GTV6 "Resto-Mod"
Discussion
A GTV6 was the car I desperately wanted when I started driving back in the mid 1980's - All I could afford then were really ropey series 1's and I was (just about) smart enough not to buy any of the rust-traps that I viewed.
Thirty odd years later, having had five front wheel drive Busso-engined Alfa's, I stumbled on this:
|https://thumbsnap.com/tOtzUWqj[/url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/g2EzJcXw[/url]
Definitely a "Resto-Mod", rather than a matching-numbers future concours winner but, for me, all the better for it. The previous owner had pretty much ticked all the boxes that I would have if I was building from scratch:
3.0 litre upgrade? Check (It's even got the preferred Motronic fuel injection).
Tubular Manifolds? Check.
Upgraded suspension? Check.
Upgraded interior? Check.
Rebuilt gearbox, so I can find second gear? Check.
Picked it up last week and have been out and about whenever it stops raining. There are a few niggles due to lack of use over the past few years, but it drives beautifully and the gearbox is nowhere near as daunting as I thought it would be.
Only problem is, it seems louder inside than out so, I'm currently having to filter the sound of the "Arese Violin" through a pair of earplugs.
Thirty odd years later, having had five front wheel drive Busso-engined Alfa's, I stumbled on this:
|https://thumbsnap.com/tOtzUWqj[/url]|https://thumbsnap.com/g2EzJcXw[/url]Definitely a "Resto-Mod", rather than a matching-numbers future concours winner but, for me, all the better for it. The previous owner had pretty much ticked all the boxes that I would have if I was building from scratch:
3.0 litre upgrade? Check (It's even got the preferred Motronic fuel injection).
Tubular Manifolds? Check.
Upgraded suspension? Check.
Upgraded interior? Check.
Rebuilt gearbox, so I can find second gear? Check.
Picked it up last week and have been out and about whenever it stops raining. There are a few niggles due to lack of use over the past few years, but it drives beautifully and the gearbox is nowhere near as daunting as I thought it would be.
Only problem is, it seems louder inside than out so, I'm currently having to filter the sound of the "Arese Violin" through a pair of earplugs.
ian996 said:
A GTV6 was the car I desperately wanted when I started driving back in the mid 1980's - All I could afford then were really ropey series 1's and I was (just about) smart enough not to buy any of the rust-traps that I viewed.
Thirty odd years later, having had five front wheel drive Busso-engined Alfa's, I stumbled on this:
|https://thumbsnap.com/tOtzUWqj[/url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/g2EzJcXw[/url]
Definitely a "Resto-Mod", rather than a matching-numbers future concours winner but, for me, all the better for it. The previous owner had pretty much ticked all the boxes that I would have if I was building from scratch:
3.0 litre upgrade? Check (It's even got the preferred Motronic fuel injection).
Tubular Manifolds? Check.
Upgraded suspension? Check.
Upgraded interior? Check.
Rebuilt gearbox, so I can find second gear? Check.
Picked it up last week and have been out and about whenever it stops raining. There are a few niggles due to lack of use over the past few years, but it drives beautifully and the gearbox is nowhere near as daunting as I thought it would be.
Only problem is, it seems louder inside than out so, I'm currently having to filter the sound of the "Arese Violin" through a pair of earplugs.
Very very nice - such under rated cars. Thirty odd years later, having had five front wheel drive Busso-engined Alfa's, I stumbled on this:
|https://thumbsnap.com/tOtzUWqj[/url]|https://thumbsnap.com/g2EzJcXw[/url]Definitely a "Resto-Mod", rather than a matching-numbers future concours winner but, for me, all the better for it. The previous owner had pretty much ticked all the boxes that I would have if I was building from scratch:
3.0 litre upgrade? Check (It's even got the preferred Motronic fuel injection).
Tubular Manifolds? Check.
Upgraded suspension? Check.
Upgraded interior? Check.
Rebuilt gearbox, so I can find second gear? Check.
Picked it up last week and have been out and about whenever it stops raining. There are a few niggles due to lack of use over the past few years, but it drives beautifully and the gearbox is nowhere near as daunting as I thought it would be.
Only problem is, it seems louder inside than out so, I'm currently having to filter the sound of the "Arese Violin" through a pair of earplugs.
SturdyHSV said:
Please don't make these any more attractive than they already are, I don't want the prices going up more!
Planning to upgrade from my current GTV V6 (of the FWD variety) to a proper one, I don't suspect I'll be finding one as nice as yours though!
Lovely
Thanks! It's a VERY different drive to a GTV V6 (apologies for stating the obvious!) - strangely, it's both more raw than I expected and, in some ways, more civilised at the same time. I can't really explain it, but the upshot is, it's a really exhilarating drive, even without threatening any speed limits. Planning to upgrade from my current GTV V6 (of the FWD variety) to a proper one, I don't suspect I'll be finding one as nice as yours though!
Lovely
coetzeeh said:
Very very nice - such under rated cars.
Cheers! They might not quite have the wider appeal of the 105 series, but the transaxles are such interesting cars from an engineering stand-point, and the steering feel and balance are definitely something special.xyyman said:
That's beautiful and looks to be in excellent shape. Hope to see it at an event sometime, enjoy. 
Thanks , I definitely hope to take it to a few events when the weather picks up a bit.ian996 said:
Thanks! It's a VERY different drive to a GTV V6 (apologies for stating the obvious!) - strangely, it's both more raw than I expected and, in some ways, more civilised at the same time. I can't really explain it, but the upshot is, it's a really exhilarating drive, even without threatening any speed limits.
This is very much the reason I want one, the GTV has just about the right amount of power to be fun without having to go stupidly fast, so something a little older with a little less power and ultimate grip (and lovely RWD balance) is exactly what I want. And obviously with a busso in it... 
ian996 said:
coetzeeh said:
Very very nice - such under rated cars.
Cheers! They might not quite have the wider appeal of the 105 series, but the transaxles are such interesting cars from an engineering stand-point, and the steering feel and balance are definitely something special.arguti said:
that looks like an Alex Jupe prepared car - enjoy it.
Thanks - it's not actually one of his own restorations but, as you say, Alex did the fine-tuning and preparation. For a GTV6 fan, visiting his premises to view and then collect was like a couple of trips to a particularly well-stocked toy shop.Saw the Auto-Italia feature BTW and have now figured out that the NACA-Intake-ed bonnet bulge is the sign of a genuine ZA 3.0 litre (I'd heard of them, but never actually seen one before) .....very nice!
Mound Dawg said:
ian996 said:
coetzeeh said:
Very very nice - such under rated cars.
Cheers! They might not quite have the wider appeal of the 105 series, but the transaxles are such interesting cars from an engineering stand-point, and the steering feel and balance are definitely something special.ian996 said:
arguti said:
that looks like an Alex Jupe prepared car - enjoy it.
Thanks - it's not actually one of his own restorations but, as you say, Alex did the fine-tuning and preparation. For a GTV6 fan, visiting his premises to view and then collect was like a couple of trips to a particularly well-stocked toy shop.Saw the Auto-Italia feature BTW and have now figured out that the NACA-Intake-ed bonnet bulge is the sign of a genuine ZA 3.0 litre (I'd heard of them, but never actually seen one before) .....very nice!
PS Bob Wright does reproduction SA GTV 3.0 bonnets (the originals are fibreglass and less than perfect finish by the way)
Edited by arguti on Saturday 14th April 12:29
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