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Drum roll please: Giulietta Spider 750D 04151

You know the scene in a spy movie when the guy has a stethoscope on the safe door next to the number dial and the final number clicks into place?  The safe opens, everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief, the required thing was inside, and the plot moves on.  Something like that happened to me this weekend.  Andrew had this Spider on eBay and I went for a casual look – not expecting anything dramatic to happen – like me actually buying, but here I am today getting a Spider towed to the shop of a buddy who does body repair (rust and collision damage) on old cars – especially Giulietta Spiders.  The plot has moved on – the cast of characters has increased – I have proven myself acquisitionally undisciplined.  Woot – I have a SWB 750 Spider!

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How you find them sometimes – totally as parked.  No one has monkeyed with it.  Needs everything, but doesn’t need it all at once.  I can deal with that.  Needs a nose job, but it’s going in for that today.  

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Serendipity Distraction Collection part 2

Never underestimate.  Avoid gift horse mouth looking.  Roll with punches.  Say what you will.  Ellipsis.  I wont apologize, but dammit, I’m all full up with cool cars that came a-knocking and were almost entirely unlooked for.  I created a vacuum by selling everything but the Sprint last spring, and nature being nature threw some cars at me to fill the hole in my garage.  It’s my fault, I should have bought that SWB series Land Rover to strap an aluminum canoe on top of, pack some fishing poles and camping gear in and take Rufus out into the trees, but I didn’t -not yet anyway (anyone have a SWB series Land Rover to add to this tale?).  I know, get on with it – what did I get?

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As found…

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Market 484: Early 750B Sprint in Texas 05588

Giulietta Sprint 750B 1493*05588, 1315*04982.  This somewhere between here and there project is on eBay now out of Richardson Texas.  Asking price is a somewhat aggressive $33,500 that will seem like a deal in 5 years.  While the project has been moved forward, and one could carry on, ignoring the less-than-perfect aspects and create a driver, I would consider a rethink on some of the work done and take a step back.  The wiring looks awful and new well made harnesses can be had from multiple sources for not much money -so this at least needs to be redone -yes, I know the under dash wiring is a bear, but that’s what patience is for right?  Overspray and incorrect finishes in the engine compartment also needs attention, but none of this is particularly difficult.  At the end of the project you’d have a nice early Sprint!

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Looks very nice.  I’m sure someone can count few things wrong – like the missing badge, but as these go it’s pretty good.

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Concorso Italiano 2013 – Anyone going?

I’ve been to the Concorso a few times over the years and it’s always a lot of fun.  I didn’t think this year was going to work for me, but yay ho, a window of time opened up -I get to go!  I’d enjoy seeing some of you readers I’ve never met there – so, who’s going?  I wish I knew I was going to make it earlier, I’d have registered the Sprint.  Alas.

And I’m still a poor bastard (more on that later), so anyone have an extra ticket?

See you there! I suppose I’ll wear a Giuliettas.com T shirt. Oh, and I’ll be back to regular posting last week – had a lot on my plate lately…

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And a Rufus update.

 

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Market 483: Sprint Veloce 750E 03798 ‘lightweight’ at RM this weekend

Update:  A reader who has inspected this car says there are a lot of details incorrect about it, and wonders about its provenance.  Especially of note are the all chrome rather than aluminum trim bits, and the overstuffed seats.  Go have a look if you’re interested!  I’m just an admirer of a shiny red Sprint -especially considering the sad state of my own!

Giulietta Sprint Veloce 750E 1493*03798, 1315*30552.  A lightweight Sprint Veloce is one of the most exciting Giulietta models, and to find one of the few they made in unmodified form is unusual.  RM is auctioning off this nicely done example next weekend.  If you’ve always wanted one, now is your chance.

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Nice nice nice.  Original marker light?  Want!

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Market 482: Veloce-ized Spider 10123 379454 survivor

Giulia Spider 10123*379454. This car ended recently on eBay out of Washington state and almost perfectly represents the value of a car a friend of mine was asking me to give a valuation of.  A well maintained, scruffy but attractive -well, except those seats- car that functions as intended and needs nothing for use, but needs a lot to be a nice car.  I guessed $20,000 – $30,000, probably a little higher than $25,000 if sold on eBay.

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The proof for all you who visit after the link to eBay dies.

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Market 428: Giulia Spider Veloce 10118 390417 -needs a little

Update7/12/13: This Spider is back on eBay after being cooped up for over a year.  Samee pictures, so probably the same owner/seller.  Have prices moved in 12 months?

July 5, 2012: Giulia Spider Veloce 10118*390417, 00121*01950. On eBay right now out of Novi Michigan -a city I’ve never heard of except as the source of a lot of eBay auctions for Alfa stuff.  This car needs everything and is not for the faint of heart -but will yield an uncommon, very usable and valuable car when done.  Some guys like the last of a breed, with all upgrades like disk brakes and more CC’s -if you’re one of those guys, this is the Spider for you.  Me?  I like the early stuff with small tail lights and drum brakes.

Lot’s of metal has been replaced along the wheel arch and rocker -looks to me like it will need touching up.  Doesn’t look too scary here.  I think lowering the soft top would be an improvement on presentation.

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My Lancia Appia is for sale – SOLD!

I have been walking by it on the driveway for two months now.  I put a towel over the gauges to keep the from being yellowed by the sun.  I just haven’t had time to mess with it, so it can now be yours!  Runs and drives pretty good!  No rust!

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Market 481: Spider 750D 03235 project

Giulietta Spider 750D 1495*03235, 1315*43081. This car has been on eBay a few times recently , trying both the recently defunct ‘start low’ old school auction approach, the ‘this is what I want’ buy-it-now approach, and now the ‘call me if you want it’ BIN approach.  Car looks decent enough -needs everything except a lower 4″ metal transplant.  Great car for the aspiring 750D owner -I’ve seen, worked on, and written about much worse!

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On the bright side, it’s not 1988 and you can actually get parts now.  They’re not as good as the ‘left-overs’ of 1988 you might have gotten from Alfa Ricambi, but they are available.  Door fits well, wheels need paint -you know the rest. Continue reading “Market 481: Spider 750D 03235 project”

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Anyone in the UK care to help me collect a part I bought?

Update 5/16/13:  I want to thank all of you who acted on this so quickly!  The Bike Barn has heard from several of you while I slept last night and it appears they are now thinking about me and my order again.  I’ll keep you all posted on what transpires.

I don’t know if any of you care, but this engine is just a few numbers off from a frame I have (CB72 13073) -which is how they tended to come from the factory -much like our Giuliettas.  Honda only made about 3000 of these 1961 CB72’s and they are among the most sought after early Hondas.

5/15/2013: All, I bought a rare early Honda motorcycle engine case CB72E 113024 from UK eBay seller ‘The Bike Barn LTD’ and have not received my part.  It’s been 5 months and I am not getting my emails returned anymore.  Unfortunately I bought directly rather than through eBay, and the time window which I can contest the charge through paypal has long since closed. I don’t really have any idea how to make a formal complaint to any UK authorities or anything, so I thought I’d make an appeal here.

Would any UK based reader be interested in giving them a call and seeing if they can get an idea what’s up?  Their phone number is: 01905 622122.  I’m not sure where in the UK they are…

Thanks.