Many potential buyers find classics with a long-term ownership history difficult to resist. Cars that have spent years with the same person have generally been treated respectfully, which is one aspect that helps them survive. That makes this 1972 Alfa Romea 2000 GT Veloce attractive. This fifty-year-old gem has spent its entire life with its original owner, but the time is right for it to find a new home. It is listed here on eBay in Ormond Beach, Florida. The seller set their BIN at $49,900, although there is the option to make an offer.
The history of this car will provide reassurance to potential buyers considering some of the weaknesses of Alfas from this era. The seller indicates it has never spent a night outdoors, remaining hidden in a garage when not prowling the streets. They had the car professionally refinished in its original shade of Gray around twenty-five years ago, and it still presents superbly. The paint shines deeply, coating panels that are straight and true. The greatest battle many Alfa owners face is with rust because these cars have a reputation for dissolving like a soluble Aspirin at the first sign of moisture. This Italian gem has avoided that fate, with the supplied photos showing no evidence of corrosion. The trim and glass are excellent, and the period-correct BBS wheels suit this Alfa perfectly.
It can be fascinating to examine vehicles from different regions to ascertain how manufacturers extract the best from their performance offerings. American companies generally feel there is no substitute for cubic inches, while the Japanese favor forced induction and advanced technology. Many Europeans utilize smaller multi-valve/multi-cam powerplants, although it is true that there are exceptions to all of those rules. This Veloce is typical of most Italian classics from this era, featuring a DOHC 1,962cc four that sends 129hp to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. With a curb weight of 2,425lbs, its ability to cover the ¼-mile in 16.4 seconds is impressive. However, these cars are more at home on a winding road than on a drag strip. Their low weight and excellent balance allow them to reward the driver with an engaging motoring experience. The news with our feature car appears nothing but positive. It is a fully-documented vehicle with 100,000 miles on its odometer. As the seller rightfully points out, that figure equates to only around 2,000 miles per year, which is exceptionally low. It has always been appropriately maintained by the book by an Alfa specialist, and it runs and drives well. If the new owner wants to fly in and drive this baby home, that should be possible.
Apart from rust, the other acknowledged weakness with older Alfas is interior trim components prone to deterioration. It is not uncommon to open the door of one of these little cars to find the carpet littered with plastic shrapnel, but this car looks surprisingly good. The dash cover conceals a crack in the pad, but the rest of the dash and the console look excellent. The owner added cloth upholstery on the front seats to cope with Florida’s humidity, but the back seat retains its Black vinyl. The carpet and wheel are excellent, and the only visible aftermarket addition is a CD player with door-mounted speakers. Although it isn’t loaded with luxury appointments, the factory air conditioning would be welcome on hot days.
Cars like the 1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce don’t appeal to every enthusiast. While they will happily potter around like any vehicle of this size, they come into their own by rewarding anyone willing to put some effort into their driving. If the new owner points this car at a twisting ribbon of tarmac, they will experience one of life’s great motoring pleasures. This car is a one-owner classic that appears to need nothing, and although the BIN is hardly pocket change, it isn’t unprecedented. Values are climbing slowly, meaning the buyer must be prepared for long-term ownership if they are considering its investment potential. I can think of many things worse than owning a classic like this for years. Can you?
Rolling art right there! The drool factor is high with these cars. The only problem is these sit squarely in 911 territory and having to decide between the 2 would be tough if I could afford either one. I see ads for dog walking services. Surely there is a need for a car enthusiast to exercise the classic car fleet.
Took care of a friend’s ’68 for a few years. About as nice a driving car ever made. They are prone to rust if not protected but that wasn’t a problem with her car as we were in the middle of the Nevada high desert country. Road testing a car like this with no speed limits to worry about was really fun.
I had a ‘69 Fiat 124 spider—bright yellow. It attracted cops like bees to a bright yellow flower. With my license in jeopardy, I traded it in on a grey GTV. It was twice the car of the Fiat, but it was invisible to the police. Sweetest transmission I have ever driven.
It’s amazing how memories grow sweeter with time. These were $4,900 cars, in this condition, all day long, in the 90’s.
One of my all-time favorite cars. This looked like a good sale.
I remember in 1975 or76, I looked at one that a co-worker had in a barn. Or rather, it might have been his parents. the engine was apart, and it was a project. A do-able project, and a friend and I looked at it. For some reason, we passed on it. Not sure if they wanted too much, or it wouldn’t have worked for us. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have snagged it. Aw, hindsight!
This car model along with the Alfetta that followed are the some of the most underrated models Alfa made and boat loads of fun to drive. While not blistering in the straight they definitely make up for it in the curves catching and passing what went by on the straight. I sorely miss my 2.0 Alfetta, wish I could snag this beauty.
SOLD! (Not to me.)
While the car presents well and the owner states no rust, I would still be wary of a fifty year old Alfa kept near the ocean. (Ormond Beach sits just north of Daytona).
Just saw it is SOLD! I wish the new owner good luck.
If everything checks out and the buyer got a 15% discount this should be a good car. Backstory is good, but mileage is fairly high and the wheels cheapen the car.
No-one says anything bad about driving or owning a Bertone. Important to buy a good one, get it properly sorted and then leave alone.
Someone smart jumped in, looked underneath it, paid the man his money, and drove away in a good car. Compared to 911s, Alfas are stone bargains. Were this an equivalent 911, the price tag would have been $150K.
$49,000? Dream on.
I was 17 in 1980, graduated from high school driving a 71 Celica.
had a 78 Scirocco and a 73 capri after that as well as a brand new Fiat X 1/9
I cannot recall EVER seeing one of these in my little WV town, I would have for sure tried to get one, as when I came across a GTV on a used car lot of the local Chevy dealer I test drove it, but when I crawled under it to see what was up, I found it too far gone with rust and had to pass, and that was the only Alfa I came across ……today I really really want a Guilia but it’s not a practical car for me.
I have a ‘71GTV which I bought in 1980 and finished my high school years with. My dad paid for paint and body work as my HS graduation present ($1,500.00 back in ‘82). Rebuilt the engine in ‘86 or ‘87 while in college and treated myself to an ‘84 GTV6 when I graduated in’88.
I kept the ‘71 all these years and am in the process of disassembling it for a rotisserie restoration (my retirement present to myself).
Looking forward to driving that baby again!