Tag Archives: Modern Classic

1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6

A friend of mine from Rotterdam once told me, "if you ain't Dutch, you ain't much." I honestly think there's some truth to that statement after visiting Amsterdam and parts of the Dutch countryside. With interesting people comes interesting cars, it seems. Of all the vehicles we cover here at CICFS and our sister site, German Cars for Sale Blog, some of the most immaculate and unique specimens hail from The Netherlands. This restored Alfa Romeo GTV6 with a 3.0 liter V6 is just one such car, a very impressive specimen of one of the most revered sports cars to come out of Italy in the 1980s.

1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6

Hereby I want to sell my super maintained Alfa Romeo GTV6, with 3.0 liter engine. Fully restored (October 1997 to August 1999). Only driven 4,500 km (only in good weather). Nearly perfect cosmetically and mechanically. Engine: 2959 CC/188PS. Cylinder head completely overhauled, six new cylinder liners, six new pistons. Crankshaft balanced, clutch replaced, valve cover and air intake are glass-pearl blasted and polished. All engine parts are cosmetic reconditioned. New timing belt, spark plugs, etc. Interior absolutely spotless and nearly like new! Body: two new front fenders, new spare wheel well, new paint job. Color Alfa Rosso 130. Extra's: car is lowered, central locking with remote control including immobilizer, 16 inch Zender wheels, original wheels (4x), power steering fitted after steering body was overhauled. Car has new "Apk" (Dutch MOT).

I've rarely seen a GTV6 in such great condition, and the level of reconditioning here is impressive. The Zender wheels are a nice period touch and the velour upholstery is a welcome change from the usual worn out leather trim we see in these cars. At the equivalent of $20,000, this is a big ask for a GTV6, no matter the vintage. This is surely a case of the seller attempting to recoup restoration costs. It's unlikely he'll get the asking price, as this car may bring $15,000 at the high end. In a few years time, though, as a new generation of enthusiasts come of age, we just may see GTV6 values take off in the manner that the earlier Giulia GTVs have.

-Paul

1990 Ferrari 348TS

The beginning of the 1990s brought to a close one of Ferrari’s most memorable models, the 308/328. Immortalized through the hit TV series Magnum P.I. and numerous kit car tributes that aped its style on lowly Pontiac Fiero mechanicals, this was a car that defined a generation of sports cars and inspired budding car enthusiasts to work hard in the hopes of one day piloting one of these machines. With the arrival of the 348 in 1990, the same mid-engine, V8 formula was in play albeit in more modern clothes. These 348s have found themselves in a bit of a no man’s land in terms of desirability, between the classics and the more modern machines to emerge from the factory in Modena. This 348TS for sale in California is a good opportunity to get a well maintained modern classic at an attractive price.

1990 Ferrari 348TS

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Up for sale is my prize 1990 Ferrari 348TS. I purchased a Lambo about a year ago, and have decided to part with this beloved car. This car is beautiful, has no accident history, and is in excellent condition. It has been serviced by Bobileff Motor Cars of San Diego during my ownership. They have all the detailed maintenance records for this car, and can vouch on the condition of this car. The car runs and drives excellent, I wouldn't be afraid to drive the car anywhere. This car is an excellent driver. Car is all original, with no modifications being done to anything. The interior is almost flawless, and in very good condition. Everything works on the car! The air conditioning does work, but is a little temper mental. So if your looking for a really nice 348, that's almost perfect this may be your car. I'm starting this auction at 30K, and no reserve. Bid with confidence, this car is solid, and will go quickly.

This car was my baby for almost 10 Years. It was well loved, and owned with pride. Always garaged, kept clean and dry. Take the time to check this one out, save yourself some cash. This is someone’s rare opportunity to drive a well maintained legion, for very little money. I’m motivated to sell, and will add more pictures. I didn’t provide many pictures of the interior, but it is beautiful with no rips, warn marks or tears what so ever.

I’m glad the seller explained where he’s serviced the car and where one can get detailed records from. Very important with this caliber of sports car. Its mileage of just under 40,000 is about average for 348s of this vintage and is nice to see, as this hasn’t been a garage queen nor has it been abused to within an inch of its life. Black is a favorite color of mine on these 348s, and the Pininfarina lines has aged quite nicely. It certainly isn’t as dated as some other sports cars of the era. A little more detail on what it would take to fix the A/C would be nice, but for me, I doubt I’d ever have the A/C on, as I’d have the windows down soaking in that legendary Ferrari V8 exhaust note.

-Paul

1987 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5

The Milanos are coming out of the woodwork this week here at CICFS. Yet another mint example has cropped up. This particular car for sale in California has the smaller 2.5 V6 and represents the first model year that this Alfa Romeo brought this sedan to US shores.

1987 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5

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Offered for an appreciating new owner is this rare classic ONE-OWNER 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5! Finished in what appears to be all original black paint over grey cloth interior, this RUST-FREE classic Alfa sedan was purchased new 25 years ago right here in San Francisco and has been driven a mere 90,000 since. This is a great find for the Alfa enthusiast sporting the great-running 2.5 liter V6 engine mated to a 5 speed manual transmission, cold air conditioning, electric windows, original alloy wheels with Pirelli tires.

THE BODY AND TRIM
The body and trim of this 1987 Alfa are in VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION OVERALL! I would rate the 99.99% PERFECTLY RUST-FREE exterior finish of this car a solid "8" on a scale of 1-10. The black paint has a deep lustrous finish, all the trim is intact and original, the original alloy wheels are in excellent condition with deep tread on the Pirelli tires. Inside the engine bay is in excellent original condition as is the rear boot with original tool kit and factory jack and pouch.

THE INTERIOR
The interior of this little classic Alfa is in EXCELLENT ORIGINAL CONDITION overall. The grey cloth seats are in superb condition as are the crack-free dash, original carpets and doorpanels.The headliner shows some sagging, the stereo is awol, the a/c blows ice cold and ALL of the gauges, lights and blinkers work as they should.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
This Milano starts, runs and drives VERY WELL! The engine is smooth and fairly powerful with a nice exhaust growl from the free revving V6 engine. The transmission shifts well and the steering is very tight and responsive. The braking is strong and straight and the suspension feels very good with no clunks or rattles. With its lively chassis and low curb weight [2,900 pounds] this Alfa is super satisfying to drive with gobs of that Italian "verve"! Note: there is some definite rear differential whine.

At just a shade under $6,000, this is a pretty good value as far as mint Milanos come. Of course, there are always strings attached and in this case, it would be the differential whine. The cause is most likely a worn thrust washer, which will involve disassembly of the gearbox. Not a job for the novice, then. Provided that job is all that needs sorting, it would prove well worth someone's time and effort to snap this Milano up, as these represent the end of an era in rear-drive Alfa Romeo sedan history.

-Paul

1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde

With the fall weather arriving here on the East Coast, I've got visions of escaping the city and tackling some winding B roads covered with leaves. What better tool for the job than a rear-wheel drive Alfa Romeo sedan? This Milano Verde for sale in North Carolina represents the final year for this four-door Alfa before the 164 sedan superseded it in 1991.

1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde

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This Car is For Sale By Owner & I am helping him with the Listing. It will be a Sale between you & him. This Auction is for a 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde, 3.0L V6, RWD with 5-speed transaxle mated to Limited Slip Diff. DeDeion suspension in rear, 123820 original miles.

The following is a List of the recent work performed on this car:

Brand new Paint
Refurbished Borbet wheels with brand new Sumitomo 205/50/16 tires
Full mechanical service:
Timing belt was done 20K miles ago ( by previous owner)
New P/S, Alt and A/C belts
New plugs, plug wires. Distributor cap/rotor Synthetic oil and filter
Flush rad, new thermostat, new rad hoses and new fan temperature switch
New fuel pump and fuel filter New oil pressure sender unit
New Interstate 75 month battery New exhaust system
Replaced 1 CV boot, other 3 are solid
New yellow Koni Shocks all around New suspension bushings (front and rear sway bars, Watts linkage)
Replaced rear guibo (flex joint for driveshaft), other two were replaced by previous owner and in good shape

Car operation:

All electrics work (power windows, locks, sunroof)
Engine starts easily and revs to redline (6000 rpm) with no issue
No leaks (oil, water, etc.)…..does not appear to burn any oil…
Interior is intact….minimal wear on upholstery.
The Recaro fabric used was notoriously thin and most Verdes have really bad interiors

The Bad:

Slight tears on rear fabric
Wear/staining on front seats…but no through wear on fabric
Some under fender flare rust
Some carpet fading….dye job would fix. No tears or rips in carpet
Minor tear in dash

When they were new, I never was too attracted to the Milano/75 styling, but time has been kind to this car in my eyes. It's got an '80s edginess about it that is lacking in cars today. Anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000 seems to be the order of the day for clean, well kept Milanos, and this one's starting bid of $6,800 puts it right in the thick of that range.

-Paul

1987 Bertone X1/9

The X1/9 could be considered as Fiat's last gasp in the US marketplace until their revival in 2012 with the 500. While Fiat itself left the US marketplace in 1982, the job of marketing and selling the X1/9 fell to its designer, Bertone. This X1/9 for sale in California represents the final year for these mid-engined sports cars. It has been stored for many years and has been sorted, ready for a new owner to take the helm.

1987 Bertone X1/9

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The Bertone (Fiat) X1/9 for sale here is arguably one of, if not the finest available examples as it has only been driven 12,500 miles and just as importantly it has been fully sorted after sitting as in new condition for over 20 years. The previous seller tells me that due to Fiat leaving the USA, this car remained in storage until 2007 in a port near Houston, Texas. It is available in Pleasanton, California for $10,000 OBO

The X1/9 underwent three generations in the USA: 1974 cars, 1975-78 cars and 1979-87 cars. This one is in like new, mint condition, having been scrupulously maintained by an enthusiastic and meticulous owner since it was rescued. This last iteration of the X1/9 features the bigger 1500cc engine and 5 speed transmissions making it far better to drive in modern traffic. Creature comforts, such as power windows and A/C make it a surprisingly pleasurable touring vehicle as well as as an impressive sports car on the back roads.

The X1/9 succeeded a 1969 show concept car called the Autobianchi A112 Runabout, with styling by Bertone under chief designer Marcello Gandini. The interior is amazingly clean, with an attractive 3-spoke leather wheel and a very clean dash. We think the black color is more aggressive looking and ages better than the tan. The car has never had a spot of rust, and his is truly turn-key. An upgrade stereo is the only non-original component, and the original documentation history and literature are included.

This one represents an interesting opportunity for the Concorso and car museum guys, but we’d put it on the road for an enjoyable couple thousand miles per year under great care. That way it would still only have 27k miles after a decade, and would likely still be one of the lowest mileage examples around even though you would thoroughly enjoy the ownership experience for years to come.

I've seen a few low mileage X1/9s surface in the past six months, so we're not looking at an extremely rare car, but it is nicely presented and rust free. That's important on a car such as this which is highly susceptible to the tin worm. With no reserve on this tidy X1/9, we're probably looking at a $10,000 to $12,000 final bid.

-Paul

1987 Lancia Thema 8.32

With every passing year, a slew of interesting cars become available for import to the US that fall outside of the 25 year law set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I've had my eyes on the Lancia Thema for a while, but not just any Thema, the one with the 3.0 liter Ferrari V8 under the hood. Even though it was front-wheel drive, this is a piece of exotica revered by those in the know. This Thema for sale in Germany was imported to the country four years prior from Switzerland.

1987 Lancia Thema 8.32

Car is in good condition with little mileage. Carpets in the front should be replaced. Injection lines slightly corroded. Just needs some TLC and movement as it sat for three years in the garage. Sensational engine is good for a lot of fun. In five years, this car will be vintage and guaranteed with high appreciation potential. One of the first of the "nicer" series, only 2300 pieces built. Poltrona Frau full leather interior with Alcantara roof. The car has no technical approval because it was never registered in Germany and was imported from Switzerland four years ago.

It's a risk buying a car of this caliber that has sat for a while and needs mechanical attention. At about $7,800 USD, you're looking at about a $10,000 car after importation and customs fees. If you can keep the repairs to around $2,000 to $3,000, I'd say it would be worth it. The exterior looks tidy and the interior leather and wood is well preserved. Sort the mechanicals and this would be a fantastic sleeper.

-Paul

1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6

The Alfa Romeo GTV6 is a fantastic way to get into the Italian car hobby without spending a lot of money. With its V6 engine, well balanced rear drive chassis and history of racing in its bloodlines, it's an attractive piece for the sporting enthusiast. These coupes are not too hard to come by these days. While many have been beaten to within an inch of their lives, there's a surprising amount of well kept examples out there to choose from. This GTV6 for sale is a survivor that was stored for many years but recently revived to a reliable driver.

1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6

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1983 Alfa Romeo GTV 6 With 39,103 Original Miles. The Auto Check mileage has been corrected. I bought the transmission in it, years before I found the car, knowing this was special and the transmission I would want in the car I was going to keep the rest of my life. It is from a Milano Verde with taller gearing and a limited slip differential. The standard GTV 6 transmission does not have a limited slip differential. The transmission was rebuilt by Merritt Carden and features lightened gears. It has a Merritt made copy of a Shankle short throw shift linkage with Hyme joints. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old transmission, all the synchros were (and are) fine and there were no issues what-so-ever. My mechanic said the transmission was perfect! I put in the LSD with the taller gearing for better mileage as I was going to use the car on road trips. This transmission has only about 1,000 miles on it; it is just breaking in nicely and is superb! Another thing to bear in mind; it is getting close to impossible to find new synchros that are OEM parts and the aftermarket ones are frequently junk. Lightening the gears allows the synchros to last close to forever, if you DON'T lighten the gears, your synchros will not last. With this transmission, you can expect 100k (or more) miles of flawless shifting.

I got this car from the Carden family in the San Francisco Bay Area. It belonged to one of the older brothers but he got to the point he couldn’t climb in and out of it, so it was sitting in a horse barn and needed a complete resurrection which was done properly as I planned on keeping this car for the rest of my life. It had the original timing belt in it with the original hydraulic chain tensioner. There is no question this is a 39,000 mile car. All work was done by Alfaman Jim Cestarolo, whose family still runs Alfa Center in San Francisco and has for many years. I have all the service records since I had Jim do the work and you can talk to Jim. This is not just an average GTV 6, this is a really GOOD car! If you fins another GTV 6 with the same mileage on it that hasn't had all the work that I've done on mine, you will need to put $5,000 into it. All the rubber rots, the fuel pump will go bad, etc.

A friend and car guy I've known for over 30 years, told me this story about when he bought his Jaguar XK 120, "If I'd spent $5,000 more for a better car, I would have saved money in the long run." Again, everything was done as if I was keeping the car and I wanted it all done right. I have put about 1,000 miles on it getting it fully sorted out. If you have questions and want to speak to the mechanic, I will give you his number. He’s in Novato, California.

The good:

It still has the original dual fans and they work. New water pump, rebuilt hydraulic tensioner with OEM rebuild kit and timing belt. Stainless steel brake lines, rebuilt alloy front calipers and steel rear calipers, new master cylinder. Replaced all injector rubber hoses underneath the plenum. All new hoses for the radiator and heater, radiator checked. The clutch is excellent with 98% + of material remaining, the bearing and fork are excellent, new clutch slave cylinder. New center bearing for the driveshaft and new Giubos. New fuel pump and fuel lines. Air conditioning converted to the new refrigerant.

Fresh Michelin tires. 195/60 R 15 XSE, Pilot Exalto A/S. They appear to have less than 2,000 miles on them. There are still some “nubs” from the mould. The good condition leather interior has been treated with Connolly Hide Food. There is one small hole in the driver’s side front seat bolster, facing toward the door, probably from the previous owner getting into the car. There are surface cracks in the leather, but if treated and kept parked in a garage, the seats will last a long time. What kills the leather is lack of treatment and being left in the sun. It has the $200 sunroof handle surround that is machined out of ¼” thick material. The stock ones are all broken, they’re all cr*p. The guy is on the fence about making any more, he may and he may not. I got one of the last 4. The power windows work. There are no dings or chips in the glass. I have the windshield washer tank, although it is not pictured installed. It has a good pump on it. The paint is generally very good with a few chips here and there. There are a few very minor areas of surface rust. It does NOT have the usual rust in the wheel wells. The car has a clean California title and is registered. If the buyer is from California I will supply a recent smog certificate. It passed when I registered it.

The bad:

The left front corner of the car and part of the front around the grill has been repainted. The bodywork was done well but the paint is not an exact match in terms of shade or sheen. (it’s really not very bad) The plastic piece on the top left of the rear bumper that covers the gap, is separated from the center joint piece, (also not very bad). Some of the usual minor cracking on the dash. I have a dash pad for it that also cuts down on glare. It is not installed and comes with the car. The radio is nothing special but works. The car still has the “in the windshield” radio antenna, which never did work even when they were new.

There is no ugly!

The conclusion:

If you buy a car with this kind of low mileage that’s been sitting for 20+ years, plan on having to do everything I’ve had to do to have a reliable car. I have receipts for over $7,000 + plus the transmission which was a $1,500 overhaul, not including finding a Milano Verde transmission to be rebuilt, plus the cost of the car! Everything was checked for reliability and longevity. I have all the repair receipts. I’ve invested between $9,000 and $10,000 in total, to make a car that will give no surprises. I would not hesitate an instant to get in this car and drive from California to New York, or anywhere else on the east Coast. If you want a good one, buy this car!

A good GTV6 will run someone anywhere between $8,000 to $12,000 these days. The opening bid of $8,000 is a bit high and doesn't leave a lot of breathing room for bidders, but given the work done to it, plus the later transmission with the limited slip differential, I'd say this GTV6 would be as good as any if you're in the market for one of these.

-Paul

1991 Lamborghini Diablo

The replacement for the Countach was contemplated as early as 1985, with Project 132 turning into what would eventually become the Diablo, or devil, in Spanish. Introduced to the public in 1990, the Diablo carried on the tradition of the mid-engined supercar formula, this time with a multi-port fuel injected, 5.7 liter V12 capable of producing just shy of 500 horsepower. This car would live on throughout the 1990s and into the next century, carrying Lamborghini into new ownership and future profitability. This Diablo for sale in Texas is an early model that represents an interesting period for the manufacturer. While this was a much more streamlined and civilized car than the model it replaced, the inherent coachbuilt character of the Diablo still shone through.

1991 Lamborghini Diablo

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This is THE nicest example of a 1991 Lamborghini Diablo that you will find anywhere! This Diablo is exceptionally clean inside and out, has a fantastic service history, and literally it is amazing at how clean this car is for a 1991. It is a beautiful Black exterior paint color finished in a Black leather interior with yellow stitching throughout! Extensive maintenance, all factory OEM, and will definitely qualify for collector quality.

At just under $85,000, this Diablo is priced fairly attractively, given that some later models still regularly command well into the six figure range. Granted, the earlier Diablos were a bit rougher around the edges, as Audi had yet to take the reigns of the company. For some enthusiasts, however, that is a bonus. It's no coincidence that the Lamborghini emblem includes a raging bull, because owning one can be akin to taming the notorious beast.

-Paul

1996 Fiat Barchetta

The Fiat Barchetta is one of those cars that masks its humble mechanicals well. Based on the Mk1 Fiat Punto and equipped with front-wheel drive, this stylish roadster hints about that it is something more special than an Italian supermini. With Fiat's absence in the US market from 1983 through 2011 (barring the Pininfarina Spider and Bertone X1/9), the US never got a chance to sample this affordable open roofed runabout. However, I've seen a couple of these roadsters appear on the market stateside, and here is yet another one in Pennsylvania for sale with a low 36,000 miles on the clock.

1996 Fiat Barchetta

The true sport roadster Europe fell in love with. Looks, runs and feels great! At only 2300 lbs. with 130+ HP and aggressive gearing, brings a grin to your face. FWD. Manual 5-speed transmission. Custom free-flow exhaust system with great sound. Four wheel disc brakes (ABS). Power windows and mirrors. Central locking. Fog lights. 16" Alloy wheels. Front lip spoiler. Rear wind deflector. Two tone seats (black w/charcoal leather inserts). No marks or tears. AM/FM CD MP3 radio (bluetooth ready). Paint: only minor chips or scuffs (rust free). Vinyl top: no rips or tears w/clear rear window. Glass: no chips or scratches. Removable winter hard top with rear window defroster. Vehicle maintenance manual CD, owner manual, radio instructions, sales brochure etc. included. Due to age, car is sold as is with no warranty. OEM 15" steel wheels and in-tact OEM exhaust system available with car.

It's obvious that the big question with this car is how did it get into the country in the first place and how is it legally registered here. It's not wearing dealer tags, so the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation must not have had an issue with registering it. Still, questions of the owner must be asked before going in on a purchase like this. At nearly $18,500, this is rather pricey when you consider what these Barchettas trade hands for in Europe and that a Mazda Miata of a similar vintage could be had for around $5,000 or less. So then, is this the price of unobtanium?

-Paul

1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS

As Americans wait with baited breath for the return of Alfa Romeo to this market, let's take a look back at one of the very last new Alfa Romeos, besides the ultra limited 8C Competizione, to grace these shores: the 164. With very few sales in its final year in the US market, these cars were not cross shopped by your typical Lexus or Mercedes-Benz customer. Only hardcore enthusiasts needed to apply. Two versions of the 164 were available in its final year; the Quadrofoglio and the LS version, as we see here. The LS was the luxury model of the pair, but equipped with a 5-speed manual such as our feature car, it still made for an involved driving experience. This 164LS for sale in Miami has a low 85,000 miles on the clock and looks the business in black.

1995 Alfa Romeo 164LS

Black on Black 95 LS with 85,000 miles. Asking $4,000. I have had this car since 2004 and all work has been done at Auto Veloce in Miami. The car runs great, its fast and I wouldn't hesitate driving it cross country.

The good:
- The engine is strong with and the car runs fantastic
- New clutch installed last week
- New radiator 9 months ago.
- No overheating issues
- Interior is in great shape
- AC work great.
- New Pioneer head unit can use new speakers.
- All maintenance is up do date.
- Oil change last week.
- New brake pads last week.
- Timing belt around 10K ago.
- No leaks
- No rust

The Bad:
- Needs a paint job along with minor repair to front bumper due to a minor parking lot bump. I have the metal trim piece (its used but its straight).
- Rear windows are stuck. motor or button, I don't know. They used to work until one day they didn't and I never bothered fixing.
- Needs new muffler.

The seller seems very motivated to sell and has been rather transparent about the issues with this car. At $4,000, I tend to think this is good value for a late model 164 with the desirable 5-speed gearbox. This is a car that certainly deserves the TLC that it needs. With a fresh paint job and some minor fixes, this 164 could serve as a classy executive express for many years to come.

-Paul