Market 493: Spider Veloce 10107 167610 for sale… no expense spared, no excuses

This car has appeared at Fantasy Junction and they have put it on eBay.  I saw it in person today and it is a thing of beauty.

Giulietta Spider Veloce 10107 167610.  Tom Sahines in the San Francisco Bay Area has put this fine specimen of a Spider Veloce on the market.  Tom has been the ARA tech hotline for as long as I can remember, and has deep knowledge of Alfa’s cars from Giulietta to 164 and probably beyond.  I’ve seen some of his restorations in person and they are astonishingly nice.  Ever the engineer, astonishingly nice to look at is not Tom’s main goal; astonishingly nice to drive is.  An unusual goal in a world where cars for resale tend to get the minimum attention to functionality.

The asking price is $140,000.  This may seem high, but a 750D in similar condition sold at Scottsdale for $140K.

All the usual praise applies: great panel fit, impeccable bright-work and lust inspiring luster.  Yes please!

I’ve come around on red a bit.  Maybe it’s a blood stream thing, something about passion, or a recognition that there is a reason they don’t paint cars assigned to the monotonous duties of the commute color of a fresh kill.

The good tail lights.  Looks like Southern California in the background.  I can personally attest that getting all the trim to fit right and look good is harder than you think.  Many frustrating hours can be spent.  One mistake and it’s back to the paint shop for some tough touch up.

The magical, internationally recognized symbol of ‘the good ones’: the evocative California Black Plate.

The fit of the trunk lid, the license plate bracket and the trunk lid weatherstrip is one place a lesser Spider will fail.  This looks perfect.

Step into my office baby!

A well done engine compartment for sure.  Like a new car.  I aspire to drop my Sprint off with Tom for a 1400 kit and thorough refreshing.

You occasionally see cars where the underside is in body color – I prefer the black undercoating.  It’s funny how some people avoid getting new zinc or cad plating on stuff on their cars when rebuilding.  A friend of mine got about 20 pounds of Honda motorcycle nuts and bolts plated for about $200.  All the bits look amazing.

Tom chose to put a 5 speed in this car.  Can’t say I blame him.  

This nice and yet meant to be driven.  Stay on the clean roads!

 It is all just parts and attention to detail, but it doesn’t make it any less impressive.