Guys I'm in search of a long lost family alfa. Does anyone know of where I may find a 76 Alfetta GTAm.
The story behind my quest.
In the early '80s my father in law unwittingly purchased a odditty of car so that his wife, whom was confounding medical science in her longevity with a congenital heart condition. Believing she had a finite life span, he purchased a little red Alfetta after having seen the perfomance of a mates fiat, so that they could have some fun in what time they had left. He constantly recounts the story of how he had the car tied in a bow as he presented it to his wife when a gust of wind toppled over a home made steel netball hoop onto the roof line, arghh. Anyway, after many years of irr responsible driving, confounded mechanics with the SPICA injection and a growing family he finally decided to trade it up for a larger (non Alfa) vehicle. I know, blasphemy.
I came into the scene in the late '80s, chasing one of his daughters just before he traded it away. (regret No. 63 - not having bought the Alfetta). Now, after 21 years of marraige I've been given carte blanche to occupy myself with a car restoration project after successfully pimping up a 2001 Ford KA for my own daughter as a learners vehicle. Anyhow both my in laws are still here, mum having survived 2 heart valve replacements, cancer and septicemia from a perferated bowl due to her chemotherapy. They're about to hit retirement and it would be a perfect retirement gift for them if I could produce a GTAm.
So, here I am seeking insight and direction. Better still a fellow Alfista that is willing to part with there Alfetta GTAm that may or may not be rusting away in the back corner of their property. Any suggestions welcome.
Good luck with the search, there were only ever 25 I believe?
Since the SPICA would be extremely rare on an Alfetta, I would be talking to any of the specialist mechanics that were around in the area it was sold (which you don't mention) at the time. A rare car like that would have been talked about for sure, and possibly kept track of, but more likely changed to carbs at a later date.
Let us know the area, someone may remember it.
Hope you find it though, sounds intriguing.
Intrige is my nature Sheldon. After her first heart operation, as we all thought she wasn't going to make it, I found and reunited her with her long lost father that she hadn't spoken to in over twenty years. He was in a retirement village not 5K's away. He got to see his daughter again and 3 young grand kids (mine and sister in law) before passing away from cancer only 12 months later.
Anyhow, the car was used in the Sutherland Shire (Hurstville, Sydney). It was traded in '88 or '89 and ended up at a car dealership in the Balmain area with rego plates OUF288 or similar.
I can't say with any certainty, however a particular difference with it, which I've yet to come across on the web was that I recall the c pillar vents had the letter GT cut out in the diagonal vents. The wife thinks I'm going senile and making it up, but my mother in law also recalls this feature.
Thanks for the reply. It's still early days in my search and I'm not holding my breath in locating the actual car, so any GTAm chassis would suffice. I'm covertly getting the in laws to dig out any photos they have of the car under the guise of curiosity, now that we'e driving around in an Alfa. I'll post them on once I get them for general interest in the photo section of the forum when I get them.
Hmm..rusting away...I doubt it...sitting in a shed accumlating value in the hands of speculators more like. The last time I discussed purchase of a GTam Alfetta I was told 50k would do it...I passed...
From memory, and Mike would be better placed then myself, I am sure to comment on this, the Alfetta GTam that was received here in Aus, was actually nothing too special, beyond some relatively minor differences and the Spica. So unlike say the 105 GTam, of which I suspect there are probably no real ones here and were purely intended as race cars.
From memory, there was a lengthy and pretty knowledgeable discussion about the Alfetta GTam model on the BB sometime last year. So yes, while I suspect the remaining examples out here are rarish and hence undoubtedly more valuable than say an Alfetta GT/GTV, the asking price as quoted seems a little disproportionate to the level of specification. But obviously a seller can ask whatever price they wish.
As I understood it though, in Europe there was a version of the Alfetta GT (I think also designated GTam) which had some relatively substantial mechanical (engine/suspension) modifications but as I recall these were strictly cars designed from the outset for racing.
I more than happy to be advised otherwise if my memory is incorrect on this.
Here is the link to the discussion on the Alfabb you mention David:
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/giulia-gta-gta-1300-jr-gtam-1965-1975/50543-type-116-gtam.html
In summary these 25 cars were bought in by Alfa Australia to homologate the 2 litre Alfetta for touring car racing in Australia. They were essentially RHD build to US spec so SPICA injection, 2-litre engine, GTV6 style fuel tank and so on. Slower than the earlier 1.8 GT's by all reports....and most definitely not to be confused with factory or Autodelta prepared competition cars.
Ok, so further to my last post. I thought I would try and dig up a little more info to clarify my previous comments. I found the link to the topic on the GTam on the BB I mentioned. The discussion was held between 2005-2007, and the most knowledgeable comments came from one of our own (Paul). What he stated was that there were 25 such cars brought into Aus, having been derived from the US spec Alfetta GT 1.8, and fitted with the Spica, but due to the US smog restrictions they were actually down on power (HP) say in comparison to a stock 2L GTV.
They were brought into the country for homolgation purposes to be eligable to run at Bathurst in 1976 etc. From what Paul mentioned a number of them were converted into race cars. I assume this may have possibly included the one Peter Wherret drove ??? Foleys apparently worked on a number of the cars here in Aus.
Now apparently a few of the racing modified GTams have survived and would be worth sufficient, and perhaps a number of the normal road ones have as well, but they would be pretty thin on the ground. Paul's view mirrored mine inasmuch as he reckoned they really are not worth any more than a conventional Alfetta GT 1.8 and condition being paramount. So for my money the guy trying to sell his for $50k was dreaming.
As mentioned, I was aware that in Europe there was a further version of this model and it came equipped with flared guards, and a full race specs, engine, gearbox, brakes and suspension. But to the best of my knowledge none of these came to Aus.
Cheers Aggie, that is precisely what I found also. I wish Cool Jesus lots of luck in finding such a car today, and/or even more so the one he referred to. I do understand the sentiments very well.
Aggie is right about them being slower than the 1.8 GT's , but suprizingly they were also slower than the 105 GTVs that ran at Bathurst in 1977. (last year the 105's ran)
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/bathurst_1977.htm
Never been so frustrated as when those posts about the Alfetta GTAm came up on the AlfaBB. Lots of people chiming in excitedly without reading each other's posts - and the message kept getting lost that this was NOT a special valuable autodelta racing car, but simply a pretty boggo-standard homologation special with a confusing name. Why can't people just listen?
Oh right yeah - it's an internet forum. I should get over it. :P
Should say - good luck to OP finding an example. I definitely understand the sentimental value thing.
Quote from: Mike on January 28, 2011, 12:24:22 PM
Hmm..rusting away...I doubt it...sitting in a shed accumlating value in the hands of speculators more like. The last time I discussed purchase of a GTam Alfetta I was told 50k would do it...I passed...
Was it one that had raced at Bathurst, that would be the only possible reason for that price, surely?
Quote from: Paul Gulliver on January 28, 2011, 02:15:46 PM
Aggie is right about them being slower than the 1.8 GT's , but suprizingly they were also slower than the 105 GTVs that ran at Bathurst in 1977. (last year the 105's ran)
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/bathurst_1977.htm
But they were quicker than the 105s in 1976.... http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/bathurst_1976.htm (http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/bathurst_1976.htm)
The Evan Green book on Alfa Romeo has a picture of Marie-Claude Beaumont from when they ran the Alfetta GTAm in 1976. Only loosely related to this thread, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. Nice picture.
Interestingly this page (http://www.therealmountpanorama.com/bathursthistory/bathurstresults/1976.php) says they DNFed due to fuel injection problems.
Quote from: Evan Bottcher on January 28, 2011, 02:37:09 PM
Never been so frustrated as when those posts about the Alfetta GTAm came up on the AlfaBB. Lots of people chiming in excitedly without reading each other's posts - and the message kept getting lost that this was NOT a special valuable autodelta racing car, but simply a pretty boggo-standard homologation special with a confusing name. Why can't people just listen?
Oh right yeah - it's an internet forum. I should get over it. :P
Should say - good luck to OP finding an example. I definitely understand the sentimental value thing.
Evan, As I said initially, I am no expert on this model, hence I referred to what appeared pretty authorative advice. From all I have read on this topic, and that includes a range of books, and other website information, the model that was sent to Aus was clearly not an Autodelta prepared model but rather simply a 'special" model to enable homologation for racing in Aus. That is simply a GT 1.8, with Spica and lower
compression engine. In appearance it was exactly the same as any other GT, apart from some badging, and no where have I read that the gearbox, diff, brakes or suspension were anything but standard.
All the information I have seen on this topic, including on the BB and there are plenty of historically versed Alfisti there too, have noted the same information. As I noted there were factory prepared/autodelta Race Alfetta GTs and may have been labled GTam but this is not what we are talking about here.
So unless you have any other and more authorative advice, perhaps the information as stated is in fact correct ? As I said I ham happy to be advised otherwise. I am pretty sure in the past that Vin Sharp too has commented on this topic and is in aggreeance with this information.
I have a copy of the book too, and know the picture you mention. From memory and perhaps I need to re-read the book, the car was a euro spec Altodelta car, not an Aussie GTam. But perhaps I am wrong ??
Quote from: Davidm1750 on January 28, 2011, 03:56:03 PM
Evan, As I said initially, I am no expert on this model, hence I referred to what appeared pretty authorative advice. From all I have read on this topic, and that includes a range of books, and other website information, the model that was sent to Aus was clearly not an Autodelta prepared model but rather simply a 'special" model to enable homologation for racing in Aus. That is simply a GT 1.8, with Spica and lower
compression engine. In appearance it was exactly the same as any other GT, apart from some badging, and no where have I read that the gearbox, diff, brakes or suspension were anything but standard.
All the information I have seen on this topic, including on the BB and there are plenty of historically versed Alfisti there too, have noted the same information. As I noted there were factory prepared/autodelta Race Alfetta GTs and may have been labled GTam but this is not what we are talking about here.
So unless you have any other and more authorative advice, perhaps the information as stated is in fact correct ? As I said I ham happy to be advised otherwise. I am pretty sure in the past that Vin Sharp too has commented on this topic and is in aggreeance with this information.
Hi David, I meant no offence to you, nor was I questioning anything said in this thread here. I was referring to the linked thread on alfabb.com in 2007 where every second post mixed up the subject with the 105 GTAm or a rally-prepared Alfetta GTs and it was difficult to sort out the real information. Wasn't helped by the original post talking about the 25 Aussie GTAm road cars, then showing a picture of the Evan Green rally car!
Back to present day, I believe the information you and Alister posted in this thread to be true.
I believe there is an Alfetta GTAm owned by a Perth club member, and I saw one on ebay sold very cheaply in Brisbane in 2006 - so there must be a few left?
Hmm, did I poke a hornets nest? yes, I was refering to a Bathurst GTAm, sorry for confusion....the car I am refering to sold for about 20ish a few years ago (4ish?). It was only 2 years later and the guy was tlaking 50k...he'd done work to it etc etc. Stuff's worth what people will pay I guess. I also understand the sentimental thing, still perhaps given you are not chasing the exact car anyway, a tidy GT or GTV would stiull have the desired affect? I can't recall seeing one of the 25 GTAm's for sale in the last ten years in Aus...Still it is amazing what turns up when you start asking questions and half the fun is the hunt I think.
Cheers Evan and absolutely no offence is taken as I know none was intended. I know what you mean re the BB thread. I agree on that thread people posting did indeed seem to get it all confused between the 116 and 105 GTams and in fact as I recall, many posting who perhaps should have known better actually stated that there was no such beast as a 116 GTam. I think a part of the problem with the BB is that it can be at times very US centric.
Paul, however, was able to set the record straight, and yes I also know what you mean about the Evan Green car. From memory Evan rallied the car not just in Europe but as well out here in a variety of events, including if my memory is correct not just in Aus. I recall that this car had a quite an amazing life.
Anyway, onto Mike's recollections, yes I too recall a race prepared GTam being for sale, and listed in the AROCA Vic Magazine some years back for around the $20K mark. As I think we all know race cars with significant history are another beast in terms of value compared to the more "relatively mundane" normal road car.
I agree with Mike's suggestion, that perhaps for Cool Jesus the better option could be to turn up a nice GT or GTV in red, to rekindle the outlaws memories. But yes I also understand the chase for the elusive car. Either way all the best of luck.
I agree Dave. Perhaps Cool Jesus could get the bits he needs to make his dream car? Especially if the wifey has given the go ahead. That's the hardest part!
Like these bits I found a guy had in the Uk when I was looking for bits for my brother's 79 Gtv
Turbodelta parts
• full cage
• various adjustable shocks
• thick roll bar & springs
• rose jointed parts
• alloy tank
• Autodelta Turbodelta engine with carbs having the correct pressure balancing tops, manifolds blow off valve etc
• Other parts are what ever was taken from the shell, some parts with spherical joints
• front suspension had coil overs with different wishbones, all the bits and bobs
• Instruments, inc "Turbodelta" boost gauge, in a none standard dash.
• a lot of wheels about 8 or 10 I think of 10" & 11" 4 stud Campagnolo as seen on the competition rally cars, infact they still have the red & yellow marking paint on from the competition days
• Engine has all the ancilleries, turbo fed directly into carbs
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfetta-gtv6-1975-1986/174429-autodelta-turbodelta-gtv-rally-parts.html
I belive the GTAm that was in WA now spends it's time in NSW...currently getting it's Bathurst war paint re-applied.
By the way, Christine Gibson spoke at a club night a year or two ago and was not too complimentary about the GTAm she drove in '76 Bathurst :) from memory Fred Gibson prepared a lot of Alfa's, but not Christines!!
Holy Cow, what a response!
I never dreamed that I'd cause such a stir. This is great, should've hit the forums earlier than I did. Anyhow, forgive my formatting (newbie alert) but I'd just like to add a few comments.
Quote from: Mike on January 28, 2011, 12:24:22 PM
Hmm..rusting away...I doubt it...
Mike clarified the 50k GTAm as the 116 version as opposed to the 105, which is where I have found in my research forums become constantly confused with. "Rusting away", check out the the thread and photo of the ebay item which I missed out on by a few years. The GTAm went for $500 and would have been perfect for the restore I'm attempting and I'm sure there'd be one or two more out there somewhere. Your're right about the 50k owner dreaming, but in his defence don't we all place a higher value on our beloved projects, compared to their true consumer value?
Most of the replies are on the money from what I've found on the web so I won't waste any time in confirming or otherwose. However, Evan pointed out one such chassis that did come up, as mentioned above, so I remain hopeful. Still waiting on those photos which I will definately post up. It was on AlaGTV6.com, photo attached.
http://www.alfagtv6.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1213&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Thanks again troops, keep me in mind if you come across one. Like it was pointed out by some, its not an investment item, just a sentimental one. I could easily freshen up a GT or GTV, but I'd prefer to have the GTAm compliance plate as the cherry on top.
i might know somwone with one of these and if it is its rusting away there was also another on around that had the gt back grill and it was 4 sale for around 5-6 grand a few years back but i still see it driving around will find out for you
I can remember seeing one on Ebay some five years or so ago. It was photographed under cover in a fairly rudimentary shed amongst other cars. I distinctly remember the fact that it was fuel injected. Wasn't in great nick and the ask was somewhere around a grand. It was, from memory, in Northern NSW or southern QLD which was the barrier to me adding it to my collection of rescued GT's.
Quote from: dehne on January 29, 2011, 12:51:14 AM
i might know somwone with one of these and if it is its rusting away there was also another on around that had the gt back grill and it was 4 sale for around 5-6 grand a few years back but i still see it driving around will find out for you
Of course you do. We are all eagerly waiting to find out more details on these two cars. Incidentally, I think a few people are still waiting for you to give up the details of your supplier for the V6 axle bolts....
And sud 1.2 gearbox...
For the record the Am in both the 105 and 116 GTAm stands for America, it denotes the cars are a US spec car with SPICA injection. The 105GTAm race cars where built from US spec cars and have body numbers that identify them as US spec (Am) cars, why they use US spec cars is simple to get injection in the build spec for the Homologation of the race car. Vin Sharp Has the homologation papers for these cars, just like the Group A GTV6 papers they show a bog standard car with full standard specs in this case a 105 1750 GTAm being almost the same as any other 105 1750 except it had a US pollution Spec motor with Spica injection. The papers then show a listing of the build spec for the race car which includes all the items where permitted under the rules as freedoms but had to appear in the papers such as the flairs, light weight parts, narrow angle twin plug head and so on. Note no road cars where ever built with these components. Only one Autodelta 105 1750 GTAm race car came to Australia that was the Brian Foley Chesterfield car now owned by Vin Sharp.
The 25 116 GTAm's that came to Australia where bog standard US spec road car, 2000 injected motor in a GT body, except that they were right hand drive Homologation special, this is why they are rare. The only reason they came here was to allow Alfa to run the 116GTAm touring car Homologation spec at Bathurst these cars where much tamer the 105 GTAm race cars, the last shipment of road cars were delivered to their owners on the tarmac at Mascot airport, under CAMS supervision, them they contacted Sandown and allowed the race cars to start practice for the Hang Ten 500. Of all the 116 GTAm's that raced in Australia only one was built by Autodelta, that car was in Melbourne for a long time and was sold a few years ago very cheaply for a works car at 20K it went to Western Australia.
The last car in the GTAm Australian story is the Evan Green Rally Car which was a full Autodelta Group 5 Rally GTAm, unlike the Bathurst cars this had the narrow angle twin plug head and was a much higher spec car, Green ran this car in Europe, Asia and Australia, he won Australian Championship events in it and came Second in the ARC. This car went on to become the first of Tony Edmonds Alfetta Sports Sedan in which he won his first Australian title, it was also the car he had his big accident in, he nearly died and the car did.
Quote from: Jekyll and Hyde on January 29, 2011, 01:30:25 PM
Quote from: dehne on January 29, 2011, 12:51:14 AM
i might know somwone with one of these and if it is its rusting away there was also another on around that had the gt back grill and it was 4 sale for around 5-6 grand a few years back but i still see it driving around will find out for you
Of course you do. We are all eagerly waiting to find out more details on these two cars. Incidentally, I think a few people are still waiting for you to give up the details of your supplier for the V6 axle bolts....
Quote from: Sheldon McIntosh on January 29, 2011, 01:41:43 PM
And sud 1.2 gearbox...
Dehne, don't pay any attention to Sheldon or Dr. Jekyll's Mr Hyde, you go forth. I have faith in you !!!
Quote from: Cool Jesus on January 29, 2011, 03:22:16 PM
Dehne, don't pay any attention to Sheldon or Dr. Jekyll's Mr Hyde, you go forth. I have faith in you !!!
Wow, you are new here aren't you?
Quote from: Sheldon McIntosh on January 29, 2011, 03:30:03 PM
Quote from: Cool Jesus on January 29, 2011, 03:22:16 PM
Dehne, don't pay any attention to Sheldon or Dr. Jekyll's Mr Hyde, you go forth. I have faith in you !!!
Wow, you are new here aren't you?
Sheldon, dude, don't burst my bubble just yet!
sorry mate they are both plain GT's as for the axel bolts they are still trying to find a supplier and the 1.2 sud gearbox cant say i remember anything about that one
Quote from: dehne on January 29, 2011, 05:13:29 PM
sorry mate they are both plain GT's as for the axel bolts they are still trying to find a supplier and the 1.2 sud gearbox cant say i remember anything about that one
Let me help you out here...
Quote from: dehne on December 11, 2010, 12:28:23 PM
i will be one in bendigo a guy i know has nearly ever sud ever made he will have one
Taken from this thread: http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=6167.0 (http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=6167.0)
Hey guys, if one thing can be learnt out of all of this is that there is always someone out there with the good oil on a topic of conversation. So thanks Anthony for providing a little clarity and confirmation to what is generally understood re this specific model. As I indicated I recalled Vin had previously, passed comment on this matter. So I guess the knowledge has been shared.
Now as to the banter between the guys, Cool Jesus, mate you havnt seen the half of it ;D ;D.
David, yeah I know its all in good fun. Its been quite entertaining to see the next response.
Its the first time I've ever had anything to do with a forum and I'm pretty chuffed over the response I've had. I've already purchase a 78 Alfetta GTV from an AROCA member - '116gtv', at a very reasonable price too. I grabbed it as a parts donor, to which 116gtv's jaw dropped in horror when I told him. If my hunt doesn't prove fruitful over the next 12 moths or so, (finishing my last year at Uni), I'll pimp up the GTV for the oldies which I'm sure they'd appreciate just as much for a daily driver. I thougn I had a winner this weekend though. I was about to head up to Murwullimbah for a rusting wreck of a 76 GT which failed to sell on Ebay. It had all the right indications of a possible GTAm, even the same rims as my in laws had, however at the last minute the young bloke that owned it finally got back to me with a photo of the compliance plate for normal GT. It just wasn't worth the 11+ hrs north to pick up something I could find closer to home. I also have to chase these, as many owners don't realise the difference and still call them a GT.
Anyhow, Dehne made no mention of the car he was checking out for me, so I'll assume that line of enquiry is still ongoing. No doubt, I'll see more responses on this thread over time along with other lines of enquiries I have running aswell.
I purchased a sad case of a GTAM in QLD back in 94 & sold it a few years later, purchased from a chap near Noosa and nobody could get the spica working so I replaced them with carbs & insured the injection system was boxed and went with the next owner, car was red and had some non original bull bar on it. In the end it was a case of too many projects and the new owner promised to do the car justice. I know one chap just out of sydney that can sort spica injection perfectly and the parts are still available including the thermo actuators. The car was standard apart from the injection and the GTAM plate, the tortion bars, rear spring etc looked to be standard.
Personally, a well sorted alfetta coupe would be a better bet, cheaper and go harder.
Quote from: 75TS on February 04, 2011, 01:48:46 PM
The car was standard apart from the injection and the GTAM plate, the tortion bars, rear spring etc looked to be standard.
Personally, a well sorted alfetta coupe would be a better bet, cheaper and go harder.
75TS, I agree, that most if not all of this tipo 116 alfettas all look good and can be modified etc, etc... I'm after this rolling chassis as a sentimental item for my in laws due to our family history around the first family Alfa. The added beauty of the SPICA and the car's little querks is that the old man can keep himself occupied as he is a mechanic by trade. One of the querks he tells me of was the throttle linkages would bind occasionally and cause the engine to flood or stall. It was a matter of freeing them up each time it occured and the car was good to go. It occured once too many times in the bush when his daughter went for a trip in it and she found herself stuck somewhere in Jindabyne. The local mechanic had no idea and dad's instructions fell on deaf ears, so the car was towed back all the to Sydney, he did his little jiggle of the linkage and the motor came back to life. This was the year he sold the car and upgraded to a damn Honda???
Anyway, I'm hoping that if I can restore one of these models for him, it will get him out of having to do the shopping with the misses or conversely he'd want to go in the Alfetta.
If you have any details, I'd love to grab them from you, I'll PM you. Any info you have would be great.
Guys I've only just stumbled across this particular thread... Mr Sharp has just about nailed it except that the Evan Green car was an Autodelta Group 4 rally spec Alfetta GT built in 1975 (with Autodelta narrow valve engine) and not an Alfetta GTAm which were all built in 1976. The Green car went to Tony Edmondson and became his infamous sports sedan that he demolished at Surfers Paradise in 1979 I think.
My memories of road spec Alfetta GTAms. I recall a work friend looking at one in a Balmain car yard back around 1991. He didn't know much about Alfas (though he owned a 33) but I distinctly remember him saying it was a GTAm, I guess that was how it was advertised. I recall that there was one for sale at Castle Hill (Sydney) about 15 years ago. Also I know Tony McKone had a record of one on his club register – how did he know? Well it had a 116 11 chassis designation with an unusual (for Australia) engine number. I think Tony may have seen this car, but it didn't have the central fuel tank. I have also seen photos online of the sorry Brisbane car that a few have mentioned. Yes, its that red and white GTAm that was for sale a few years back – it had a GTAM Australian Compliance Plate, the first one I have ever seen.
As for the three GTAms that raced at Bathurst 1976, I believe the Beninca car was written off at Sandown in 1977, the Foley car was converted back to road spec put on the lot and then sold to an unsuspecting buyer and the Autodelta car is in Sydney awaiting a return to Group C specifications.
I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to inspect the Autodelta car. It was built by Autodelta for Autodelta Australia and originally was fitted with a 16 valve Autodelta engine which was not legal for Group C. It returned to Italy and was fitted with a Spica injected Nord engine which it ran at Bathurst. In 1977 it was re-logged as a GTV so that it could run on Webers. Unique features of this car included:
Autodelta large capacity sump pan
Autodelta gearbox casing (not sure that it has its straight cut gear set, but it has a spare 5.1 final drive)
Ventilated rotors and Girling 4 piston calipers all round
Specially machined and cambered de-dion frame (to clear rear calipers)
Rose-jointed watts linkage
Adjustable rear anti-roll bar
Adjustable alloy torsion bar bridge (but missing the alloy front lower control arms)
Brackets for a centrally mounted fuel tank (not in car)
This car has a 116 11 chassis designation so it is a real GT but there is no Compliance Plate – why would there be? This car was destined for track use only. I presume though that it would have been included as part of the 25 GTAms required for Group C homologation.
It is possible that the same applies to the Wherrett Pye sponsored Alfetta GT that was supposed to be entered for Bathurst 1976. This car already had illegal Group 2 flares and was turned into a sports sedan (still around in much modified form) and Wherrett reverted to the Autodelta built LHD 2000 GTV (105 Series) for Bathurst instead.
Holy SH1T, that car at the Balmain car yard would have been mum and dad's car! Paul, where's your work mate now, PM me pleeease....
Quote from: Cool Jesus on February 04, 2011, 03:22:49 PM
Holy SH1T, that car at the Balmain car yard would have been mum and dad's car! Paul, where's your work mate now, PM me pleeease....
Cool Jesus, my old work friend is about as elusive as those GTAms. ;)
I last saw him in about 1993 and then he vanished, probably to the Victorian countryside, as he always promised that he would... ::)
So close, yet so far..... :'(
Thanks for the info guys, even so all these little snippets of info are helpful and is exactly what I need to track this elusive chassis. Keep the intell coming in. :)
Indiana Jones, eat your heart out -The Lost Ark has been found...
Its amaizing how small this world is that we live in. Finally received a response from a number of letter drops I made to addresses that I could remember a red Alfetta sitting outside of. In my youth, I had mates living in the Castle Hill area and on occasions I'd see this little red GT outside an address. When I started my search, the GT was gone, and the front yard had been changed (hmm, new owners?). Anyhow I tried my luck with a letter and bless my sole, I've come up trumps.
As it turns out the car has been of the road since 2005 and in storage as a future project. Well the owner has a handfull of future projects and it just happened that the minister for home affairs and future projects was legislating a cull and his horde of goodies. Hence I received the call and I accepted his price.
As it turns out I think this is the bloke 'Paul Newby' was speaking of, and bless my sole I'm certain that this is mum and dad's old ride.
Here's a few teaser pics for you, however once I manage a successful Black Ops mission to get mum's old hpoto's I'll post them aswell.
I will also no doubt have many questions and posts during the restoration.
Thanks a bazillian for the input and posts.
more pics
last two pics for now
If it's any help, I test drove a red GTam which was for sale around 2002 in Surrey Hills Sydney. The guy selling the car was of chinese backgroud and he wanted @3k. From memory it was in good nick, considering it was parked outside his terrace house on the street.
John
Yes mate I have a vague recollection of that one now that you've mentioned it. I'll follwo this up too. Thanks
Cool Jesus if thats the car mate thats an unbelievable find.
Congrats as it looks like a solid basis for restoration. I love hearing about stories like this especially given the sentimental value
and rarity of this GTAm.
You never know your luck do you
Keeping posting photos new & old
Cheers
Pep
Great outcome and looks like it's still in pretty good nick as well - congratulations and well deserved. Now of course we all want to see how you go with the project!
Alister
The Evan Green Brut 33 rally car was not Grp. 4 but an Autodelta Grp. 2 car as I have a close association with the Autodelta mechanic's family that serviced the car while it was run in the South pacific rally series
Quote from: Cool Jesus on February 06, 2011, 04:02:26 PM
... I've come up trumps.
I love it when a plan comes together !!
Well done, can't wait to see how the resto goes !
Cheers,
That engine bay pic looks promising, John. Good luck with it mate.. ;)
If you need any help with the SPICA mechanical injection (which is pretty much a given), Wes Ingram is your man, he rebuilds them to perfection. They also have a SPICA manual available if you are brave enough!
http://www.wesingram.com/hp.htm (http://www.wesingram.com/hp.htm)
Quote from: GoldCLoverLeaf on February 14, 2011, 02:48:39 PM
If you need any help with the SPICA mechanical injection (which is pretty much a given), Wes Ingram is your man, he rebuilds them to perfection. They also have a SPICA manual available if you are brave enough!
http://www.wesingram.com/hp.htm (http://www.wesingram.com/hp.htm)
Thanks mate, already onto it. The previous owner had it rebuilt in 2002, however the plans I have for the engine will require some larger metering so unless there's a local solution Wes' shop will be getting his rebuild back again. I'm picking the car up in the next few days so I'll post a few more relevant photos which I ommitted to get in my excitement at finding the in-law's Alfa.
Mentioned earlier in the thread that I got the go ahead for this project due to a recent restoration of my daughters 2001 Ford KA. Here's what convinced the wife to let me do another
Seems my daughter's mario kart stands out like dogs balls. Had a fellow aflista wish me luck this morinign on the rebuild. Thanks amte, didn't quite catch your name or ride.
Anyhow, 9/10ths...Finally picked up the Alfetta today. Here's the compliance plate for prosperity.
I also had a quick look as it was getting dark. I read somewhere in one of the many forum threads during my search a discussion about where the fuel tank was located on these GT's. As the photo depicts its in the boot directly behind the rear seats.
I'll keep an eye on the thread, however I'll probably move on from here now that I've located the car. Shall post a relevant link for additional photos of the car during its glory days when I manage to covertly raid mum and dad's photos. I'll also add a link for the restoration in the appropriate forum.
Thanks again Alfisti, for all your input and discussions.
PS... I'm still interested in locating any further GTAm shells. SO let me know if you come across another one.
Hi 8)
That tank position is a result of the Pinto case. That's the one where Ford notoriously decided not to rectify an issue with the Pinto that allowed the rear mounted fuel tank to be punctured in a rear end collision as the cost of defending any resulting liabilty cases would be less than the cost of doing the rectification. It's why all cars now have fuel tanks ahead of the rear axle.
I'm pretty sure the US 75's (Milano's) also had the "gas" tank in the same place for the same reason.
Alister
For the forum members that have been watching this space I can now place my efforts into the restoration of Mum and Dad's Alfetta. Its been a very long year with Uni and family, as mentioned at the start of this thread the Alfetta was initially a gift for Mum from Dad back in the early 80's, as there was indications that Mum's heart would give in. Recently, we have been struck by Murphy again and Mum is returning to the operating table for a third round in February. The news was obviously ill received at home and although I have an optimistic outlook on life, there is the hint that Mum may not make it. It would have been my preference to present car as a finished restoration to them, instead on Christmas day we gave mum and dad a powerpoint presentation on what I have planned with a couple of photos. Needless to say, they were absolutely gob smacked.
So, if you'd like to keep tabs on the restoration here's the thread link:
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=8122.0 (http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=8122.0)
I'll also have plenty of questions for forum members throughout the build and hopefully I'll be able to start of some good discussions – as I'm also putting together a small book on the build for Dad to give him an idea of the work that went into it, along with a short historical chapter on Alfa and the birth of this 'Bathurst Special' Alfetta (have I gone too far in saying that).
I'd like to also have input from the forum during the build so I'll include polls on colours and trim decisions for the Alfetta.
Anyway, see you on the new thread. ;D