Ski Car – 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV

December 26, 2013

Update, 12/26/13: A visit to this car yesterday yielded some interesting details that are worth sharing here. First of all, the price has been reduced to $2200 since it was featured here in late October. The owner, Mark, is a very personable guy who rescued the car out of someone’s back yard, did much of the work himself, and is now ready to move along to another car. He’s done the brakes all around (yes, even the rears!), and replaced the head gasket and had the valves lapped while the head was off. It’s a non-a/c car, with front-mounted battery, and no floor rust. As usual, there doesn’t seem to be a standard place for these to rust – while the areas surrounding the front and rear windows were rust-free, the outer passenger door skin has a fair amount of rust (that’s where you see the gray paint in the pictures), and there was some rust behind the front passenger wheel. There is also rust at the top of the wheel wells inside the engine compartment. The paint has been redone once, and has since oxidized. Oddly enough, there appears to be no rust around the sunroof. The interior is clean enough, but the upholstery on the driver’s seat is torn and the dash shows some cracking. Unfortunately, the car has lost its original tail lights to some GTV6 lights, which may cover up more rust. Overall, though, it looks like a decent little project for someone with some metal working skills. Given its needs, there is probably some room for negotiation, but project Alfetta prices are no longer in the low- to mid-3-figures like they used to be.

Original post, 10/23/13: We’re so used to seeing faded versions of certain cars that you start to forget how they looked when they were new. Once you repaint, lower the front to a normal height, and possibly convert to European bumpers, these cars gather a surprising amount of comments and interest. And a new coat of paint really brings out some of the most interesting features – the fenders, pulled out around the wheel well openings; the spoiler integrated into the rear deck; the “flying buttress” C-pillars that flank the hatch. You can find this 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT (or sprint veloce if you’re picky about using the North American model name) for $2999 in South Everett, WA.

1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV silver left front

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Was ist los? 1970 Opel GT

December 23, 2013

On a German car roll today, we know many of you have more than a passing interest in Opel GTs. And who wouldn’t like these, with their sexy Coke-bottle styling that set the tone for the C3 Corvette, plus a reasonably powerful inline 4 cam-in-head engine. These are also the most plentiful of the classic Opels, as they were more likely to be a second car and therefore well-treated compared to a Kadett or 1900 Sportwagon, or even a Manta. You can find this 1970 Opel GT for sale in Anacortes, WA for $2900.

1970 Opel GT blue left

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Rabriolet – 1986 VW Cabriolet

December 23, 2013

Over the years, there have been many posts extolling the virtues of the VW Rabbit, most recently a 1984 diesel upgraded with a later TDI engine. However, the real revolution the Rabbit caused was for 1980s cheerleaders. When VW released their Cabriolet in 1980, every one of them was asking their daddy for one, preferably in triple white. Unfortunately, this reputation overshadowed what was really a fun little car – the only regular production (that means no weirdo Subaru GL convertibles) 4-seat convertible available in North America, and equipped with the engine from a contemporary GTI. Where convertibles like the Alfa and Fiat spiders limited you to only one friend, the Rabbit could comfortably accommodate three. Check out this 1986 VW Cabriolet (it was only a Rabbit Convertible through 1984), for sale in Bow, WA for $1600.

1986 VW Cabriolet right front

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