HAVE YOUR SAY
Did you spend more on your classic in 2011 than the previous year?
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| Alfa Romeo 105 Series Giulia GTs (1963-77) |
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Words: Chris Hope | Pics: Magic Car Pics Italian flair, good-looking lines and genuine head-turning appeal, which is backed by surprisingly potent performance. These are just some of the many pluses for these Bertone-styled coupés. From what we’ve seen, these Alfas are very much in vogue right now and prices do seem to be on the march upwards. We can certainly understand why – not only do the Giulia GTs have the potential to be fantastic track day machines, but left unmodified they’re still incredibly smart and fun to drive road cars. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Bodywork What your instinct says is true – this is an Alfa Romeo and yes it does rust. These machines weren’t treated to much in the way of rust protection, so their time in Britain will have undoubtedly taken its toll on them. Given their age it’s worth bearing in mind that you’re not only checking for corroded metal, but also the quality of any repairs that you might find. Since there aren’t many places where these Italian coupés don’t rust, let’s start with the potential deal breakers. The sills are made up of three sections (inner, middle and outer), so there’s always the risk of discovering that rot is sandwiched between relatively sound-looking metal. You can remove the striker plate to get a better idea of condition, but at best you’ll be guessing the condition of the middle sill – if there are any signs of corrosion here, more often than not it’s safe to fear the worst. Stuart Taylor, who acts as the Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s registrar for the Giulia 105/115 Register, recommends you take a magnet, just in case any filler has been used to treat just the unsightly bits. In addition to the sills, metal around the rear side windows and the rear screen is difficult to repair thoroughly. Bear in mind that any rot at the base of the screen might be allowing water into the boot and this will in turn eventually lead to a rotten spare wheel well – likewise, as the wheel well is a low point on the car, corrosion can also strike through from underneath.
Values: According to Stuart Taylor, prices for restoration projects start from £1500. If you’re looking for a GT that needs a bit of work, but still has an MoT, you’ll need to pay at least £4500, which will net you a tatty 1300 or 1600 Junior. Good condition 1750 GTVs will cost around £10,000 (2000 GTVs slightly more at £12,000). If you’re looking at any Giulia Sprint that costs between £15,000 and £20,000 you should expect it to be show-quality. Only 1000 GTC Sprint convertibles were produced, so today excellent examples cost at least £30,000. And just in case you’re wondering, you’ll need a spare £85,000 to £100,000 for a genuine GTA.
Factfile Clubs Alfa Romeo Owners Club, Specialists ● Alfaholics, Bristol. 01275 349449, www.alfaholics.com
Insurance Insurance Quotes for a 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce. Comprehensive cover, 25-year-old in Co. Durham, two years’ no claims, clean licence, 10,000 miles a year, main car, kept on driveway: £1500 (£500 excess) Comprehensive cover, 50-year-old in Co. Durham, full no claims, clean licence, 3000 miles a year, second car (classic car policy), garaged, club member: £100 (£50 excess) Quotes from Performance Direct (0844 5733504, www.performancedirect.co.uk)
To read the rest of this buyers' guide see the December 2011 issue of Classic Car Mart - available to buy here. |
Alfa’s 105-Series Giulia coupés represent the Italian maker at its very best... but you do need to know your stuff when buying them.
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