No Reserve Project: 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Buying a car, disassembling it, and then deciding to move it on is a bit like changing horses in the middle of the stream. It’s hard to step into a project that someone else has started when you don’t know all of the particulars or if all of the parts are present and that’s the case with this 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Let’s look closely and see if we can unravel what’s here and what’s not. This Alfa is located in Spring City, Pennsylvania and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,900, thirteen bids tendered so far.
Alfa Romeo’s first run of the Giulia covered the years 1962 through 1978. While primarily a four-door sedan, there were variations in the form of the Sprint, the Sprint Speciale – a two-door coupe, and the Spider, like this example. Spider production spanned the years 1962 until mid-1966 when it was replaced by the Duetto.
The seller of this Giulia states, “Purchased as a running, driving car in 1992. Disassembled for rust repair and restoration.” It’s probably a more oft-told tale than not, a person buys an old car with big needs, develops a plan, sets that plan in motion, and then either loses or interest or determines that it’s more of a project than they want or can tackle. The seller adds that the rust present is typical for a Giulia Spider with deterioration in the floors, rockers, wheel arches, and trunk. But he does state that he has extra body panels and parts. Talk about disassembled, this sucker is completely apart with the components, fortunately, laid out in some semblance of order. The challenge is not only knowing where it all goes but also figuring out what may be missing.
The engine and transmission have been removed but there is no word regarding the operating capability of the approximately 91 HP, 1.6 liter, DOHC, in-line, four-cylinder engine. Maybe it runs and maybe it doesn’t, it supposedly has experienced only 60K miles but time sitting has probably done it no favors. Behind the engine is a four-speed manual transmission.
I like to delve into the interior of most cars that I review but the interior is out with the exterior and, as with the rest of the car, it is in pieces. The steering wheel is attached and there is an instrument panel that can be spied and at a distance, it looks OK, but there is nothing else readily viewable. There is a folding top that is included with the parts trove but it doesn’t appear to be usable.
I wish the seller luck with his auction, there are thirteen bids and a respectable dollar amount for what amounts to a pile of questionable parts and a body with lots of needs. A question to you all, have you ever purchased an incomplete project and if so, how did the assembly go?
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Comments
I would have preferred the seller left it as a “running, driving car.” Neat car, but good luck putting this jigsaw puzzle back together.
I have owned a number of these and they are truly a mini Ferrari. A total delight to drive and while the rust problems look bad there are excellent patch panels available. The inner sills are mostly flat metal and the outer sills are what is available and it is a common need. I would be more concerned with the rear wheel arches. and the nose both are far more complex to fix. The trunk is another area that is a pain. The engine is easy if the crank is good, the block and head are good the rest is repairable. Most of the systems are basic in terms of design and are far more reliable than most would realize. I put many tens of thousands of miles on the ones I owned driving them across country more than once.
This is well priced and looks to be a very good car owned by a man that besides taking care of it, knew when he was over his head. That means a lot. It also means that all the small bits are still there. While the paint has been stripped of there is almost no sign of surface rust. That is a clue to ownership as bare metal rusts very easy and a sign of complete care to do the project right. I am knee deep in my Europa so I am not a bidder but if not I would grab this one. These are going up and with the exception of an almost useless heater are one of the most delightful cars I have ever owned.
Bought an incomplete / half disassembled 1940 Bantam convertible sedan in 2010. Still disassembled, but complete with exception of top bows. Simple car & a 30 year membership in the clubs have helped. Have a few other cars I would rather work on – so, in process of getting the Bantam listed For Sale.
A complete car – taken apart is not for the faint of heart. If incomplete, the price needs to be low enough it is worth the gamble. I may be keeping the Bantam until it becomes a driver.
Upon closer inspection there are four parts I would suggest the buyer confirm are available with the car. Two are the whiskers above the front openings in the body. They are stainless steel and are almost unattainable and very expensive, top frame and windshield. The windshield is expensive but available the top frame can be made but again difficult and expensive. If those are there then this is a very complete car. The rubber mats are all very replaceable with new ones being identical to the originals.
Based on the chassis # and the front drum brakes, this is a 1962 model
Got three automotive jigsaw puzzles going right now. Don’t mind piecing everything together. It’s getting someone talented to paint the car that’s the biggest challenge.
I parted out 1.5 of these Giuliettas almost 20 years ago for three times the current bid. The prices of these have been in an upward trajectory for well over 30 years.
By looking at the picture of re read end retail light openings appear to be earlier than 62, the 62 had larger tail lights.
Either the market fell flat on vintage Alfas, or this seller doesn’t know what they have. Even in this shape, which looks like it was stored in an underwater chicken coop, these used to bring 5 figures, even like this, 6 in nice shape. Fantastic cars, no doubt. I’ve mentioned before, my brother bought one in the early 70’s, paid $500 bucks, it was a fun car, to say the least, until a cross threaded spark plug blew out, we had it repaired but never ran the same. At least when done, you’ll have one of the nicest sports cars from the 60’s, unless you simply must have that $40K dollar Toyota pickup,,,
Dec 08, 2020 , 2:32PM
Winning bid:US $9,601.00[ 34 bids ]
Item location:Spring City, Pennsylvania, United States
What was the chassis number?