Lately, there’s been a rash of absolute basketcase Alfa Romeos fluttering around eBay, craigslist and other sites. It sort of grinds my gears that, like a dilapidated death trap of a house selling in a Boston neighborhood for $650K, rusty Alfas still demand a pricey following. This example, on the other hand, I would totally buy. It’s from the high desert climate of Colorado and looks just like an old vintage car should look that still has some life to give but isn’t held together with rapidly chipping paint. Find this survivor GTV here on eBay with bidding over $8K and the reserve unmet.
This is a two-owner 1972 example that remained with the last owner since 1976. The GTV was parked in 1985 and has been sitting ever since. Despite this prolonged hibernation, the body remains largely straight with faded paint, good glass, uncracked lenses and its pretty chrome bumpers still attached. The seller notes it retains the desirable “….Campangolo Turbine wheels in nice condition.” All badges are present and the car looks delightfully stock, as many of these end up modified with stiffer suspensions and Panasports swapped in. It’s great to see the vintage Colorado plates, too.
Usually, dry climates like Colorado’s can lead to ample sun exposure if the car is parked on some vast plain, but I’m guessing this Alfa spent some of its time indoors. The interior just looks tired from use, not from prolonged sun exposure. The bucket seats look usable as-is, and the door panel just likely needs some fresh clips. The steering wheel is pure Alfa and thankfully hasn’t been swapped out for an aftermarket three-spoke. Carpets look serviceable and the door jambs reveal matching paint and hardware that hasn’t been painted over.
The report from the seller on the Alfa’s health underhood is encouraging: “The engine in the car does run, and has quite healthy compression numbers. So healthy in-fact, we suspect the engine was rebuilt not long before the car ended up sitting.” However, it is noted that the engine plate is blank, which may indicate the GTV received a factory replacement engine not long after it was sold new, so whether that affects the car’s provenance or value in a meaningful way could be worth discussing. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Patrick S. for the find.
Not sure what is meant by “engine plate is blank”. Alfas of this era (since about 1963, I think) did not have their engine numbers recorded at the factory, so no-one can really claim “matching numbers”. The closest you can get is that the series number is in period with the build date. Like for like engine change shouldn´t really affect the value of a Bertone.
Personally I cannot stand the matching numbers mentality anyway.
The car presents well, particularly underneath, but there is a lot of hidden rust apart from what you can see (under rear screen will be rotten inside) and you´re probably looking at a $50000 spend. Don´t think there is a halway house with this one.
If it spent it’s life in Colorado I suspect you might be wrong. I had one for many years in Denver and cars out there just do not seem to rust that much. Even Alfas, especially if they have had even the minimum amount of care. I have also purchased a few Spiders and GTV’s from this area and they are largely free from the tin worm problems found else where.
Denver is also a hot bed of Alfa sales as they are geared for mountain driving. I paid for many ski trips by jumping BMW’s, Mercedes and other cars on Sunday morning at ski villages that would not start with my 2000 GTV like this one. Keep the fuel injection system as it might be mechanical but it will start almost always.
NEVER RUN OUT OF FUEL that will damage the fuel injection system.
Great heaters and only a very few with air-conditioning but open windows and back vents and the air flowing thru made things bearable. I took many trips across Kansas to Kansas City to see family and it was comfortable for long trips or blasting up thru mountain passes.
These cars are not as aerodynamic as todays cars, hight wind noise is the result but find a good one and take care of it and you will never wish to sell it. These get the money in todays market because the are amazing looking in real life and they are very high on the Smile per Miles Charts.
Interesting comment about never running out of fuel. I assume because the fuel acts as a lubricant / coolant for the injection pump…..
Bruce,have you seen the holes in the pics in the ebay advert? My experience is with Bertones in central Spain, another dry area where cars don´t usually rot. Anything you can see, there´s sure to be more that you can´t see.
As Will says, Bertones also rust from the inside out (water getting through rubber seals) and though the underneath and trunk floor look sound, the sides are completely gone. Sills are complicated and often done badly and on this car you have to take the horrible sunroof out (new roof panel?). While this could be a good basis for cheque book restoration to concours, as a driver it would certainly be cheaper to buy a good car for $30-40000.
Completely agree with you on the desirability of the Bertone, fabulous cars. Dolphin´s choice of a GTV6 at a fraction of the price also makes sense. The transaxle cars are relative bargains now.
How does the damage happen, once the engine shuts down from no fuel?
After doing 3 GTV’s the build is at least 30k so beware the rot is from within,the steel used then was sad from the USSR and rot is everywhere a full inspection is key at 8K hmmmm a risk. Heres mine after 23K
I have never owned a GTV but have driven a couple and was very impressed with the chassis. You would never think it had a solid rear axle. They were a bit underpowered for my preference, but they could cover ground well if you kept the revs up.
I wanted a GTV but opted for a very nice GTV6 bought from California with an excellent body & interior. I couldn’t handle serious rust repair myself, and I didn’t fancy paying up the kind of $$ that Martin and Will mentioned for fixing the rust these can have. Too bad about the bad Russian steel in these. I have heard that mentioned many times……..
This one has a sunroof, unfortunately. It definitely looks like a cheap aftermarket. I think they are never a plus on a car like this. Keep the integrity of the unit body and roll down the windows instead.
Cute car but as usual what makes Barn Finds so educational is the feedback from those with experience. There is no substitute for having been there, done that.
The car has clearly recieved a color change from the original Rosso Amaranto to Alfa Red. The evidence is visible as the original color in the engine bay and trunk floor contrasting with the flaking paint and oversprayed hardware on the driver side door jamb.
I would budget $50,000 for a bare metal respray and full mechanical restoration.
The comment about the fuel as lubricant is exactly correct. You can get away with it once or twice but it will do damage over time. The fuel injection pumps are like small engine and the bores will wear or the pistons when no fuel is present and it still moving. Even trying to start it without fuel can cause damage over time
LET THAT FUEL PUMP do it’s work before you try to start it.
As for performance I helped a man that had slipped on the ice at the rest stop out East of Denver headed for Kansas City. He asked me to come over with him to his car. I was thinking he needed help. He was a U.S. Marshall we were headed in the same direction. He got on his radio and told the Colorado and Kansas Highway Patrol to leave me alone as I was with him. Made the rest of the trip right at 100 MPH and past about a half dozen Highway Patrol Cruisers. I always pays to be kind I guess. Great cross country car at high speed as well.