Alfa GT Junior..
Discussion
Hi All,
I've lived up to my username and have just purchased myself a newly registered, imported from SA Alfa GT Junior 1600.
Now, I have no idea why but I have wanted one of these for a long time (for me, I'm 27) having seen a GTA at the Le Mans classic years ago and being a demon with one on Forza 4! (must get the old Xbox out again one day)..
There have only ever been 3 cars that I've lusted for: Defender 90, E Type, Alfa GT Junior. 10 years ago my dad passed on a red E type for £28k, 4 years ago I passed on a Defender 90 XS at £7k and 4 years ago I passed on an Alfa GT Junior (in good condition) for £6k. I feel as though the values of these cars are running away from me, and I had to pull the trigger sooner or later.
So, here's my scruffy Alfa up in Durham (I'm in Surrey) awaiting collection:
The engine seems strong, it has a new MOT, hardly any rust to speak of but a few paint issues (cracking to front arch and runs on the bonnet) where someone has painted it using their feet and a paint brush. It also has a few interesting South African repairs (windscreen squirters are wired up to a £1 ebay rocker switch).
I'm pretty handy with mechanicals. I would like to experience of painting parts of, or a whole a car. This will likely give me experience of both.
I paid £10,500. Is it a crap purchase? Yup. Am I happy with it (at the moment)? Yup. Am I really selling my Z4M for this POS? ... Yup.
The next post will hopefully include the standard petrol station picture on the 240 mile journey home. 240 miles in a 45 year old unknown Alfa?.... Wish me luck.
Will
I've lived up to my username and have just purchased myself a newly registered, imported from SA Alfa GT Junior 1600.
Now, I have no idea why but I have wanted one of these for a long time (for me, I'm 27) having seen a GTA at the Le Mans classic years ago and being a demon with one on Forza 4! (must get the old Xbox out again one day)..
There have only ever been 3 cars that I've lusted for: Defender 90, E Type, Alfa GT Junior. 10 years ago my dad passed on a red E type for £28k, 4 years ago I passed on a Defender 90 XS at £7k and 4 years ago I passed on an Alfa GT Junior (in good condition) for £6k. I feel as though the values of these cars are running away from me, and I had to pull the trigger sooner or later.
So, here's my scruffy Alfa up in Durham (I'm in Surrey) awaiting collection:
The engine seems strong, it has a new MOT, hardly any rust to speak of but a few paint issues (cracking to front arch and runs on the bonnet) where someone has painted it using their feet and a paint brush. It also has a few interesting South African repairs (windscreen squirters are wired up to a £1 ebay rocker switch).
I'm pretty handy with mechanicals. I would like to experience of painting parts of, or a whole a car. This will likely give me experience of both.
I paid £10,500. Is it a crap purchase? Yup. Am I happy with it (at the moment)? Yup. Am I really selling my Z4M for this POS? ... Yup.
The next post will hopefully include the standard petrol station picture on the 240 mile journey home. 240 miles in a 45 year old unknown Alfa?.... Wish me luck.
Will
familyguy1 said:
very jealous, what plans for it, standard resto or a GTA homage ? or somewhere inbetween
I think I'm going to go fairly standard, but with GTA Veloce style wheels.There are a few small dents around the car which need looking at, the two most annoying being at the front of the bonnet where it was damaged in transit to the UK (looks like strap dents).As and when things need replacing, I will replace them with the sportier Alfaholics suspension etc. Provided that it doesn't rust into dust, I can't see myself selling it so I'm looking forward to lots of Costa Express coffees whilst waiting for the RAC...
Another picture...
Edited by poordecisions on Tuesday 3rd October 12:29
Not that you need reassurance but any positivity thrown your way can't be a bad thing!
I think you have made a good choice here, obviously I cannot speak for the mechanicals or condition of the vehicle but you have a wonderful classic there and would imagine you will have more fun in this than the BMW.
Hats off to you for following your gut and purchasing a car on your dream list. Many are either not brave enough, do not have the funds to purchase/maintain or just do not have the opportunity to be in the right place at the right time.
We appear to have a similar taste in cars judging by your dream garage and therefore wish you the best of luck with the ownership of this. I love these little things, there is a cracking thread already on here of a GT Jnr. They tick all my boxes.
Anyway looking forward to updates with plenty of pics please!
Andy
I think you have made a good choice here, obviously I cannot speak for the mechanicals or condition of the vehicle but you have a wonderful classic there and would imagine you will have more fun in this than the BMW.
Hats off to you for following your gut and purchasing a car on your dream list. Many are either not brave enough, do not have the funds to purchase/maintain or just do not have the opportunity to be in the right place at the right time.
We appear to have a similar taste in cars judging by your dream garage and therefore wish you the best of luck with the ownership of this. I love these little things, there is a cracking thread already on here of a GT Jnr. They tick all my boxes.
Anyway looking forward to updates with plenty of pics please!
Andy
lucido grigio said:
Get a shift on as the last Italian car meet in Alton is this Saturday.......
Maybe we can see it there or Brooklands next year.
I'm not sure that I'll be collecting this week, likely later next week. Breakdown cover is very reasonable! The other option is to have it delivered, but that's no fun, is it?Maybe we can see it there or Brooklands next year.
lucido grigio said:
Yes ,deffo drive it.
Has it been in regular use recently or laid up ?
That's a fair question that I should know the answer to, but I don't! It doesn't "feel" like it's been sitting for years.Has it been in regular use recently or laid up ?
I'll be taking a new battery, can of oil and bottles of water with me. I would normally take a full tool kit, but I'm not lugging that on the train there...
Awesome!
I'm a fellow owner of a step front with a 1750cc and lots of Alfaholics bits. My advice would be to garage it all the time, and drive it when you can. I use mine when the weather is fine, but also on track days and even competing in the odd sprint now and again.
Like you, the GT was a dream car that I lusted after since I was in my teens and saw one in the hills on the Amalfi coast. Its the aesthetic, the sound and actually for the period, they drive really nicely, with disks all round and a 5 speed box.
My thread thread has been decimated by bloody photobucket, but the car was covered on Drivetribe earlier this year, so you can see most of the work done there.
Really looking forward to seeing how you get on with yours. Like you, I'm keeping mine indefinitely, and keep chipping away at little jobs or improvements. I'm just about to get the sills done and change to a gta grille.
If you're interested, Alfaholics had a good write up here, with interviews with Max and some interesting reading about their approach.
I'm a fellow owner of a step front with a 1750cc and lots of Alfaholics bits. My advice would be to garage it all the time, and drive it when you can. I use mine when the weather is fine, but also on track days and even competing in the odd sprint now and again.
Like you, the GT was a dream car that I lusted after since I was in my teens and saw one in the hills on the Amalfi coast. Its the aesthetic, the sound and actually for the period, they drive really nicely, with disks all round and a 5 speed box.
My thread thread has been decimated by bloody photobucket, but the car was covered on Drivetribe earlier this year, so you can see most of the work done there.
Really looking forward to seeing how you get on with yours. Like you, I'm keeping mine indefinitely, and keep chipping away at little jobs or improvements. I'm just about to get the sills done and change to a gta grille.
If you're interested, Alfaholics had a good write up here, with interviews with Max and some interesting reading about their approach.
Quickmoose said:
I had not seen that.... tempting! Here’s a question: in what way are carbon body parts superior to grp? (Wings, boot, bonnet etc?).If I’m going to respray, man maths might prevail.
[quote=joesnow]Awesome!
I'm a fellow owner of a step front with a 1750cc and lots of Alfaholics bits. My advice would be to garage it all the time, and drive it when you can. I use mine when the weather is fine, but also on track days and even competing in the odd sprint now and again.
Like you, the GT was a dream car that I lusted after since I was in my teens and saw one in the hills on the Amalfi coast. Its the aesthetic, the sound and actually for the period, they drive really nicely, with disks all round and a 5 speed box.
My thread thread has been decimated by bloody photobucket, but the car was covered on Drivetribe earlier this year, so you can see most of the work done there.
Really looking forward to seeing how you get on with yours. Like you, I'm keeping mine indefinitely, and keep chipping away at little jobs or improvements. I'm just about to get the sills done and change to a gta grille.
If you're interested, Alfaholics had a good write up here, with interviews with Max and some interesting reading about their approach.[/quote
Thank you, i’ll have a read tonight with a beer..
I'm a fellow owner of a step front with a 1750cc and lots of Alfaholics bits. My advice would be to garage it all the time, and drive it when you can. I use mine when the weather is fine, but also on track days and even competing in the odd sprint now and again.
Like you, the GT was a dream car that I lusted after since I was in my teens and saw one in the hills on the Amalfi coast. Its the aesthetic, the sound and actually for the period, they drive really nicely, with disks all round and a 5 speed box.
My thread thread has been decimated by bloody photobucket, but the car was covered on Drivetribe earlier this year, so you can see most of the work done there.
Really looking forward to seeing how you get on with yours. Like you, I'm keeping mine indefinitely, and keep chipping away at little jobs or improvements. I'm just about to get the sills done and change to a gta grille.
If you're interested, Alfaholics had a good write up here, with interviews with Max and some interesting reading about their approach.[/quote
Thank you, i’ll have a read tonight with a beer..
Right, collection day tomorrow.
You are collecting a 40 year old Alfa of which you do not know if it has been used regularly. You are going to drive it from Durham to Surrey.
You are catching a train there and have a small bag with laptop etc within it.
What tools do you take? What route do you take (motorway or A road?)? Do you take a camping stove, dehydrated food, energy packs, bear traps and a rifle just in case you never make it home?
Will
You are collecting a 40 year old Alfa of which you do not know if it has been used regularly. You are going to drive it from Durham to Surrey.
You are catching a train there and have a small bag with laptop etc within it.
What tools do you take? What route do you take (motorway or A road?)? Do you take a camping stove, dehydrated food, energy packs, bear traps and a rifle just in case you never make it home?
Will
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