Category Archives: Bertone

1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV

Price aside, this could be an eBay listing from 2005, before the internet allowed for so much connection between the owners of cars from the fringes of the automotive landscape. Today, the parts for a GTV are widely available, the problems are documented very well, and the "right" modifications are accepted among those in the know. More people on the road might even recognize the make and model, largely due to the reintroduction of Alfa Romeo to North American shores.

We like the mystery of this one. How many miles since the engine rebuild? Which parts were used? Where were the synchros for the trans rebuild sourced? Were the floors the only rust items to address, or maybe the only items that the seller had the heart to dig into? With the automotive internet humming along, the answers to these questions would normally be offered by the seller. This listing harkens back to a time when I think people went out on a limb more when purchasing something like this.

Continue reading 1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV

1971 Lamborghini Espada Project

We don't have a problem with cars that aren't rare, so please don't take this the wrong way, but we think some perspective on rarity is helpful when approaching something such as this run-down Espada. We'll compare it to the Fiat 128, a car we never see on the road today.

Lamborghini produced around 1,200 Espadas over roughly ten years, working out to one car every three days. Fiat produced around 2.7 million 128 sedans and wagons in Italy over the course of around 16 years. That works out to roughly 14,000 cars every 3 days - more than entire model run of Espadas in the time it took to build a single Espada. I can't tell you the last time that I saw either car, but the odds are clearly stacked against the Espada.

Continue reading 1971 Lamborghini Espada Project

1972 Fiat 850 Spider

As automakers converge on the best solutions to powertrain packaging, some of the romanticism of automotive design and engineering is lost. To meet emissions requirements, automakers ship out so much of the same: downsized and turbocharged mills with high pressure direct injection and 48V mild hybrid setups.

In the 1960s, when the 850 series was designed, there was no known optimal powertrain packaging solution. Take a look under the rear decklid of the 850 Spider; a longitudinal 4-cylinder sits vertically behind the rear axles. Next to it is the radiator, whose fan is driven by a belt that also powers the remote water pump. Long header runners make their way to a muffler that is suspended from the engine block itself - no need for body mounting.

Continue reading 1972 Fiat 850 Spider

1975 Ferrari 308 GT4

We're following yesterday's high-mileage Ferrari 456 GT with a high-mileage Ferrari 308 GT4. To make it interesting, we've featured a 308 GT4 with even less collector appeal; this one has a 3.2L V8 from the later Ferrari 328 swapped in placed of its original 3.0L V8.

This is an interesting buy when compared to, say, a CIS-injected 16-valve 1981-1982 Ferrari 308 GTB with only 202 bhp. Styling is subjective - the GT4 is classic Gandini wedge, while the GTB is TV star cool. The nearly 70 hp advantage of this swapped 308 GT4 would be easy to sense by the seat of the pants, and we have to imagine that the acceleration would be startling for a car of this era.

Continue reading 1975 Ferrari 308 GT4

1972 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

We were fortunate enough to pass by a posse of Alfa Romeos on our daily school bus rides as children. 164s were the most common model in the Alfa Romeo repair shop parking lot, trailed by Spiders of all generations. Our favorite car on the lot was always a Giulia Berlina with a metal roof basket. And, we clearly remember reading the 2000 script on the GTV 2000s.

A 60s design that carried well into the 1970s until Alfa could no longer meet US low-speed impact bumper requirements, the GTV 2000 can be quickly distinguished from earlier models by a few major styling differences. Up front, the horizontal metal grille slats identify the car as a 2000 GTV. Large taillights distinguish it as a later model, as does the lack of step nose up front. Beyond that, you'd have to consult an Alfa expert, as we are sure that many smaller differences exist.

Continue reading 1972 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

1980 Fiat X1/9

We've ventured back into the Volkswagen 8V engine world recently. Making good power for cheap is very possible - if you're willing to sacrifice originality. Making good power on original style equipment is also possible - if you're willing to sacrifice unreasonable wads of cash.

The X1/9 and its 8V engine present a similar problem: do you keep it original and patiently tolerate the crossover SUVs tailgating you from very stoplight? Do you resort to an expensive, peaky engine build? What about a cheaper force-induction build? When you're done with either, you should be able to keep up with the 1.0L Ford fiestas at least. This isn't to say that a stock X1/9 wouldn't be enjoyable, but the environment on roads today does really require some urgent acceleration.

Continue reading 1980 Fiat X1/9

1967 Fiat Dino Coupe

The Titanic ship wreck lies 2.5 miles below the sea some 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. Even with modern ship recovery equipment, it strikes us as highly improbable that any party would find the financial justification to recover that rusty hunk of iron from the ocean floor.

Some of us are ok with the ship's current location; for those who yearn to see it restored and on display, might we suggest this 1967 Fiat Dino? The body appears presentable at first glance, but once your eyes make their way along the rockers and the base of the windshield, the extensive rust lurking beneath the panels becomes apparent. It will take an optimist to make a financial case for this Dino Coupe.

Continue reading 1967 Fiat Dino Coupe

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale

Based on the photographs of this car, we could make a number of assumptions. One possibility is that the photos - incomplete and basically the same view but with the camera tilting with each photo - indicate an older seller, who likely bought the car new or when they were cheap. Looking at the Matta in the background, and considering how packed the garage is with Alfa parts, it's also possible that the seller is an enthusiast reluctant to sell, and has put forth the minimum viable effort to say that they have listed one of their many Alfas for sale.

In any case, the Sprint Speciale is an interesting offering on the Giulia chassis. The bodywork, inspired by the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concepts, was unique to the Sprint Speciale, distinguishing it from the Giuliettas in both appearance and aerodynamic efficiency. A drag coefficient of only 0.29 meant that the 116bhp Sprint Speciale could reach an impressive 125mph.

Continue reading 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale

1988 Alfa Romeo Milano with 67 GTV Body

"The best of both worlds," the seller states, referring to the combination of the torsion beam independent suspension front, DeDion axle rear transaxle chassis. We don't disagree, but we ourselves haven't chopped a GTV in half either.

We've seen a number of Alfetta GTVs - and the cooler Alfetta Sport Sedans - with Milano Verde 3.0L Busso V6 swaps. Those always seemed wild to us, merging the era of the early transaxle cars with the later V6 offering. Today's Milano skips a few steps and decades in its combination of the seller's favorite Alfa Romeo offerings. A shower thought before, presently a reality.

Continue reading 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano with 67 GTV Body

1965 Alfa Romeo GTA 1600 Corsa

Recognize the wheels? GTA replicas have grown common on Giulia sedans and GTVs alike in the past decade or so. Mags in the true sense, they are constructed from a magnesium alloy on the true GTA, an exercise in lightweighting.

A stands for Alleggerita - lightweight in Italian - in the GTA. In the effort to reduce mass, traditional steel body panels are swapped out for aluminum outer body panels, which are then bonded and riveted to the inner steel panels. Windows are made from plastic, and the interior benefits from lighter trim. Under the hood, the aluminum power plant is fitted with magnesium alloy in the cam cover, timing cover, and transmission bell housing.

Continue reading 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA 1600 Corsa