Alfa GT Junior
Discussion
I owned one for about 4 years;
www.geocities.com/peter.nixon/alfa_chicane.jpg
It was a superb car; fantastic engine, light, handled well, great gearbox, great sound.
But the rust was terrible - my GT Junior rusted where you didn't think cars could rust.
Depending on where you are in the UK, I would recommend Roberto Giordinelli at Rosso Engineering in Sunbury for mechanical work, EB Spares in Wiltshire for - well - spares.
The cars are hard work to own - mine regularly had no brakes and the front suspension strut fell off twice, once during an MOT test... :-(
www.geocities.com/peter.nixon/alfa_chicane.jpg
It was a superb car; fantastic engine, light, handled well, great gearbox, great sound.
But the rust was terrible - my GT Junior rusted where you didn't think cars could rust.
Depending on where you are in the UK, I would recommend Roberto Giordinelli at Rosso Engineering in Sunbury for mechanical work, EB Spares in Wiltshire for - well - spares.
The cars are hard work to own - mine regularly had no brakes and the front suspension strut fell off twice, once during an MOT test... :-(
I agree.
They are lovely, but delicate.
Lots of specialist back up now though, and the cars are very popular in classic race and rally circles. See www.classicalfa.com for an idea of spares prices and availability.
Make sure you join the Owners Club!
They are lovely, but delicate.
Lots of specialist back up now though, and the cars are very popular in classic race and rally circles. See www.classicalfa.com for an idea of spares prices and availability.
Make sure you join the Owners Club!
I've owned my '76 1600 GT Junior for 12 years now. God that makes me feel old. It's never let me down, been sprinted and hill climbed for 3 years and I love it. Parts are easily available, yes the bodywork is a consumable part but no worse than the equivalent MG or TR. My advice would be to buy the best you can possibly afford (or mine if you like) and drive as many as you can.
Advice is available from many sources all profess to be experts, don't believe evrything you're told.....
For some good (though US biased) information and help check out www.alfabb.com
Good luck
Advice is available from many sources all profess to be experts, don't believe evrything you're told.....
For some good (though US biased) information and help check out www.alfabb.com
Good luck
Thanks for the advice, I've spent the time looking into the options further... I like the idea of a GTA or a 2000GTV Bertone Coupe as first choice options, with the Junior, 1750GTV or GTC as 2nd choice. The idea is to get a pre '73 road tax free car that I can play with. I would be buying it to be a replacement for my MX-5, and would like to have an idea of how the handling would compare. Out of the models above how do they rate in terms of 'feel'?
I can accept the car requiring a little more work, but it sounds like I need to buy one that has been restored already. I am struggling to find a UK club or forum to search for further intel on the cars.
I can accept the car requiring a little more work, but it sounds like I need to buy one that has been restored already. I am struggling to find a UK club or forum to search for further intel on the cars.
jazzybee said:
Thanks for the advice, I've spent the time looking into the options further... I like the idea of a GTA or a 2000GTV Bertone Coupe as first choice options, with the Junior, 1750GTV or GTC as 2nd choice. The idea is to get a pre '73 road tax free car that I can play with. I would be buying it to be a replacement for my MX-5, and would like to have an idea of how the handling would compare. Out of the models above how do they rate in terms of 'feel'?
I can accept the car requiring a little more work, but it sounds like I need to buy one that has been restored already. I am struggling to find a UK club or forum to search for further intel on the cars.
I used to own a 2000 Bertone GTV and I'd do anything to get it back again. Sweet handling, gutsy engine, beautiful styling. I sold it when I needed cash for the deposit for my first house - and kept an Alfetta GTV6. WTF was I thinking about?
Real GTA's start at about £40,000.
Replica GTA's tend to be £15,000'ish depending on how good they are - all GTA's were built on the earlier "step-front" model which are quite hard to come by now.
The 2000 is probably the best all rounder with more modern ventilation, LSD and a torquey 130bhp engine. The downsides are a very ugly dashboard, ghastly grill and heavy handed bumpers and back lights. They certainly lost the simple elegance of the eariler models which is why you find many of the pretty ones fitted with the 2000 engine and LSD back axle.
To get a feel for prices keep an eye on www.classicalfa.com/cars.htm and www.aroc-uk.com/classifieds/index.asp
If you want one that doesn't rust, speak to Bob Wright www.wrightrestorations.co.uk/
Replica GTA's tend to be £15,000'ish depending on how good they are - all GTA's were built on the earlier "step-front" model which are quite hard to come by now.
The 2000 is probably the best all rounder with more modern ventilation, LSD and a torquey 130bhp engine. The downsides are a very ugly dashboard, ghastly grill and heavy handed bumpers and back lights. They certainly lost the simple elegance of the eariler models which is why you find many of the pretty ones fitted with the 2000 engine and LSD back axle.
To get a feel for prices keep an eye on www.classicalfa.com/cars.htm and www.aroc-uk.com/classifieds/index.asp
If you want one that doesn't rust, speak to Bob Wright www.wrightrestorations.co.uk/
jazzybee said:
Ok, thanks guys... .Looks like I am steering more towards an early 2000GTV. I think the junior looks better, but looking for a car that I can still live with.
There's a lovely one here:
<a href="http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=6425&pageid=3">http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=6425&pageid=3</a>
ALFA-ROMEO GTV 2.0 SPORT , 1971 K Reg . Alfa Red. Please vist our website at www.alfanet.co.uk or click on the dealer website button , to view over 35 Alfa Romeo in stock.This car is 30 years old, in excellent condition throughout, it has been in the same family from new, it has been fully restored by Autofficina Sprint in Italy. This is a left hand drive model. This is a fantastic example of a real classic, with real history. £8,995
And a passable one here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9834&item=4510945656&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
>> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Thursday 16th December 16:33
>> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Thursday 16th December 16:43
The original design for the Giulia coupe (105) had the leading edge of the bonnet standing proud of the surrounding panel work:
www.carsfromitaly.com/castelli/giulia_coupe5.jpg
All the GTA's were like this as well:
http://dxbec.ihep.su/~solo/alfa/pics/alfagta.jpg
It sometimes just looks like bad panel fit!!
The 1750 of 1968 saw a move to a more conventional front end with the headlights moving right out to the edge of the grill and the bonnet becoming flush fitting:
www.carsfromitaly.com/alfaromeo/1750gtv_br200.jpg
However, the step front did linger on after 1968 with the shell being used up in the Junior models until the early 1970's when they adopted the smooth front end.
Because just about all parts are interchangeable, it's worth getting your hands on Richard Bremner's book "Alfa Romeo Giulia Spiders and Coupes" if you want to make sure of what you are buying. On the other hand Alfisti don't tend to get too hung up on their number matching, so no-one really minds if you decide a 190bhp Twin Spark is a good swap for your 89bhp 1300.
www.carsfromitaly.com/castelli/giulia_coupe5.jpg
All the GTA's were like this as well:
http://dxbec.ihep.su/~solo/alfa/pics/alfagta.jpg
It sometimes just looks like bad panel fit!!
The 1750 of 1968 saw a move to a more conventional front end with the headlights moving right out to the edge of the grill and the bonnet becoming flush fitting:
www.carsfromitaly.com/alfaromeo/1750gtv_br200.jpg
However, the step front did linger on after 1968 with the shell being used up in the Junior models until the early 1970's when they adopted the smooth front end.
Because just about all parts are interchangeable, it's worth getting your hands on Richard Bremner's book "Alfa Romeo Giulia Spiders and Coupes" if you want to make sure of what you are buying. On the other hand Alfisti don't tend to get too hung up on their number matching, so no-one really minds if you decide a 190bhp Twin Spark is a good swap for your 89bhp 1300.
pdV6 said:
There's a lovely one here:
Not that you've been looking for another Alfa recently?
How's the search coming along?
>> Edited by pdV6 on Thursday 16th December 16:56
Just looking at options at present - Sinead wants to get rid of her Pug 206 and get a TS GTV. I'm thinking of chopping the 156 on a 3.0l (the GTa has to wait until business starts picking up a bit!).
Mon Ami Mate said:
Ok, thanks guys... .Looks like I am steering more towards an early 2000GTV. I think the junior looks better, but looking for a car that I can still live with.
There's a lovely one here:
<a href="http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=6425&pageid=3"><a href="http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=6425&pageid=3">http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=6425&pageid=3</a></a>
ALFA-ROMEO GTV 2.0 SPORT , 1971 K Reg . Alfa Red. Please vist our website at <a href="http://www.alfanet.co.uk">www.alfanet.co.uk</a> or click on the dealer website button , to view over 35 Alfa Romeo in stock.This car is 30 years old, in excellent condition throughout, it has been in the same family from new, it has been fully restored by Autofficina Sprint in Italy. This is a left hand drive model. This is a fantastic example of a real classic, with real history. £8,995
And a passable one here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9834&item=4510945656&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Both look nice to me... But, I quite like this one:
www.classicalfa.com/cars/72200gtv.htm
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