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The Flying Nun: 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 TI

I wonder how many times the original owner had to go to confession after tearing it up in this Alfa Romeo Giulia? It might have been more than a few—she was a nun, after all! Could you be tempted by this little Milanese sportster? If so, head here to eBay, where it’s on offer out of Burbank, California with an asking price of $27,900—so much for that vow of poverty.

Never let it be said that nuns don’t know how to have fun! This Alfa is said to have been bought new right in its hometown of Milan by a nun who held on to it until 2005, at which point it made its way to California. Just 97,221 kilometers (about 61,000 miles) show on the odometer of this all-original Berlina, and it rocks a bit of Italianate flair with the original auto club stickers seen above on the rear window.

It sports the 1,290-cc twin cam inline four, with a hotter compression ratio in TI trim helping it pump out 81 horsepower, mated to a five-speed manual; here in the States, we only got the more powerful 1600 versions of the Giulia sedan. The radiator, gas tank, muffler, and carburetor have been brought up to snuff to make this Giulia a healthy runner, and the seller describes it as “a JOY to drive.” Never mind the smaller engine—with a curb weight of just about 2,200 pounds, I can believe it.

Inside, we see a bit more evidence that this is a lower-spec model; there’s no radio in evidence, the door panels are very plain, and the floors are covered in rubber rather than carpet. Still, the cloth upholstery front and rear looks well-preserved, and everything you really need in an Alfa is what you see above: the gearshift, the wheel, and the instruments. Radios are for cars that don’t sound as good as a high-revving Alfa anyway.

These little shoebox Giulias are neat cars, and the originality of this one is a strong selling point. Although there’s a bit of bubbling on the driver’s side rear wheel arch, I agree with the choice not to re-do the original paint when the underlying structure is sound and the overall effect is so charming. I’d quibble that the price is a bit stiff, especially for a 1300—it’s encroaching on GTV money—but I’ll leave it to you to decide if its originality and its fun backstory are worth it.

Comments

  1. Avatar Fred w.

    Now this was one swingin’ sister!

    Like 0
  2. Avatar jw454

    I enjoy seeing these smaller offerings from the various makes but, I’ve never owned one. I think the smallest car I’ve owned was a Volkswagen type 1. I always looked at the size of a fully loaded cement mixer and thought, in this car I’d have no chance.

    Nice little cars though.

    Like 0
    • Avatar glen

      I don’t think it matters what you are in,a loaded cement truck is going to crush pretty much anything!

      Like 0
      • Avatar jw454

        This is true but, would you rather be in this or, a 1975 Lincoln town car when that cement truck creeps up behind you?

        Like 0
  3. Avatar Wolfgang Gullich

    Save your money and find a Lancia Fulvia Berlina… More power, less rusty, better handling, better brakes… Oh, and actually reliable.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Klharper

      Actually no, The alfa makes more power from its 1300,the Alfa head simply breathes better than the V4 Lancia. They both rust about the same. The Lancia handles better at low speed but the Alfa rules at higher speeds, and it is better balanced. Brakes are about the same but the Alfa’s rear drive also gives it better balance when braking from higher speeds as the Lancia gets light in the rear, and the Alfa’s are definitely more robust.
      The picture is a crankshaft, or at least half of it from a 1300 cc Fulvia that is currently in my shop. I like Lancia’s and the Aurelia’s are jewels, but really in the smaller 1300cc catagory the Alfa was a better overall car.
      But I will say that 28k for this car is crazy money

      Like 0
      • Avatar KEN TILLY Member

        One of the best cars I have ever owned. The engine in mine was very tired so I fitted a 2000cc motor from a Spider. That made it one helluva motor car! It stuck to the road like a painted stripe and had the most comfortable seats ever, next to the Renault 16 TS that I owned previously. It was also more frugal gas wise than the 1300 due to the power to weight ratio I would think. It was prone to rust as I think all Italian cars were made from recycled toothpaste tubes but heh, I lived in the port of Durban, South Africa, so all cars of that era rusted to a large degree. As for Lancia’s, Not ever thank you.

        Like 0
  4. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    The Flying Nun!

    Like 0
  5. Avatar David Miraglia

    I’d buy this car for my girlfriend.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Martin Horrocks

    You could buy this car in Europe for less but by the time it’s shipped and home you are looking at similar money. Also for CA residents, better to buy a car already in state.

    If you think this is near GTV money, like for like it really isn’t and many people prefer the sedan. Some like the 1.3, and it is fine. But 1.6 is better, especially if you add passengers, luggage and hills to the mix.

    Killer fact on Fulvia sedan is that you’d buy the best for $10000. Same money would probably net a Flavia in fact. Alfas are simpler.

    Like 0

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