Posts Tagged ‘under $2000’

My First Alfa Drive – 1971 Alfa Romeo Spider 1750

September 25, 2009

I was looking through the classifieds, as I often do, and noticed a green 1971 1750 spider for sale up in the north-east bay area. Back in 1991, when I was looking at cars, I checked out a green ’71 with steel wheels and those disc hub caps in Redwood City, and ended up passing on it because the guy wanted $3400, which would have blown both my purchase and repair budgets. However, the top down experience with the weird shifter exiting at an angle through the console, as well as the sound of that engine, encouraged me to keep looking until I found the spider I have today. The ’71 might have been the wiser investment, but I subsequently met the person who purchased that car a few years later, and it apparently had some significant rust in the floor pans that she spent a lot of money repairing.

Well, as it happens, it seems this car has popped up in the classifieds again. I can’t say for 100% sure, but there must be very few green ’71s left, and I specifically recall the weird nerf bars this car had to protect its nose. Check it out on craigslist, where it’s listed in Vallejo/Benicia, CA for the bargain price of $1450.

1971 Alfa Romeo Spider front

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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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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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