Giuliettas – Page 83 – 750 and 101 series cars 1954

November 29, 2008

Giulietta Sprint 101 1300 engine rebuild part 4: Head work

I am trying to figure out how it happened. It was supposed to be so easy, pull the 1750 out, put the 1300 in, scratch my head over some fit problems and voila! I’m back on the road. Okay, so I discovered the 1300 was stuck and suddenly I’m rebuilding it. Parts are bought and so on and then next thing I know I find myself at John Norman racing lugging in my cylinder head. Warped, cracked and 10 thousandths from being too short means I had to buy a different, rebuildable head.

New valves, guides with stem seals, lots of machine work and all set up and ready to go. I hope I can put the bottom end together to be worthy of this head.

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November 28, 2008

Sprint Update: Engine compartment refresher part 1.

You may remember I made a plan to detail the engine compartment of the Sprint as part of the engine rebuild. While waiting for the Piston and liner set to arrive, for the head and water pump to be rebuilt and other things I have no control over to get done I tackled the engine compartment. The firewall and inner fenders etc had silver rattle can spray paint over green car paint over the original red. On top of the paint was a lot of gooey oily debris from the last 20,000 miles of commuting and events this car has done.

The first step was to take a picture to see where everything should go when the paint is dry. Next I used Simple green and scrubbed the engine compartment then followed that up with power washing. Once it was dry I removed all the firewall grommets and associated brackets and wet sanded the old paint to make it smooth. I had delusions about going down to the bare metal but this car is sort of an original scruffy car so I decided a quick go over followed by some matched car paint put in a rattle can would be ‘good enough’.

I got your attention with the nice done detail shot of the drivers corner. The brake fluid can leaks so I had bare metal to work with in this area. The smaller grommet brackets are just polished up with mag polish, the larger steering column bracket was bead blasted and painted ‘dull aluminum’ silver. The new rubber grommet for the steering column was $50 AND it required extensive shaping with a razor blade to get it to fit. The throttle linkage was blasted and painted and installed through a new rubber piece.

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November 27, 2008

Neglected Alfa’s around the world

There are more scruffy project cars than usual on Italian eBay right now so I thought I should share some of my favorites. It’s odd to think that most of these cars would get an eager response from would be buyers if they turned up for sale on San Francisco Craigslist, but in Italy they are just old cars and better specimens can be found for not much money.

Looks a lot like the car Andrew has been restoring color and condition-wise. Nice setting by the way.

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November 25, 2008

Market #63: Baby Blue 10102 Sprint project

Update 2/10/09: This poor bugger just showed up on italian eBay with a fresh nose job!

3124_1 I guess moving to the old country didn’t agree with it. Shame, it was such a straight, original car.

Update 12/1/08: This car ended, reserve met for $12,100 with 9 bids. I forcast $12,500 so I guess my sense of the value of these cars must be getting better. Having the first crack at a car like this would be fun, making it run and drive before doing any major work. I bet the new owner will tear it apart, loose half the pieces and despair when the bill to repair the head is $1400 then put it on ebay after 10 years sitting in a wet climate under a blue tarp- aren’t I the optimist this morning. Actually I would love to hear from the new owner about their plans for this remarkably original car.

Giulietta Sprint 10102*158890, Engine 00102*24926. This car is on eBay right now out of Florida. Fusi lists this as a 1961 Sprint from right in the middle of that years numbers. Rusty trunk corner aside, this is probably about the nicest Sprint project I’ve seen since the dark blue eyebrow car that was the subject of Market #9.

Bright-work is very straight and nice. The little bit of rash on the hood is probably from a blue tarp trapping water against this panel and the roof.

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November 21, 2008

Market #61: SS 00001, ‘Squalo’ again.

Another thought for this car: I’ve been thinking about this car (what can I say, despite my tough talk below I think it’s awesome and wish I could buy it) and as recommended by Elmar, I think the thing that should happen is it should go to Arese to be part of Alfa’s permanent ‘Museo Storico’ collection. They have the prototype successor to the SS there and they have the model they made this SS after so why not add this car to the collection. Fiat has deep pockets and Italians are museum minded if my trips there are any indication. If the BAT cars are worth what they are worth (hey, if I had a spare 20 million I’d buy them in a heart beat) then this car has plenty of headroom, but I want some cold hard documentation before I call it the prototype. If this car is the SS prototype, it is more closely related to the BAT cars than any other car. I have seen in print that the SS is considered the production result of the BAT cars so it makes perfect sense. OK, back to worrying about the small end busings on my crappy 59 Sprint Normale…

Update: A reader informs me this car is known to Italians as SS ‘Squalo’ or shark for the shape of the grill opening.

Giulietta Sprint Speciale 10120*00001, Engine 00120*00003. This car has surfaced for sale again, the third time in a year or so since the ‘well-known collector and long-time owner’ parted with it. Each time about $100k has been added to the price but nothing has been done to rectify the cars short comings and so here it is looking for an owner who will appreciate it for what it is and what it isn’t. Oh, and the new owner will be required to fork over $275,000.

Looks phenomenal in this picture, but the flaws have been air-brushed out and apparently it is appropriate for deep space travel. Those alumimum headlight rings are too cool. I bet the mirrors take the coefficient of drag from .28 to .30.

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November 20, 2008

Market 60: Another Sprint Veloce Allegerita, this one with Targa Florio history

Giulietta Sprint Veloce ‘Allegerita’ 750E1493*04347, engine 1315*30526, Bertone 77468. This car is available right now for 68,000 Euro’s ($85,000 on November 19, 2008) from various sources in Europe but I found it at Steuel. The advertisement text is available below and includes pieces of the cars history the new owner will no doubt have fun verifying and elaborating on. I contacted the owner directly about the car and he provided me with the numbers and an offer of further information should I require it. I have no doubt any information required to help a potential buyer will be provided without hesitation.

In contrast to yesterdays SVA this car has been thoroughly refinished and prepared inside and out for racing without for cutting any corners and with no piece untouched. As can be seen below, the engine compartment underside and suspension are all in top condition. The Conrero connection and Targa Florio history should add quite a bit to the price of this car, but other than maybe a picture I doubt much evidence of those days still exists in the car.

This car looks like a new car and I suppose one could say to all intents that it is a new car. Wheels appear to be current reproductions. Without being specific I’ll just say this car looks right- everything fits together well and has a unified level of detailing.

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November 19, 2008

Market 59: Ex-Swedish royal family Sprint Light-weight 750E 04067

Giulietta Sprint Veloce ‘Alleggerita’ 750E 1493*04067, Engine 1315*30393. Available right now from our friends and neighbors at Fantasy Junction is this neat Sprint. Made in 1957 for the Prince of Sweden, this light-weight Sprint Veloce (SVA) has seen 32,219 KM’s since new if it hasn’t gone around once, in which case, even 132,219 is only about 82,000 miles. In the world of Sprint Veloce’s it really doesn’t get much better than this unless unashamed period race damage and accompanying provenance or utter originality is your thing. This car has changed hands a few times over the last year, not sure why, but if the declines in my 401K are any indication I can make a guess.

While I will whole-heartedly endorse this car I have to air a major gripe: this car was is VERY GOOD original paint recently, I mean, probably the BEST original paint one could find on any Sprint, much less an SVA. Now I’m all about the rights of ownership and all but I can only imagine what the twins on antiques roadshow would say if this was a seriously expensive piece of furniture that lost 90% of its value because it was refinished. One doesn’t OWN a car like this, one is CONSERVATOR of a car like this. There should be someone who grants permission for you to paint this car.

Is a lightweight still a lightweight if it’s not lightweight? Lightweight or not it’s a beautiful car! Small headlights with aluminum trim rings are sort of wasted on a car with a heavy grill and chromed bumper. I bet those fog lights are a few pounds each.

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November 16, 2008

Pedal Pushers Pull-over rally 2008 Wrap-up

The Pedal Pushers Pull-Over Rally ran yesterday, November 15th and a lot of fun was had. The event started in an Oakland city parking lot behind Peet’s coffee on Fruitvale and made it’s way to the Warehouse in Port Costa, with 160 miles of scenic California back-roads in between. Focus of the rally is vintage sports and touring cars and a strong contingent of each was present, with some little French cars thrown in to keep everyone smiling.

On my Event Photo’s page is a full set from the drive. If you have a set of photos from the drive hosted somewhere I can link to let me know at sprints@giuliettas.com.

If you are shivering in Minnesota right now wondering what the weather and scenery is like in Northern California here’s your glimpse. This picture was taken on the civilized northern stretch of Morgan Territory road where Giuliettas.com and Pedal Pusher Citation Bait’s 1972 Fiat 124 Sport sedan chased a string of cars including a ‘Conrero-ized’ Giulietta Spider, Porsche 356 and Colli Super Wagon among others.

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November 14, 2008

Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS ‘Leight 00002’ Low-nose

Elmar, my European correspondent, sent me a link to Classic Motor Action in Belgium (who is currently offering a Fiat 8V that is spectacular!!!), telling me they had Low-nose SS number 2 in their archive of cars they had sold at auction, sure enough they do. d’Amico and Tabucchi say of this car “Machino presso il servizio esperienze principali”. I’m not sure of the nuance of the Italian language but I suspect they mean this car was put to work by the factory for testing, shows, journalists etc. It’s good to know it exists as it is truly the second SS made behind 00012 and before 00006.

Definitely a low nose. I wonder how old this picture is? Notice the similarities to 00001 below. I assume the title ‘leight’ means it is aluminum.

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November 12, 2008

Market #58: Very Rough incomplete 56 Sprint

Update 12/2/08: This car reached $3650 with 24 bidders before ending reserve not met. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of this car. As I mentioned before, I am interested in it, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger yesterday while looking at those floors, knowing I have been too chicken to go for it on my SS that doesn’t need this much.

Update 11/25/08: This car is now on eBay. A trunk lid (courtesy of me) and rear glass have been added along with more detailed pictures of the floor and trunk rust. A project for the brave. Opening bid is a realistic $1956 compared to the $6950 asking that was lowered to $5950 when it was on CL. Original engine number for this car was 1315*03053. I may actually bid on this thing.

Giulietta Sprint AR 1493*03146, Engine 1315*40174. This car is available now on Craigslist out of Newport Beach from Fastcars of California. According to Fusi this car was made late in 1956 and the engine came in an early 1956 Spider. These early column shift Sprints don’t come up for sale often and it is doubtful many were made.

This car is likely to define the bottom of the market for early Giulietta Sprints. I’ve seen worse cars being tackled by enthusiasts but those cars are usually purchased for very little money so the first resurrection phase brings their investment up to about this cars starting asking price.

Tusk style bumperettes are odd and give the car a less than sporty makeover. All in all the trim is there and not too bad but the shape of the front looks to me like it has been pushed in a little.

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