31K Miles! 1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6
This is a very nice combination, a low mileage car in excellent condition and a very thorough listing, two items that don’t intersect often enough. One of only 1,100 Alfa Romeo GTV6s destined for the U.S. market place in 1982, this car has been sparingly used over its 38 years. It is located in Short Hills, New Jersey, and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,100, reserve not yet met.
The seller states that this Alfa had a starting problem years ago which lead to a twenty-year forced slumber. Over the last two and a half years, it has undergone “an extensive restoration – mechanics, body, paint, and interior” It seems unusual that a car that has accumulated so few miles and was stored indoors, would need such attention. Nevertheless, it looks fantastic as it has been refinished in its original metallic silver, applied over a straight and rust-free body. All of the black plastic/rubber trim, an automotive trait so common in the ’80s, presents very well – there is no sign of fading, wrinkling, or splits. Unlike the bunker styling mentality that is so omnipresent with cars today, the tall green-house of this Alfa must provide fantastic visibility. It appears that the wheels currently being worn by this GTV6 are not the originals though the seller states that he has the built-with Campanello wheels included in the sale. The exterior of this car needs nothing, but with a recent restoration, that would be expected.
Another surprise is found with the 154 HP, 2.5 liter, V6 engine. It is a front-engine/rear transaxle arrangement and the seller states, “Complete engine service and heads overhaul by top Alfa mechanic shop (Eurotech Motors – Livingston NJ) performed in 2019 (over $8000 service). Mechanically, the car is in excellent running condition. The 2.5L Busso aluminum alloy engine starts, idles, and runs strong producing the unmistakably crisp sound from its original 60 degree V6 power plant. The 5-speed transmission shifts are silky smooth with no synchro issues common on high mileage cars.” All good to know, but again, it seems odd that a 31K mile car would need to have a cylinder head rebuild. The transaxle comment is incongruous too as it states that it does not have the issues that are common with a high mileage car but this isn’t a high mileage car.
The interior is in very nice condition! The blue leather seats have been reupholstered – again an unusual move for a car with such low mileage, but they combine well with the matching carpet and door cards. The wooden steering wheel is a standout IMHO. The only thing that appears to be out of place is the split dash pad. The seller mentions that the speedometer and tachometer needles get stuck, occasionally, and the needles supposedly need to be “straightened”. Also, the heater and A/C are not working. There is a new heater control valve included which may fix the heat problem but it is unlikely to revive the non-working A/C. Besides, if one has the replacement heater valve, why not install it? It’s a small-potatoes item compared to everything else that this Alfa has experienced.
This is a classic Italian GT style car and there are two videos of it in operation, located here are Video One and Video Two. This GTV6 has that magnificent Italian exhaust tone! My biggest question surrounding his Alfa was the reason(s) for restoration service on such a low mileage example. And I guess my other question surrounds reliability, have any of you ever owned an Alfa Romeo GTV6, and if so, how did it treat you?
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Comments
Having worked on Alfa’s my guess for the engine work totaling 8k was probably due to a broken timing belt. Belts were replaced every 30k on these and often times oil leaks and time would shorten their life. The old style oil fed tensioner would leak like a sieve on these as well. Beautiful car seems well sorted mechanically with exception to the HVAC which was somewhat of a joke to begin with. Still all the cars I sell on have working A/C.
Not to argue, Jim, but despite the low mileage this is still a 38 year-old car, and I can see that alone as reason for the extensive work done. Especially to the cosmetics. Moreover, if the owner drove it the way many people drive Alfas, I can imagine that some mechanical refurbishment was necessary; and if the engine needed major service, why not go whole-hog and address everything? That seems more likely to keep the car from nickel-and-diming the next owner to distraction….
I’d like to be the next owner, though budget and location will keep me from pulling the trigger. After driving more than a dozen Alfas over the years, I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with the engine, chassis and overall design. Personally, I don’t even mind the big bumpers, though I’d probably try to swap them for the smaller Euro-bumpers and change back to the factory wheels.
Good observations Ray.
Thx,
JO
At least you didn’t call it a survivor!
And may I say that this car appears to have what I consider perfect patina?
Uggghhh, you’re killin’ me, Ray.
It must have had the transmission serviced if 2nd gear doesn’t grind…I had an 86, and loved, loved, loved the way it drove…and hated having to repair it on a regular basis…timing belt, tensioner, water pump, donuts on the drive shaft, trans mounts…was it worth it? You betcha….
The two videos are loaded to two different Youtube accounts.
Strange.
This car was just on Bring-A-Trailer – auction ended 12/18/2020. Bidding got up to $16,166 and did not meet reserve. Will be interesting to see if seller has better luck with eBay.
If anything grossly undervalued. Perhaps Alfas do not have the same cachet as they do in Europe. If this was exported back to Europe in the condition described, it would be a USD 20 000 to USD 30 000.
In South Africa a similar example would easily fetch USD 20 000 while the home grown 3.0L GTV, the BMW killer, goes all the way up to USD 40 000.
I had a 1972 2.0L (stainless steel bumper) GTV, a fabulous car in spite of the crappy gearshift. The solution was to go from 1st to 3rd. It was a great tourer and very economical. Mine was tuned by the renowned SA tuner, Anthony Taylor, and would have the early Golf Gti’s for breakfast.
Currently there are 2x 2.5L GTV’s in the family and both are pristine. An iconic sports car.
I had a Classic Cars dealership in Pinetown, Durban, SA back in the day and an Indian doctor offered me an Alfa GTV 6, 3 litre for R38k and I thought he was mad. Turns out the mad person was me seeing as how much money they demand these days.
If I recall, the South African built 3,0 litre GTV was specially built and homoligated, for the local Group One racing series only.
The series required only a limited number of road cars to be built, to qualify. Resulting in the scarcity of the model worldwide now.
The raised bonnet scoop and BBS wheels were the 3 litre trademark.
I also remember that BMW built a special 333i model of their 3 series, to compete in the series, but their car was not allowed to race and they used the 325i instead.
But then again, could be my dementia commenting here….
Important to keep in mind that the Alfas, as well as many other Italian brands suffered the fate of the tin worm especially starting in 1970’s when Italian auto industry began using low grade Soviet steel in their manufacturing. Things got so bad with rust that some cars bound for US market showed up with areas of corrosion before even hitting the showroom floor. The GTVs had a nasty habit of liftgate corrosion around rear glass and under the windshield at the bottom of A-pillars, common problem they shared with other Alfa models, especially the Sud.
Being an East coast car with regular exposure to winter elements and road salt, I can easily see why this needed a body resto with such low mileage. Let’s just hope that all corroded areas were repaired properly and not just patched up.
Wheels are Alfa, not after market. Entirely appropriate to a GTV6, but not usually fitted.
Nice looking car, GTV6 is an Alfa sweet spot. Will seem cheap one day but all transaxle Alfa’s need to be seen and driven before committing.
True that! You have to drive this chassis to understand the magic. Once you do if you are an automotive enthusiast you will be smitten.
Number of prior owners?
I guess the author has never let a car sit for twenty years; no one should be surprised that it needed all kinds of work when someone decided to put it back on the road. (And yes, certainly, if the real reason it was parked was due to a broken timing belt—note that 31k miles is just slightly beyond the 30k mi belt life—then a valve job would of course be necessary, even without deteriorated valve guide seals from 20 years of disuse.) Also unsurprising is that the transmission synchros are still perfectly good at 31k mi and that the seller points this out, considering how easily they can be worn out in ~50k mi of ham-fisted shifting.
And yes, I owned a terminally-rusty high-mileage example (which needed a fair amount of reconditioning after sitting for just three years) for 12 yr / 75k mi, and it treated me awfully well.
Pedantic note: It’s hard to tell them apart without actually reading the words cast into the rim, but the stock wheels for an ’82 are probably Benzoni, not Campagnolo.
I think these are 16” wheels by the look. Perhaps from a newer Alfa. My mind is fuzzy but did these ever get the TRX metric wheels back then? I know by 86 they pretty much had the current 75 upgrades.
Wheels look like Ronal A1 or knock-off thereof; an option on various Alfas of the era, but not sure they were ever actually offered on the GTV-6. To answer the TRX question, yes, at least one model year came with TRX wheels, but it wasn’t 1982; I want to say ’85 and/or ’86.
less expensive way to get into the brand? Sure reminds me of the Lancia Beta Coupe of same yr I had. This 1 a hatch tho. Good daily driver, fun to wrench on (2 2v carbs, DOHC) trick suspension, transaxel & to try some upgrades. After Covid may B some SCCA motoring?
The reserve is at least higher than $16,166. That was the high bid he got at classic.com on the 18th that evidently wasn’t enough:
https://www.classic.com/a/bring-a-trailer-auction-JknXEWB/lots/1982-alfa-romeo-gtv6-pz1QKjW/
I have been an Alfa fan from the visual aspect since I was a little girl. I got to rent one in 2000 while on a business trip in France. It was a dream come true, and Oh Em Gee y’all, it was like driving a stick of butter. And of course it was a manual tranny.
It was just a little compact, hatchback-y thing, but to young, middle management me, it was an ALFA and that car was exquisite inside and out. I just luxuriated in the whole experience and even called my dad (he’s the one who made me a “car guy”). It was cute. He was all proud of me, like I’d somehow “made it” or something. LOL!
Ended:Dec 31, 2020 , 9:30AM
Current bid:US $16,101.00[ 27 bids ]
Reserve not met
Item location:Short Hills, New Jersey
As a former Alfa Romeo driver… you NEVER forget how passionate and sexy these cars are to drive. Beautiful inside and out. If you have test driven a current model Alfa – disregard how those drive. THIS car has got it.
That being said… my 1976 had Russian Steel and pieces would just drop off of the car onto the driveway… And the head gaskets were famous for requiring replacement… especially in climates with large changes in the weather.
That being said… I would love this one.