Alfa Giulietta Sprint Lightweight

Giuliettas are delightful - I have two.

This particular car was discussed here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/giulietta-giulia-1954-65/165222-unsold-lw-sprint.html and here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/giulietta-giulia-1954-65/138428-lightweight-sprint-veloce-fs-fantasy-junction.html

The particular advantages of a lightweight Sprint are not clear to me. In the Cal Mille any Giulietta will do, whereas for the original Mille I suspect that the edge for acceptance over a non-lightweight would be rather thin. For about the same money an etceterini like the gorgeous Siata 308 in Hemmings would almost certainly have a better chance (although 750cc over 1000m is definitely not for me). Also, interiors of the non-lightweight Giuliettas have a charm that is lost here.

Don

 

I LOVE everything about that example! Acquire it at a valuation that you feel is 'fair' and away you go!

 

Great cars, lots of race history. IMO Fantasy Junction is rock solid to work with.

 

It's a nice car with good history, but the market has clearly spoken and the price is too high. It has been for sale for quite a while, and it only bid up to about half the asking price on Ebay. My guess is the car would sell fairly quickly at $80-100k, but at 139 they are going to wait quite a long time for that one guy that wants to have it regardless of price. I have 4 veloce spiders (three 750s and one Giulia), along with a '69 GTV and several other cars, all Italian except my ML55 tow beast and a Caterham R500.

 

This particular car was discussed here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/giul...lw-sprint.html and here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/giul...-junction.html



As someone else pointed out, the threads cited, and this one, confuse two cars, similar in color; the latter alfabb thread seems devoted to the "Netherlands" car.

 

Very few cars are moving, thats the market. I think it's priced right, it's just that there are too few buyers. This car falls into a funny area,TZ's go for big money and have big buyers. 750/101 series cars often have frugal owners, point being even in best times you would have to find "the right" buyer for this car.

 

The latter AlfaBB thread does talk about several different lightweights, but both AlfaBB threads and this one refer to 04447. It was sold once previously by FJ.

 

"The latter AlfaBB thread does talk about several different lightweights, but both AlfaBB threads and this one refer to 04447. It was sold once previously by FJ."


Hi, I am the owner of 04447, which I've had on consignment with FJ since last August, and am just trying to understand what is being said.

The first Alfa BB thread clearly discusses 04447, but includes (post 4) this incorrect statement:

I did some due diligence and notice comments on the BB disecting it pretty thoroughly all the way back to 2008. Sounds like the seller needs to address some issues to generate some bonafide offers. He started over $200,000 thinking the King of Sweden had some pull inspite of the Royal livery had not given the car it's full royal treatment.

I can't find the reference to 04447 in the second Alfa BB thread.

I've done a fair amount of business with FJ, and think very highly of them. We've had a number of offers for 04447, trades not cash. These are interesting times in the collector car business. I love the car, and if it doesn't sell in a few more months likely will resign myself to having to enjoy it!

Thanks, Will

 

The AlfaBB threads do seem to confuse different cars. The FJ website suggests that within recent years they have handled two blue Sprint lightweights: your 04447 (http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/386-Alfa%20Romeo-Lightweight%20Giulietta%20Sprint%20by%20Bertone-DOHC%204%20Cyl) and 04067, the 'Crown Prince of Sweden' (not Netherlands) car (http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/712-Alfa%20Romeo-Giulietta%20Sprint%20Veloce%20Lighweight-1400cc%20DOHC%20Inline%204-Cyl). It's clear that the latter thread is primarily about 04067, but there can't be much doubt that post #31 refers to 04447. As you observe, post #4 in the first thread is clearly confused - unless you are the King of Sweden, but I think his name is Carl Gustaf.

Good luck with the sale.

Don

 

There's no question that the market is soft. However, the reality is that 750/101 cars are selling extremely well at unheard of prices, I believe Bill G. just sold a decent original Giulia Normale spider for mid 40s. Cars priced well sell in a reasonable time. I wish the owner all the best and I love the car- I still think it is priced high in TODAY's market (perhaps not yesterday's or even tomorrow's). Otherwise, I or another Alfa nutcase would have bought it long ago.

 

"unless you are the King of Sweden"


In exile, for the moment. Thanks for your reply. I actually very much appreciate comments about the correctness/history of any car I own, I have much to learn.

I appreciate the comments on pricing, too; I have never found much use, when selling, in complaining about the state of markets. If the car were a bargain at its current ask, it would have sold long ago! "Asking" is just asking after all; if you're interested, please call FJ and make an offer for what you think the car is worth. Bruce and Spencer Trenery can very quickly tell you whether there's a deal to be done.

If I don't sell the car, I plan to vintage race it.

 

Compared with markets for other goods/investments, collector cars have held up remarkably well. But buyers are looking carefully at quality and usability. And with the falling euro and worsening crisis in Europe, the US dollar values of European collector cars are quite likely to decline in the near term.

It seems that Giuliettas are gradually moving out of "frugal owner" class. They make British iron look agricultural, and they're terrific for regular use even for those who have a few Ferraris in the garage. Good 750/101 cars really are moving well in the market, perhaps along with the upswing in Abarths, etc.

This brings me back to the question implicit at the start of this thread - what's the right premium for a lightweight ?

There are huge premiums for Zagato cars despite their intrinsic mechanical similarity, but that's typical of other Italian marques. But if a lightweight doesn't really give much of an edge in Mille acceptance, how much more valuable should it be than a regular Bertone sprint veloce ?

My questions aren't directed at 04447, but as a buyer of Giuliettas I'm wondering what others think. These cars really haven't seen the verdict of the marketplace at auction.

 

Appreciate your gracious perspective. Threads that start by reference to any specific car can turn nasty fast. As JMN remarked, it's a delightful car. Best wishes with it.

 

Updating this old thread, my car (04447) has been sold, and I believe the new owner is a real driver. I expect the car will be seen at rallies in the US.

 

Congratz!