Sold Alfa Romeo GTV - bare metal restoration, perfect!

Hello Ferrarichat -

I'm selling my 1973 Alfa GTV which I personally restored over the course of a decade, sparing no expense or time (obviously on the time). I took her to bare metal, made significant repairs then had her painted in Bluette a rare and beautiful Alfa shade, using Glasurit. The rest of the car received the same attention including the original SPICA MFI pump which was rebuilt by Wes Ingram. She starts first try after sitting and pulls hard through redline.

I've been meaning to post this ad for some time and keep not getting to it so resolved to post it in short form and invite those interested to be in touch. I am quite sure she is among the very best of the breed. Haggerty has a #3 at $93k which I think is a bit steep. I have always tried to sell cars at a well-bough-well-sold price for an easy transaction for all involved and so my price is $75k. Located in Guilford CT, happy to assist with any sort of transport and speak by phone, facetime etc to provide you the information you need. I have gigs upon gigs of photos, receipts, spares and more etc.

best
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Thanks guys! I'll take a full suite soon - pulling from my files of phone-pics...

You can see that I (reversibly) back-dated the interior to the much more attractive 1750/Junior style. The day time picture shows how much Bluette varies. I really love it, such a complex shade. Wheels are Classic Alfa TZ style in as-cast finish, with a protective matte clearcoat, brass nuts. Front end is Euro style with indicators incorporated into the body. License plate and rear bumper lights are also European style.

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Someone looked at the pictures without reading the text

 

Hi all - I took the time to write a better description

1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 AR3021967

Summary:

This car has been media blasted to bare metal, received extensive metal work and was then painted Alfa Romeo AR327 Bluette using all Glassurit products. She has been reassembled using all new seals, the doors, windows, trunk and hood work as intended. Every mechanical and electrical part has been replaced or reconditioned, many with significant upgrades. The interior has been reversibly ‘back dated’ to 1750 S1 style. A set of ‘Flying Buttress’ seats and covers are included in the sale. No car is perfect, but this one comes close. She starts quickly even after sitting, there are no stories, no time or expense was spared. She drives beautifully and easily – you can toss the keys to anyone in your family and they’ll enjoy the ride (meanwhile, you’ll not fret.) I am very proud of this car.

The car comes with a significant pile of spare / original parts, manuals, factory documentation, records, photos of the restoration as well as several specialty custom tools I have manufactured or purchased for her upkeep. I’ve been part of the Alfa community for over a dozen years and will be here to help you with anything I can after the purchase. Selling is not an easy decision but I believe this car came out well because I focused on her, went slow and cut no corner. Now it’s time to do it all again!


Detailed Description


Body

The body was stripped bare and sent to a media blaster who specialize in older vehicles. After the horrors were revealed, many years of metalwork ensued, using a mix of custom fabricated parts, replacement panels from Classic Alfa and factory originals. The shell was then epoxy primed and sent for bodywork and painted with all materials being top of the line Glasurit two stage. The original formula for Alfa Romeo Bluette AR327 was matched by BASF to two-stage. In addition, the cavities have been fogged with Waxoyl 120, a non-hardening water displacer.

Following paint the car was reassembled with a mix of refinished and replacement brightwork. All new rubber seals were used, often several brands were tried to achieve the best possible fit of all moving parts.

Interior

Factory jute and asbestos sound deadening was removed and replaced with 3M bitumen sheet for vibration deadening and double foil faced foam for heat and sound deadening. Carpets were replaced throughout with Alfaholics supplied units, as were seat covers, door cards, and headliner. A pair of “Flying Butterss” seats and covers are included in the sale. The dash was back dated to 1750 style using a reproduction dash and original Veglia gauges. Various factory 2000 style interior parts are included in the sale.

Engine

The engine has been rebuilt down to the crank ‘and beyond’ meaning that the crank and block oil plugs have been removed and replaced to result in a very deep clean of all parts. Head and block were checked and decked, a valve job was performed including all new guides. Valve seals were used on the exhaust side, which were not included by the factory. The engine build follows a familiar ‘warmed up stock’ recipe that was selected for drivability, throttle response and fun. 10:1 “motronic” pistons and liners are used with Hastings rings. Camshafts from Richard Jameson RjR1504 intake RjR45 exhaust significantly wake the motor up. Every single bearing, seal and gasket in the engine was replaced, using premium products wherever they are available. The crank was given a light polish, all rotating parts including the clutch were balanced. Compression is over 200psi on all cylinders.

Headers have been Cerakoted and connect to an Imsa stock style exhaust with GTA “stinger” style rear muffler for slightly raspier than stock sound.

Fuel

SPICA mechanical fuel injection has been retained and comprehensively tuned. The pump and thermostatic actuator have been rebuilt by Wes Ingram. All aspects of the SPICA system are working including the cold start solenoid and fuel cutoff. The fuel injectors themselves have been completely overhauled by a specialist. The throttle bodies have been rebuilt with new bushings and seals. A new electric fuel pump is installed and the factory gas tank was stripped and coated. Its neck was shortened to allow a modern fuel pump to correctly seat and auto-stop. This modification is

invisible. The fuel sender was replaced. Every fuel hard line and hose has been replaced, using Gates Barricade E85 rated. The factory oil vapor separator has been replaced with an identical looking stainless steel unit. The car has been tuned on a dyno and with a wideband O2 sensor which is included with the sale.

Ignition

A Bluetooth 123 distributor and 1-amp coil replace the factory points. This has proven extremely reliable and allowed the plugs to be opened up for excellent starting and strong pulls to redline. The distributor also provides a rev limiter, currently set to 6k rpm. The advance curve was tuned on a Mustang Dyno. Plug wires, plugs, cap and rotor are all very low mile.

Cooling

A replacement factory style radiator, water pump, hoses, overflow tank, thermostat along with an invisible front mounted SPAL electric fan keep this car running like a modern Honda in all weather conditions. The summary here is there is nothing to think about. She does not have old car quirks, you don’t have to fear summer traffic or perpetually check the radiator. If you want to add power there is plenty of cooling capacity to handle it. See more on the fan in the electric category.

Transmission & Clutch

The transmission has been opened and rebuilt where wear was noted, including several synchros and one selector rod. A common first gear modification was made allowing one to shift from 2nd to 1st in a modern fashion. It is now filled with redline lubricant and shifts perfectly with no stories, even 1-2 shifts can be made quickly without balking or noise.

The clutch master, reservoir, slave, disc and pressure plate have all been replaced. The hard line was replaced and the hose was replaced with braided stainless. The clutch operates very easily, holds power with no slippage. I believe there may be a loose spring on the pressure plate that makes a rattle when the clutch is disengaged at idle. It does not affect performance.


Brakes

Brake calipers have been rebuilt and replated by PMB performance. Brake rotors are new as are Ferrodo pads and Pentosin fluid. The master cylinder is new. The non rebuildable factory bias valve has been replaced by a Wilwood adjustable bias valve. All brake hard lines have been replaced, in doing so several junctions have been eliminated, removing potential leak and air ingress locations. All hoses have been replaced with braided stainless. The car stops like a modern vehicle with great pedal feel.


Suspension, Steering & Running Gear

My aim for this car was to experience it as it would have been new, with slight tweaks. For that reason I kept tire size and suspension design close to stock. Every single suspension bushing has been replaced with stock-like rubber. Shocks are Koni Red classic, springs are European ride height stock. Sway bars are all stock with the exception of using a S4 spider style front which has vastly improved bushing connections. Some laugh at my stock ride heigh, I love how compliant yet sporty she is. Obviously you will make whichever changes you like as this is all bolt-on and the Alfa is a particularly easy car to alter on this regard.


After rebuilding two Burman steering boxes to find them cracked, I switched to a ZF box, which was also Alfa Romeo original equipment. This is entirely reversible. Having driven both, I see less daylight between the two than the internet would tell you there is. If you must have a Burman, I would only use the CNC billet replacements offered. All tie rods, ball joints, bushings have been replaced.


Wheels are Classic Alfa “TZ” style which I like more then the ubiquitous GTA replicas. They are in ‘as cast’ finish which I added a protective clearcoat to. With brass open lug nuts they look unique and fantastic. 185/65R-15 Sumitomo HTR A/S P02 have less than 2,500 miles on them.


Electrical

I have significantly improved the safety and performance of this car’s electrical system. A lightweight Odyssey battery was relocated to the rear (where it is on factory AC cars) and a main circuit breaker both protects the car and provides a convenient kill switch. An internally regulated alternator replaces the factory externally regulated unit.

A modern circuit protection system has been employed with revisions to the fusing arrangement for safety and reliability. A revised wiring diagram of my own creation is included in the sale. Relays have been added for the starter, fuel pump, high/low/fog lights, horn and electric fan. An invisible front-mounted SPAL fan replaces the mechanical fan and is controlled by a PWM (pulse-width-modulation) controller which manages the fan in a modern manner, avoiding loud on-off switching and amperage spikes. Every single connection on the car has been replaced with modern TE/Amp parts, protected with heat shrink. Duetsch or weatherpack connectors have been used to replace factory molex in most locations. LED bulbs have been used wherever possible, care has been taken to insure internal illumination does not look too “new” or white. Again, the result is a very modern, worry-free car whose illumination, reliability and performance are greatly improved from stock, while maintaining stock appearance.

 

This car was made for plying the shoreline... I can't put my hands on a picture of her on Leete's Island so you'll have to settle for one at the Guilford Marina

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Yes I need to take some good pictures soon. Better still - anyone interested can find me at Lime Rock historics this Saturday.

 

Close - an architect : )

Not a golfer but if you want to ride West Woods or Rte 146, I'll be there with my bike.

 

I used to go to the shows up by Fresh Market and they were fun, nice variety. I'm told Moroso is similar - let me know when the next one is and I'd be happy to come by if I'm in town. And yes always happy to chat about the industry. My firm is in Brooklyn but I'm trying to do more CT work, have a project in Westport at the moment.

 

Holler at me offline if you'd like to meet up and chat.

Separately: against my better judgement I'll add that I have always been a sucker for a 308GT4 or 208GT4 and would consider one as a trade.

 

Happy to hear it Pete, I’ll look for your beautiful silver Dino in the lot. I think I do my best work when I approach things one-at-a-time and the 912 will be home from paint inside a month so while I don’t, thankfully, need to sell it is my preference to have more space.

 

More photos: Interior

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More photos: Exterior. Different angles to capture how the Bluette paint reacts to direct light and shadow.

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More photos: engine

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