Monthly Archives: October 2018

Maserati

1994 Maserati Ghibli

If the Maserati Biturbo represents Alejandro de Tomaso's effort to breathe new life into the Maserati brand, then  the Tipo AM336 Ghibli represents Fiat's attempt to breathe new life into the Biturbo.  None other than Marcello Gandini was contracted to update the exterior design while maintaining most of the core Biturbo dimensions.  The result, while awkward in basic proportions, has a great early-90s sporting look to it; we especially like the boxed fender flares, like on yesterday's Lancia Delta HPE, and the projector beam headlights.

Those who have explored the Ghibli in the form of internet videos will probably agree with us when we say that you can really hear these things breathe.  It's not due to a lack of power - 284hp from the 90 degree 24V V6 was more than adequate - but rather, due to the engine recipe, so to speak.  With four valves per cylinder and a significantly oversquare power cylinder comprising a 91.6mm bore and 63mm stroke, not to mention turbocharged aspiration and a wide-open 90 degree V-angle for even better port flow, the Ghibli was designed to breathe.

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Year: 1994
Model: Maserati
Engine: 2.8L V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 75,187 mi
Price: 22,900 CAD

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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1994 Maserati Ghibli

Named after a wind just like the rest of the Maseratis, the Ghibli debuted at the 1966 Turin Motor Show. Due to the limited resources, it shared its tubular frame with the Quattroporte sedan and the Mexico grand tourer. The body was the work of Ghia’s new chief designer, Giorgio Giugiaro.

1994 Maserati Ghibli. The exterior is Burgundy with a Tan leather interior. 5 Speed manual transmission. 121,003 km. RWD. V-6 engine. Options include power windows, power mirrors, power seats, air conditioning and CD player.

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With mileage exceeding 75,000 miles, we would have to imagine that this Ghibli has managed to keep itself on the road more often than not.  We wouldn't expect parts to be as simple to source as Alfa Romeo parts are in North America, but European enthusiasm for these cars is solid, so we're optimistic.  The trim is all present on this one, so other than some routine maintenance and the occasional unexpected part failure, the future owner of this car shouldn't need to source many parts to begin with.

Forgive our enthusiasm, but we ourselves are highly tempted by this Ghibli.  It's no collector car, so mileage isn't a concern.  And, in this case, the mileage is a source of encouragement anyway.  The color combination is very fitting, the aftermarket wheels work well, and the overall condition is quite presentable.  Is the Ghibli update enough to squash the complaints that many have about the Biturbo?  On paper, it would seem so.

-Graham

Fiat

CICFS Classifieds: 1956 Fiat 1100 Viotti Fuoriserie

Interested in listing your car on the CICFS front page as a classified?  Email us at graham@blythbros.com.

Today's CICFS Classified listing comes to use from Sponsored Seller Automobile Tricolore.

This 1957 Giardinetta Viotti “Sleeping” is basically a smaller, Italian equivalent of the Chevy Nomad two door station wagon format.
When new, the model had quite successful sales among baby-boomers, as it was the ideal car for the big families.  However, it was not a cheap car; it had few refinement which set this car on a higher level than the stock Fiat 1100 on which it is based.

The car was totally restored, starting with extreme attention to detail on the metalwork as well as paint.  The interior was restored, overhauling the mechanical bits while maintaining the original style.
Ample photographs document the entirety of the work.

For more information, please find the contact information for Mr. Bonanomi below:

Edoardo Bonanomi
Automobile Tricolore SPL
Via Brescia 123, Isorella (BS)
+39 030 995 2225 - +39 339 8556884
info@automobiletricolore.it

Year: 1956
Model: Fiat
Engine: 1100cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  N/A
Price: € 54.900,00

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1956 Fiat 1100 VIOTTI FUORISERIE

RARISSIMO MODELLO FUORISERIE, CARROZZATO VIOTTI.

AUTO PRODOTTA A MANO.

POCHISSIMI ESEMPLARI PRODOTTI.

STORIA CONOSCIUTA.

AUTO TOTALMENTE RESTAURATA ( RESTAURO DOCUMENTATO ).

AUTO ELEGGIBILE PER NUMEROSI CONCORSI DI ELEGANZA.

AUTO DA ALTA COLLEZIONE.

VISIBILE PRESSO LA NOSTRA SEDE.

ULTRA RARE ” FUORISERIE” COACHWORK BY VIOTTI.

CAR BUILT BY HAND.

VERY FEW CAR PRODUCED.

CLEAR HISTORY.

CAR TOTALLY RESTORED (DOCUMENTED).

CAR ELIGIBLE FOR MANY ELEGANCE COMPETITIONS.

CAR IN OUR SHOWROOM.

-Graham

Lancia

1998 Lancia Delta HPE

1 Comment

Hold on.  This is not what comes to mind to North American (scum) when the Lancia Delta comes up.  No, that would would be the 6-time Group A WRC winner, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale.  What we have here is an Alfa-engined Fiat masquerading as a Lancia.  Is that such a bad thing?  We would venture to say no.

The aforementioned Alfa Romeo engine, clearly designated by its Powered by Alfa Romeo script, is the 1800 V.V.T model.  Despite its insistence, the engine displaces 1747cc, and would round down to 1.7L.   We consider an Alfa Romeo mill to be an upgrade to any marque, short of, say, Ferrari.

Design comes courtesy of Ercola Spada, whose abbreviated name, E. Spada, has extra meaning to Lamborghini fans.  E. Spada also penned the 155, although the 145 and the 146 would have been the Alfa Romeo platform contemporaries to the Delta.  The design is nuanced, to be sure, but is reasonably rewarding to take in, especially in the outspoken yellow of this example.

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Year: 1998
Model: Lancia
Engine: 1.7L 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  32,045 mi
Price: Auction

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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1998 Lancia Delta HPE

Because of a fraudulent buyer , i relist for sell my Lancia Delta HPE , Made by Alfa Romeo , LOW MILAGE ( 32045 Miles )

Please i accept  only **** CERTIFIED BANK CHECK ****

One owner

All original without modification
AMAZING CONDITION FOR A 20 YEAR OLD CAR ,
YOU CAN COMPARED TO A 2018 CAR .
Original paint ** YES , ALL ORIGINAT PAINT ** NO RUST ** SHOW CAR

Leather seat with Alcantara

Accident free
Rust free
4 New tires ( 0 Miles )
New batterie ( 0 Miles )
VIN  (   ZLA83600003047520  )
Drove like a  new car , without rattel .
Always parked inside ,
Sell with ** Clear New York ** Title
Very well maintained
Interior and exterior 10 / 10
4 Original Lancia Mag wheel as new
Engine and Transmission 10 / 10 , ( DRY ) ( NO OIL LEAK ) ** ANY **
Legaly imported by Fiat Auto SPA with all epa form , SELL WITH** CLEAN NEW YORK TITLE  ***
**** Y E S        W I T H          C L E A N     N EW      Y O R K     T I T L E  ******
The one and only piece not original is the **RADIO **, as i see it's not sheep quality , but not signed or badged by Lancia .
Inside the car is almost new , ,,, brake , suspension , etc ,,, almost new
Car is stored inside , will release it after full payment by (B A N K    C H E C K   O N L Y), i have to wait bank confirmation before i release the car .
I can keep it inside the time you want ( for free )
I can help with shiping ,
If you have any question about the car , please let me know , i will answer with pleasure
FOR THE RESPECT OF ALL BIDDERS ,,, PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ABOUT THE BUY I T NOW PRICE ,,,
(((((  FRONT TOWING DOOR BEHIND RIGHT FOGLIGHT IS NOT MISSING , IT'S BLACK , NOT YELLOW  )))))
I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Thank you so much
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We have no idea where this auction will end up.  In the $8k-12k range, this is an attractive option for the North American Italian car collector looking for something unique.  It's not the higher-performance HF model, so it's not exactly collectible.  And, any racing involvement was less successful than that of its predecessor, no matter how loudly the Martini livery states otherwise.

Where else in North America can you find a nice 16V Alfa twin cam in 90s 3-door hatch replete with Alcantara-trimmed Recaros seats, a manual transmission, subtle box flares, and rally-inspired wheels?  We suspect that our European readers will be less enthused, but we in North America can't help but to be intrigued by this offering.

-Graham

Lamborghini

2005 Lamborghini Gallardo

When Lamborghini introduced the Gallardo at the 2003 Geneva Motor, we were too young to recognize the yellow coupe as a Jalpa replacement.  Instead, we saw it as a baby Murciélago.  We were also unaware of the fact that Lamborghini had previously attempted to replace the Jalpa with a V10 entry-level model known as the P140 during development.  Under Chrysler ownership, Lamborghini had enlisted Gandini to pen up a smaller high performance sports car to accompany the Diablo, but the bambino never came to exist.

We'll leave the speculation of what could have been up to your collective imaginations, but the Gallardo was well worth the wait.  Over 14,000 made it out of the factory during its 10-year production run, eclipsing any semblance of commercial success enjoyed by its Jalpa predecessor.  With VW at the helm for development, Lamborghini had access to engineering resources unheard of for a firm so small, as well as a smart parts bin from the Audi group.  Take a look at the interior of a Gallardo, notice how the switchgear has hardly aged, and try to bring yourself to acknowledge the fact that VW ownership made more sense than another shot at buying switches off the rack from Fiat.  And, the 5.0L and 5.2L engine can attribute their successes as much to VW as they can to Lamborghini.

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Year: 2005
Model: Lamborghini
Engine: 5.0L V10
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  3,221mi
Price: $139,888

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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe

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This yellow 2005 Gallardo comes from the last of the initial run; 2006 and later model years incorporated a modest power increase and some gear ratio tweaks to improve driveability.  The timeless shape is most pure in the early cars, while later cars with the updated headlights and taillights deviate a bit too far from the original concept, if you ask us.  And, we are 99% sure that the press release photos from 2003 were in this same shade of Giallo.  So, if you can live with the pre-update gearing and the paltry 493hp, you'll be rewarded with the right color on the right body iteration.

Though the magazines and Lamborghini marketing folks certainly compared this with the Ferrari F430, we don't see the need to.   Lamborghini as a brand has much less to hang its hat on, and as such, can't afford to write off development mishaps as a part of the ownership experience.  That lack of compromise is evident in the Gallardo.  In this condition, we're having trouble finding a fault in the nearly $140k asking price.

-Graham

Alfa Romeo

1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate

Sometimes we come across an example of a car that we might normally overlook modified in just the right way to catch our eye.  Take, for example, last month's Bertone X-1/9 Corsa, or any lowered Ferrari Mondial on 17" wheels.  The right set of wheels or subtle cosmetic touch can transform our perception of a nice, but perhaps not-quite-enticing car.

This is exactly why we've chosen today's Alfa Spider.  Sure, the Bosch cars are reliable, and any Spider has plenty of appeal in its own right, but they aren't the most unique choice among Italian sports cars.  Why, then, do we find ourselves so drawn to this particular example?  First, the BWA wheels are a great for a red Spider like this one.  Add to that the faded red vinyl wrap with the black hood section, and the sort of garish but simultaneously cool Quadrifoglios behind the front wheels, and we have to say that the overall effect is pretty scrappy and appealing.

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Year: 1986
Model: Alfa Romeo
Engine: 2.0L 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  55,936 mi
Price: $11,900

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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate

GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce for your consideration. This Alfa is finished in a Red and Black custom Vinyl Wrap over the Black vinyl interior. It features a set of Alfa BWA 14x6 alloy wheels and Ereminas chassis stiffeners which are both rare and desirable options. There are currently speakers in the kick panels but there is no radio installed, the factory radio delete plate is in excellent condition. All gauges, lights, switches and factory controls function as they should. According to the current owner, this Alfa was recently serviced and features a new head gasket along with new front sway bar links, a new heater blower motor, new fuel injection hoses and new motor mounts. This Spider Veloce is a looker and gives a very comfortable ride going down the road. Please call or email us today for more information.

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We are not quite sure why the seller has listed this particular Spider as a Veloce.  It shows a Graduate badge on the decklid, and the seats sure seem to be Graduate-spec vinyl.  Crank windows adhere to the Graduate spec as well.  The top is a cloth unit, most likely as a result of a top replacement, though a graduate would be optioned with a vinyl top from the factory.  We're not familiar with Spider HVAC controls, although there is a chance that this unit has A/C, as was an option on Graduates.  There appears to be a knob for cool air in the cabin, but the engine bay photos don't allow us to see if there is a compressor mounted to the engine.

We are not in love with the price on this car, but that is not to say that the car is not worth the asking price.  The interior is most certainly clean and mostly complete, the underside doesn't show any signs of rust, and the seller claims that everything is functional.  We recommend this example to anyone in the market for a Series 3 Spider with some cool cosmetic upgrades.

-Graham