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No Time To Restore: Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint

Among the very few late model vehicles I’d like to own someday is the new Alfa Romeo Guilia sedan. I’ve never been able to resist the siren song of Alfa, a brand that historically has produced beautiful cars with capable engines seemingly always challenged by small budgets and quality control issues. The 2600 Sprint seen here on eBay shows that little has changed at Alfa, as this was again a wildly attractive car let down by the details. The question is, does it even matter or is it just part of the Alfa experience? 

It’s sort of like how the heat always failed in old VW Beetles, or finding rust in the cab corners of a Chevy C/K 10 pickup – you just learn to live with it as a character trait of the model. Alfas like the 2600 Sprint seen here coaxed delightful sounds out of a 2.6L inline-six with triple carbs, but tires that were too narrow weren’t able to contend with the engine’s added mass, affecting handling performance. In addition, the Guilia was rolled out around the same time, which emerged as an impressive performer in its own right.

Now, with less than 7,000 Sprint models ever made, does it even matter? Of course not. A vintage Alfa Romeo is a treasure, even when the interior is as tatty as this one. That’s where the bulk of the restoration work will lie, as the body looks quite sound. The seller acquired this Alfa as a restoration project that simply won’t happen, but notes that records indicate a complete engine rebuild in 1985 at 31,000 miles; the car now has just over 80,000 miles. Evidence of bondo exists in the lower areas of the body where prior rust repair was performed.

Yes, the engine will need all new fluids and and overall refresh before being fired back up but the seller believes it won’t take much to run again. The interior will be the biggest headache, and with that gorgeous oxblood color, it will look terrific when complete assuming the existing exterior color is maintained. I wouldn’t sweat the previous rust repair just yet – get to it after the interior is at least temporarily repaired and the sweet inline-six is sorted. Bidding opens at just over $12K; not surprisingly, there are no bids at the moment.

Comments

  1. Avatar Derek

    I always enjoyed these big Alfas, meant as fast touring cars rather than sports cars and capable of covering great distances in speed and comfort.

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  2. Avatar Dolphin Member

    The ask on this 2600 Sprint is almost $13K, with no bids and less than 3 days to go. These have been selling in very good to excellent condition at auctions recently for about $37K.

    It needs everything, except maybe an engine rebuild—-providing the engine rebuild at 31,000 miles was done properly and well back in 1985 and the engine hasn’t deteriorated or been abused since. And you have to wonder, since that engine rebuild came so early in the car’s life…abuse? neglect?

    These big Alfa coupes were expensive back when they were new, but they have been overtaken in value by many of the smaller, sportier Alfas, in some cases, very seriously overtaken. The relatively low values of these Sprints makes it difficult to justify a full restoration unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. With a big (by Alfa standards) straight six with triple carbs it would be a great cruiser on the Autostrada as Derek said. But given that it looks like it needs bodywork on the lower panels, then paint, and a new interior, it might become a parts donor instead, unfortunately.

    Like so many cars like this, it’s probably best bought by a fan of the brand with plenty of $$, or the facilities and skills to get the job done.

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  3. Avatar Alfred

    Does this big engine make my Alfa look big?

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  4. Avatar Bob

    Back in the 70s, I had the opportunity to buy an Alpha for $2500, but the maintenance reputation of the Alphas made me go for a BMW2002 instead. I still love the styling of these cars, I don’t know if Bertoni was involved, but nevertheless, the design is beautiful.
    I would love to have this car, but I have too many projects and it is not possible. I have all the cars and projects that I can manage. As it is, I will have to live to 135 just to get half my stuff done.

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    • Avatar SubGothius

      Designed by Giugiaro while he was working for Bertone, as with the smaller Guilia Sprint coupe that shares a family resemblance.

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  5. Avatar Adam T45 Staff

    I have always absolutely adored Italian cars. I have driven a multitude of Alfas and Fiats, and have always been willing to forgive them such idiosyncrasies as appalling ergonomic because they just seem to have a passion that no other country can achieve with the consistency that Italian marques do.

    I would have an Alfa in a heart-beat, but in Australia affordable project cars seem to be unbelievably rare. If I could find one I would get it into my now empty shed immediately.

    My favorite quote on Alfas came from Jeremy Clarkson. He said, “You see, Alfa create cars to be as good as they can possibly be….briefly.”

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  6. Avatar ccrvtt

    Jeremy Clarkson is the poster child for pomposity and arrogance but he’s probably right. Who doesn’t want an Alfa?

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  7. Avatar Klharper

    What you could do with this one

    https://anygivenreason.com/2014/07/guys-new-tarmac-rally-project-the-1964-alfa-romeo-2600-sprint/

    I am a true alfaholic and I own several of them. I have always been intrigued by a 2600 but never pulled the trigger on one.
    This one needs a person like me who knows how to fix an Alfa and put it back together properly. Unfortunately a person like me realizes how much time, money and work it would take to bring this one back and would not give anywhere close to 12k for it. I don’t think I could get it back to a condition 3 car and not be upside down if the car was given to me for free and I did most of the work. In reality this one is probably worth closer to 3-5k at most

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  8. Avatar Oldog

    Thanx, a link worth following

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  9. Avatar Frank

    I like it and have always wanted an Alfa, but don’t think I can endure the financial strain and brain damage to restore one. I’ve lost a lot of money and time on cars already.

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    • Avatar dave

      here here. A car project can be hell accepting/finishing a challenge. Its heaven to drive it afterward. But the financial/time toll taken away from retirement/family is pure hell.

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  10. Avatar mikeH

    Alfas are like beautiful women—they can be difficult at times, but when they’re good– they are REALLY, REALLY good.

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  11. Avatar David Miraglia

    Always liked Alphas . And I agree with every one here about them.

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  12. Avatar Will Owen

    I’ve got three AlFas (not AlPHas!!) out back right now, all four-doors – Milano, 164s, and a nice new Giulia, base-model except for the sunroof Mrs. O insists on (well, it’s her car). With the exception of two that were not really worth what my younger self paid for them, they have been roughly as reliable and useable as anything else I’ve had, and the dogs were pretty easy to work on. The 164 still runs like a big strong horse, though it needs suspension work and is worth about a buck-fifty in today’s market; the Milano is my all-time favorite canyon-carver, though only the Giulia’s newness, costliness, and the fact that it’s not mine, prevent me from seeing how much better I suspect it is. As a road car it is simply magical.

    The 2600 and its 1900-based big touring predecessors have never really appealed to me; I like cars that are nimble first of all, and quick as a plus. I’m a bit torn about the 2600 Sprint – it was actually the first Alfa coupe that young Giugiaro designed, with the smaller Giulia Sprint GT following shortly after; I agree with most comments I’ve read that the smaller car is the jewel of the pair. This one is something I would like to have if I had that kind of money and patience and room, just to see what they’re really like, but I have either none or too little of those things. But all Alfas are worth the trouble if you have the resources.

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  13. Avatar h5mind

    I’ve owned and enjoyed several Alfa’s over the years, including the Alphetta and GTV-6- the latter now becoming something of a collector’s item. The sound from that DOHC V-6, especially once I had jettisoned the restrictive stock exhaust for a custom dual “cherry bomb special”, was music to my 20 year-old ears. Not so much for the local police, who pulled me over to see if I actually HAD an exhaust at all. The faster Milano Verde is also a terrific car if you can find one. Anything pre-1970 turned to dust in my hands, thanks to liberal New England road salt.

    Like 0

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