Even the most ardent supporters of classic Italian cars will admit that rust can be a significant problem. That’s where this 1972 Alfa Romeo Berlina is a breath of fresh air. It not only presents well, but the photos indicate that this is a rust-free classic. It has recently received a cosmetic refresh and is set to go to a new home. The Alfa is located in Champlain, New York, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding action has been quite respectable and has pushed the price along to $4,250. The reserve is now met, which means that someone is about to become this classic’s next owner.

The owner doesn’t provide a lot of shots of the Berlina’s whole exterior, but I found this one to be a reassuring inclusion. What it shows are floors that are free of rust and show no signs of any previous repairs. It also show no signs of any fluid leaks, which is a significant consideration in a classic car.

This photo of the spare wheel well also shows up to be nice and clean. When combined with the previous image, it indicates that the Alfa would seem to be structurally sound.

Closer examination shows rear quarter panels and rockers that are rust-free. We can also see that while the chrome and trim aren’t perfect, they remain presentable for a driver-quality car.

The passenger side of the car looks just as good as the driver’s side, with no tell-tale evidence of any issues. The Verde Ischia paint has a beautiful shine to it. That is hardly surprising because the Berlina recently underwent a full repaint. The original steel wheels look to be free from stains or scuffs, while the glass also seems to be in good order.

One of the defining characteristics of classic Alfas is their engines. They are usually smaller capacity 4-cylinder units, but they are also willing performers. What we find under the hood of this car is the 1,962cc twin-cam, which is backed by a 5-speed manual transmission. This should be producing something in the region of 129hp. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for exhilarating performance, but this is why these cars are such a surprise packet. The Berlina tips the scales at 2,442lbs, which means that it can cover the ¼ mile in 16.7 seconds. These little engines sound lovely with a few revs on board. The power delivery in the Berlina is consistent all the way to 6,000rpm, which encourages that sort of action. The owner states that the vehicle has recently been serviced and that both the radiator and fuel tank have been refurbished. He doesn’t indicate how well the car runs or drives, so you have to hope that the presentation of the engine bay is a good indicator in this department.

The interior of the Berlina has also come in for some recent TLC. The seats wear new covers, while a new carpet set has also been installed. The fit of the cover on the driver’s seat is a little bit odd, but I think that this could be stretched into shape. The rear seat, if anything, looks better than the front seats.

The dash is probably the interior’s weakest point. There is nothing radically wrong with it, but it does look tired compared to the rest of the trim. Some of the gauge glass is becoming cloudy, as is the face of the radio. The timber veneer is buckling and lifting around the speedometer and tach. However, the dash pad appears to be free from cracks. One high point for me is the condition of the wheel. The center cap is faded, but there is no oxidization on the spokes, and the wooden rim looks close to perfect.

There is no shortage of people on the hunt for a classic Italian car, and this is understandable. If you can find a rust-free example, they can be an engaging car to own and drive. This 1972 Berlina 2000 seems to fit that description, and if it presents as well in the metal as it does in the listing, it could be a great classic to park in your driveway. Given the vehicle’s overall condition, I would expect the bidding to head towards at least $10,000. There is the possibility that it could go higher because there have been a few recently that have pushed as high as $16,000. I don’t believe that it will threaten that upper figure, so it will be interesting to see what it finally sells for. If it is less than $10,000, it could be a bit of a bargain.