Advice needed on buying a Giulia Sprint GT
Discussion
Hello all, I've set my mind on finding an excellent Giulia Sprint GT or GTV between now and the summer. I'd like to find one in tip-top condition, and will use it for the occasional track day.
Does anyone on here recommend any dealers (preferably local-ish to me, between Worcester and Hereford), or know of any cars that are available? Or is the consensus that I would be better off leaving it to the spring when more cars are available? And are there any existing owners on here with advice (or cars to sell)
Thanks for your help
Steve.
Does anyone on here recommend any dealers (preferably local-ish to me, between Worcester and Hereford), or know of any cars that are available? Or is the consensus that I would be better off leaving it to the spring when more cars are available? And are there any existing owners on here with advice (or cars to sell)
Thanks for your help
Steve.
Hi Steve.
I don't see why you should leave it untill spring, just keep your eyes open and find as many as you can. There's always few on the Alfaholics web site particularly this little cracker, but it's a bit top endy on price (In fact apart from genuine GTA's I've never seen one this expensive)
www.alfaholics.com/cars_for_sale_menu/road_cars/document_97_148.php
You didn't mention a budget, you can pick up these cars for next to nothing right up to the one in the link.
there's a few more on Classic Alfa's site too
www.classicalfa.com/cars.htm
Are you into Alfa's already? the owners club is a mine of usefull info and has an excellent forum for owners particularly the 105 series cars.
I don't see why you should leave it untill spring, just keep your eyes open and find as many as you can. There's always few on the Alfaholics web site particularly this little cracker, but it's a bit top endy on price (In fact apart from genuine GTA's I've never seen one this expensive)
www.alfaholics.com/cars_for_sale_menu/road_cars/document_97_148.php
You didn't mention a budget, you can pick up these cars for next to nothing right up to the one in the link.
there's a few more on Classic Alfa's site too
www.classicalfa.com/cars.htm
Are you into Alfa's already? the owners club is a mine of usefull info and has an excellent forum for owners particularly the 105 series cars.
I've not really been into Alfa so far, but my I was brought up on several of them - I remember a very nice Giulia saloon from the mid 70s, and later Suds, Sud Sprints,etc.
I think I've decided on a earlier step front car, only because I think they look far better... there seem to be rather a lot of 'fake' GTAs around though, which I'd prefer to avoid (especially as they seem to cost so much).
Budget - not sure really, how much does it take for an excellent car? £7500 would be great, £10,000 would be fine, £15,000 a bit of a stretch but OK.
I think I've decided on a earlier step front car, only because I think they look far better... there seem to be rather a lot of 'fake' GTAs around though, which I'd prefer to avoid (especially as they seem to cost so much).
Budget - not sure really, how much does it take for an excellent car? £7500 would be great, £10,000 would be fine, £15,000 a bit of a stretch but OK.
The top car on this site looks good - www.ianellisalfas.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/0936?opendocument&part=2 as does the one half way down. What sort of money do they go for in this condition?
Well to be honest it's hard to tell from that angle, Ian Ellis is well known in the club and is a major contributor on the forum, I would trust what he says in the description. It's a guess but maybe 5 to 6K.
A friend of mine recently bought a cream coloured step front, a South African assembled Car for less than 5K, Ian Ellis did some work on it just before he bought it (welded a crack in the chassis near the steering box) it's very tidy looking car and as far as I know sound underneath. It's sounds like you are being quite realistic with your budget, but be aware that people can and do try and pass cars off at 6, 7, 8K when they really aren't worth more than 4 or 5. A shiny top can hide real problems under the skin. My own 1750GTV which is looking a bit scabby these days (well it is a rally car!) cost me just over 4K, but I had to spend a bit to get the boot floor rebuilt the rest is sound enough but it wont win any concourses
.
Pics here;
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=336452&f=47&h=0
Do lots of research and try to see as many as you can, even if you have your heart set on a step front, look at later cars to get a feel for what your money will get you. Keith Bookers, buyers guide published by Veloce publishing would be worth investing in, it's a bit patronising but has loads of usefull info.
www.amazon.co.uk/Romeo-Giulia-Coupe-Essential-Buyers/dp/1904788696
There are a growing number of replica GTA's which is fine really as they look and drive so damn well these cars you can't help but want one and it's so tempting to modify it. Most are not being deliberately passed off as a GTA and if you know what to look for it's easy to tell an original anyway. The give away is a line of rivets inside the gutter, but I can't imagine you would be fooled for a minute by a replica if you were seriously in the market for a real one.
A friend of mine recently bought a cream coloured step front, a South African assembled Car for less than 5K, Ian Ellis did some work on it just before he bought it (welded a crack in the chassis near the steering box) it's very tidy looking car and as far as I know sound underneath. It's sounds like you are being quite realistic with your budget, but be aware that people can and do try and pass cars off at 6, 7, 8K when they really aren't worth more than 4 or 5. A shiny top can hide real problems under the skin. My own 1750GTV which is looking a bit scabby these days (well it is a rally car!) cost me just over 4K, but I had to spend a bit to get the boot floor rebuilt the rest is sound enough but it wont win any concourses
. Pics here;
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=336452&f=47&h=0
Do lots of research and try to see as many as you can, even if you have your heart set on a step front, look at later cars to get a feel for what your money will get you. Keith Bookers, buyers guide published by Veloce publishing would be worth investing in, it's a bit patronising but has loads of usefull info.
www.amazon.co.uk/Romeo-Giulia-Coupe-Essential-Buyers/dp/1904788696
There are a growing number of replica GTA's which is fine really as they look and drive so damn well these cars you can't help but want one and it's so tempting to modify it. Most are not being deliberately passed off as a GTA and if you know what to look for it's easy to tell an original anyway. The give away is a line of rivets inside the gutter, but I can't imagine you would be fooled for a minute by a replica if you were seriously in the market for a real one.
clarkey said:
Out of interest, what do genuine GTAs sell for now???
£40,000 or so!
Bear in mind if you want to do trackdays, the Stepfront has one noticeable disadvantage over later cars in that it's Dunlop brakes are not so good at all, where as the later ATE brakes are excellent. Most GTA replicas replace the Dunlop brakes with a Brembo setup from the 75, unless they can't because of race regs. The other disadvantage is that the Stepfronts go for more money because they are eligible for pre'66 racing, so you will get more ooomph for your pound with a later car, but I appreciate the early cars have a look all of their own.
Nice GTA replica here: www.classicalfa.com/cars/1966%20GTA%20rep.htm
Didn't realise GTAs had got to £40k now. Ouch.
Didn't realise GTAs had got to £40k now. Ouch.
clarkey said:
Nice GTA replica here: www.classicalfa.com/cars/1966%20GTA%20rep.htm
Yes. That's been on there for a while now. I think it is absolutely stunning.
great car!
i have a 1968 step-front giulia gt 1300 junior
toured all over germany and the north of france for 2 years when looking for one
my budget was up to €10k and it had to be stepfront of the first series, means the old dash etc.
in france the cars are much cheaper, but most of them are "dans son jus" as they say. so they go pretty well but don´t look so fine.
if you don´t mind if its 100% original you should look for a 1300 either. its easy to make it a 1600, plug and play you can say.
you only need the 1600 motor and a gearbox(if you want vmax) because the 1300 has a shorter 5th gear. When I´m driving the german autobahn I would like to have a 1600 because at 170kph she does about 5500rpm or more and that´s a bit uncomfortable on long distance
Driving up the hills is no problem, I just keep her between 5500 and 6500rpm and thre´s no difference to the 1600 of my friend
buy one
she won´t disappoint you
chris
i have a 1968 step-front giulia gt 1300 junior
toured all over germany and the north of france for 2 years when looking for one
my budget was up to €10k and it had to be stepfront of the first series, means the old dash etc.
in france the cars are much cheaper, but most of them are "dans son jus" as they say. so they go pretty well but don´t look so fine.
if you don´t mind if its 100% original you should look for a 1300 either. its easy to make it a 1600, plug and play you can say.
you only need the 1600 motor and a gearbox(if you want vmax) because the 1300 has a shorter 5th gear. When I´m driving the german autobahn I would like to have a 1600 because at 170kph she does about 5500rpm or more and that´s a bit uncomfortable on long distance
Driving up the hills is no problem, I just keep her between 5500 and 6500rpm and thre´s no difference to the 1600 of my friend
buy one
she won´t disappoint you
chris
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