Howdy all.
Some of you may have seen the GTV6 that I found layed up for many years. Well foe the past 8 or more years Ive been on the lookout for an Alfetta sedan. Back in the day I built up a silver 74 sedan, it was a ripper but sadly the passage of time and some careless owners toom its toll and it now sits in my shed awaiting decent rust repairs. So with peices the way they have been on sedans I chose to look for another car in better condition.
The car would have to be a 1974 first half of the year. These cars were in my view, the most attractive with their narrow heart grills and black gauges etc. Being the first half of the year meant they also got weber carbs instead of the later delorto's. I also wanted full history, single owner and completwlty stock....oh...and rust free please..! Ha! One unicorn please sir.
Well patience paid off. I looked at many over the years but all fell down on one or more of the criteria. Id kind of given up, but one day I was chatting with a mate who is in the fiat circles. We talked about the cars we have the ones we wanted as usual...I meantion my on and off hunt for a sedan. He casually says "oh yeah, a mate of mine is selling a sedan foe someone...a ..'74"...Bull I say...must be a later model...surely not.
It must have been fate. A few photos were exchanged and over a couple of months a trip from wa to vic was organised. I roped in a mate from tas and from nsw and together we embarked on a great road trip to a little country farm where the car awaited in the same spot it had for many years under a thick layer of dust. A 4th month 1974 alfetta sedan, 1 owner, techically 2 if you count the last owners dad. 75000 original miles, rust free bar the 2 rear doors. Paint crazed with some signs of minor repair around the rear screen.
It was really surreal. The mate of the mate was a top bloke and drove us out there. Dave who will chime in on here, and is the best mate a bloke could have drove his car and car trailor from Pambulah to country Vic for the rendevue.
So in short the car jas turned out to be a ripper. It started up after some cranking and settled in to the smoothest Idle I have ever witnessed on an Alfetta..and Ive had a few!
Cutting to the chase, the car was taken to Daves magical cave where all good alfettas go to have life breathed back into them...and the odd fiat! This thread will detail the process of putting this sedan back to its former glory.
What a find! Looking forward to updates.
And a spare 😁
Inspection time before ordering the parts list. Looking like the job list will not bw as long as expected. Will rebuild brakes and replaces all hydraulic cylinders given the time left sitting. Although will check that they have not been steel sleeved..could be lucky, previous owner was clearly very handy as a fitter and turner.
Underbody exceptionally sound. Funky old school koni on the rear with helper spring. Not seen those in a while.
Plan is that my mate Dave will do the basic mechanicals and then we will drive the car to vic and rendevue with another mate to tow it back to WA. In WA I will address panel and paint. Not sure how far to go in this space. I appreciate patina, but will be on the lookout for two perfect rear doors, so if anyone has a pair, contact me pretty please. Paint wise, boot bonnet and roof are a must. Front right fender hard a little patch job that needs omproving on, rear windscreen rear lower left has some bog and front windscreen is series 2 screen so am on the lookout for a s1 sceeen...again, Im your nee best friend if you have the glue in type! I jave one on the blue donor but of course I have to successfuly remove it and then polish out imperfections...rather a new screen.
Great story! Nice car! Following with lots of interest...
helper spring Koni's
should clean up nice!
i have to agree with mike the 74 alfetta was the best looking the dash the steering wheel the smell the little grill
it was bertones best
i would love one again
how clean is that car
is it rude to ask how much or do we not ask these questions
In reference to previous comment regarding Webers, I dont think the sedan got webers after mid 1974 in aus. ADRs came in in 76 relating...and interestingly not adopted across Australia at same time. Of course car manufacturers were forced to comply to ensure cara could be sold in all states.
Price I prefer to keep to myself but it was not cheap sgall we say, nor was I looking to low ball. Honest money for honest car with great history.
Dave has been hard at work removing grime inside and out.
still inlove cant beleive the dash is in such good nick
other than the seat it looks 5 years old at best
Box of goodies arrived in the post this week.
This weekends job is to pull all the callipers and overhaul with new seals.
Brake hoses and master cylinder will be replaced
Will be pulling radiator and giving cooling system a good flush.
replacement set of driveshafts ready to go in as well.
Then I will see what I can do with drivers seat, have another good passenger seat. hoping there is a way to change base over to driver seat some how.
Dave prepares for dedion over haul. The boots on the rear cvs are shagged. We are starting to toy with the idea of taking her to auto Italia in Canberra next year. Something to aim for! And then perhaps a short trip across the Nulabour 😎
The Alfetta looks incredible. Congrats.
Love those rear view mirrors! What a find! Many years of enjoyment ahead.
Regards David
Hi Mike
Hope you can make it to Auto Italia 2018 and maybe worth considering attending Alfesta 2018 which is being hosted by AROCA NSW Easter weekend 2018. I have been to the last 3 x Auto Italias and have been incredible events (refer to National Events for photos specifically Marisa Gangemi)
cheers
bonno
We will see how things pan out but definitely keen to get to Canberra with Dave
Progress continues. We have decided we will bring Ruby to Canberra for April. Dave has been plugging away when time permits with his usual high standard and attention to detail. Dinner will be able to bw eaten off her! So far it seems that the car is remarcably rust free in all the important places, a credit to the previous ow er who has evidently gone the extra mile to protect Ruby.
I super excited about this build. Will be fantastic to get another early series 1back on the road. A rare but welcome sight these days.
A fee more pics. Lots of spit and polish.
Sorry all for the lack of updates.
Been a crazy few months
She has thrown up a few challenges but we got there in the end.
Off for Blue Slip inspection
Quote from: Fetta GTV on April 05, 2018, 12:35:54 PM
Sorry all for the lack of updates.
Been a crazy few months
She has thrown up a few challenges but we got there in the end.
Off for Blue Slip inspection
It looks the same...
Kidding! Dave has worked like a slave on Ruby. She is now ready for Auto Italia followed by a jaunt through the mountainson dokwn to Melb..across to Tas and down the east coast taking in brilliant roads such as Elephant pass. An epic road trip befitting of a lovely one owner car, and the sweetest of the series.
For those that dont know Dave, when he cleans a car it involve tooth brushes amoungst other tools...every nook and cranny gets a going over!
The objective of this restoration has been to return Ruby to her former glory without losing the pantina of time. We feel the seats warrant recovering in tan and there are a couple of repairs I would like to correct on the panel work in due course, without going over the top.
She will then spend her days in Tas soaking up as many of the fine roads as possible.
Let the adventure begin Dave!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180405/2c6d5649cc79adcb72245d52a9bbe5ec.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180405/5e30361841f59debfc363436fd59f0e4.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180405/15b4d0bf08a5ced6d5c06d687376c4a0.jpg)
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Hi Guys
Ruby looks fantastic and the planned road trip down to Tassie should be a joy. I hope to catch up at Auto Italia and maybe exchange some of the highlights of my recent road trip to Tassie.
cheers
bonno
Quote from: Mike on April 05, 2018, 07:10:43 PM
The objective of this restoration has been to return Ruby to her former glory without losing the pantina of time. We feel the seats warrant recovering in tan and there are a couple of repairs I would like to correct on the panel work in due course, without going over the top.
She will then spend her days in Tas soaking up as many of the fine roads as possible.
What I'm liking is that your philosophy is similar to mine. I can't bring a pile of rust back to concours condition (I know many here can). What's within my capabilities is to take something dilapidated and without recreating every panel bring it back to something that looks and feels maybe 5-10 years old with everything functioning and no damage. I wish I'd been able to buy that green Alfetta sold in Adelaide a couple of years ago.
Pambulah-Canberra-Pambulah-Victoria-Tasmania
Some adventure pics.
Picture tells a thousand words..but...my feet are too big for a Sprint, totally not lost, Auto Italia..sole series 1 sedan, Chance encounter with Lancias in Snowy mountsin national park, A tad dusty..and loving it!
Get out there and love your beast ;-)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/7248baca7d2932af149b1d54150db000.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/05c2be588452187872c0d60e1d8ddc9d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/f73b98501be4101aedcc5e21c7e085f9.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/630804d00af1c5dc061ee4815d66d122.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/7d871a68344fdc03a68592d2f7ee78a4.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/e27103731228289fca351566ef047558.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/8f31eeaad2525e05fce9d8ed28f33fff.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/3586399fb5ef9e8650ed8a2e4da5f6b1.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/31498b5b86a17f52a3bcea546af695cc.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/9f6bd49ed0a100ebc1ccb51818d6a261.jpg)
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Onto Tas...simply stunning scenery and roads. Targa stages a bonus! Only repair required afyer 1700 enthusiastic kms was the exhaust..got a tad thin!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/a62997232dfd55e844a0a9d55e78f79e.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/9d83779b97b793d3db474d5652c38960.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/73c3e76c559ee6ed845447fd480c134c.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/ea12a48bf4b789e3c0a77f406511a37d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/0e5cef1bc0d7b8cb4e8c384016297b5f.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/5150934a7269513982e2193fcc46ed8e.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/f421f1eccca037320987c0d34a421490.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/e06c813a305a6c73ce61e3264d023bc0.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/fb706f6c74e9295d5ce9f8ce25995c01.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180430/43ca0e643314f0024248c8d2a0a1f480.jpg)
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So great to see it being used.
Nice Mike, I really must get the GTV to Tassie one day.
Elephant Pass - worth putting the car on the Ferry just for that peice of road alone! When its quiet....very quiet you can hear a tuned car 5 minutes away!
Elephant pass truelly is spectacular. Actually Brown mountain in NSW was equaly awesome.
Drive on!
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Ps Im shipping in some sedan s1 windscreens. Anyone want one? Cheaper if we bring a few ..offset the 1000 shipping....
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Quote from: Fetta GTV on September 08, 2017, 11:12:33 AM
helper spring Koni's
I had a 1980 116 Giulietta with these red Koni's with over rider springs on it. Definitely the most comfortable and best riding 116 series alfa out of the 6 I have owned
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I maybe interested
Quote from: Mike on May 03, 2018, 11:28:28 PM
Ps Im shipping in some sedan s1 windscreens. Anyone want one? Cheaper if we bring a few ..offset the 1000 shipping....
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What a find! We have a 1972 sedan, probably one of the first in Australia. What year did they go to bigger heart?
Either late 1974 or early1975. My Alfetta sedan was first registered 11/ 75. It was a big grill. I bet Aggie 57 will know the exact date.
Quote from: Paul Gulliver on June 13, 2018, 05:36:34 PM
Either late 1974 or early1975. My Alfetta sedan was first registered 11/ 75. It was a big grill. I bet Aggie 57 will know the exact date.
Mid-75 I think Paul, I'd be more specific but most of my books are in storage. The 1.6 was released at around the same time and it kept the smaller heart until the 2000 was released, when it had a hand-me-down facelift of the Alfetta 1.8 body. But with the 2000 doors (flush door handles, no quarter vents).
Harry Smith, a founding, and life member of AROCA NSW, had what I was told was the first Alfetta sedan registered in NSW, if not Oz. It was light metallic green and two of our long time members, Ron and Margaret Lighton had it in my early days of AROCA, in the very early nineties. Ron and Margaret moved away from Sydney in the early 90s.
My understanding is that it was a June 1974 model? Others may be able to clarify/ expand on this.
Cheers
John
Yes, 1974 was first year for Alfetta sedan. Narrow heart was until 76. I had a 76 sedan with wide heart. First half of 74 had some differences from second half 74 but were minor and narrow heart remained. Did aus get the 1600? I saw a copper coloured one but it was a SA import early in its life from memory.
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Quote from: Mike on June 17, 2018, 09:34:14 PM
Yes, 1974 was first year for Alfetta sedan. Narrow heart was until 76. I had a 76 sedan with wide heart. First half of 74 had some differences from second half 74 but were minor and narrow heart remained. Did aus get the 1600? I saw a copper coloured one but it was a SA import early in its life from memory.
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The first Alfettas in Australia were 06/74 Compliance and I think the second batch were 12/74, which were more numerous, given that the car was launched in late 1974. I'm not sure there were any differences between the two – some had Webers and other Solex carburettors.
My series 1 Alfetta (now owned by Tony Wise) is actually 6/75 Compliance. It differs from the early Alfettas in having Dellorto carburettors, black and not silver ventilation controls, no interior light above the back screen, a plastic steering wheel and a 1.8 badge on the boot.
I recall many years ago that Alfa guru Tony McKone said my car shouldn't have had a 1.8 badge but it was original. I figured that by 1975 the 1.6 had been introduced and this was another way of differentiating them. I've never seen another 75 built "early" Alfetta.
The Series 2 Alfetta 1.8 launched in November 1975 with the big grille had the detuned "X" prefixed engine with 105 20 camshafts and 118 bhp (not 122bhp 105 48 "S" engine), blue instruments with km only speedo and the other changes as per my 1975 Alfetta.
Btw, we never got the Alfetta 1.6 in Australia.
Paul - there was a short period after the 1.6 was released where the 1.8 continued with the small grille but with a 1.8 badge. Alfa must have had their reasons I guess. The RHD '76 1.6 I owned in the UK had the plastic steering wheel and navy cloth interior. It was piper yellow.