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Disenchanted Owner: 1977 Alfa Romeo GTV

This pretty 1977 Alfa Romeo GTV looks like an excellent candidate for a restoration project you can drive while you improve. The seller claims it was stored carefully – and the right way – since 1992 and still runs on starting fluid. An expensive laquer paint job that showed rust blisters shortly after completion due to poor prep work led the owner to parking the car out of frustration; now, you can find here on eBay with a $6,250 Buy-It-Now.

If you can live with the rust blisters, there’s no reason you couldn’t simply refresh this Alfa and drive it as-is. The seller notes that the owner, despite his obvious pain from the botched paint job, took care to set the car up for long-term storage correctly: “Stored properly by a car fanatic, cylnders were oiled, fuel tank drained and the Tires were new. A hot battery and it started on starting fluid, no smoke or funny noises so motor runs.” The brake system and clutch will need attention.

The interior is downright pretty, with the classic Recaro-style buckets found in multiple years of the GTV still in great shape. The wood-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel is one of the best to come in a production car, and the door panels look sound as well. I can envision the scenario as it unfolded for the previous owner: save up the funds, get everything mechanical sorted, and have one final step before enjoying the car free and clear of any additional concerns. Finding the paint job was done poorly, and all that money gone, could torpedo your enthusiasm for the project.

Floors look solid and the car is said to be rust-free underneath. That spare tire looks unused, and I love the flat-faced alloys these early GTVs came with. To me, this appears to be a car that will need some basic mechanical refreshing before stripping back the paint and repairing any and all surface rust that’s formed. While not likely to be cheap, it does seem straight-forward, and the clean condition demonstrated throughout the rest of the car would give me confidence that prior restoration work was done correctly. Looks like a potential deal if the reserve is set below the Buy-It-Now.

Comments

  1. Avatar MikeG

    This is a pretty decent deal. Do some spot repairs on the blisters and repaint. The rest looks well sorted. I had one in College, that almost the entire rear panel was Bondo. The overall design is beautiful as are these interiors. Well thought out and high quality, especially for an Italian car! The one thing that ended up confounding me, was the 3 bolt exhaust manifold to exhaust pipe flange. They all crack and need to be correctly sorted out with an alternative set up. Other than that, the engines are a pleasure, never any problems to maintain. They could do with some stiffer anti-roll bars, but that’s common in cars of this era.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar My 2 cents

    Not my cup o’tea, or should I say cappuccino. Looks are everything for these tweener cars. Also, can a non member submit car ads? Any rules? I surf tons of car sites with down time at work, have seen a few this site might like.

    Like 1
  3. Avatar Matt Member

    I think this thing is really ugly. cant make myself like it eventhough im trying.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Maestro1

    Wonderful cars. Go there and put your hands on the car. if it is as described, jump on it, do what’s necessary mechanically, parts are in Tempe Arizona and Texas, join the owner’s club for good access to things Alfisti and enjoy!

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Bruce

    Even by todays standards this is a good driver because of it’s light weight. The 2 Liter engine is a delight and both the engine and transmission are very easy to work on. This car has a transaxle type transmission for handling and that was a very successful layout. Yes it could use some stiffeners in the engine compartment and roll bars but for normal driving are totally unnecessary.

    The interiors will hold 4 adults for short distances, children for long trips in the back and the capacity to carry luggage is much better than you might think. Good on Fuel, Fun to Drive, Easy To Repair when needed but if maintained properly will seldom need it, Stylish and far better looking then these photos show.

    NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS
    These are one of the worst cars for RUST I have every seen. Alfa used Russian made steel that was of terrible quality and rust prevention was almost non existent. The “A” Posts, Engine Hood, and Rear Deck Should be Tank Stripped as soon as purchased as those are critical areas that almost always go.

    Look at this as the perfect restoration project because it is all there and in what looks to be good to excellent shape. Take preventive steps now and you will have an amazingly good car that is useful, rare and very beautiful. I had one for a few years and even when they were relatively common they always turned heads. An Excellent Design that has stood the test of time. Now all the purchaser needs to do is take care of the problems with the rust and he will have a real winner.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar David Miraglia

    I agree a good deal. always loved Alpha’s.

    Like 0
    • Avatar angliagt Member

      It’s ALFA – A-L-F-A!

      Like 0
      • Avatar Kevin Sellwood

        ALFA ROMEO
        Anonima Lomarda Fabbrica Automobili (auto company founded in 1910, later bought by Niccola Romeo in 1915; became Alfa Romeo)

        Like 0
      • Avatar Rx7turboII

        Not when you’re using Speech-to-Text it’s not! If you say Alpha it types Alpha, not A-L-F-A. Technology is not Automotive based obviously. Lol

        Like 0
  7. Avatar Chinga-Trailer

    St Paul, Oregon – just a little bitty farming community north of Salem and west of Woodburn yet it’s amazing the cars that have turned up there. I know of an Abarth-Fiat and an early 1930s Rolls-Royce . . . maybe it’s all the work of one guy, who knows??

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Martin Horrocks

    Nice car, but what is the sense in delaying the paint job it requires? Car will just get worse in use and you don´t want that in a 70s Alfa.

    Interior looks very good (they deteriorate quickly with use and sun), have never seen this model painted black (original? there are a lot of black GTV6s but not early 2 litres). The transaxle cars drive well and look great value alongside the 105 series.

    Difficult to find good examples, the early transaxle cars are getting much more attention, which translates into firmer prices; you´d be under water for a while, but ahead over 5 years by doing the paint. Don´t do it and another nice Alfa will get trashed. So unless you are prepared to invest to make this car really good, leave it in the barn.

    NB Clutch work is expensive on these, so that´s $1000 off the ask at least!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar alan

    If the rust looks like this on the outside I wonder what it looks like inside the panels. Nothing like a good Borescope to look inside the hidden areas.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Thomas Spencer

    These cars rusted terribly after perforation or the windshield cowl, front fender tops, and the rear hatch glass. If it only has surface blisters, it’s likely in good shape. It should be carefully inspected before purchase.

    Like 0

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