GTV centre console Original or not

[Fetta GTV]

Hi All

Posted a wanted ad about my 1979 GTV centre console and got some interesting replies about people having the same console (ScuzzyGTV and Neil).
I thought mine was a one off aftermarket set up
What is everyones opinion as to these consoles being classed as original equipment on cars fitted with aircon when they where sold in Australia.
See pic

Cheers
David

[Davidm1600]

Can't say I have ever seen that consol on a GTV, from the angle the picture was taken, my first impressions are that it is aftermarket, but hey I could be wrong !!

[Fetta GTV]

I should probably say Alfa Dealer fitted option and not original equipment

[meizhak]

Mine was fitted at Brian foley's when vehicle was new and looks like this

[Paul Gulliver]

David,

Have to agree with Meizhak. My '79 GTV had air fitted ( since removed and replaced with a twin spark engine) but didn't touch the console and it is exactly the same as Meizhak's photo. What might have happened is they left the factory looking like that if air was fitted in italy  , but if the air was fitted in Australia by the dealer  you got your console type.  

[Fetta GTV]

Paul
was the info for your Aircon in the book that came with the car and stated as fitted in Italy?
Mine was a separate piece of paper put with the book with australian details.
I will dig it out and put some details up here

So far we have 2 like yours and 3 like mine

[scuzzyGTV]

i can add another like Paul & Meizhak too, but it is an 81 facelift plastic bumper car. Both had A/C
I kinda prefer the one that isn't factory.
scott.

[aggie57]

Mine was fitted at Brian foley's when vehicle was new and looks like this

This is the factory system, I believe (but may be corrected) available as a factory or dealer install.  There were a few different aftermarket systems used in Australia on the coupes including one that had the vents under the glove box (sorry, no images).

The factory system was available from the 1.8 through to the last of the GTV6's but was relatively rare in Australia until the '81 facelift.  It was also used in the 1.8 sedan body style in other markets; the later 2000 sedan body style was a integrated unit that used the standard dash vents so externally it looked much the same as a non-aircon equiped car.

[Fetta GTV]

My air con was a Allcar unit installed at Alec Mildren in Pymble NSW who was the dealer who sold the car

[GTVeloce]

Mine are both 83 rubber bumpered GTV's with original air-con and look the same as meizak's. Maybe some of the 79's that were fitted with air-con used a 'later' style console. I would be curious to see what the older GT/GTV's (76, 77, 78) that came with A/C looked like.

[VeeSix]

I think it looks pretty good with the guages, sort of Australia Alfa Romeo dealer originality, and looks like it has stood the years rather well, i would leve it unless you are dying for the other console look!  

[aggie57]

Mine are both 83 rubber bumpered GTV's with original air-con and look the same as meizak's. Maybe some of the 79's that were fitted with air-con used a 'later' style console. I would be curious to see what the older GT/GTV's (76, 77, 78) that came with A/C looked like.

There was a thread on the BB a while back that has some info on this:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfa-romeo-cars-sale-wanted/175609-feeler-77-alfetta-sedan-socal.html

The US people who commented seemed to suggest it was a fairly common option in their early GT's and sedans.

[colcol]

A lot of Alfa Romeo's were fitted with airconditioning in Australia in the 80's by various local air conditioning fitters, due to the high cost of the Italian units, i remember about 86 when i got my 33 air conditioned by Nambri in Victoria, it was about $1200, compared to the Italian fitted ones costing $2000+, the reason they were fitted locally, was that it gave them a cheaper 'sticker' price, without 'air' and the import duties made the Italian units dearer, there were always 33's, Alfetta's, Guillietta's being fitted with air at Nambri, when you used to look at air conditioning units at club days and now sadly at wreckers, you don't see any units the same, there was also a bloke at west Heidleburg in Victoria, [not Germany!] fitting units as well, and i knew of an Auto electrician in Watsonia who used to fit them as well, there was a guy in Carlton, just near the old Exhibition Buildings that used to import Italian air conditioners as well, Colin.

[Beatle]

My '79GTV was the same as Meizhak's, and I've seen at least two earlier-bodied Alfetta sedans with the same console.   My car came with a rotary type compressor (Clarion?).  Maybe the console style aligns with the type of compressor, and that in turn might tell us whether one style means Alfa installed AC, the other being dealer-installed?

It would be interesting to see what console the Italian/Euro-market cars got.....

[aggie57]

My '79GTV was the same as Meizhak's, and I've seen at least two earlier-bodied Alfetta sedans with the same console.   My car came with a rotary type compressor (Clarion?).  Maybe the console style aligns with the type of compressor, and that in turn might tell us whether one style means Alfa installed AC, the other being dealer-installed?

It would be interesting to see what console the Italian/Euro-market cars got.....

Paul - they got the one meizhak posted. All markets did unless it was a locally designed system.