Market 538: SS 381294 in South Africa

Sprint Speciale 10121*381294, 00121*01310.  This clean example is on eBay right now out of South Africa. Starting price is $142,000, reserve not met.  The car has been gone over and presents very well, but could be improved in minor ways.  I think Alfa had a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) deal with South Africa where local labor was added to make a car ready for market in exchange for allowing Alfa to sell there.  It’s unclear if this SS would have been part of that scheme.  Versions of this happened in other countries – Mexico for sure.  A book could be written about the tangled web of deals made between countries so cars could be sold.

A fine looking machine that anyone would be proud to own and happy to drive.   Windshield wipers can look a little lost on these cars for some reason – not sure I could drive this car with the wipers where they are – but I’d certainly try!

Looks very nice from the rear corner as well.  I wonder if that’s a genuine period South African license plate?  Can’t tell what’s on the back of that weird white blob in the garage.  This makes me want a cobblestone driveway.

Unusual angle for an SS.  Lock surround has a little bit of corrosion, but it’s an inseparable assembly that takes a lot of finesse to take apart, re-chrome and get back together and have it work as it’s supposed to.  I’d live with a little corrosion too!

Fill cap should be black no?  I still need one of those spare clamps for my Sprint.

Great attention to detail here 

South Africa is a metric country?  Are there English Metric gauges?  I can’t remember.  Looks to me like matte black spray over the original wrinkle finish.  You don’t want to take this apart for refinishing unless you have to.

Tidy engine compartment.  Let the sticker comments commence.