired but pretty good for it being 45 years old. Some panels have been resprayed (after parking lot dings were repaired). It has never been wrecked. The sills were replaced a few years ago and the boxed sections were waxoyled at that time. The interior is original and in very good to excellent condition with the exception of the passenger seat on which the white stitching is failing and there is minor sun damage on the top of the rear seat back. It has the optional rear seat glove box and the blanking piece that goes in its place. The dash has no cracks and all the gauges work (except for the clock).

The Alfa is located a few miles north of Seattle. More details and photos on request. There just aren’t many unrestored Berlinas left that are in this condition. I’m asking $13,000.

A car such as this raises the question of whether to go for a more modern Alfa Romeo 164 or dabble in the real classics, as the asking price is not much higher than what clean 164s are trading hands for these days. In addition, the price of this Berlina is within reason of what these cars are currently fetching. A perfect, restored Berlina will bring close to $20,000, but this car has history and patina, which is something that is hard to come across. Overall, this is a prime opportunity for someone looking for a classic Alfa that can be used as intended, not just admired under glass.

-Paul

Lancia

1959 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

December 1, 2012 Graham

The Flaminia is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to Italian classic cars, but it's important in its own right. The flagship of the range for ten years, this was a car that, like all Lancias of the period, was magnificently engineered yet had an understated style about. The Flaminia broke ranks with the racy sports cars and flashy grand touring machines to hail from Italy at the time and opted for a more muted elegance. With its V6 engine, double wishbone front suspension and rear mounted transaxle, this was an advanced vehicle in its day. This particular Flaminia for sale in Texas is a bit rough but it's all there for someone with enough time and money to invest in this classic machine.

1959 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

Back in 1959 Italians regarded the Lancia Flaminia as the finest car in Italy. Maseratis and Ferraris were of course in a whole separate category, but in placing the Flaminia above all else the Italians of the time, who did not take their automobiles lightly, accorded it a huge collective endorsement. The Lancia Flaminia abounds in intriguing technical details like the aluminum 2,458cc 60 degree V-6 engine that produces 110 brake horsepower even with the stock Solex 2-barrel carburetor, a full synchromesh 4-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with wishbones (finally supplanting Lancia's fabled sliding pillar suspension), deDion rear axle with inboard drum brakes and rear-mounted clutch and transmission for ideal weight distribution and low unsprung weight that combines a smooth ride with excellent handling.

The cabin of the Pininfarina designed Flaminia four door sedan comfortably seats six on two bench seats. This 1959 Lancia Flaminia Sedan is a remarkable survivor, having been put away years ago and carefully stored since so it survives in exceptional condition. The paint has suffered, and needs to be redone, but the body is sound with only a few parking lot dings and minor rust in the rocker panels and right rear quarter. The glass and leather interior are original and usable as is. Along with the strong standard specifications this Flaminia has a feature that sets it apart from just about any other car on the road: a pair of wipers on both sides, inside and out, of the rear window ensuring reasonable visibility in the most tropical conditions.

Give it new paint and a thorough mechanical review and it will be ready to drive and show with pleasure and the pride of having one of the best cars Italy produced in the late Fifties, a sedan with ample interior room, decent performance and superb road holding and ride comfort as well as attracting deserved attention for its rarity.comes with an original owners and shop manual.Body by Pininfarina. This car has had but one old repaint. I put a new battery in the car and it spun over. I have not got it to fire, needs minor tuneup, points, etc. About 3,334 of these were produced. Few came to the USA. They cost $6,000 new. That's more than a 1959 Cadillac. This is a two owner car.

Unlike their two door siblings, the Flaminia Berlina, like most sedans, is a bit more of a bargain. In good shape, these classics can bring around $30,000 to $40,000. In this kind of condition, I'd wager to say this car will bring about half of that value. These aren't cheap cars to restore, as they are rare and if parts are missing, it could prove a hassle to source. Not to mention this car, unlike many Italian classics, has a decent amount of sheet metal to work on. All in all, for someone willing to tackle a project like this, they'd have a stately and uncommon classic that is sure to turn heads of the more hardcore enthusiasts on the street and at shows.

-Paul

Lancia

1965 Lancia Fulvia 2C Berlina

August 17, 2012 Graham

Following on to the mint Lancia Fulvia 1.3S Coupe we featured on Sunday, here is that car's four door counterpart, the Berlina. With a 1.1 liter version of the narrow angle V4 engine, front-wheel drive and four wheel disc brakes, this was a revolutionary little sedan that is revered for it's exquisite engineering. This example for sale in California is one of but a handful of Fulvia Berlinas that reside here in the US.

1965 Lancia Fulvia 2C Berlina

1965 Lanica Fulvia 2C Berlina. s/n 818.100 057748. White with Light Blue and White interior. Famous for their incredible craftsmanship, brilliant engineering solutions, and complete disregard for cost accounting with respect to those engineering solutions, pre-FiatLancias are, in many ways, in a class of their own. Few cars are as thoughtfully engineered or built, which helps to explain why Lancia encountered a great deal of financial trouble.

This particular car was imported from Europe to Washington State in the mid-1970’s. It was purchased by Mr.Burke from a wrecking yard in 1975. “I bought the Fulvia from a wrecking yard in Puyallup (near Tacoma). I wish I had taken a picture of it "as found," it was crammed between two other cars, couldn't get the doors open, couldn't open the hood, couldn't get underneath it to see if it was rusted. It looked just fine, what was it doing there? Turns out it was an abandoned car, not wrecked at all. The car had belonged to a serviceman who had imported it from Europe, had a seriously bad wheel bearing and ran on three cylinders, so he just parked it and left it, probably at Fort Lewis."

The Lancia was sold in 1992 to Mr. Gill who drove it from Washington State to San Francisco. The car was then sold to Zach Georgopoulos, also in San Francisco in 1995. The car eventually made its way down to Southern Californian where it changed hands a few times before being purchased by the current owner in 2008.

Cosmetically this example is best described as a nice, straight, presentable driver. The panel match is good throughout, with no obvious signs of major repairs. All the original emblems and badges are present. Much of the exterior chrome and stainless trim is free of hazing, pitting. The paint is of reasonable quality and very presentable. There are a handful of minor paint imperfections throughout the car which are consistent with a “driver quality” car. The car sits on nice painted white wheels and chrome hubcaps with Kumho tires.

The interior is in very nice condition with excellent two-tone cloth seats, as well as door panels, original type steering wheel sourced in Italy. The black carpet was installed in southern California in 2006 and remains in nice condition. The door panels are very nice and probably retaining the original knobs and window cranks. The interior makes a strong overall impression.

Mechanically, the car is in great condition and has been overseen by Lancia expert Jaan Hjorth. This work consisted of a new brake master cylinder, new shifter bushings, emergency brake repair, carburetor service, routine fluid changes as well as a rebuilt starter in November 2011. Second gear syncro is very nice both warm and cold. The brakes are effective and the suspension tight and compliant.

With the car comes the spare wheel with tire (looks to be original), car cover, workshop manual, original type horn, (not connected), and a binder with recent work orders that the current owner compiled during his ownership. The car is currently registered in California with a clear title. Please note that the European plates do not accompany this car in the sale.

The car is an absolute joy to drive, and reminds why Lancia has such a devoted following. Every aspect of the car’s performance embodies the quality feel that is lacking even from more exotic Italian machines from the same period. By comparison, any other car feels crude. The engine makes good power and noise, and runs as it should. The chassis is quiet and composed. The transaxle shifts beautifully, and the rebuilt brake master cylinder ensures confidence while braking. The overall feel of this particular Fulvia Berlina is a wonderfully coherent, well maintained car that exudes quality.

Please do not email asking what the reserve is. The car is for sale locally, so the seller has the right to end the auction early. Seller can help make shipping arraignments worldwide.

There is no telling what the reserve price is, but if I had to guess, it's probably somewhere between $12,000 to $15,000. The coupe we featured was listed at $17,500, so it will be interesting to see if collectors value the rarity of the four door over the coupe. For those in the market for a vintage Italian sedan who feel that an Alfa Romeo Giulia is just too common, this car could be just the ticket.

-Paul

Lancia

1961 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

August 13, 2012 Graham

The Flaminia was Lancia's flagship throughout the 1960s. Designed by Pininfarina, the Berlina was built in house by Lancia, the last model to be built at the Borgo San Paolo factory. This was a sizeable sedan with presence, so much so that the President of Italy at the time, Giovanni Gronchi, ordered four stretched versions with a landaulet style roof over the rear passenger compartment. While not the Presidenziale version, this Flaminia for sale is equipped with the larger 2.8 V6 and looks rather stately in basic black.

1961 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

Center armrest, rear armrest, front center armrest, radio. Lancia Flaminia Berlina 2.8, three owners with only 86,000 original kilometers. Super clean condition! Body very solid, no rust below ground, perfect. Mechanically 100% and drives like new. Complete interior refurbishment. The original version 2.8 is very rare!

Flaminia Berlinas in good nick can bring upwards of $30,000 these days. The asking price of this car represents great value for a rare Italian classic in mint condition. The Berlinas usually don't bring the higher values that the sportier versions Zagato, Touring and Pininfarina produced, but they are just as special. This particular Berlina is one of the better ones that I've seen on offer. If I was wealthy and needed a discrete sedan in which to waft around town in, I could very well see myself in this car. Unlike a lot of Italian cars that shout about with unconventional styling and bold colors, the Flaminia has a more conservative, but equally stylish presence. But given that this is a Lancia, I'd almost surely want to skip the driver and get behind the wheel myself.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina

May 9, 2012 Graham

A few good examples of Alfa Romeo Giulia sedans have cropped up on the market recently, and here is another one that just appeared on Craigslist Philadelphia. The Berlina was available from 1972 through 1974 and was an evolution of the earlier Giulia sedan. The styling was a bit more square and formal and more power was on tap thanks to a larger 2.0 liter twin cam four cylinder, offering more power over the entire RPM range. One feature which was derided was the new white on black on white gauges, which were hard to read for some motorists. The addition of an automatic gearbox as an option signaled a shift in the tastes of the traditional Alfa Romeo buyer. Fortunately, this example has the traditional manual gearbox.

1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina

1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina - rare, especially in this condition. Very quick and responsive. $10,500

109,859 miles. All major mechanical and cosmetic components have been rebuilt or replaced within the last couple years. All service history and receipts back to the early 1980s. Dual Webber carbs, headers, cams, electric ignition, plus a variety of other upgraded mechanical components. Runs and drives perfectly. Shifts thru all gears flawlessly. Upgraded Custom Audio radio and speakers with aux input. Originally a Californian car, where it spent most of its life. Now kept in a climate-controlled garage. Many pictures available upon request. Serious inquires only please.

I can be a bit skeptical of older Italian classic cars that have lived on the East Coast for years, but this car was sourced from California, so that puts a bit of the usual rust concerns to rest. The gray on red color combination looks very classy and suits the lines of this car well. This car is priced just about right for what it is, considering the condition.

-Paul

Lancia

1962 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

February 9, 2012 Graham 2 Comments

Named after Via Flaminia, the road from Rome to Rimini, the Lancia to bear this road's name was the brand's flagship for 13 years. The Berlina, or sedan, version was the only variant not to be built by an independent carrozzeria. With a V6 engine, double wishbone front suspension and rear mounted transaxle, these were very advanced sedans for their day. This was also the last Lancia to be built at the Borgo San Paolo factory. This example for sale is a bit rough around the edges, but with a bit of freshening up and a few fixes, would make for a usable classic and great conversational piece.

1962 Lancia Flaminia Berlina

1962 Lancia Flaminia Berlina. First off I am selling the car for one of my customers. The car is in good running condition, the chassis is solid and the transmission and brakes are in good order. The body is solid but there is some minor but not insignificant rust in the bottoms of the two right side doors.

The good: All glass is good, trim other than the rear bumper is in good order. The center section of the rear bumper is in need as are the over riders of repair and re-chroming. The bottom of the car is very solid, and dry. The car runs very well and starts easily, and has a silky smooth engine. Driveshaft is in good order with good flex joints no vibration . Solid original battery tray, see the pics... when was the last time you saw that on a Flaminia?

The Bad: The clutch is slipping and will need replacing. Some rust in passenger side door bottoms (see pics)

More good: Interior seats were redone and very nice, headliner is original and in good condition, door panels are also original and in good serviceable condition. Same is true of the floor mats and trunk floor rubber mats which are in good condition. Front wheels are the correct 400 mm rims the rear wheels were modified at some point in the cars history, with 15 inch outer rims adapted to the original inner centers. Hub caps are all nice.

Some more bad: Paint is dead and needs to be stripped and re done. Tachometer not working. Wipers not working. Turn signals come on but do not flash, suspect most of these issues are easily remedied and are a function of the car having sat for some years. The clutch clearly needs replacing, as it slips under acceleration. There is a small area just behind the front most sub-frame mount on the body has some rust in it. Rear bumper center needs straightened and re-chromed.

The better: Includes, original factory Brochure, parts book service manual owners manual. Comes with 2 good spare windshields, and one back glass, spare steering box, misc other parts including and extra good distributor. With the clutch replaced, a set of tires and a major service I believe the car would be a great driver.

Car has a clear Washington State Title. it currently shows 38,038 KM, I can only surmise that is 98,038 KM. Chassis number is 81310 5294 engine number is 81310 5237, and not Lancia's did not have matching engine and chassis numbers. I have every reason to believe this is the original motor. The car is available for local sale and can be removed at any time. If your serious about the car I suggest you call. Not many of these in this kind of condition.

While this car isn't perfect, it has solid bones and make for a good restoration project. Some of the parts needed are included and if one is able to source a good specialist mechanic, this could be a great foreign alternative to your typical American iron at your local classic car show and a shining example of Lancia's engineering foresight.

-Paul