Posts Tagged ‘italian’

1964 Fiat 1100D

September 18, 2009

If you were setting up an Italian garage, circa 1964, I think a Fiat 1100 would look pretty neat parked next to something less practical – like, say, a 1964 Alfa Giulia Sprint GT. While retaining a bit of the charm of older Italian sedans, it’s become a bit more angular, keeping up with more modern designs like the aforementioned Alfa. This particular car is available on craigslist in Parker, CO near Denver for $1800. With only 39,000 miles – admittedly unverified – and in running condition, this car shouldn’t need much to run the next California Melee in comfort, with plenty of trunk space under its boxy rear for tools and parts.

1964 Fiat 1100D right

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Mirror, mirror, on the wall – 1977 & 1979 Lancia Beta Berlinas

September 18, 2009

I suppose this is what happens when you think you drive a rare car, and you snapped up the first one that showed up because you didn’t think you’d get another chance. Right now, on two different craigslist sites, are *two* different Beta berlinas. While one is more suitable for parts, a dedicated Lancia fan might want to give it a chance at a new life, without expecting to see actual money back out of it. Even though this is a post-Fiat Lancia, I’ve been learning the Lancia engineers still managed to pack some oddball features and impressive handling into these cars. And the Fiat-derived twincam is pretty revvable, even though you do need to turn 4000rpm to maintain 70mph. In any case, with their unique style (along with the fact that mine’s now driveable), I’m starting to appreciate mine more and more. To start us off, check out this 1979 example in Highland Park, CA (near LA).

1979 Lancia Beta berlina side

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1974 Alfa Romeo Berlina

September 9, 2009

Update, 9/10/09: Another one that got away! This one sold in about 24 hours, as posted on the AlfaBB.

Well, sometimes the car you like is the first one you lay eyes on. And after some of the cars I saw in Peru, this one looks a minter. For a Berlina, this is actually a pretty decent deal – this 1974 Berlina in Nichols Hills, OK (near OKC) for $1000 firm. When I was looking for a car (and ended up with my Beta sedan), I looked at a Berlina up in Petaluma, ca, but it was a rusty ex-Washington barn-find car with a mildewy dead-animal smell inside for three times this price, so I turned him down. Ever since then, I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for a reasonably priced Berlina (along with all the other cars in my fantasy garage!).

1974 Alfa Berlina front

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