Alfetta gtv yes or no?
Discussion
I have an inexplicable yearning for an old alfetta gtv but I have no garage to keep it in so it would have to live outside. Would it just turn into a brown pile of mush within a year? It would be used regularly as a semi daily driver, and I live by the sea 
on a positive note the weather here in ireland isn't as drastic as it is in the uk and though it's generally damp all year round it's very rare we get our roads salted. Lunacy or worth a punt? Looking at maybe something like this.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380842#
on a positive note the weather here in ireland isn't as drastic as it is in the uk and though it's generally damp all year round it's very rare we get our roads salted. Lunacy or worth a punt? Looking at maybe something like this. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380842#
coetzeeh said:
Just do it! You only live once.
Ok then 
I don't think buying an Alfa is ever a decision that's made by the logical part of anyone's brain.
The usual logic of buying a classic car says you should get the best one you can but it would be sad to watch a nice car turn into a wreck. So maybe I should buy a cheap one and just drive it without worrying. I enjoy using my spanners and my other car is a TVR so I'm obviously just a glutton for heartbreak and frustration.
Nice cars - I have two so am biased but I would avoid that particular car - if it is the car I am thinking of, it has had a recent blow over and is not solid underneath the fresh paint. Look for a car that has been gone through by someone like Alex Jupe as at least you know the work that needs doing has been done. Many sellers have skimped on the outlay to keep these in good shape and best cars to go for are ones where somebody has spent a fortune and then got bored.....Alex is worth speaking to in this regard.
GTV6s finally seem to be be increasing in value but decent ones are getting scarce and less bargains to be had. Personally I would go for a decent sorted GTV6 or a earlier chrome bumper 2.0 as the early ones are going through a dip in prices at the moment. The later 2.0 plastic bumpered cars are the least likely to rise in value long term and are reasonable value as a result. Cheap ones usually are cheap because there is much remedial work that has been put off.
Budget mechanically for seized rear calipers, renewing various suspension bushes, propshaft issues and crunching gearboxes in cars that have not been maintained or used regularly and of course, rotten inner front wings and rust generally more so on sunroof cars!
GTV6s finally seem to be be increasing in value but decent ones are getting scarce and less bargains to be had. Personally I would go for a decent sorted GTV6 or a earlier chrome bumper 2.0 as the early ones are going through a dip in prices at the moment. The later 2.0 plastic bumpered cars are the least likely to rise in value long term and are reasonable value as a result. Cheap ones usually are cheap because there is much remedial work that has been put off.
Budget mechanically for seized rear calipers, renewing various suspension bushes, propshaft issues and crunching gearboxes in cars that have not been maintained or used regularly and of course, rotten inner front wings and rust generally more so on sunroof cars!
Edited by arguti on Saturday 14th December 05:27
They are superb cars and highly underrated (I am more than slightly biased though!). However, if you are living by the sea and don't have a garage I would have to say this is not the car to buy. As is well documented, the build quality of the bodies was terrible. The youngest are now 28 years old and even a well restored car will still be made up of largely 28 year old Alfa Romeo steel which in the elements does not last. I am not saying you will have a wreck in a year, but you can pretty much guarantee that you WILL be spending money on bodywork within a year if you intend to keep on top of it and not let the car deteriorate.
If, however, you manage to find a local lock up to rent to store her in then GO! I would also recommend the V6 as the engine is so sweet, but you will need to spend £7k minimum to buy a decent car that is not some pile of rust hidden by patch welding and filler. These have seen a big increase in values over the last 18 months, so now is the time to buy one.
If, however, you manage to find a local lock up to rent to store her in then GO! I would also recommend the V6 as the engine is so sweet, but you will need to spend £7k minimum to buy a decent car that is not some pile of rust hidden by patch welding and filler. These have seen a big increase in values over the last 18 months, so now is the time to buy one.
coetzeeh said:
Arguti - do you have more photo's of your GTV6 3.0 you could share pse?
Not got many stored photos as not had much chance to get the car out because of young children and busy job (and too many Alfas!) but some up on these threads:http://alfagtv6.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22&...
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfetta-gtv6-1972-...
Alex is dead right about the silky V6 but I absolutely love the split dash of the earlier cars; especially in the LHD version where all you have is the rev counter in front of you and everything else is secondary!
My early 2.0 Alfetta GTV currently undergoing a mid-winter spruce up, fairly solid car underneath;
Edited by arguti on Monday 16th December 13:52
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