Giuliettas – Page 15 – 750 and 101 series cars 1954

May 13, 2013

Reproduced: Gauge restoration kit -inserts, o-rings and more part 1.

I was taking my monthly cruise of the AlfaBB the other day and found a post by Uncle Rick praising the efforts of partscorrect.com to make gauge inserts for our Giuliettas. I went to their website and found out that they were local to me and they were David, who I met a few years ago while out in my Sprint. An email exchange ensued and now I sit with his complete gauge restoration kit on my work table. It’s a pleasure to report that my high expectations have been greatly exceeded! These gauge inserts are simply stunning!

On the product explanation/description sheet that came in the box with the parts is the message: “Parts made to be absolutely correct. Not my interpretation of it… not different because it was easier… just plain not different! Exact reproductions for enthusiasts!!!”

The kit: gauge inserts in a clear plastic that will not yellow in time, asymmetric o-rings that go between the chrome ring and glass, o-rings that go between the gauge body and recessed ring and/or dash (depending on whether it’s a Spider or Sprint), small o-rings that go under the drive mount screws and flat insulating rubber gaskets that go between the speedo or tach drive and gauge housing.

Continue reading “Reproduced: Gauge restoration kit -inserts, o-rings and more part 1.”

May 10, 2013

Market 480: 1900M ‘Matta’ AR5101384 in Florida

1900M AR51 01384, AR 1307 00610. This interesting piece of Alfa history is available now out of Florida. The Matta is very rare in the US -I think I may have seen one or two over the years in pictures, but never in person. It is a fairly standard 1950’s ‘serious’ 4×4 offering – a sort of next step from the 4×4’s designed for WW2. It occurs to me as I type this that the long lived lines of serious 4×4 players grew out of this period: Unimog, Jeep, Land Rover 88, Austin Gipsy, Toyota Land Cruiser, Fiat Campagnola, NIssan Patrol, yougettheidea. Had Alfa based the Matta on the Giulietta engine, maybe there would be tens of thousands of them around -I know I would dig an open Fiat Campagnola type Alfa from the 1950’s! I suppose there probably is one that I am not aware of…

Great grill on these -has a modest character. In the cramped garage with poor lighting for my auction pictures? Why not! No one else will be listing a Matta at the same time. Continue reading “Market 480: 1900M ‘Matta’ AR5101384 in Florida”

May 9, 2013

Market 479: Spider Veloce 10118 390616 -“very simple project”

Giulia Spider Veloce 10118*390616, 00536*07913 (not original). This Spider Veloce is on eBay right now out of Princeton NJ. The body looks to be in great shape and is described as having been finished to the point of being ready for paint. Original color was Black with probably red interior -a stunning combo! Biggest drawback I can see is the lack of the original engine. The 00121 engines it shares with the Giulia Sprint Speciale’s do come up, but not often and not cheap. I know where there is one right now…

Always a pleasure to behold. Stance is per original -not with the modern springs and all that lowers it quite a bit. Wheels are Borranis. Looks like a good place to start.

Continue reading “Market 479: Spider Veloce 10118 390616 -“very simple project””

May 8, 2013

Market 20: Waterloo Sprint Veloce 750E 08721

5/8/2013: This feller has popped up for sale at Bonhams at their up coming Spa Auction. Estimate is $53,000 – $66,000. Probably a bit on the low side.

“‘The Alfa, in a few words then, is a small car with a rev-happy dohc engine that can carry two people from point A to point B over all types of roads quicker than most cars twice its size. It does this not with blinding speed but with a wonderful combination of roadholding, compact size and sheer willingness.’ – Car & Driver on the Giulietta Sprint.”

Five years later and no new pictures. Thanks Jerry for pointing this sale out to me.

6/10/2008: Giulietta Sprint Veloce 750 AR1493E08721, Engine 1315*32399. Listed for sale on Classic Driverfor 31,200 GBP, or about $61,000. The ad text says it is a 1958 Confortevole but Fusi lists the chassis number range for 1958 ending with 07921 though there is a typo where the page breaks for the 1959 year information and beside the 1959 750 designation Sprint Veloce’s it says 1958. Conforevole’s end with car 06611 so its a stretch of the accepted definitions to call it one. In this condition and at this price I don’t think they added any premium for calling it a Confortevole and I doubt there is any dishonesty at work, likely just a lack of solid information combined with the usual regurgitation of hear-say.

“Perfect in all respects.” This is a car that the seller means for potential buyers to come see in person, and who in their right mind would buy a car at the absolute top of the market without viewing it in person and taking it for a spirited drive. I want to go see it just to get a better look at the sellers facilities.

This presentation is great. More museum than Classic car dealership with period pictures and statistics built into the display. You probably have to qualify to even step into the ring for a closer look.

Continue reading “Market 20: Waterloo Sprint Veloce 750E 08721”

May 6, 2013

Market 470: Project Spider 10103*11198 in FlOrlando

Update 5/6/2013: This charming candidate has found its way onto eBay. Already at $6600.

Exciting stuff when you take an unfamiliar road in your neighborhood and find something like this.

4/19/2013: Giulietta Spider 10103*11198. At the other end of the spectrum from yesterday’s Spider Veloce is this Spider out of the land of ahem. Asking price is $14,500. Looks like a real gem -especially the interior. It runs in a recently-freed-up-with-Marvel-Mystery-oil sort of way. Steering wheel is without cracks. Good times for all!

One of those what were they thinkings on the color, neglect etc. It is all there, but how much of it is usable.

Continue reading “Market 470: Project Spider 10103*11198 in FlOrlando”

May 1, 2013

Market 478: Unknown Giulietta SS in England

Giulietta Sprint Speciale 10120. This car is currently on eBay out of the UK. It looks like a very clean well cared for example. No price is given, but you can bet that the price of good SS’s in the US has not escaped their notice. The stance of the car is aggressive, suiting the shape of the body. I like it! If anyone catches the vin, please let me know.

You know I like a good picture! This has the small corner markers that I think are indicative of an originally US bound car. Nicely presented.

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April 30, 2013

2013 California Mille meet and greet

As I sit here typing this morning there are a bunch of well-to-do and enthusiastic about old cars types motoring through the backroads of California on this years edition of the California Mille. On the Sunday before departure they throw a bit of a party at the Fairmont on Nob Hill where the public can go experience that warm-n-fuzzy and the participants can show off their rides, tans and other accessories and grooming habits.

This is the first Mille since Martin Swig’s passing and his sons David and Howard kept the show going admirably. Everyone I know in the SF bay area seems to have an amusing Martin story. He is missed.

This was the star of my show, a 6C2500 in a great color and on the road. Anyone know the story of this car?

Continue reading “2013 California Mille meet and greet”

April 25, 2013

Market 477: Green on green 1965 1600 Spider 392552

Giulia Spider 1600 10123*392552. This green-on-green late Spider 1600 is on eBay right now out of New York. The condition is good over-all, if a bit unoriginal in the details. Metallic paint on Market 69‘s late Spider took quite a beating in the comments section on BringaTrailer (always a pleasure!), I wonder what they would think of this one. Carpet looks a bit like astro-turf!

A good looking car in this color -whether you like it or not. Kind of a big Healey or Aston type color. I’m hoping by now you all know which kind of wheels these are. Is the nose trim missing?

Continue reading “Market 477: Green on green 1965 1600 Spider 392552”

April 25, 2013

Market 458: Spider 750D 02277 in PA

Update 4/25/2013: Strange as it may seem, this car has turned up for sale in Budapest. No price is quoted.

Update 3/2/13: Unsold for $24,500, but 4 offers.

Giulietta Spider 750D 02277, 1315*42184. This car is available on eBay out of Barto, PA from someone who knows the enlightening power of a lot of images -137 total! Needs a lot, but is complete and not too rusty. As the seller suggests, it could be used as is and slowly improved if that’s your thing.

Straight, unmolested and charming. A good cleaning and polishing would make this look really good. I’d be tempted to just remove the bumpers at this point.

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April 24, 2013

Another SS cousin: FIAT Stanguellini Bertone Berlinetta

1954 FIAT Stanguellini Bertone Berlinetta *071366*. This car is for sale now through Fantasy Junction, but is doing residence at the Petersen Automobile Museum in southern California -worth a visit even if this wasn’t there. If the Sprint and SS have an extended family, this car would be considered an older second cousin, perhaps a first cousin even, and definitely a near sibling of the Sprint and BAT cars. The list of cars Franco Scaglione had a hand in creating is impressive, and includes many of Alfa’s most coveted one-offs, listed one after another (1900L, Sportiva, BAT 5,7,9 etc) and many others like this little guy. Truly art in automotive form. This is a car that demands a place in your house -not your garage. For $295,000 you’ll be in an exclusive club.

This is a beautiful car from some angles and a challenging car from others -but then a lot of Scaglione’s creations are. You have to look at it for a few moments, then remember that this is a hand made car. Panels were hand formed, gas welded together and married to some seed of a FIAT 1100 chassis. Color is great -not a color one would typically associate with Italian sports cars, but common in the palette of early 1950’s Italy.

Continue reading “Another SS cousin: FIAT Stanguellini Bertone Berlinetta”