Tag: cars

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Market #68: Nice eyebrow Sprint in Mexico

Update:  20 bids, $13,300, reserve not met.  This doesn’t surprise me in light of the detailed pictures the seller added late in the auction, a few of which I added to the end of this post.  I predicted a higher end than this but it light of the new pictures and their evidence of a more than passing need for rust repair and new paint I think the ending price makes some sense, especially if more unpleasant surprises lurk.  I still think this car would see $18,000 or more if it was in California and sold with attention to detail the eBay seller out of Newport Beach usually uses.  Javier, I’m not sure what advise to give you.  It may be worth having the repairs done locally and trying again in the Spring, assuming total financial collapse doesn’t have us operating on the barter system. 

Giulietta Sprint 750B 1493*04953.  This car is available on eBay out of Temixco Mexico which looks to be close to Mexico City.  Fusi indicates it is a 1957 as claimed by the seller.

I had an email chat with a guy in Mexico about a 59 Sprint that he has and is thinking of selling to fund another Sprint.  His problem is importing old cars to Mexico is very difficult to impossible and his car has a US title and the car he is hoping to buy has a Mexican title.  He is hoping to sell his car in the US.  I told him that people I know would have reservations buying a car out of Mexico because of money exchange complications, shipping and in many cases unfair quality associations with South American countries who send cars to the states that are presentable but worn out.  I told him these perceptions mean the car has to be a very good deal or exceptionally rare to get serious interest from Americans.  I can’t say how Eurpoeans see it, buy I imagine not much differently.  I bring this up because I am hoping this car will prove me wrong.  What can be seen in the images leads me to believe this was a clean original car that was freshened up, albeit straying from original in the interior and drivetrain somewhat. 

b5b6_1Handsome car.  Windows look very clear.  Bright work is bright and straight, paint is shiny, door and hood gaps are average or better.  I know of guys who have sent cars to Mexico for paint and chrome because you can still get ‘the good stuff’ down there and it’s reasonably priced, you just have to have solid recommendations.  Note the big dollar sign on the quarter window.

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Berlina project 4: the dreaded waterpump replacement

Usually my bad karma manifests itself as a star chip in a windshield or a slipping clutch but lately it’s been all about the waterpump.  When I had the engine out of the Berlina I noticed a lot of play in the waterpump pulley but I thought that since the engine had worked so good for so long in the Sprint, I’d just roll with it. These things can take decades to tear themselves apart I thought.

Last week when I went to the local Mexican market a few blocks from my shop for some Tecate, chips and salsa and pineapple Fanta to restock the shop ‘fridge, I came out of the store and there was a puddle of pretty green antifreeze under my car. So much for a slow decline for the water pump.

part-1Is it just me or is coolant more viscous than it used to be? All this was apart a few weeks ago so since it’s fresh in my mind I suspect I can get through it pretty quick. I popped the hood at 5:30pm after picking up a set of sparkplugs, some carb cleaner and some ultra gray from my neighborhood chain auto parts store.  I had a date to keep at 7:30pm so I had to hurry.

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Giulietta Sprint 101 1300 engine rebuild part 5: Waterpump

Another pretty part ready for installation.  As with just about everything else relating to this 101 1300 rebuild, the waterpump is not just an off the shelf purchased part that gets to be bolted on.  Theoretically the waterpump is an owner servicable part and rebuild kits are available, but years in a hostile environment means the average, or even above average DIY Alfa owner is going to need help.

I pressed the impeller out of the bearings and found it to be in good shape with little corrosion or wear on the bearing and sealing surfaces.  Once the impeller was out I removed the snap ring that positioned the outer bearing and that is where I got hung up.  I wasn’t sure which way to try and press the bearings out and the special seal with the toleranced mounting flange and spring was all corroded.  At this point I decided I could irrepairably damage the pump if I wasn’t careful so I put all the parts in a plastic bag and delivered it, along with my rod bearings to John Norman Racing where Dan Marvin rebuilt it.

water-pump-rebuilt101 1300 waterpumps are no longer available, so if yours has a problem treat it gently, don’t assume you can buy a new one.

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Market #67: two high dollar Alfa’s on eBay

Update:  8C ended at just over $200K, reserve not met.  End values were closer than I imagined.  I bet run through a proper auction these cars would make $250k each.  Look for the disappointing follow up for each of these cars.

2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione ZARJA181980040907 & 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C2500 SS Cabriolet No 915811, Engine No 928114. Both these cars are currently on eBay, the 8C here, and the 6C here, though it ended reserve not met at $185,100. It is probably absurd to compare these two cars, but I suspect the values of these cars are actually quite close (within $50,000 maybe… the price of two good Giuliettas). Both these cars represent ‘investor’ class cars and since their values are close, comparison as investments would probably have the most meaning. Similarities also include exclusivity, desirability, and outstanding technical specification relative to other cars of their respective eras. Put another way both these cars are spectacular and I’d love to have either.

quartThe 6C2500SS was a serious car in it’s day, the SS having triple carbs and rated at 109Bhp. Coachbuilt body is both sporty and elegant, representing both the highest standard of finish and latest styling for it’s era.

med6The 8C Competitzione has been called the most beautiful car ever, recalling the Type 33 Strada among other historic Alfa’s. I like it more than all the other new cars I’ve seen but I would have to see one in person before I resort to hyperbole. Engine here is a 4.7L injected 8 making 450Bhp. Continue reading “Market #67: two high dollar Alfa’s on eBay”

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Market #66: 1964 Giulia Spider kit

Update:  This car ended at $2175, reserve not met.  I don’t see a note that the auction ended early, but I seem to remember it being more than this when I wrote about it.  Is the market this soft so suddenly?

Giulia Spider 10123 AR375922, Engine Tipo 00112 included (at least it sounds like it).  This car is available on eBay right now out of Torrington CT.  Fusi lists this car as a 1963 Giulia Spider Normale.  Seller sold it previously on eBay but Eurpoean buyer backed out so it is on the market again.  Buy it Now price of $8000 includes some new parts not offered as part of the auction including piston set, clutch and carb kits.  I didn’t see what the first auction ended at, post a comment if you know.

The seller of this car has listed many parts over the last year that I have watched and considered bidding on so I have no doubt they know their way around Alfas.  The tirade about non-paying bidder is carried a little too far, but having been in that position I know it is easy to loose ones composure in that situation. 

giulia kit spider front in boxLooks like fun, a body on a dolly surrounded by crusty parts.  The nose looks pretty good but with the parts in such a jumble I find it hard to accept the claim of 100% complete without subsantiation.

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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-decked-headNew 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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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’.

engine-compartment-doneI 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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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.

b1e3_1Looks a lot like the car Andrew has been restoring color and condition-wise.  Nice setting by the way.

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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_1I 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.

sprint noseBright-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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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.

ss 0001 nose diagonalLooks 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.

Continue reading “Market #61: SS 00001, ‘Squalo’ again.”