'68 Alfa Romeo Gt Junior
Discussion
velocemitch said:
Trouble is they sometimes overdubbed the sound of a V8 on that film as the Alfa Twincam 4 pot wasn't hairy chested enough for the Yanks......
Sacrilege!Whilst discussing holidays with the other half, she said it would be quite good fun to get away in the Alfa to the South of France.
Result!
Just imagine seeking out those rally stage roads in the hills. Fantastic. As such, I've split the work required on the car into 3 or 4 stages, and placed an order for some parts.
Yes, the big seat question!
The position of the current seats is perfect for me, low and far back, but the seat is only just wide enough, and a bit tight for anyone with wider hips.
Original seats would be preferable, but tracking some down is proving harder than finding some aftermarket alternatives.
These are around £400
These at £750
Perseverance for original seats maybe the best way, providing they will position me well in the car.
The position of the current seats is perfect for me, low and far back, but the seat is only just wide enough, and a bit tight for anyone with wider hips.
Original seats would be preferable, but tracking some down is proving harder than finding some aftermarket alternatives.
These are around £400
These at £750
Perseverance for original seats maybe the best way, providing they will position me well in the car.
HebdenHedgehog said:
The standard Giulia seats are really comfy! We did our honeymoon in my Junior, 2000 miles or so, in total comfort, and you can stuff an amazing amount of luggage in the car too...
Excellent. Where was your destination?I've driven to Prague and back in a modern car, which was a mix of villages, black forest and autobahn; it was an unforgettable journey, and the fact that the Mrs is open minded enough to venture into Europe in a 44 year old Alfa should really be taken advantage of!
I've been piecing more of the history together, by talking to the folk who have worked on the car, and matching this up with the history folder I have. Here are some pics from the cd that came with the car.
I got in touch with Alfa Romeo to find out the original build details. They are as follows:
[i]Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior RHD (105.31), manufactured on the 28th July 1967 and sold on the 2nd August 1967 to Alfa Romeo UK, London.
The body colour is musk green, with leather skai interiors.[/i]
1968 refers to the year road registered.
The car originally had 15" steel wheels and flat dash, opposed to the pod dash that was introduced into late step front cars as this example is.
The original owner and location are unknown, but I intend to get in touch with the DVLA to find out.
There is a handwritten sheet in the folder detailing the car as in 'dire state' when discovered in a shed in Dover in 1990. The chap who bought the car (4th owner) described it as having some racy factory extras, non-servo ATE brakes, twin Weber 40s, factory supplied sports wheel, and extra gauges (not fitted), suggesting a competition past. I think these items were retro fitted personally. The car was red at this point, there is no evidence in the file as to when it was changed from green.
After significant restoration, the car was returned to the road for the first time since 1982.
- >3000hrs largely at home restoring original parts
- 1300cc engine internals
- some electrics
- new floors
- wheel arches
- valances
- suspension shot blasted and painted
- 2 coats of etch primer, 4 of 2 pack primer, 2 of 2 pack colour, and 2 of clear lacquer.
In 1995, the car was featured in the 'Discovered' section of Thoroughbred and Classic Cars Magazine, and the letter organising the feature gives a registered address of Bolton. I am unsure of how long the car had been on the road before being featured, but the file names of the above photos feature 94.
The 1997 MOT shows a change of location, from Bolton to London, and a change of owner too.
The 2000 MOT shows a move to Kent, and 2003 a change to the previous owner. From the history file, it looks like the car was run for a year before undergoing significant work in 2004. At this time, the 1300 motor was swapped for a spare 1750 motor that came with the car. It was test fitted and run, but it put a significant amount of water into the sump, so was stripped down and rebuilt with a new 1750 head from an Alfetta by Neville Byford. At the same time a rebuilt gearbox was fitted, but the 1300 rear axle retained for improved acceleration.
Around 2008, the car was resprayed in Dutch Blue.
The previous owner had a lot of work done on the car, and he was looking to keep it long term, but unfortunately a divorce meant he had to sell a valuable asset, and the Alfa had to go, which is where I came in. Reading back, you can see my intention for the car, and I hope to improve it bit by bit as a long term project. Thanks for reading.
I got in touch with Alfa Romeo to find out the original build details. They are as follows:
[i]Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior RHD (105.31), manufactured on the 28th July 1967 and sold on the 2nd August 1967 to Alfa Romeo UK, London.
The body colour is musk green, with leather skai interiors.[/i]
1968 refers to the year road registered.
The car originally had 15" steel wheels and flat dash, opposed to the pod dash that was introduced into late step front cars as this example is.
The original owner and location are unknown, but I intend to get in touch with the DVLA to find out.
There is a handwritten sheet in the folder detailing the car as in 'dire state' when discovered in a shed in Dover in 1990. The chap who bought the car (4th owner) described it as having some racy factory extras, non-servo ATE brakes, twin Weber 40s, factory supplied sports wheel, and extra gauges (not fitted), suggesting a competition past. I think these items were retro fitted personally. The car was red at this point, there is no evidence in the file as to when it was changed from green.
After significant restoration, the car was returned to the road for the first time since 1982.
- >3000hrs largely at home restoring original parts
- 1300cc engine internals
- some electrics
- new floors
- wheel arches
- valances
- suspension shot blasted and painted
- 2 coats of etch primer, 4 of 2 pack primer, 2 of 2 pack colour, and 2 of clear lacquer.
In 1995, the car was featured in the 'Discovered' section of Thoroughbred and Classic Cars Magazine, and the letter organising the feature gives a registered address of Bolton. I am unsure of how long the car had been on the road before being featured, but the file names of the above photos feature 94.
The 1997 MOT shows a change of location, from Bolton to London, and a change of owner too.
The 2000 MOT shows a move to Kent, and 2003 a change to the previous owner. From the history file, it looks like the car was run for a year before undergoing significant work in 2004. At this time, the 1300 motor was swapped for a spare 1750 motor that came with the car. It was test fitted and run, but it put a significant amount of water into the sump, so was stripped down and rebuilt with a new 1750 head from an Alfetta by Neville Byford. At the same time a rebuilt gearbox was fitted, but the 1300 rear axle retained for improved acceleration.
Around 2008, the car was resprayed in Dutch Blue.
The previous owner had a lot of work done on the car, and he was looking to keep it long term, but unfortunately a divorce meant he had to sell a valuable asset, and the Alfa had to go, which is where I came in. Reading back, you can see my intention for the car, and I hope to improve it bit by bit as a long term project. Thanks for reading.
Edited by joesnow on Tuesday 17th January 15:06
Kermit79 said:
Hi, just joined, as I thought I might be able to help on the Ridgard seats...
Here they attached to mine. Car needs some tidying as the image will attest to...
Love the car by the way, I wish I could have one
Regards,
Edd
Fantatsic Edd, welcome.Here they attached to mine. Car needs some tidying as the image will attest to...
Love the car by the way, I wish I could have one
Regards,
Edd
Ridgard seats looking good.
Theres a car on the Alfaholics with some leather covered Recaro Speeds. These were excellent seats that I sampled in my Honda Integra, and I'd have some again in a heartbeat. Would it be sacrilege to pop such a modern seat in an Alfa?
Kermit79 said:
For the record, I have wanted one of these since the age of 8, and now I have finally got one I get a strangely warm feeling just knowing it's in the garage.
I'm somewhat the same, but my wanderlust happened at 15. I heard one before I saw one while waiting for a bus in the hills above Sorrento. Around a hairpin shot a rorty carbed white gtv with a curly haired Italian at the wheel. For a car obsessed teenager that was the epitome of cool. Edited by joesnow on Wednesday 25th January 14:38
Having done the sums, Ridgards it shall be.
Those black and white houndstooth seats are £500 a piece, Recaro speeds are £500 for two + a recover, and I think the Ridgards are around £300-£350. Best get selling some of my BMW and Honda spares since both cars have flown the nest.
Of course, I could buy 1 wide Corbeau, but like to do things properly.
Strangely, I don't resent spending on this car, but have done on nearly every other car I have had. I think thats the difference between new and old; It turns into a bit of a labour of love, and a deep seated pang to use it as much as possible, preserve it whilst its in your care, and get it back to the zenith of condition, which with modern parts may be better than when it was created.
Thats how I feel anyway, some poeple prefer flinging their cars down muddy lanes, which is equally in keeping with the ethos of these compact sportsters.
Those black and white houndstooth seats are £500 a piece, Recaro speeds are £500 for two + a recover, and I think the Ridgards are around £300-£350. Best get selling some of my BMW and Honda spares since both cars have flown the nest.
Of course, I could buy 1 wide Corbeau, but like to do things properly.
Strangely, I don't resent spending on this car, but have done on nearly every other car I have had. I think thats the difference between new and old; It turns into a bit of a labour of love, and a deep seated pang to use it as much as possible, preserve it whilst its in your care, and get it back to the zenith of condition, which with modern parts may be better than when it was created.
Thats how I feel anyway, some poeple prefer flinging their cars down muddy lanes, which is equally in keeping with the ethos of these compact sportsters.
RicksAlfas said:
Seems a shame to swap them. I'm not sure the RS4s will be any more accommodating to be honest.
Why not go for a wider fit one for the passenger side of the ones you've got?
Visually no one will ever know, but if your missis is more comfortable it will be better.
The only other option is some late 1750 or 2000 seats like:
They crop up on Ebay, or through the Usual Suspects as people modify their cars.
I'm a 32" waist and they are just big enough! Why not go for a wider fit one for the passenger side of the ones you've got?
Visually no one will ever know, but if your missis is more comfortable it will be better.
The only other option is some late 1750 or 2000 seats like:
They crop up on Ebay, or through the Usual Suspects as people modify their cars.
I think a chat to Bob Ridgard is in order!
With a long list of expenditure on the car before the trip to Monaco in the summer, I've opted for one wide version of the Corbeau seats already installed. It arrived today, and I shall be test fitting with my other half tonight.
Despite a long email to Bob Ridgard a couple of weeks ago, I've yet to hear from them. I'd recommend calling instead. If tonight's fitting doesn't go well, then I might be making that call.
I have also received a box containing new brake disks, standard rear pads, DS2500 pads for the front, a new brake light switch for the master cylinder, and a spare gta alloy, along with a lightweight trolley jack and some axle stands!
Its been an expensive month! Thankfully got a tax rebate when I did my return which will pay for the barakes and seat.
After the brakes are fettled, it'll be time to track down a 4:1 lsd and get that fitted.
Despite a long email to Bob Ridgard a couple of weeks ago, I've yet to hear from them. I'd recommend calling instead. If tonight's fitting doesn't go well, then I might be making that call.
I have also received a box containing new brake disks, standard rear pads, DS2500 pads for the front, a new brake light switch for the master cylinder, and a spare gta alloy, along with a lightweight trolley jack and some axle stands!
Its been an expensive month! Thankfully got a tax rebate when I did my return which will pay for the barakes and seat.
After the brakes are fettled, it'll be time to track down a 4:1 lsd and get that fitted.
Edited by joesnow on Thursday 2nd February 13:45
I've recently got hold of a GoPro camera, handy little thing, so put this vid together of the GT.
http://youtu.be/pAJVtpm92u4
http://youtu.be/pAJVtpm92u4
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