Earlier this month, I wrote about another one of these that I felt was a bargain. I’m feeling the draw again after looking this one over, but it’s too far away as well, although this time at least it’s in the same country I’m in. The huge package of spare parts that comes along with this car (the seller says they will not split the parts from the car) tells me that this owner planned on keeping the car for a long time. They have owned the car since it was three years old and bought it from their brother! The car is currently located in Denver, Colorado, and has been a weekend driver there for a while. While there are some relatively minor rust spots, and as you can see from the picture, some mismatched paint from a past fender-bender, and a set of tires that the owner says need replacing, I still see a really nice car that just needs a little bit to put it over the top. Any other readers out there like these like I do? You can find the auction here on eBay where it has yet to meet reserve.
I might even like Alfettas MORE than you do! But Colorado is not Massachusetts, so it’s too far away (I tell myself) to really get worked up over. It’d benefit — and I would suffer more — from some interior photos and overall shots of engine bay, trunk, etc.
Assuming the Dreaded Rot has not gained too much of a foothold, I’d fix them and do a total repaint. I think these are best when all shined up. Other than that, if in decent mechanical shape it needs nothing except a new owner who will wind the daylights out of the engine and have a wonderful time.
I’ve been a car nut since I was a kid. Bought old copies of Road and Track at a used book store, bought my 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider at 13 years old…but I have to say that I totally enjoy barnfinders. Your postings are poignant at times, funny too…but your readers and their knowledge just blows me away!!! I don’t know what I was doing reading 16 messages about retrofitting a/c units to cars from the 50’s and 60’s but I enjoyed all of them!!!
But I still want to know what the heck a ‘swamp cooler’ looks like!!!
I missed the AC discussions, so I assume you’re talking about coolers for cars. There were two kinds, the ones that looked like a tube about 10″ in diameter hanging on a window usually on the passenger door. Some had fans and worked all the time, some didn’t so the car had to be moving to work. Basically, air was blown across something soaked in water. They held about a gallon of water and were good for about an hour. There was also the square type that sat on the floor and cooled the air in the car. I hope this helps!
It helps if you’re in a dry climate, like the desert! Those of us who are “blessed” with plenty of humidity wouldn’t get much benefit. (I like to think that humidity is keeping me from wrinkling so much, though.)
With Giulias out of reach for a budget minded Alfisti such as me and the Berlinas going over the threshold of affordability these are the last of the Nord powered Alfa sedans that are still affordable. Not as fun as the 105/115 sedans and not as simple (just try to do the rear brakes on the rear transaxle) these are still real Alfas and can deliver enjoyment that few cars from that era could with that wonderful twin cam sound
Swamp cooler, eh? Just what I need for cooling off my swamp. The gators are getting gnarly….
Being an easterner I’d never seen a swamp cooler. Do they really work?