I’ve got an 88 Alfa spider and a 78 alfetta GTV. Just this week I bought a 76 fulvia coupe that has been fully restored. It might be the perfect 3 car garage.
.....I'm so glad I took the plunge and bought my '87 Bertone X1/9 this year. I am absolutely obsessed with it and it never fails to get looked at, waved at or given a thumbs up when out for a run! When the engine spins up, it really does feel like you're driving a little Ferrari!
I would recommend picking up a car abroad when the price is right and the communication is good with the seller. I picked up my BMW E28 525i in 2017 in Spain, wonderful seller, he was fluent in English, the car was rust free, only needed some minor work. I can tell you, to drive your new acquisition for 2000km, over the Pyrenees, crossing beautiful Spain and France, to cold and rainy Belgium was a trip I’ll never forget and it instantly bonds you with the car.
Going the other way not so much fun.I just imported my first post Brexit car to the EU and was hit with a 17% VAT bill. I suspect the UK gov’ are not quite so switched on.
Around 2008 i bought a '72 Alfa Giulia 1600 Super with 38k miles on it off a blokes drive for £500, put a head gasket on it, reconned the 4 brake calipers and didnt have to do a thing to it in 2 years. Best car ive ever owned, it looked great and drove superbly with the best gearbox ive ever used and ive driven a lot of stuff. Doubt prices will drop to that lol.
I had an X1/9. It was great when it worked. Had to wind the RHS headlamp up manually, the gearbox jumped out of reverse, and every so often if you turned the stereo on, it would kill the battery down to 0V! It got chopped in (for a FIAT Uno Turbo) when it failed the MOT because the previous owner had rivetted the floor in!
The Tipo is a great buy at that price and well worth giving some extra rust protection to by whoever purchases it. 150 BHP and light weight, I bet it goes and handles really well.
@@philipsparrow7977 So is my Peugeot 306, allegedly, but I still need to touch up now and then, especially around the wheel arches, and the drain channel on the roof had to be ground down, repainted and a plastic conduit stuck on to receive the top rubber seal.
@@Number27 yeah it comes as a surprise to my american friends how late cats became mandatory on all European cars and helps them understand the differences in the car markets. Small engined 80s and 90s hatchbacks made a lot more sense with 5 speed manual transmission and low exhaust restriction than they do with 3 or 4 speed autos, a smog pump and a cat.
I've had 2 fiat x19s,i saw one at the 87 Birmingham motor show and fell in love with them! I bought one when I was 16 years old and 3 weeks after my 17th birthday I passed my driving test and got it on the road! I'll never forget the day when I first went out in it, best day ever! Cracking little cars,but had gearbox problems with both!
I used to regular push start my neighbour's x1/9 for him on cold mornings, we went into central London in it one early autumn morning and it was hilarious, the induction noise right behind your head , a true baby Ferrari
You're dead wrong about never having heard of the Gamma Coupe, I went through a phase of desperately wanting one, but it wasn't to be. Breathtakingly beautiful.
I remember riding my bike to school past one every morning when I was a child. Even at that age I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. (And my dad drove a Citroën DS at the time, still found the Lancia more beautiful.)
I think that I have only ever seen 2 Gamma Coupes on the roads of Britain in the past 40yrs. It was a car on my shortlist, but an SM had to be the one.
My 1st year as an apprentice motor mechanic 1986 Australia ,i was so lucky to work under the best boss ,just a wonderful human ,i caught a train and a bus to get to work for two years and worked six days a week to support mum as dad had shot through years ago ,Ken my boss surprised me when i passed my probationary licence with hes Fiat ,a 1967 sports coupe ,it came with full 12 months registration and 12 months fully comp insurance ,was hes wifes ol car and he just gave it to me ,he wouldnt accept a cent for it and i feel AWFUL but i really wanted a Ford Falcon ,4 speed top loader 302/351 V8 and a 9 inch out back ,late 60s early 70s ,that was my dream car but i didnt want to dissapoint my boss as HE was so damm happy to gift me this ol Italian hairdressers car ,i drove it to work right up until i did my time and became fully qualified ,i eventually purchased a beatiful one owner Falcon and the Fiat got kicked into the back shed ,Ken passed away late 1990s but i couldnt part with the Fiat ,28 Fords and Holdens have come and gone but the Fiat will stay by my side till i croak it ,out off respect for just a wonderful boss
You deserve way more subscriptions! I’ve got a 1992 Ford Granada Scorpio, which I absolutely adore, and no expense is spared if the car needs it. I’m in a bind over whether to sell it or to get something more current; I’m in a real bind!
That Montecarlo in the thumbnail looks great with the Integrale headlamps and grille. Better than some of the 037 headlamp conversions that I've seen on Montys in the past.
Back in the 90s I had a 1984 Biturbo as my daily driver for 5 years. It only stranded me once when the pickup coil in the distributor failed when I tried to start it on a 5F degree night. It even got me home during an ice storm. I loved that car. It became unreliable after I hit a deer. I bought it when it had 26k miles on it and hit the deer at around 105k miles.
The Gamma coupe in the listing would be the Italian market 2.0L with 120hp most of the export ones were 2.5L 5 spd manual with 140hp and more torque. My '82 was in Champagne metallic (gold) the blue also looks good. Saw a Gamma engine in a jetboat, pistons about 4" across...no problem with right turns!!
Another great video Jack. I'm glad to say I have owned 2 of the cars on your list. In the late 80's I had the 1.3L Fiat X-19, what a brilliant handling car, wish I still had it. By the time I sold it, most of the floor panels were fibre glass 😁 I currently have the Maserati 4200 Cambiocorsa which I have owned for nearly 5 years. It's an absolutely amazing car. Beautiful design,amazing sound, great performance and so far has proved to be reliable. I just wish that when I use the performance, I could get more than 10 mpg, although 25 is achievable on motorway runs.
So many cool cars for so little money!........I think you'd be buying into heartache with a lot of these cars, but tinkering is all part of the experience! Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍
Growing up the neighbours thought my dad was a car dealer, he just loved Italian cars. I got to drive a 131, 500, 128,1600 Giulia, 2.0 alfetta, 33,145, 75,164,156, brera. They all had their own character and faults but on a sunny Sunday drive on b road they were great. Very different from the appliances on wheels we drive now
Fiat Tipo; that takes me back. School friend of mine had one, we'd drive back from rowing practice (yes we went to posh school) in it and generally hooligan around the lanes of south east england. When cornering I could swear the front wheels were gonna fold under the car, but they never did.
I am rebuilding my friends fiat uno turbo. I was always into German cars but I feel my next car will be Italian. Keep up with the great videos. They are brilliant.
We probably all know this but just in case, if anyone is interested in buying one of the cars mentioned here, make sure you do all the relevant history checks and research on the car. Jack has no affiliation with any of the sellers of these cars, he's just making the video for our enjoyment, showing us what cracking little cars we could have for the price of a boring old 3 series. Great video as always, good luck to all... *Just saw the end of the video... 🥴
Great video and very knowledgeable Cat in the field of pre millennium Fiats! My personal choice out of the list would be the Lancia montecarlo - just for the 037 potential
Thank you very much! I love all of your regular content, but also this vid as well as your insurance expert call from a while back for example. Keep up the great work!
Jack, the 75TS is in standard form body wise which included plastic arch and sill covers. The version with the body kit was the Veloce. Much more aggressive looking and the plastic bits were all body colour. Bumpers on post 87 TS and 3 Litre were grey smooth plastic with body coloured valances.
Very interesting video. Thank you, Jack. I think I would have gone for more recent, less rare models in RHD for sale in UK. Most people are very wary of importing LHD and old Italian cars unless they speak Italian. My choices would be Fiat Coupe, Barchetta and Abarth 124 or Alfa Romeo 916, GT, Brera, Spider, 147, Mito. I realise these don't make such interesting content but would be a more realistic prospect for most. Keep the videos coming.
Tipo 16v - fantastic. I’ve driven the 8v GT version - it was great fun, and when compared to the 145 I owned at the time (the Tipo was a courtesy car from an Alfa specialist I used to go to) very entertaining. Much as I adore the Gamma coupe, I’d rather look at one than own one - perhaps too many horror stories of things going wrong. Personally though, I’d go for either an Alfa GT coupe or 156 with a Busso.
Great video - I reckon the Fiat Barchetta is a worthy candidate. Handbuilt in Maggiore, looks great and is reliable. Look out for rust and noisy variators.
very enjoyable walk-through of neat Italian stock back to the late '60s... consider doing this seasonally (regardless of the market) so I remain undecided about buying.
Hi Jack. I had a 124 Coupe back in the early 90s. Mine was also a twin headlight model with the 1.8 twin cam engine. Much as I loved the car it was however in the rather unpleasant shade of beige. Had a sliding Webasto roof though. 😊
Jack, Autosportivo Bedford had a Sedicivalvole for sale they may collaborate for a test drive. Ant also has a Delta Integrale and an Uno Turbo I.e it might be worth giving them a shout if they still have the Tipo.
My dad was in the car business and his own car he barely drove was a Gamma coupe, I drove it a lot taking it going out on a Friday night, amazing car, unlike my dad I didn't like the looks, don't like the interior (which was destroyed one time when they stole the car radio )but when you drove it fast on B roads it was faster in the long corners than any car we drove back in the day, the front end grip was unmatched, only other Lancia's as the Beta and Delta could.
The Gamma Coupé had a low center of gravity which made the car extremely stable and safe even at high speed on curvy highways. The cruising speed with mine was above 160kph (~99 mph) and even at max speed of 195+ kph (~121 mph) you had the car always under control (where doable). Unlike the Trans Am or the Mach 2 which were suicidal at barely 120 kph on curvy Swiss highways. I called them sailships on wheels, and my GF back then refused to sit in them cuz she got seasick (her original words).
I so want a 3.0L 75 - still my perfect Alfa. Was on my way to buy one a few years ago in good nick for under AUD$9k, when the seller called mid journey to say it was gone. I went and bought the very next Alfa I saw, 81 GTV, which I still have but I'll forever be on the lookout for a 75. Would even go for twinnie, or 2.5.
I remember back in the 1980s my friend’s Dad had a gamma coupe literally sat in the garden doing nothing; broken. Never saw it do anything but sit in the garden gathering rust and moss. I think it’s succumbed to the power steering problem. It was in a metallic pink colour. The car couldn’t have been any older than a few years….
It's not on the list, but I just bought a Barchetta a few weeks ago from the netherlands. And other than getting shafted by the seller (a stealership, allegedly fiat specialist too) on the rust repair work we agreed on, I've had a laundry list of stuff break on the drive from rotterdam to maastricht to pick up a hardtop and then back to rotterdam to get on the ferry. Mainly electrical issues. Typical. I love it. It's looking like I'll be spending the winter under it doing rust repair.
@@Number27 I can't wait to get it sorted. Really early car too, first reg in march 95 (VIN #2244), red car, red leather seats, aircon (tho it doesn't work yet), mohair soft top + the hardtop It's definitely not going to remain stock however, way too many parts are NLA for that to be viable. Planning on a standalone ECU conversion (with possible full rewire), VVT-delete (variators are getting harder to find and the benefits of them are not worth the hassle), quaife LSD, colombo bariani cams, and strip every bit of moisture-loving foam insulation off the car to try and minimise future rust risk.
When i was a kid there was a Lancia Beta Monte Carlo round the corner from me i loved it…within 2yrs it literally melted into the street..absolute rust bucket..not surprised good ones are hard to find..
Car prices in the UK are nuts. I would probably need 5 times the space if I was living there. Great selection. Missing 2 cars here though: Alfa 166 and Fiat Coupe.
OMG! My Dad bought a used coupe XUW410T and a new saloon JPU???V (I think) when I was a wee lad, still had the Fiat 130 Coupe laid up. Business problems later all were gone by about 1982. Still fond memories at 52 yrs old!
regarding the Lancia Gamma Coupe, I remember one being offered around the trade in the summer of 1984. a stunning car, 5 or 6 years old and the trader wanted around £650 for it. no takers. its one that embeds itself in your long term memory.
I’ve always liked Fiat’s MR2, my uncle had one back in the day and said it arrived brand new from the dealer with rust bubbling through the paint! I’m sure it was fun when it worked.
Great list of italian cars, but I still think you can get a good Alfa GTV 3.0 (916) for 10000£, so that would be my first choice. Of the cars you mentioned, the Maserati 4.2 Coupe is the most desirable one but I think a 10000£ example will give nothing but trouble. Instead, with that money you should be able to get a very good Alfa 75 TS, a car that will offer so much pleasure to drive. Here's my ranking list of the cars you mentioned: Alfa Romeo 75 TS Alfa Romeo Spider Maserati 4.2 Coupe Maserati 420i Biturbo Lancia Gamma Coupe Lancia Thema 8.32 Fiat 124 Coupe Alfa Romeo Alfetta Lancia Beta Montecarlo Fiat Tipo 2.0 16V Fiat X1/9
I have always admired the Pininfarina styled Lancia Gamma, along with the Cadillac Allante and Rolls Royce Camargue, pushing the boundaries of a what is traditionally thought of as classically beautiful and the more angular plain and simple design yet very effective and modern
Hi Jack! Not Italian cars, but what is your opinion about these classic cars? Volvo 480 Turbo, VW Corrado (either G60 or VR6), Citroen BX GTi, Talbot Murena? Are they worth to preserving for the future?
I had a lovely 124 Coupe BC back in the 90's and it was a classic then. The Racing Red Tipo looks like a good buy, it's a phase 1 car as well which I prefer over the later 3dr model.
Jack. Thank you for allowing me to view some cars that l will never see here in the U.S. I do seem to like the oddball Italian cars. But in all fairness, I am half Italian.
I test drove a Gamma Coupe back in 2019. Gorgeous-looking car, but suffered from significant scuttle shake. I would add the Fiat Barchetta, Lancia Dedra and Delta tipo 836 to this list, all cars I have owned in the past.
Sedicivalvole used to be one of my dream cars. However I have now Delta HPE with the same engine. And I am happy with it. Wide body Delta looks better. I am happy you have put Gamma Coupe on the list. Love this car. I have four in total (one is for spare parts). I am considering to convert one into targa roof version. If you seek for videos on Boxer Lancia Club channel, there is one white Gamma Coupe converted to targa. It's completely different style than original T-roof from Pininfarina, it has standard door window frames, it's much like Beta Spider. But nevertheless, it's cool. You have mentioned Fiat 124 Coupe and it's superb looking car. But 124 Spider could be also obtain within price limit and I think it should have been on the list too.
the Lancia Thema was part of the combined efforts/project that also brought the Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo 164 and the Saab 9000 to market all at the same time. Alfa implemented their own suspension, readjusting the angle of the front struts to allow for a lower, sleeker hood line that the other 3 marques. As for that Ferrari 8.32 engine - while its cool due to the Ferrari association, the Alfa Busso 3L 24v really was a better, more powerful engine, and easier/cheaper to maintain.
Great video, but did no one tell you, never work with animals! Most of those would be in my dream Italian hangar full of cars. The Maserati for me though, would be the Shamal
I think any early 70s Fiat is a great buy. Not just the best handling but among the best looking of the day. Italian cars were at their aesthetic peak then. In my opinion! I admit, though, that I'd forgotten the Alfetta - a stunner and something I may aspire to. As for the Thema - wow!
Thanks for the video. Im in Australia and currently looking for my first car. Ive looked at some fiat x1-9s and alfa romeo alfetta gtv 2000s. So what do we think about this? For something more sensible i might go for one of the 90s gtv's?
Here at least the 90s GTVs are incredible value. They are fun cars too.. and don't dismiss the 2L, its still a great engine and handles better than the Busso that everyone wants..
Some great cars there. I've always wanted a Lancia Monte Carlo. There's a couple I would add to the list: Alfa 156 GTA, Lancia Beta coupe. I do wonder why prices are dropping. Is it lack of suitable fuel availability or ULEZ?
It's a shame they put only a 120 HP 2-liter FIAT in the Beta Montecarlo, that Beauty deserved more love. Even less luck had the US variant (renamed Scorpion due to the Chevy Monte Carlo) that got only a 1.8-liter motor with 80 HP due to the stricter US regulations (if I remember correctly, that was the era of the US muscle cars without muscles).
I bought a 1984 Maserati Biturbo for 7.500€ last year, very nice condition and a very underrated car, BUT: as soon as you have to do some repairs it will cost a little fortune! The LANCIA Thema 8.32 you mentioned in the clip may also have a long list of repairs to be done and don’t be fooled by the low price. Bringing the car back to old glory will certainly cost you some 15-20k easily. A motor revision alone will cost a mere fortune if done well and you need to do that well. Many parts are impossible to find now and if you finde them you have to pay them quite high. Spend more in the beginning means spending less later 😅
And here I am looking at 4200 GTs again. Must. Resist. Temptation. Can we give an honourable mention to the late 90s Alfa GTV and Spider? Fun, distinctive and with some of the finest engines ever built. Prices are on the rise but still very affordable. My 99 Spider in Zoe Yellow cost just £3k and never fails to make me smile.
Thank you Jack for demounting ariel from rc car so i dont think its a stray hair and im trying to brush it off great video as always i had a teapot 16v miss that
Road Test List:
FIAT X1/9 : studio.th-cam.com/users/videoGr6aX6HkXzE/edit
FIAT 124 Coupe: th-cam.com/video/iuTRThThcw8/w-d-xo.html
Alfa 75: th-cam.com/video/BMi-ofc-mvw/w-d-xo.html
Alfa Spider: th-cam.com/video/7QWOp9L6r7s/w-d-xo.html
Alfetta: th-cam.com/video/QZ4MmeEQFy4/w-d-xo.html
Lancia Montecarlo: th-cam.com/video/nGKXgZbKWY4/w-d-xo.html
Lancia Thema 8.32: th-cam.com/video/-w8gQrmFe8U/w-d-xo.html
Jack and Pistachio, looking very Bond Villain!
Never trust the man with the white cat!
😆😆😆😆😆 cat
BOND: Do you expect me to talk...? GOLDFINGER: “No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die”
@@DaDa-David no Mr Bond I expect you to buy an Alfa Romeo
@@SA-zoom1 Proper just LOL :-)
I’ve got an 88 Alfa spider and a 78 alfetta GTV. Just this week I bought a 76 fulvia coupe that has been fully restored. It might be the perfect 3 car garage.
You should buy the Lancia Gamma Coupe for channel content, Jack. It would be a gift that keeps on giving!
And restomod it, class looking car.
Or a gift that keeps on taking...
best idea ever!
.....I'm so glad I took the plunge and bought my '87 Bertone X1/9 this year. I am absolutely obsessed with it and it never fails to get looked at, waved at or given a thumbs up when out for a run! When the engine spins up, it really does feel like you're driving a little Ferrari!
I would recommend picking up a car abroad when the price is right and the communication is good with the seller.
I picked up my BMW E28 525i in 2017 in Spain, wonderful seller, he was fluent in English, the car was rust free, only needed some minor work.
I can tell you, to drive your new acquisition for 2000km, over the Pyrenees, crossing beautiful Spain and France, to cold and rainy Belgium was a trip I’ll never forget and it instantly bonds you with the car.
Sounds like a brilliant buying experience. Great stuff.
Going the other way not so much fun.I just imported my first post Brexit car to the EU and was hit with a 17% VAT bill. I suspect the UK gov’ are not quite so switched on.
What a fantastic video.
No fluff, just great advice. 👍
Around 2008 i bought a '72 Alfa Giulia 1600 Super with 38k miles on it off a blokes drive for £500, put a head gasket on it, reconned the 4 brake calipers and didnt have to do a thing to it in 2 years.
Best car ive ever owned, it looked great and drove superbly with the best gearbox ive ever used and ive driven a lot of stuff.
Doubt prices will drop to that lol.
That Gamma Coupe is spectacular. I used to see one running around Durban on my morning commute when they were new.
I had an X1/9. It was great when it worked. Had to wind the RHS headlamp up manually, the gearbox jumped out of reverse, and every so often if you turned the stereo on, it would kill the battery down to 0V! It got chopped in (for a FIAT Uno Turbo) when it failed the MOT because the previous owner had rivetted the floor in!
All it needs is a Honda K20 engine swap with ITBs and a few bolt ons. A X1/9 with 250 dead bolt reliable HP would be a nice weekend warrior.
@@joeblack007 the common conversion back in the day was an Uno Turbo engine. The most impressive I saw was a Busso V6!
Great video Jack! Don’t forget that bringing cars into the U.K. you will pay vat, duty and shipping costs! Trust me these hurt!😮
The Tipo is a great buy at that price and well worth giving some extra rust protection to by whoever purchases it. 150 BHP and light weight, I bet it goes and handles really well.
@@michaelarchangel1163 not really, they're galvanised.
@@philipsparrow7977 So is my Peugeot 306, allegedly, but I still need to touch up now and then, especially around the wheel arches, and the drain channel on the roof had to be ground down, repainted and a plastic conduit stuck on to receive the top rubber seal.
Isn't that basically Alfa 147?
😊 great co presenter...they are purrfect ....odd most cars mentioned do not have cats 😊
Hubnut used to, I think Jack is now the only one! 😊
😆😆😆😆😆 indeed they don’t!!
@@Number27 yeah it comes as a surprise to my american friends how late cats became mandatory on all European cars and helps them understand the differences in the car markets. Small engined 80s and 90s hatchbacks made a lot more sense with 5 speed manual transmission and low exhaust restriction than they do with 3 or 4 speed autos, a smog pump and a cat.
I've had 2 fiat x19s,i saw one at the 87 Birmingham motor show and fell in love with them! I bought one when I was 16 years old and 3 weeks after my 17th birthday I passed my driving test and got it on the road! I'll never forget the day when I first went out in it, best day ever! Cracking little cars,but had gearbox problems with both!
Synchro in second per chance ??
I had 2 as well. 1st was a nightmare, 2nd was okay until I totalled it. 165/70 tyres and mid-engine were a guarantee for disaster.
I used to regular push start my neighbour's x1/9 for him on cold mornings, we went into central London in it one early autumn morning and it was hilarious, the induction noise right behind your head , a true baby Ferrari
@@kidoctanea reluctant 2nd gear and also popping out in reverse are standard traits, sadly
You're dead wrong about never having heard of the Gamma Coupe, I went through a phase of desperately wanting one, but it wasn't to be. Breathtakingly beautiful.
I remember riding my bike to school past one every morning when I was a child. Even at that age I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. (And my dad drove a Citroën DS at the time, still found the Lancia more beautiful.)
Yes, never assume that a petrolheaded audience have not heard of things
I think that I have only ever seen 2 Gamma Coupes on the roads of Britain in the past 40yrs. It was a car on my shortlist, but an SM had to be the one.
My 1st year as an apprentice motor mechanic 1986 Australia ,i was so lucky to work under the best boss ,just a wonderful human ,i caught a train and a bus to get to work for two years and worked six days a week to support mum as dad had shot through years ago ,Ken my boss surprised me when i passed my probationary licence with hes Fiat ,a 1967 sports coupe ,it came with full 12 months registration and 12 months fully comp insurance ,was hes wifes ol car and he just gave it to me ,he wouldnt accept a cent for it and i feel AWFUL but i really wanted a Ford Falcon ,4 speed top loader 302/351 V8 and a 9 inch out back ,late 60s early 70s ,that was my dream car but i didnt want to dissapoint my boss as HE was so damm happy to gift me this ol Italian hairdressers car ,i drove it to work right up until i did my time and became fully qualified ,i eventually purchased a beatiful one owner Falcon and the Fiat got kicked into the back shed ,Ken passed away late 1990s but i couldnt part with the Fiat ,28 Fords and Holdens have come and gone but the Fiat will stay by my side till i croak it ,out off respect for just a wonderful boss
You deserve way more subscriptions! I’ve got a 1992 Ford Granada Scorpio, which I absolutely adore, and no expense is spared if the car needs it.
I’m in a bind over whether to sell it or to get something more current; I’m in a real bind!
That Montecarlo in the thumbnail looks great with the Integrale headlamps and grille. Better than some of the 037 headlamp conversions that I've seen on Montys in the past.
Back in the 90s I had a 1984 Biturbo as my daily driver for 5 years. It only stranded me once when the pickup coil in the distributor failed when I tried to start it on a 5F degree night. It even got me home during an ice storm. I loved that car. It became unreliable after I hit a deer. I bought it when it had 26k miles on it and hit the deer at around 105k miles.
That 124 looks amazing. We didn't get many coupes in the States. So it has that forbidden fruit appeal.
Ultimate guide to complete money pits. Thanks Jack!
Amusingly, I’ve been watching most of those eBay sales . My mind changes every 5 minutes to which one I want . Frustratingly, I want them all !
If you're looking for a classic Italian car, my GTV6 is on Car and Classic right now. 2 days left to bid.
Great video as always. I love it when your cat randomly appears ❤
I always wanted a 124, yellow is my favourite colour for these.
The Gamma coupe in the listing would be the Italian market 2.0L with 120hp most of the export ones were 2.5L 5 spd manual with 140hp and more torque. My '82 was in Champagne metallic (gold) the blue also looks good. Saw a Gamma engine in a jetboat, pistons about 4" across...no problem with right turns!!
Another great video Jack. I'm glad to say I have owned 2 of the cars on your list. In the late 80's I had the 1.3L Fiat X-19, what a brilliant handling car, wish I still had it. By the time I sold it, most of the floor panels were fibre glass 😁 I currently have the Maserati 4200 Cambiocorsa which I have owned for nearly 5 years. It's an absolutely amazing car. Beautiful design,amazing sound, great performance and so far has proved to be reliable. I just wish that when I use the performance, I could get more than 10 mpg, although 25 is achievable on motorway runs.
Jack, owned FIVE X1/9s over the years. Superb packaging, safe and fun around our stunning Welsh mountain roads 👌
So many cool cars for so little money!........I think you'd be buying into heartache with a lot of these cars, but tinkering is all part of the experience! Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍
I think the Gamma would be the most problematic..
Yes, the technical inspection mentioned in the Lancia Beta Montecarlo ad is exactly what you said, the Spanish MOT.
Growing up the neighbours thought my dad was a car dealer, he just loved Italian cars. I got to drive a 131, 500, 128,1600 Giulia, 2.0 alfetta, 33,145, 75,164,156, brera. They all had their own character and faults but on a sunny Sunday drive on b road they were great. Very different from the appliances on wheels we drive now
Fiat Tipo; that takes me back. School friend of mine had one, we'd drive back from rowing practice (yes we went to posh school) in it and generally hooligan around the lanes of south east england. When cornering I could swear the front wheels were gonna fold under the car, but they never did.
I am rebuilding my friends fiat uno turbo. I was always into German cars but I feel my next car will be Italian. Keep up with the great videos. They are brilliant.
We probably all know this but just in case, if anyone is interested in buying one of the cars mentioned here, make sure you do all the relevant history checks and research on the car. Jack has no affiliation with any of the sellers of these cars, he's just making the video for our enjoyment, showing us what cracking little cars we could have for the price of a boring old 3 series. Great video as always, good luck to all...
*Just saw the end of the video... 🥴
My dad had exact same Tipo sedicivalvole in late 90's. It was absolutely amazing car. I remember how nippy this car was. Great memories!
great video, please do more of these affordable classics vids even if not italian ,.. and yes i’m italian 🇮🇹 😀
Great video and very knowledgeable Cat in the field of pre millennium Fiats!
My personal choice out of the list would be the Lancia montecarlo - just for the 037 potential
Thank you very much! I love all of your regular content, but also this vid as well as your insurance expert call from a while back for example. Keep up the great work!
Just a brilliant episode, Jack - great fun to peruse some affordable options.
Love this. Thanks, mate. Suggestion - best Italian car interiors vid. Some of them in this vid were fabulous. 🥂
Yeah would love to do that!!
Great video , some terrific cars . What on earth are current makers thinking . Also loved the Blofeld impersonation.
I bought two Gamma Coupes. I sold one off for a profit and the blue one was absolutely brilliant, never let me down once!
Very interesting video, gotta love the cat!
😆 cat 🐈 he’s a little shit! Love him though
@@Number27 😂
Great video Jack! Honestly .. all Italian cars are great value.
Jack, the 75TS is in standard form body wise which included plastic arch and sill covers. The version with the body kit was the Veloce. Much more aggressive looking and the plastic bits were all body colour. Bumpers on post 87 TS and 3 Litre were grey smooth plastic with body coloured valances.
Very interesting video. Thank you, Jack. I think I would have gone for more recent, less rare models in RHD for sale in UK. Most people are very wary of importing LHD and old Italian cars unless they speak Italian. My choices would be Fiat Coupe, Barchetta and Abarth 124 or Alfa Romeo 916, GT, Brera, Spider, 147, Mito. I realise these don't make such interesting content but would be a more realistic prospect for most. Keep the videos coming.
Tipo 16v - fantastic. I’ve driven the 8v GT version - it was great fun, and when compared to the 145 I owned at the time (the Tipo was a courtesy car from an Alfa specialist I used to go to) very entertaining. Much as I adore the Gamma coupe, I’d rather look at one than own one - perhaps too many horror stories of things going wrong. Personally though, I’d go for either an Alfa GT coupe or 156 with a Busso.
5:45 Every time someone says "speed and power" a farmer in his tractor gets a warm feeling and sheds a little tear.
Great video - I reckon the Fiat Barchetta is a worthy candidate. Handbuilt in Maggiore, looks great and is reliable. Look out for rust and noisy variators.
Good call!!
@@Number27Future classic 500/ 595 abarth Esesse
very enjoyable walk-through of neat Italian stock back to the late '60s... consider doing this seasonally (regardless of the market) so I remain undecided about buying.
My '83 Alfa GTV6 is on a Car and Classic auction right now. 2 days left to go! Bid while you can!
Thanks for the video. Some interesting choices (can’t say I agree with them all) but very informative.
Hi Jack. I had a 124 Coupe back in the early 90s. Mine was also a twin headlight model with the 1.8 twin cam engine. Much as I loved the car it was however in the rather unpleasant shade of beige. Had a sliding Webasto roof though. 😊
Another great video, spoilt for choice with that selection. If I had to choose.. I can’t! Any of the Maserati’s ❤
Great video, love this stuff. Really interesting automotive content.
Jack, Autosportivo Bedford had a Sedicivalvole for sale they may collaborate for a test drive. Ant also has a Delta Integrale and an Uno Turbo I.e it might be worth giving them a shout if they still have the Tipo.
My dad was in the car business and his own car he barely drove was a Gamma coupe, I drove it a lot taking it going out on a Friday night, amazing car, unlike my dad I didn't like the looks, don't like the interior (which was destroyed one time when they stole the car radio )but when you drove it fast on B roads it was faster in the long corners than any car we drove back in the day, the front end grip was unmatched, only other Lancia's as the Beta and Delta could.
The Gamma Coupé had a low center of gravity which made the car extremely stable and safe even at high speed on curvy highways. The cruising speed with mine was above 160kph (~99 mph) and even at max speed of 195+ kph (~121 mph) you had the car always under control (where doable). Unlike the Trans Am or the Mach 2 which were suicidal at barely 120 kph on curvy Swiss highways. I called them sailships on wheels, and my GF back then refused to sit in them cuz she got seasick (her original words).
I so want a 3.0L 75 - still my perfect Alfa. Was on my way to buy one a few years ago in good nick for under AUD$9k, when the seller called mid journey to say it was gone. I went and bought the very next Alfa I saw, 81 GTV, which I still have but I'll forever be on the lookout for a 75. Would even go for twinnie, or 2.5.
I remember back in the 1980s my friend’s Dad had a gamma coupe literally sat in the garden doing nothing; broken. Never saw it do anything but sit in the garden gathering rust and moss.
I think it’s succumbed to the power steering problem. It was in a metallic pink colour.
The car couldn’t have been any older than a few years….
Your kitty cat is so awesome ❤
It's not on the list, but I just bought a Barchetta a few weeks ago from the netherlands. And other than getting shafted by the seller (a stealership, allegedly fiat specialist too) on the rust repair work we agreed on, I've had a laundry list of stuff break on the drive from rotterdam to maastricht to pick up a hardtop and then back to rotterdam to get on the ferry. Mainly electrical issues. Typical. I love it. It's looking like I'll be spending the winter under it doing rust repair.
Sorry to hear that but a Barchetta at least will be a lot of fun once youve fixed it up!
@@Number27 I can't wait to get it sorted.
Really early car too, first reg in march 95 (VIN #2244), red car, red leather seats, aircon (tho it doesn't work yet), mohair soft top + the hardtop
It's definitely not going to remain stock however, way too many parts are NLA for that to be viable.
Planning on a standalone ECU conversion (with possible full rewire), VVT-delete (variators are getting harder to find and the benefits of them are not worth the hassle), quaife LSD, colombo bariani cams, and strip every bit of moisture-loving foam insulation off the car to try and minimise future rust risk.
When i was a kid there was a Lancia Beta Monte Carlo round the corner from me i loved it…within 2yrs it literally melted into the street..absolute rust bucket..not surprised good ones are hard to find..
Thanks for this video! Great images and information!
Car prices in the UK are nuts. I would probably need 5 times the space if I was living there.
Great selection. Missing 2 cars here though: Alfa 166 and Fiat Coupe.
Great suggestions, in my opinion it is a buyers market for the coupé Fiat, another underrated car with classic style.
OMG! My Dad bought a used coupe XUW410T and a new saloon JPU???V (I think) when I was a wee lad, still had the Fiat 130 Coupe laid up. Business problems later all were gone by about 1982. Still fond memories at 52 yrs old!
That 124 looks gorgeous.
regarding the Lancia Gamma Coupe, I remember one being offered around the trade in the summer of 1984. a stunning car, 5 or 6 years old and the trader wanted around £650 for it. no takers. its one that embeds itself in your long term memory.
I’ve always liked Fiat’s MR2, my uncle had one back in the day and said it arrived brand new from the dealer with rust bubbling through the paint! I’m sure it was fun when it worked.
I never saw you for a cat person, Jack. We'd love to see more of Pistachio in your home video's. He seems very attached to you 😊.
Great list of italian cars, but I still think you can get a good Alfa GTV 3.0 (916) for 10000£, so that would be my first choice. Of the cars you mentioned, the Maserati 4.2 Coupe is the most desirable one but I think a 10000£ example will give nothing but trouble. Instead, with that money you should be able to get a very good Alfa 75 TS, a car that will offer so much pleasure to drive.
Here's my ranking list of the cars you mentioned:
Alfa Romeo 75 TS
Alfa Romeo Spider
Maserati 4.2 Coupe
Maserati 420i Biturbo
Lancia Gamma Coupe
Lancia Thema 8.32
Fiat 124 Coupe
Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Lancia Beta Montecarlo
Fiat Tipo 2.0 16V
Fiat X1/9
I've been driving since 1980 and can't ever recall seeing a Gamma Coupe on the road. There are currently only 5 taxed in the UK...
I have always admired the Pininfarina styled Lancia Gamma, along with the Cadillac Allante and Rolls Royce Camargue, pushing the boundaries of a what is traditionally thought of as classically beautiful and the more angular plain and simple design yet very effective and modern
Hi Jack! Not Italian cars, but what is your opinion about these classic cars? Volvo 480 Turbo, VW Corrado (either G60 or VR6), Citroen BX GTi, Talbot Murena? Are they worth to preserving for the future?
Good stuff Jack, time to get an adblocker installed maybe?
I had a lovely 124 Coupe BC back in the 90's and it was a classic then. The Racing Red Tipo looks like a good buy, it's a phase 1 car as well which I prefer over the later 3dr model.
Jack. Thank you for allowing me to view some cars that l will never see here in the U.S. I do seem to like the oddball Italian cars. But in all fairness, I am half Italian.
Great choices Jack, I would happily own any of them.
Looking like a bond villan in tonight's video 👨🦳 🐱
🤣🤣🤣
Is Pistachio available to inspect future purchases?
I test drove a Gamma Coupe back in 2019. Gorgeous-looking car, but suffered from significant scuttle shake. I would add the Fiat Barchetta, Lancia Dedra and Delta tipo 836 to this list, all cars I have owned in the past.
Sedicivalvole used to be one of my dream cars. However I have now Delta HPE with the same engine. And I am happy with it. Wide body Delta looks better.
I am happy you have put Gamma Coupe on the list. Love this car. I have four in total (one is for spare parts). I am considering to convert one into targa roof version. If you seek for videos on Boxer Lancia Club channel, there is one white Gamma Coupe converted to targa. It's completely different style than original T-roof from Pininfarina, it has standard door window frames, it's much like Beta Spider. But nevertheless, it's cool.
You have mentioned Fiat 124 Coupe and it's superb looking car. But 124 Spider could be also obtain within price limit and I think it should have been on the list too.
I think the sweet spot for transaxle Alfas is still the Giulietta Nova, decisive styling, but sort of revolutionary and usually cheaper than the 75.
The 75 you have does indeed have a factory fitted body kit. My dad had the exact same car. With the body kit and wheels it is a '75 Veloce'
the Lancia Thema was part of the combined efforts/project that also brought the Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo 164 and the Saab 9000 to market all at the same time. Alfa implemented their own suspension, readjusting the angle of the front struts to allow for a lower, sleeker hood line that the other 3 marques. As for that Ferrari 8.32 engine - while its cool due to the Ferrari association, the Alfa Busso 3L 24v really was a better, more powerful engine, and easier/cheaper to maintain.
Great video, but did no one tell you, never work with animals! Most of those would be in my dream Italian hangar full of cars. The Maserati for me though, would be the Shamal
I think any early 70s Fiat is a great buy. Not just the best handling but among the best looking of the day. Italian cars were at their aesthetic peak then. In my opinion! I admit, though, that I'd forgotten the Alfetta - a stunner and something I may aspire to. As for the Thema - wow!
Lovely honest enthusiasm !!
Classic Italian cars just have that timeless unique styling to them, such a classy look that only comes out of Italy!
Thanks for the video. Im in Australia and currently looking for my first car. Ive looked at some fiat x1-9s and alfa romeo alfetta gtv 2000s. So what do we think about this? For something more sensible i might go for one of the 90s gtv's?
Here at least the 90s GTVs are incredible value. They are fun cars too.. and don't dismiss the 2L, its still a great engine and handles better than the Busso that everyone wants..
Either of those Lancia I'd be thrilled to own.
I appreciate your Google search history based on the ads for Nikon gear 📷
Some great cars there. I've always wanted a Lancia Monte Carlo. There's a couple I would add to the list: Alfa 156 GTA, Lancia Beta coupe. I do wonder why prices are dropping. Is it lack of suitable fuel availability or ULEZ?
It's a shame they put only a 120 HP 2-liter FIAT in the Beta Montecarlo, that Beauty deserved more love. Even less luck had the US variant (renamed Scorpion due to the Chevy Monte Carlo) that got only a 1.8-liter motor with 80 HP due to the stricter US regulations (if I remember correctly, that was the era of the US muscle cars without muscles).
God that Alfetta... I'm drooling.
I bought a 1984 Maserati Biturbo for 7.500€ last year, very nice condition and a very underrated car, BUT: as soon as you have to do some repairs it will cost a little fortune! The LANCIA Thema 8.32 you mentioned in the clip may also have a long list of repairs to be done and don’t be fooled by the low price. Bringing the car back to old glory will certainly cost you some 15-20k easily. A motor revision alone will cost a mere fortune if done well and you need to do that well. Many parts are impossible to find now and if you finde them you have to pay them quite high. Spend more in the beginning means spending less later 😅
Great idea for a different kind of video. Hope to see more like this.
I think the Alfetta Motronic has VVT so it's a good engine to get. Very veri mild mods and you're at a very usable and respectable 140 bhp.
And here I am looking at 4200 GTs again. Must. Resist. Temptation.
Can we give an honourable mention to the late 90s Alfa GTV and Spider? Fun, distinctive and with some of the finest engines ever built. Prices are on the rise but still very affordable. My 99 Spider in Zoe Yellow cost just £3k and never fails to make me smile.
Good shout, the 916 series GTVs were great
Really appreciate Pistachio's insights.
He knows what he’s talking about …
I was looking at the white 75 only last week. It does need an inch or so taken out of the front ride height but that aside it looked peachy.
Thank you Jack for demounting ariel from rc car so i dont think its a stray hair and im trying to brush it off great video as always i had a teapot 16v miss that