This is a stripped-to-the-floorboards 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider project here on craigslist in Silver Spring, Maryland. It needs just about everything. Funny, the vendor says the car “was stripped down for the body repair and has been sold a few times as a basket case.” Well, unfortunately, it still is one, though the prospect of having one of these lovely cars restored is certainly tempting.
There appears to have been a rocker panel replaced, and some chrome replated. The floors were replaced recently. But there’s still a lot to be done. The engine is sitting propped up between some trunks. Alfa Storico: “According to our documentation files, the chassis number AR 1495.10371 originally corresponds to an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, manufactured on the 22nd July 1960 and sold on the 26th August 1960 to Hoffman Motor Car Co., New York, USA. The body colour is red.”
So maybe that’s original paint. There’s still plenty of rust, though maybe just the surface kind. A bunch of stuff is missing—the floor pedal box, interior chrome, carburetor and intake manifold, door cards and one of the two seat shells. Are the bumpers available? Maybe there’s a transmission somewhere. Many parts are stored, probably unlabeled, in boxes, and the owner generously says that he’s “happy to let them go with the sale.” The evidence suggests this was a restoration that stalled some time ago.
With all the challenges, $13,500 seems like a climb. I think this is what’s called a Spider Normale, and a restored example is worth around $54,000, says Classic.com. If you can find a restorer who can take this car on for $40,000, you might keep from being upside down. Good luck.
The Giulietta Spider, launched in 1955 on the Tipo 750 platform with a drop-dead gorgeous body by Pininfarina, was just one of many body styles on the Giulietta base. You could also get it as a sedan, 2+2 coupe, and even a (rare) station wagon. Reportedly, the aforesaid Max Hoffman said he’d buy 600 Giuliettas, but there had to be a sports car option.
That engine is likely a 1.3-liter version of Alfa’s famous twin-cam. It came in 79-horsepower form with a single Solex carburetor. The only gearbox engine was a four-speed manual.
Ready for a project? It’s a roller, we’re told, and it can roll right onto your trailer. From there, to the restorer or your own garage if you’re handy. A few years of steady toil, and voila. Thanks to Gunter Kramer for this find.
What a beautiful car. It deserves to be back on the road. I wonder what different price points it sold at through the years.
If you see primer put on over rust on the inside you have to know that there is rust underneath, which the rocker picture seem to back up. Nice car, big job.
The seller here and occasional poster as well. By the way, the ad mentions many pix available which shows the tranny is in the boxes and the list of missing bits is fairly short and readily available at AlfaBB or the usual suppliers here and in Europe.
A little strong on the price, as I think it would sell closer to 8-10k. These are not cheap cars to restore, the 750 parts can be outrageous but I think this is a 101 where the parts are just expensive. The number of people who can restore this car properly is very small and they are not cheap. Doing it your self is possible but it is best to have one to look at as a guide so make friends.
They are great cars to drive and wonderful on a spring or fall day.
I have restored one and as long as the parts are with the car is is not as hard as you might expect. There are sources for patch panels available in England for all the sheet metal in the car the last time I checked except for the Bumpers so it is critical that they are there.
The assembly of this car is far more straightforward than you might expect. And it is stronger than you might expect. It has one unique feature that few cars have. This is especially important if you are tall. The seats as the go back they also go down so your eye level in relation to the dash, front of the car and steering wheel stay almost exactly the same. And the rake on the seats make them very comfortable.
I had to sell mine to pay for medical bills for my late wife. Otherwise it would be a car that would go to my children. Even if the the price is a bit high now do not worry as the prices of these will go up as the milage is excellent and they are so much fun to drive. A mini Ferrari in many respects.
My neighbor gave me his old bumpers to sell from his 1959 Giulietta Spider. I think they’d fit this one. His is a 750 D Short Wheel Base and was just restored to amazing condition. I’d better pop the bumpers on eBay soon. Just mounting the front bumper and grill back on this car would make it so much more pretty!!
Mine was also a Red 1960. The transmission housing of a 1960 was one piece where the 1959 transmission housing was two pieces bolted together. You can see why they changed that.
Girling brakes worked well. The Lucas electrical system had major issues So I sold it to a New York Alfa Romeo dealer who had started his dealership in 1960 and wanted to have it on display. I later visited his Manhattan store to see it completed to perfection!. He was also a Lotus dealer and I drove an Elan home.
$13,5K for a trunkful of parts and a body on axels, and then you get to assemble. Plus any missing parts you have to hunt down and pay through the nose for? No thanks, not even for 1/2 the asking price. You can find a lot of nicer cars requiring less if not no work for the price of this one. Prime dollar for a step above scrap.
$13.5K for a pile of parts? Too many nicer cars out there for that price.