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15 Year Lock Up: Alfa Romeo GTV

A relative on my Dad’s side always had an old Volvo or BMW socked away, including a 2002 that my brother and I watched rot away in his driveway (his choice, not ours). From that point on, I figured most families likely had a blood relation somewhere sitting on a classic car that had become a family heirloom. Take this Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV here on eBay, just discovered in a U.K. lockup: it belonged to the seller’s father but was seemingly lost to the sands of time. 

The seller says this was one of several cars his father owned and that he knows very little about it. It was unfortunately vandalized when it was stored, resulting in some of the glass being shattered (and who knows what else). The coupe-bodied Alfetta GTV is celebrated in Alfa circles for its lithe handling and light-weight, not to mention a robust network of enthusiasts with access to spare parts to keep this Giugiaro-designed fastback on the road. First on the list? Fresh brakes, as the current stoppers are seized.

Despite the vandalism and long period of inactivity, the interior looks decent for its age. I dig the original wood rim steering wheel, but this being an earlier car means it doesn’t benefit from the thickly bolstered sport seats that came in later editions. Years ago, I knew of a very complete GTV6 in a local salvage yard; I very much wanted to pull the seats and steering wheel for a quick flip, but the yard owner’s price for the parts was high. Years later, the car was crushed with those bits inside.

I doubt this mileage is accurate, but it’s fun to imagine this garage-find has under 22,000 original miles. The body is said to have some rust underneath, but the seller has not climbed down there (or even moved the car) to find out the extent of it. The seller has also listed a pair of MG GT roadsters, so it’s clear his father preferred the sporting lifestyle. With the conversion, the sale price would be just under $900 U.S. – but there is the option to submit a best offer.

Comments

  1. Avatar flmikey

    I owned one of these years ago…the worst car I ever had…timing belts, tensioners, rust, and those rubber donuts holding the drive shaft together…I still have nightmares about that car…that being said, when it did run, it was the best driving car ever…

    Like 0
    • Avatar KLharper

      You didn’t have one of these. there is no timing belt on this car.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Gene Parmesan

    I’m gonna be that MG guy: the seller has some MGB GTs. And an MGB GT is a coupe, not a roadster. C’mon BarnFinds, you’re better than this! Hahah

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  3. Avatar Dolphin Member

    Not everyone can have a decent garage, but these ‘lockups’ in the UK seem like the worst substitute for a decent garage that I can imagine. And this car has the telltale streaks of dust and dirt that falls from the slatted ceiling all over it. So often these spaces are so narrow you wonder how someone can get out of the car once it has been driven in there.

    Lots of telltale rust on, and in, this poor Alfa, unfortunately. These Alfas came from sunny, mostly dry Italy and need to be protected better than this, especially in damp England.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Martin Horrocks

    Do not enter. Dolphin is right, those concrete lock-ups are horrendously damp and a 1980s GTV can’t cope with good conditions.

    But also, unless it’s a GTV6 or a chrome bumper early GTV, there is very little margin in restoring a 115 GTV. Lovely cars, but buy only the best and buy carefully.

    Like 0
    • Avatar JD

      Any relation to Sir Brian Horrocks, XXX Corps commander?

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Wayne

    Always liked the styling and wanted one. Probably a good thing I didn’t get one.

    Like 0

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