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Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:32 am
by cabc26b
Speaking of Alfa's - any body know the trick to getting a Dellorto DRLA pump Jet back into the carb body ?

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:41 am
by LDi
Hi again

I believe the Alfa community is among the strongest and most persistent in the world, but of course most car aficionados have it that way with their own brand. The best thing about classic alfas is that you can find so many different models ranging from 1950 to 75 that all share same technology and style and still have a quite low price compared to cars like a Lotus. There are two types of Alfisti. The one that loves Italian cars and lifestyle and only can think of having an Alfa, Lancia or if possible more exotic makes. The other Alfisti is more like me. I love many different classic cars like Alfas, Lotus Elans, BMW 2002 series, Scimitars, SAAB Sonetts, Lancia Fulvias, Fiat and Abarth series and so on, they just have to mix style, performance, passion, lightweight, sound, smell, bodywork in a tasty cocktail. I guess many of you share that feeling.

Back again to this thread. In Alfa community there have been several cases with people trying to sell replicas of famous models and even trying selling replicas of cars that never existed for quite a lot. So we are always beware when we see exotics like the Barcettas being put on the marked. So if you want to buy one of those type of cars, always be very careful by checking its history, numbers etc. Easiest way of doing that is just to put a request on the Alfa Bulletin board and you will get dozens of answers from very skilled people. Another possibility is to ask the Alfa Museo Storico in Italy for help, they keep records of most models.

You can compare it with selling replica Elan Sprints but forgetting the word replica in the ads. But in this particular case it is more complex because it concerns models and one offs that are very rare and have histories very difficult to verify.

Ldi

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:40 am
by richard sprint
I'm with you Ldi by enjoying beautiful cars regardless of the badge - and thanks good words of advice on where to check...

Richard

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:09 am
by rgh0
Cant say i like Alfas - but i respect them. Been racing them for 30 years and despite all the development on my Elan they keep getting quicker to.

They were easier to beat 30 years ago than they are today :twisted:

cheers
Rohan

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:16 pm
by twincamman
cabc26b wrote:Speaking of Alfa's - any body know the trick to getting a Dellorto DRLA pump Jet back into the carb body ?

I suggest some Spumonti and a 38 cal Barretta ---ed

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:24 pm
by Rob_LaMoreaux
My wife is the Alfa fan having grown up with a 1968 GTA Jr. for an older sibling (as she puts it).

She plans to inherit the GTA Jr. when her dad dies in 20 or 30 years (he's only 60). Her sister has called dibs on her mom's 1969 Spider. The GTA jr. is what my wife was autocrossing when we met. Now she either autocrosses my '69 Elan or her wedding present from me: a 1972 Alfa Berlina 2000 with a 1990 2.0L Twinspark engine and a rather rough interior. The Berlina was built up as a potential GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine challenge car, but the owner lost his job and sold it to us. One of these days I'll get the time to put roll up rear windows, dashboard, heater and door seals back in it.

As far as Alfa go, they are generally pretty, and they can handle pretty good, but I am not a fan of the driving position or the gear lever. The '60s/'70s vintage Alfa gearboxes has old technology synchros and the shift lever is too long and well agricultural, although not as bad as the Fiat Spider I had as a summer commuter for a couple of years. the seating position is well, Italian. Italians must have very long arms and very short legs ( I won't say Gorilla). The GTA Jr. is great to autocross although not as fun as the Elan. The Spider is tail happy and the shift ball kept coming off and rolling around the floor. The Berlina is between the two and quite nice for a 4 door family car especially now that it has a 13 inch steering wheel not a 12 inch.

That Barchetta looks gorgeous, but there are other cars higher on my list than it (XK120 FHC, Type 14 Elite, E-Type, Etc.) not that I can afford anything until the current projects and car are paid off.

Rob

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:34 pm
by shoguneagle
Just had 14 over the past (a lot of) years; one Lotus Esprit Series 1; 3 Corvettes; couple of early 1940 Fords; several Chevrolets; couple of modified Porsche (VW??); etc.

In other words, I enjoy sports cars as a total family and associate with all of them.

Currently looking at a Lotus Elan to restore.

Also, this is my first post to this board.

Steve Hurt :roll: :lol: :D

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:59 pm
by twincamman
well Steve welcome aboard ----have fun ----ed

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:18 pm
by Old English White
Never own one ... But made thousands kilometer with Alfa's as the head of comparating & mesurement services was a fan of the make ... Made some sketches to get the sportiest if not fastest cars available and oftently were Red's from Milano Twinspark and GTV6 , the 155 V6 wide body ... So from sharp period only to the last ...
The guy became and still is a good friend ... I didn't buy any , but he has an SZ near a Sunbeam Lotus ...
They sure are not the best built , but allways attract with their engine and sound in revs ... Should I say its allways nice to drive on "B" roads near an Alfa , and after a while have it in the mirror ...
Christian.

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:35 pm
by richard sprint
Steve

What is the Elan you are considering restoring?

The thread started with the lovely Alfa 1900ss Barchetta - price came through today - 120.000 Euros and its a special not a production car....

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:11 pm
by shoguneagle
I am thinking of an Elan +2. Sorry if I get the model wrong; just becoming familiar with the Elan generally from the "excellent reads" on this board. I am really enjoying reading about the different aspects of the Elan specifically, and Lotus generally. It feels good to be back in the "Loti fold" after being away.

I am finding the Elan is very different that the Esprit. I like the comments, helpfulness, and bantering of this board and its members.

Current sports cars I have are a 2004 C-5 Corvette and a modified 914 Sixer (87 Carrera engine, brakes, front suspension, etc)

Steve Hurt

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:29 am
by gino1
Hi Rob,

If your GTA Jr. is the same as the one I was looking at last night with the thinner cylinder head it is worth around 130000 Euros...you could finish quite a few projects off with that sort of money !

Gino
Milano Italy

PS. bought my fourth Elan last night S2 26/4968 has a FIA Fiche Period F - GTS - :D :D :D :D :D
needs a new body though......if anyone has one in the UK or elsewhere in europe please let me know.

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:56 pm
by Rob_LaMoreaux
Hi Gino,

The GTA Jr is a street version, but it did come with the twinspark 1300 (now sitting safely in storage). The Mag bellhousing and other magnesium parts were stored when they developed cracks from being used with the 1750 engine. Then a few years ago the aluminum bellhousing gave up on the freeway and the drivehaft flailed a hole in the floor next to my stepson who slept through it. That instigated the latest restoration, but the aluminum body has had a couple of dings since then.

I'm not sure if it is worth 130,000 euros, but I know my father in law turned down $40kus about 10 years ago, so it could be worth close to that much if all the original parts were put back in. On the other hand it is driven and enjoyed, both on the road and in autocrosses and it is better for those with the current set of parts. I think the spider and other things would be sold before the GTA, just like my C5 Corvette would be sold before my Elan.

The story of how my father in law traded his Datsun autocross car for the GTA Jr. is a classic. The Previous owner was a Datsun dealer who claimed he was tired of his customers being shown up by the Alfa. In reality he though the engine was about to die because of the noise. After the paperwork was signed our friend who had gone along to get the car adjusted the timing chain to make the nasty noise go away and they drove off with the dealer realizing that he had gotten the worst of the deal. 37 years later it is still in the family and still beating much newer cars.

Rob

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:42 pm
by RedS4
I've had a few - 2 'Suds (rolled one into a ball racing...) a 'Sud Sprint, a 33, 2 Alfetta Sportivos, 2 105 2000's... And I looked after a Junior Zegato for a friend for a while. No salt Australian roads so they last a little longer here....

Re: Any Alfa fans amongst us?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:16 pm
by shoguneagle
I should never have read or commented on this thread!!! I was in California traveling and bought a very clean 1986 Alfa Spider Veloce. Wife is not too happy right now!!! I have not told her about the up and coming Lotus Elan +2 project I will be picking up in the near future. Well, you can only live life once, although it can be very short!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :roll: :roll: :roll: :arrow: :arrow: :?: :?: :?: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: