I’ve owned 13 different Alfa’s and they were all addictive to drive. The amazing sound of my 1986 GTV6 is something I will remember on my deathbed. Some Alfa’s are more problematic than others, it often comes down to each individual car. When they’re well maintained they’re Heaven. One BIG problem is owners who don’t take care of them like they should. FOLLOWING the owners manual to the letter makes a huge difference. I always changed my oil before it needed changing. Alfa’s are like marrying the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, who also is a lot of fun and very interesting to talk to....and after a while you discover she is bipolar. An Alfa can be an ordeal to own, but you can’t imagine your life without it.
@@drg6161 Thanks! I’m a mechanic who only works on European cars, and I drive Alfa’s in dry weather, otherwise I drive Toyota’s. I live in Connecticut which means that most of the year I drive my Toyota 4-Runner. If I could drive Alfa’s daily I would, but I would’ve burned through a lot more of them by now. I have owned BMW’s and Porsche’s, and as great as most of them were to drive, none of them come close to Alfa’s as far as looks feel and character. It’s amazing how much like Italian & German cars are like Italian & German (not the American ones) people. Italians are lively and love beautiful things, Germans tend to be boring and orderly. Germans will show up to your house for dinner on time, but the Italians are the ones that will be fun and talkative. A good way I describe all the Alfa owners I’ve done work for is that they all gripe about problems they’ve had, then turn right around and start talking about buying another Alfa. Another great Italian car that we work on are Lancia’s, and again, it all depends on the model and year on how good or bad they are. They’re usually beautiful and amazing to drive. The main concerns are rust and electrics, all of which can be easily fixed. On older cars the electrics should be stripped and replaced with modern components. THE most incredible car I ever drove was a 1971 Maserati Ghibli that my grandfather owned. It cost $22,000 in 1971, now it would be worth $500,000 or more for a really good one. It was also the most beautiful car, right up there with the Ferrari 365gtb/4 (Daytona) or the Lamborghini Miura. I had it up to 130 on the German autobahn and it was rock steady. Even if I could afford one now, I wouldn’t buy one simply because of its age and the parts supply. For instance, if something happens to the massive rear window, there are no replacements available.
@@Mike-rk8px it´s true but in the 30´s of the last century, much more cars were perfect to drive in the 70´s or second alf of the 60´s where some models were upgraded and my favorite cars you refer to the daytona and the miura ,about the back window i can give you a contac in Italia where they still make back windows for most of the sportive italian cars
Some of the best modifications can be easily undone, too. We had our car set up for motorsports play, and now that we are done, changing back to stock will be very simple.
First review I’ve seen by someone who knows these cars intimately. The soft rear, positive views on the Spica injection, rust, gearbox, handling, engine of the 1750 being smoothest, etc. were all spot on. Kudos.
An intuitive and well balanced critic of the 105.. Out of interest the 101 Guilia was basically used for the mechanical development of the 105.All the tips this lad gives on care warming up etc is spot on.Have used my 101 now in Europe for half a century. Still sound and turns heads even today. Forza Alfa 🇬🇧
It's so much fun to drive that car. Literally everybody smiles at you when they see you, young people, old people, everyone, even though it's actually pretty loud.
The word “FUN” sums up Alfa’s perfectly. I own a 1972 GTV coupe in electric blue with a black interior. I’ve never owned a car to impress others, or to attract women, I buy cars that I love. Alfa’s are just like Italy: incredibly beautiful, full of history, endlessly fascinating, lots of fun, full of romance. If a car to you is just a mode of transportation, buy a Toyota Camry. If you want to have your mind blown, get an Alfa or something else Italian. They require dedication to proper maintenance, but they also reward you for it in spades.
When I was stationed in Germany in the early 1980's I saw this interesting little car on the lemon lot on base and it was a 1968 Alfa 1300 GT Junior. It had been restored years earlier in Italy by a US Naval officer. Painted brown, probably my least favorite color, w black interior. No apparent rust (I didn't really look that hard). I bought it and absolutely loved the way it drove and the manual gear box. Down on power for sure but it sounded like a race car going through the gears. I installed a back window with defogger option from a later car, a set of ATS Mag wheels, Bosch driving lights on the front bumper, and some later GTV bucket seats and really loved the car. When swapping the seats I discovered air where the back of the bucket seat was supposed to bolt to the floor (pretended I didn't see it). Brought my newborn son home from the hospital in it (wife still hasn't forgiven me). I dragged that little car around my apartment parking space by a lug nut trying to get the wheels off before I finally snapped the lug off and realized the wheels on that side of the car were reverse threaded (nope I didn't replace that lug with an original but did tell the next owner about it). Only sold it because reassigned stateside when father passed and didn't have the time investigate shipping the Alfa. Probably my favorite little sports car and I had a few.
Back in the early 70's I bought a 69 Alfa Spider 1750 with SPICA mechanical fuel injection. I love how he talks about the light touch on the shifter. The comments about how revvy that engine was is so spot on, too. Everywhere at 4 grand but, warm it up first! Easiest top to work. Loved the look of the dash more than that of the GTV. The gauges canted towards the driver. Boy, I wish I still owned that car and it has little to do with how much it might be worth today. Just a fun car to drive!
I have seen these cars many many times, and each time I can't see any flaws. They are perfect. Good looking, nice size, great from any angle. They are in the short list of perfect cars.
Fabulous review of a sports car we enjoyed in 1963 1300 ,1966/7 duetto 1600 and a 1971 1750 spider. Pretty close mechanically of the GTV...we cheered on in trans am during those years. My dad always loved his alfas .. Really great review and insights!
One of the best cars I ever owned. Purchased mine brand new in 1974. Beige over tan. Being new it was unmolested and everything about it was exciting and near to perfection for a driver.
This was the ONE car of this era that I'd wanted since childhood. Sadly at the current prices there are a lot of other cars I'd much rather, and do currently, own. I really wish a decent driver's condition 105 like the one in this video could still be had for 25k, as it would be in my garage if that were the case.
when I was a kid maybe 13 years old around 1983 or so a man a block or two away had one of these cars parked in his car port. I knew that that car was special . There is something about the size and lines of this car that just makes it classic . I would love to have one . It would look perfect parked beside my 240z.
They're not that fragile, not sure why he made such a point of that. The dashes crack, but interior isn't "fragile". They're around 50 years old, so yeah, let it get up to temp before you beat on it, but they like being driven hard. If something does break, parts are plenty available and reasonably priced. Research well and inspect thoroughly so you know what you're getting into, but it's not like it going to be falling apart or breaking if you buy a good one and don't do everything "just so".
I own one. Restored it top to bottom. It is not fragile. The engine is a blast and has plenty of robustness. Sheet metal is typical from the 70's and they do rust, as do all European, Japanese, and US cars from that era. The car is light and handles very well. After market is the best it has ever been. The 2.0 litre, in my opinion, is the best option.
I owned a 1972 GTV2000 and they are not fragile... also almost all stainless steel not sure what he's talking about re-chroming... can't think of anything that is chromed in the first place. They are very high quality cars for the era.
The first Hagerty Buyers Guide I found was the MGA (I've an Australian CKD MGB); and since them I sought out all of the reviews that Sam has done. Sir, your knowledge and infectious passion is is quite simply sublime. You are an absolute credit to to Hagerty and these reviews are some of the most informative and entertaining viewing on TH-cam. And while there must be >200,000 MGBs in the States if you want to review one built upside down then you only need say the word.
1971 1750 GTV. The trick for the head gaskets was to re-torque the head bolts about every 6k miles. Add some 10mm camshafts, Some Bobcor headers, replace the Spica injection with 40mm Webers, bigger front sway bar, new shorter length stiffer springs all around, pin the rear bushings, remove all excess weight, get some 205 Pirelli's mounted on 5 spoke Italian wheels, and have your transmission personally rebuilt by Horst Kwech. Oh yeah.... build custom front and rear spoilers, mount 4 Alfa curved velocity stacks to your Webers inside the Alfa ram air box and put a duct to the front grill......some parts compliment$ of Ausca Engineering. Then drive the whole shebang over to see the races at Road America, Elkhart Lake. Fairly easy to do 140mph and corners were nothing but shits and giggles.
A guy in South Africa put a Ford Essex v6 in this body 106kw with no tuning problems; the engine can be tunned up, to 3,3, new crank, and triple webber double carburators; then the South African Alfa dealer took the GTV6, Alfa engine from 2,5 to 3,0 so that he could race against the Fords and BMW.
I am only 24 so take it easy, but he has made some clear to me that i’ve never thought of before.. Let the owner drive you around in the car before you take it for a test drive! Seeing how they have treated the car is super important! I can’t believe i’ve never thought of this before 😑
The GTV (Giulia Sprint GT Veloce) came out on 1965 and was way ahead of its time. Alloy engine, gearbox, and rear axle, four wheel disc brakes, and an aerodynamic body. The lightweight version, (GTA and GTAm) won several world championships.
A fair and comprehensive overview of an Italian sports coup that raises the blood pressure of every motorhead by 20 points or so. Its minimalist design, timeless beauty, and rewarding driving experience make the nasty bits - rust, lack of power, lack of reliability - acceptable to live with if you are a True Believer. Without having to lower himself to Cammisa’s level of cuteness, our narrator strikes the right balance in his evaluation of this gorgeous and oh-so-desirable car.
Great insights... And about the real car person (petrol head/car fanatic) and Alfa ownership. I once had 3 Alfas, and my other half was looking at me in a different way! So I sold one. Currently have the Gt junior 1600 1975 and Gtv Alfetta 2.0 1982. Take care everyone. Happy safe driving!
Great review! The music bed detracted from your discussion. You gave the rationale behind what is a great series of cars. You told us why it is great in stock form and that was the first time I’ve heard it explained properly. Super!
My favorite was my 71 spider. 1750 with spica injection. Surprisingly dependable. I'm a sucker for convertibles and West coast road trips. Nice to see the brass fittings here and there. I sold mine in 1983 for about what I paid for it. I still miss it. (I drive a Miata now - a little too small but vaguely familiar handling. The Miata always starts and does not drip rainwater on my knee.)
Understood. For many of us, it just doesn't get any better than top-down motoring behind the wheel of a small 2-seat roadster. But I also can understand the appeal of these GTV's.
I too had a Spider, mine was a '70. The water dripping on the knee was a problem, when it dripped on the seat and froze overnight it made for a very cold and uncomfortable drive. I drive a '16 MX-5 now, all the fun, none of the angst.
very nice review! In 1986 a friend of mine had one of these. He told me the lifted portion of the headliner in the back was necessary for the car to be homologized. To be a four seater the height in the back had to be of a certain height and Alfa need the extra few millimeters for the car to be allowed for racing. Nice to see this extra cut in the car driven…
Growing up in the 80's I saw the 75 and Spyder's on the road. These old Alfas seem to be very popular right now. This is way better looking than the new Gulia. Thanks.
That's an excellent, very informative video. Congrats to the team. My first car would have been a hand-me-down 2000 Berlina with the Spica injection, except that 3 years in Canada and another 5 in Scotland had turned the frame into Orange dust. That made me very very sad.💔
A Get Shorty reference automatically gets you a thumbs up and a share no matter the video. Luckily for me this was very thorough and educational. I absolutely melt for Alfa Romeos and have lusted over a 1750cc 105 with those exact rims in this video. Just glorious
you reach the Pinnacle of being a car person when you get into French and Italian cars (that aren't Bugatti or Ferrari/Lamborghini), the beauty, the pain and the sheer driving experience is difficult to explain but once you've experienced it you know
I owned a ‘69 1750 GTV. He mentioned the engine was an aluminum head on an aluminum block. Mine was an aluminum head on a cast iron block and this caused head gaskets to go very frequently. You could it was time when on startup massive clouds of white steam came out the exhaust. Tightening the head was very special (as the owners manual explained explicitly) and after torquing it down you had to first start it up and then loosen everything and then re-torque. It also has very important to have the addon sump guard as I discovered to my chagrin that it was very easy to crack the cast aluminum oil pan. Practically everything on this car broke at one time or another but I still wish I had it back. A joy to drive!
I had a 1974 Alfa GTV for 7-years and everything he says is absolutely true. I had done quite a bit of engine work on mine and it was putting up close to 160 horsepower, which made it very fun to drive. However, the rust is what killed me.
Love these videos, there use to be an older Italian gentleman here in Winnipeg that had a restaurant that drove old Italian cars from the old Dino Ferrari V6 Manitoba sounded so good at high RPM's when he sold that he bought one of these Alfas and we all immediately fell in love with it and it had the 1.7 with the 5 speed in it back in the early 80's , yes it was red with black vinyl interior and was funny had a Blaupunkt AM/FM CASSETTE player in it that was factory as far as he knew , we always wondered why he would let it warm up even in the middle of summer and we found out why quickly when he told us about then power train in it and then understood the damage it can cause by driving it cold he had the Dellorto carbs on it, dam they sounded so sweet and your right once it got to just about 3000 rpms it started to sing right up to over 7000, i think they had a company design the engine sound it was just so sexy like watching a woman in dark dress in high heels sashay past a group of guys leaving their jaws on the floor, he never parked the car in the direct sun always under the tree behind his restaurant and always in his garage at home, so many great memories just admiring that car , it brought a ton of business to his restaurant we use to kid him about that, it was just a great place with awesome food/family he drove it for about 9/10 yrs and sold it to someone in i think Vancouver, it was just an awesome car and what got me into owning Volvos for the last 40 yrs, best decision i ever made for cars and still daily drive them , Alphas here in Canada are much harder to find than in the USA, our climate isn't too kind to them and prices for them are absolutely stupid my friend has looked for any Alpha and its like you said rust is there middle name and rough one was quoted to fix/ restore half decently was almost $30k CDN not including the purchase price , the bodyshop owner told he would do better to import 1 from the USA or Europe, 👍
Probably there are many check points for buyer. However, most important point is whether you like Alfa Romeo or not. If you like, the classic Giulia is the best Alfa. I’ve been driving Giulia 1750GTV for 35 years and I really feel so.
Back in the day (19 years old) I had the choice between 1969 1750 GT Veloce and a Canadian assembled 1969 Volvo 123 GT........I went a full week agonizing over which one. By the end of the week I bought the Volvo. Loved the Volvo (the 123 GT was unique among Volvos) and I always thought about that 1750 ! It is simply beautiful to drive and oh so pleasing to the eyes ! Thanks, great video ! Now, if you're done with this car, I'll take it !
Been there, done that! Enjoyed my 74 GTV, rebuilt the engine & gear box and passed on to a club member for racing. 74 Alfa Spider enjoyed track days and long drives. 78 GTV was a nice daily driver, rebuilt transmission and again enjoyed track days. 88 Milano 3.0 got an engine rebuild and enjoyable track days with the Alfa Club of Tulsa! Oh, the good days! =D=
Wow, I've always dreamt of owning a GTV from this era. I think you likely scared the dream outta me. Believe me, I'm very thankful for the amazing insight. I don't have the funds to mess around with a $20k (ran when parked) "cheap" 2000 GTV.
'69 1750 is the best. The shape of the seats were the sweetest for driving experience. But most notable among them all is the high angled shifter that fits like a glove in your hand. My '67 1600 had an automatic cigarette lighter. You pop the ring down, and moments later: "bing." In those motors, you can bury the tach! In fact, the real power is from redline to bury.
That's probably the best report/vid/presentation on the 105 I ever watched. I wish the same could be done on the different 116 bodies. One thing about rust and interior quality, i challenge anyone to find a direct competitor of these giulias which would offer a different picture. Meaning that all these wise tips can or should be applied to any 60s-70s classics :)
81, helped my brother put the aluminum Rover V8 in one. Borg Warner 4 speed Rochester carbs. Steel block cracked in NY weather. Very quick, scared me during the build when you could see the road because we cut the tranny hump out, had "ribs" holding together to keep the floor from splitting. He put that same engine in a boat tail Alfa and Europa. Worked on older Astons, Ferraris and everything down to Sprites.
I owned a 1970 GTV. I traded a Lotus Elan for which I paid more in parts than i did for the car in 18 months. I bought the GTV with 8K on the clock and drove it to almost 90K. Like you said, the rusted everywhere. I autocrossed this car and won a bunch of races. I followed the factory maintenance doing it all myself. I had an alfa guru (old Italian mechanic) who said they rusted because at the time they were built they used Russian steel of very low quality and very cheap. He also said that the rubber used in the seals and suspension should be sprayed (he said drownd them) with silicon spray because they go bad quickly. I never had to replace any rubber except tires while I had the GTV. I loved the car but it rusted out from under me. I found a dealer who gave me a good deal on a new 1980 Alfetta sedan. I drove it for 12 years before I traded that for a WRX. I loved that GTV!
Very informative video. It was always my dream back in the '70's-early '80's to one day own an Alfa, primarily a Spider, but you really do need access to a "guru" who knows all the pitfalls. I had no idea of the rust potential (being alot more than other makes from this era).
In 1972 in Corfu, Greece my friends and I were trying to walk up the mountain where the old castle was. In the process we passed a new Alfa Romeo GTV parked by these apartments. We took lots of photos, but seeing it live it looked better than a Ferrari.
I had one of each engine size. Liked the 1300 best ‘cos it was so revvy and made such great noises. Talking of noises, if you sat quietly you could hear all 4 of them rust.
Actually they’re not hard to maintain, and there are lots of them around the world. There were over 91,000 GT 1300 coupes made between 1965 to 1977 for example. Just buy the best example you can find, never buy a cheap one that needs lots of work because it will be a money pit. There are lots of well maintained cars out there, you just have to take the time to pick the right one. Joining the AROC (Alfa Romeo Owners Club) is the a must. You can find cars for sale, parts, and lots of knowledgeable people who can help with any questions you have. Many US states have their own Alfa Romeo clubs as well. These are cars that should be garaged in the winter. Keeping them free of road salts and mud is vital to prevent rust. Obviously an older car will break down more because of its age, but they’re also far less complex than new cars. There are also lots of businesses online that sell Alfa parts. If you stick to a model that was produced in large numbers like the GTV’s or Spiders there won’t be an issue getting parts. These are not cars that you can just trust your local mechanic to fix properly. Make sure there is a reputable Alfa specialist that you won’t find too much of a hassle to drive to. The Alfa Romeo Club of American is the best source to find a mechanic near you, they will also be able to tell you who to avoid because there are some pretty bad (or dishonest) mechanics out there.
This is a great overview that say if you're a mature driver with money for a 4 wheels gold digger and you can appreciate delicate momentum this car is for you.
Totally agree with the title but I have to pick the 1300, with only two headlights (I don't think there's the 1750 version of that), commonly known as "scalino" in Italy. To me that's peak Alfa GT and peak Alfa Romeo in general. That's the legend. Excellent video by the way.
My grandfather ALLOWED 🤣me to drive his one ...same red colour.i have only driven alfa since.sometimes painful and expensive, but always a pleasure..like a beautiful woman really
I owned a new, 1971 silver green 1750GTV from 1972 until 1985 when rust finally claimed it. What few people know is that at the Alfa factory, the 'assembled' car sheetmetal shells were stored outside in the open before making it to the factory floor to have running gear installed. My best friend, a master mechanic, was the only American to work at Ala's US HQ in Newark, New Jersey before they built the new parts warehouse, service center and showroom near Englewood NJ. the mechanics loved that Rte 9W was right outside the door and ran parallel to the Palisades Parkway up to NY State- the NJ Highway Cops would patrol the Parkway, but 9W was 'fair game' for an Italian Tuneup- & post-service test drive. One day, a new coupe came in for service to the Newark facility for a mysterious rattle. Finally, the passenger door panel was removed- along with an empty wine bottle- and the rattle stopped. I've owned or driven almost everything from Italy or Germany and the 1750 GTV remains the most fun and best balanced car ever. It also had a curb weight of 2281 lb. compared to the 1974 BMW 2002 I owned at the same time, and the BMW was really nice- but not a GTV. An no, it was not expensive on maintenance. The motor only had one inherent problem from 'coolant cavitation' which would warp heads as the steel piston liners would develop a hot spot due to a bubble void of coolant- usually on cyl #4.
Interesting, I bought a new '71 1750 GTV (burgundy over tan) in, I think it was, '72 (I think the dealership in Manhattan was owned by two brothers, can't remember the name). The grill was different, no chrome bar, it was black, but it had the four lights. Unique feature was the shift lever that came more or less out of the dash (I think because it was hooked directly to the gearbox). Ahhh, memories. Kept it until about '74 when I traded it in on a new Porsche 911S at a dealership in Hewlett, NY. The two guys who ran the dealership salivated when they saw it, got a good deal because of that and mainly because of the oil embargo (cars weren't selling). Later found out they immediately took the Alfa out to a party in the Hamptons and it blew a rear engine seal (or something like that), leaked oil all the way and had to eventually be towed back.
I saw this and thought, 'oh no not another Alfa video going over the same old common misconceptions and lazy journalism'! But guess what? It's really good.
When I was a teenager I always hoped for a GTV of this generation that I could afford. Unfortunately that was never the case. My Dad owns a 67 Duetto Spider since the Seventies. It is mechanically a sibling of the GT of this generation. My Grandma owned several Giulias of those years. Great and well balanced cars. Most cars of today do not have a gearbox that shifts as perfectly as those fifty years old Alfa Romeos. Alfa Romeo started this engine style in 55 and put a 5 speed to their cars. Absolutely unheard of in those times. My grandfather used to drive Alfa Romeos his whole life. Som special bodied prewar cars as well. But the last car he bought was a second hand Maserati 3500 Granturismo. But it did not come with a five speed. When I was two yeras old we drove to Modena to put a five speed gear box in it. At the Maserati factory!
@@machtschnell7452 Well it is possible that you are right. Were those engines put in street cars that time? I only know that the 1955 GT had that kind of engine. I own a catalog with all the cars of 52. Unfortunately I do not have it in hand. I gave it to an italian friend who is reading it for a few days. He comes from a Lancia family while mine were all Alfa Romeo guys. I will try to find out more as soon as i get the book back.
@@machtschnell7452 I found the wikipedia article "Alfa romeo twin cam engine".: "The Twin Cam's predecessor appeared in the 1950 Alfa Romeo 1900 and was an under-square inline four cylinder with a cast-iron block, an aluminium alloy crossflow cylinder head with double overhead cams and a 90° included angle between intake and exhaust valves. Development of that engine was overseen by Orazio Satta Puliga who would also helm development of its successor. The 1952 Disco Volante had a 2-litre DOHC four cylinder engine with an aluminium block and sleeves, but this seems to have been a custom version of the 1900 engine rather than a prototype of the forthcoming Twin Cam. While the Twin Cam shared some features with the 1900 engine, it was a new design by Giuseppe Busso.[1] The Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine debuted in the 1954 Giulietta."
I too have owned a Alfa Spider and an MX-5. My Dad’s 1966 1600 Duetto was, to this Canadian small town teen, an exotic from another planet. Its performance and even more, its drivability delivered me to new horizons of sports car joy. Years later I have recovered much of my sports car wonder by owning a 2019 Mazda MX-5. This was the first year of the “power boosted” MX-5. Its hot-rodded little 2L engine would blow away my Alfa’s 1.6, or even the 4.2L 6 in my 1970 Series 2 XK-E. But when I think back on these three wonderful sports cars I can only conclude that while my MX-5 is by far the best car of the bunch, and the Jag the most soul-wrenchingly beautiful, the one which I bade farewell with the heaviest heart was that little Alfa. Though my current ride is superior in every way, it is the Alfa that has my heart.
@@doorgunnerangel4105 And VW owns Porsche and Audi...don't drink the German Kool Aid DAWG...when these cars were made, FIAT had NO HAND IN ALFA ....Even in the recent past, when FCA funded the development of Giulia and Stelvio and ultimately the Giorgio platform, Alfa hired a FERRARI SKUNKWORKS TEAM.....Peace DAWG !! FORZA ALFA BABY !!!! THE KING IS BACK !!!!
Delivery is rather terse but ALL the information is amazingly thorough. Master Class indeed. I would listen to what he has to say about any car. Wonder what he could tell me about, say, a Porsche 911SC, or a Volvo P2000... I feel I could learn a lot from this dude.
I can't remember how many I've owned over the years...i STILL have an all original 1971 2000 GTV like the one being tested here. They're an absolute sublime driving experience, will never sell it.
Honestly I don't understand why foreigners have This stereotype about Alfa Romeo being supposedly "unreliable". Here in Italy, and I speak as an Alfista son of an Alfista and brother of an Alfista, I have never had any mechanical issues, always treated her Well, Constant revisions, checking the enging, regular cleaning etc.... Now there Maybe 2 options: 1) Mechanics abroad don't have appropriate spare parts or are simply not familiar with Alfa engineering, Which can be complex varying on the model (in particular for 70s models) 2) People don't treat them well or drive them as a Cadillac or a Nissan expecting them to behave as something that these cars are not. Ps. Option 3: Is the Good old Protestant prejudice towards Italians being immensely stylish, highly Intelligent, elegant, flamboyant but unreliable, simply extended to cars.
I had a beautiful 1971 GTV 1750. It was a rust free California car that was a joy to drive. It was not fast as in the 80s I was being blown away by 16 yo girls in Civics. The issues I had were a consequence of abuse in earlier life but were attended to. The source of all these problems stem from a quality car that requires appropriate care being bought used by people wanting to look cool and driving it like a Chevette.
I’ve owned 13 different Alfa’s and they were all addictive to drive. The amazing sound of my 1986 GTV6 is something I will remember on my deathbed. Some Alfa’s are more problematic than others, it often comes down to each individual car. When they’re well maintained they’re Heaven. One BIG problem is owners who don’t take care of them like they should. FOLLOWING the owners manual to the letter makes a huge difference. I always changed my oil before it needed changing. Alfa’s are like marrying the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, who also is a lot of fun and very interesting to talk to....and after a while you discover she is bipolar. An Alfa can be an ordeal to own, but you can’t imagine your life without it.
This is an enormously accurate statement
@@drg6161 Thanks! I’m a mechanic who only works on European cars, and I drive Alfa’s in dry weather, otherwise I drive Toyota’s. I live in Connecticut which means that most of the year I drive my Toyota 4-Runner. If I could drive Alfa’s daily I would, but I would’ve burned through a lot more of them by now. I have owned BMW’s and Porsche’s, and as great as most of them were to drive, none of them come close to Alfa’s as far as looks feel and character. It’s amazing how much like Italian & German cars are like Italian & German (not the American ones) people. Italians are lively and love beautiful things, Germans tend to be boring and orderly. Germans will show up to your house for dinner on time, but the Italians are the ones that will be fun and talkative.
A good way I describe all the Alfa owners I’ve done work for is that they all gripe about problems they’ve had, then turn right around and start talking about buying another Alfa.
Another great Italian car that we work on are Lancia’s, and again, it all depends on the model and year on how good or bad they are. They’re usually beautiful and amazing to drive. The main concerns are rust and electrics, all of which can be easily fixed. On older cars the electrics should be stripped and replaced with modern components.
THE most incredible car I ever drove was a 1971 Maserati Ghibli that my grandfather owned. It cost $22,000 in 1971, now it would be worth $500,000 or more for a really good one. It was also the most beautiful car, right up there with the Ferrari 365gtb/4 (Daytona) or the Lamborghini Miura. I had it up to 130 on the German autobahn and it was rock steady. Even if I could afford one now, I wouldn’t buy one simply because of its age and the parts supply. For instance, if something happens to the massive rear window, there are no replacements available.
@@Mike-rk8px it´s true but in the 30´s of the last century, much more cars were perfect to drive in the 70´s or second alf of the 60´s where some models were upgraded and my favorite cars you refer to the daytona and the miura ,about the back window i can give you a contac in Italia where they still make back windows for most of the sportive italian cars
I agree, but confess I might be biased. 😆
Since you have a lot of Alfa experience, would you say that a lot of this video applies to alfa spiders as well?
Usually when I see guys talking about these cars it’s mostly nonsense, but this guy knows his stuff, especially about the modifications.
The rear flares of that car is so wrong it kills me and i know it kills u too
Some of the best modifications can be easily undone, too. We had our car set up for motorsports play, and now that we are done, changing back to stock will be very simple.
... and we know your videos. Fine work, respect!
Doesn't he just.
no, he does not
First review I’ve seen by someone who knows these cars intimately. The soft rear, positive views on the Spica injection, rust, gearbox, handling, engine of the 1750 being smoothest, etc. were all spot on. Kudos.
Head to the vintage customs channel to know every detail about these
Agree. Great reviewer.
I owned mine from 1976 until 2013. I wish I still had it.
One of the most beautiful cars ever.
hahahaha
@@AlienGrade wut
An intuitive and well balanced critic of the 105.. Out of interest the 101 Guilia was basically used for the mechanical development of the 105.All the tips this lad gives on care warming up etc is spot on.Have used my 101 now in Europe for half a century. Still sound and turns heads even today. Forza Alfa 🇬🇧
Lol
@@AlienGrade ridi su sto cazzo
It's so much fun to drive that car.
Literally everybody smiles at you when they see you, young people, old people, everyone, even though it's actually pretty loud.
I was in Aspen, CO around 1990 in the summer when I saw a GTV like this tear through downtown. I was hooked. Thing was a romance on wheels.
The word “FUN” sums up Alfa’s perfectly. I own a 1972 GTV coupe in electric blue with a black interior. I’ve never owned a car to impress others, or to attract women, I buy cars that I love. Alfa’s are just like Italy: incredibly beautiful, full of history, endlessly fascinating, lots of fun, full of romance. If a car to you is just a mode of transportation, buy a Toyota Camry. If you want to have your mind blown, get an Alfa or something else Italian. They require dedication to proper maintenance, but they also reward you for it in spades.
no one's complaining about the noise if it's a good noise
That review caught me by surprise at just how good it was. A great car given the time and considerations deserved. Cheers!
When I was stationed in Germany in the early 1980's I saw this interesting little car on the lemon lot on base and it was a 1968 Alfa 1300 GT Junior. It had been restored years earlier in Italy by a US Naval officer. Painted brown, probably my least favorite color, w black interior. No apparent rust (I didn't really look that hard). I bought it and absolutely loved the way it drove and the manual gear box. Down on power for sure but it sounded like a race car going through the gears. I installed a back window with defogger option from a later car, a set of ATS Mag wheels, Bosch driving lights on the front bumper, and some later GTV bucket seats and really loved the car. When swapping the seats I discovered air where the back of the bucket seat was supposed to bolt to the floor (pretended I didn't see it). Brought my newborn son home from the hospital in it (wife still hasn't forgiven me). I dragged that little car around my apartment parking space by a lug nut trying to get the wheels off before I finally snapped the lug off and realized the wheels on that side of the car were reverse threaded (nope I didn't replace that lug with an original but did tell the next owner about it). Only sold it because reassigned stateside when father passed and didn't have the time investigate shipping the Alfa. Probably my favorite little sports car and I had a few.
My dad had a 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTV and I learned how to drive a manual transmission on that car I loved Alfa Romeos ever since
Back in the early 70's I bought a 69 Alfa Spider 1750 with SPICA mechanical fuel injection. I love how he talks about the light touch on the shifter. The comments about how revvy that engine was is so spot on, too. Everywhere at 4 grand but, warm it up first! Easiest top to work. Loved the look of the dash more than that of the GTV. The gauges canted towards the driver. Boy, I wish I still owned that car and it has little to do with how much it might be worth today. Just a fun car to drive!
I had a 1972 1750 Spider also with the mechanical fuel injection. Another youthful mistake to sell it.....
I have seen these cars many many times, and each time I can't see any flaws. They are perfect. Good looking, nice size, great from any angle. They are in the short list of perfect cars.
The most important question...when can we expect the buyer's guide on the Oldsmobile Silhouette? The Cadillac of minivans, that killed me!🤣
😂😂😂😂
I know the GTV is fantastic, but the most Alfa Alfa to me has to have a Busso V6. That soulful engine is everything. I miss my 155 V6 so much...
From a style perspective this ranks right up there with a Hakosuka in my book. Beautiful!
Fabulous review of a sports car we enjoyed in 1963 1300 ,1966/7 duetto 1600 and a 1971 1750 spider. Pretty close mechanically of the GTV...we cheered on in trans am during those years. My dad always loved his alfas ..
Really great review and insights!
One of the best cars I ever owned. Purchased mine brand new in 1974. Beige over tan. Being new it was unmolested and everything about it was exciting and near to perfection for a driver.
This was the ONE car of this era that I'd wanted since childhood. Sadly at the current prices there are a lot of other cars I'd much rather, and do currently, own. I really wish a decent driver's condition 105 like the one in this video could still be had for 25k, as it would be in my garage if that were the case.
Sam is one of my favorite journalists. Great to see him and hear his analysis.
when I was a kid maybe 13 years old around 1983 or so a man a block or two away had one of these cars parked in his car port. I knew that that car was special . There is something about the size and lines of this car that just makes it classic . I would love to have one . It would look perfect parked beside my 240z.
Haggerty is on fire between Camisa and Farrah and this guy Sam Smith not the singer is awesome too
Farrah is that you?
True i’ve been loving this channel!
This is my favorite car. I can’t imagine owning something I loved this much that was this fragile.
They're not that fragile, not sure why he made such a point of that. The dashes crack, but interior isn't "fragile". They're around 50 years old, so yeah, let it get up to temp before you beat on it, but they like being driven hard. If something does break, parts are plenty available and reasonably priced. Research well and inspect thoroughly so you know what you're getting into, but it's not like it going to be falling apart or breaking if you buy a good one and don't do everything "just so".
I own one. Restored it top to bottom. It is not fragile. The engine is a blast and has plenty of robustness. Sheet metal is typical from the 70's and they do rust, as do all European, Japanese, and US cars from that era. The car is light and handles very well. After market is the best it has ever been. The 2.0 litre, in my opinion, is the best option.
I owned a 1972 GTV2000 and they are not fragile... also almost all stainless steel not sure what he's talking about re-chroming... can't think of anything that is chromed in the first place. They are very high quality cars for the era.
I own a 64 Step Nose....the most attractive version of this car....Not fragile at all.....
Very robust car. Just do not let it get wet. Corrosion is the enemy.
This is automotive gold. Every word he is saying is valuable information. Great motoring videos which we deserve to pay to watch. Thank you!!
On one hand, it's great to see a video on this because I now know how to get my dream car. On the other hand, RIP prices
Its not that bad here in Europe, you can get an alright condition gtv2000 for 10-15k
@@Tunnel_Rat69 No way! Point me in that direction and I'll have it right now hahah
The first Hagerty Buyers Guide I found was the MGA (I've an Australian CKD MGB); and since them I sought out all of the reviews that Sam has done. Sir, your knowledge and infectious passion is is quite simply sublime. You are an absolute credit to to Hagerty and these reviews are some of the most informative and entertaining viewing on TH-cam.
And while there must be >200,000 MGBs in the States if you want to review one built upside down then you only need say the word.
This guy really knows his stuff and it's obvious that Alfas are really his thing. Very well done.
1971 1750 GTV. The trick for the head gaskets was to re-torque the head bolts about every 6k miles. Add some 10mm camshafts, Some Bobcor headers, replace the Spica injection with 40mm Webers, bigger front sway bar, new shorter length stiffer springs all around, pin the rear bushings, remove all excess weight, get some 205 Pirelli's mounted on 5 spoke Italian wheels, and have your transmission personally rebuilt by Horst Kwech. Oh yeah.... build custom front and rear spoilers, mount 4 Alfa curved velocity stacks to your Webers inside the Alfa ram air box and put a duct to the front grill......some parts compliment$ of Ausca Engineering. Then drive the whole shebang over to see the races at Road America, Elkhart Lake. Fairly easy to do 140mph and corners were nothing but shits and giggles.
A guy in South Africa put a Ford Essex v6 in this body 106kw with no tuning problems; the engine can be tunned up, to 3,3, new crank, and triple webber double carburators; then the South African Alfa dealer took the GTV6, Alfa engine from 2,5 to 3,0 so that he could race against the Fords and BMW.
I am only 24 so take it easy, but he has made some clear to me that i’ve never thought of before.. Let the owner drive you around in the car before you take it for a test drive! Seeing how they have treated the car is super important! I can’t believe i’ve never thought of this before 😑
The GTV (Giulia Sprint GT Veloce) came out on 1965 and was way ahead of its time.
Alloy engine, gearbox, and rear axle, four wheel disc brakes, and an aerodynamic body.
The lightweight version, (GTA and GTAm) won several world championships.
A fair and comprehensive overview of an Italian sports coup that raises the blood pressure of every motorhead by 20 points or so. Its minimalist design, timeless beauty, and rewarding driving experience make the nasty bits - rust, lack of power, lack of reliability - acceptable to live with if you are a True Believer. Without having to lower himself to Cammisa’s level of cuteness, our narrator strikes the right balance in his evaluation of this gorgeous and oh-so-desirable car.
Great insights... And about the real car person (petrol head/car fanatic) and Alfa ownership. I once had 3 Alfas, and my other half was looking at me in a different way! So I sold one. Currently have the Gt junior 1600 1975 and Gtv Alfetta 2.0 1982. Take care everyone. Happy safe driving!
at last a real GTV
This was the smoothest Ad for an Oldsmobile Silhouette I've ever seen, 12/10
Great review! The music bed detracted from your discussion. You gave the rationale behind what is a great series of cars. You told us why it is great in stock form and that was the first time I’ve heard it explained properly. Super!
My favorite was my 71 spider. 1750 with spica injection. Surprisingly dependable. I'm a sucker for convertibles and West coast road trips. Nice to see the brass fittings here and there. I sold mine in 1983 for about what I paid for it. I still miss it. (I drive a Miata now - a little too small but vaguely familiar handling. The Miata always starts and does not drip rainwater on my knee.)
Understood. For many of us, it just doesn't get any better than top-down motoring behind the wheel of a small 2-seat roadster. But I also can understand the appeal of these GTV's.
I too had a Spider, mine was a '70. The water dripping on the knee was a problem, when it dripped on the seat and froze overnight it made for a very cold and uncomfortable drive. I drive a '16 MX-5 now, all the fun, none of the angst.
Alfa Romeo.......#1 Italian exporter of iron oxide. I still want one!
very nice review! In 1986 a friend of mine had one of these. He told me the lifted portion of the headliner in the back was necessary for the car to be homologized. To be a four seater the height in the back had to be of a certain height and Alfa need the extra few millimeters for the car to be allowed for racing. Nice to see this extra cut in the car driven…
Growing up in the 80's I saw the 75 and Spyder's on the road. These old Alfas seem to be very popular right now. This is way better looking than the new Gulia. Thanks.
This video is exactly what i was looking for! Just graduated school and pops gifted me a 71 1750 gtv!
That's an excellent, very informative video. Congrats to the team. My first car would have been a hand-me-down 2000 Berlina with the Spica injection, except that 3 years in Canada and another 5 in Scotland had turned the frame into Orange dust. That made me very very sad.💔
A Get Shorty reference automatically gets you a thumbs up and a share no matter the video. Luckily for me this was very thorough and educational. I absolutely melt for Alfa Romeos and have lusted over a 1750cc 105 with those exact rims in this video. Just glorious
By far my favorite and budget obtainable classic Alfa.
you reach the Pinnacle of being a car person when you get into French and Italian cars (that aren't Bugatti or Ferrari/Lamborghini), the beauty, the pain and the sheer driving experience is difficult to explain but once you've experienced it you know
Why not Bugatti and/or Ferrari/Lamborghini?
Man, this guy is a great presenter. Very well spoken and knows his stuff. Really enjoyed the suspension talk.
I am deeply impressed by what this man knows. The suspension discussion is especially erudite.
I owned a ‘69 1750 GTV. He mentioned the engine was an aluminum head on an aluminum block. Mine was an aluminum head on a cast iron block and this caused head gaskets to go very frequently. You could it was time when on startup massive clouds of white steam came out the exhaust. Tightening the head was very special (as the owners manual explained explicitly) and after torquing it down you had to first start it up and then loosen everything and then re-torque. It also has very important to have the addon sump guard as I discovered to my chagrin that it was very easy to crack the cast aluminum oil pan. Practically everything on this car broke at one time or another but I still wish I had it back. A joy to drive!
I had a 1974 Alfa GTV for 7-years and everything he says is absolutely true. I had done quite a bit of engine work on mine and it was putting up close to 160 horsepower, which made it very fun to drive. However, the rust is what killed me.
My word, THE best impassioned video about the Alfa brand I’ve ever seen. Watched to the end then reached for my 916 keys 😁
Love these videos, there use to be an older Italian gentleman here in Winnipeg that had a restaurant that drove old Italian cars from the old Dino Ferrari V6 Manitoba sounded so good at high RPM's when he sold that he bought one of these Alfas and we all immediately fell in love with it and it had the 1.7 with the 5 speed in it back in the early 80's , yes it was red with black vinyl interior and was funny had a Blaupunkt AM/FM CASSETTE player in it that was factory as far as he knew , we always wondered why he would let it warm up even in the middle of summer and we found out why quickly when he told us about then power train in it and then understood the damage it can cause by driving it cold he had the Dellorto carbs on it, dam they sounded so sweet and your right once it got to just about 3000 rpms it started to sing right up to over 7000, i think they had a company design the engine sound it was just so sexy like watching a woman in dark dress in high heels sashay past a group of guys leaving their jaws on the floor, he never parked the car in the direct sun always under the tree behind his restaurant and always in his garage at home, so many great memories just admiring that car , it brought a ton of business to his restaurant we use to kid him about that, it was just a great place with awesome food/family he drove it for about 9/10 yrs and sold it to someone in i think Vancouver, it was just an awesome car and what got me into owning Volvos for the last 40 yrs, best decision i ever made for cars and still daily drive them , Alphas here in Canada are much harder to find than in the USA, our climate isn't too kind to them and prices for them are absolutely stupid my friend has looked for any Alpha and its like you said rust is there middle name and rough one was quoted to fix/ restore half decently was almost $30k CDN not including the purchase price , the bodyshop owner told he would do better to import 1 from the USA or Europe, 👍
Thank you for a very informative video. I'm 53 yrs old and just sold my 15' Corvette Z06, can't wait to find a good condition 70' GTV!
this is probably one of my favorite videos on this platform, so much information about a car i love soooo much
Probably there are many check points for buyer. However, most important point is whether you like Alfa Romeo or not. If you like, the classic Giulia is the best Alfa. I’ve been driving Giulia 1750GTV for 35 years and I really feel so.
Back in the day (19 years old) I had the choice between 1969 1750 GT Veloce and a Canadian assembled 1969 Volvo 123 GT........I went a full week agonizing over which one. By the end of the week I bought the Volvo. Loved the Volvo (the 123 GT was unique among Volvos) and I always thought about that 1750 ! It is simply beautiful to drive and oh so pleasing to the eyes !
Thanks, great video ! Now, if you're done with this car, I'll take it !
Been there, done that! Enjoyed my 74 GTV, rebuilt the engine & gear box and passed on to a club member for racing. 74 Alfa Spider enjoyed track days and long drives. 78 GTV was a nice daily driver, rebuilt transmission and again enjoyed track days. 88 Milano 3.0 got an engine rebuild and enjoyable track days with the Alfa Club of Tulsa! Oh, the good days! =D=
Brilliant video. Many thanks from the UK
Wow, I've always dreamt of owning a GTV from this era. I think you likely scared the dream outta me. Believe me, I'm very thankful for the amazing insight. I don't have the funds to mess around with a $20k (ran when parked) "cheap" 2000 GTV.
You want to avoid the poorly restored ones at all costs. And about 75% of our poorly restored..
This guy knows his stuff. Respect.
'69 1750 is the best. The shape of the seats were the sweetest for driving experience. But most notable among them all is the high angled shifter that fits like a glove in your hand. My '67 1600 had an automatic cigarette lighter. You pop the ring down, and moments later: "bing." In those motors, you can bury the tach! In fact, the real power is from redline to bury.
This channel is amazing, production value is better than anything ive seen on tv
That's probably the best report/vid/presentation on the 105 I ever watched. I wish the same could be done on the different 116 bodies.
One thing about rust and interior quality, i challenge anyone to find a direct competitor of these giulias which would offer a different picture. Meaning that all these wise tips can or should be applied to any 60s-70s classics :)
I can listen to this dude religiously for hours
Awesome review - great insight and straight to it. Being an Alfaholic myself I can’t help but watch and rewatch
It's one beautiful car, always will be.
81, helped my brother put the aluminum Rover V8 in one. Borg Warner 4 speed Rochester carbs. Steel block cracked in NY weather. Very quick, scared me during the build when you could see the road because we cut the tranny hump out, had "ribs" holding together to keep the floor from splitting. He put that same engine in a boat tail Alfa and Europa. Worked on older Astons, Ferraris and everything down to Sprites.
Alfa perfected corrosion with the GTV. Such wonderful cars to drive, and beautiful to look at 🙂
To me this is the most beautiful car ever produced
I always loved the styling of these cars. The delicacy and cost of ownership has always kept me from purchasing one.
I owned a 1970 GTV. I traded a Lotus Elan for which I paid more in parts than i did for the car in 18 months. I bought the GTV with 8K on the clock and drove it to almost 90K. Like you said, the rusted everywhere. I autocrossed this car and won a bunch of races. I followed the factory maintenance doing it all myself. I had an alfa guru (old Italian mechanic) who said they rusted because at the time they were built they used Russian steel of very low quality and very cheap. He also said that the rubber used in the seals and suspension should be sprayed (he said drownd them) with silicon spray because they go bad quickly. I never had to replace any rubber except tires while I had the GTV. I loved the car but it rusted out from under me. I found a dealer who gave me a good deal on a new 1980 Alfetta sedan. I drove it for 12 years before I traded that for a WRX. I loved that GTV!
Very informative video. It was always my dream back in the '70's-early '80's to one day own an Alfa, primarily a Spider, but you really do need access to a "guru" who knows all the pitfalls. I had no idea of the rust potential (being alot more than other makes from this era).
Had the chance to pick one up for a steak a year ago, now they’re 80k
That must’ve been some steak 🥩....even last year a fairly decent one was North of $25k
@@robertcristando8007 18k with a clean straight body, complete. Missed out but now I have a nice 914, can’t complain I guess
The only car that's bonnet open more than the doors. Still love the old classics.
I learned how to drive on a '71 GTV. 💕
In 1972 in Corfu, Greece my friends and I were trying to walk up the mountain where the old castle was. In the process we passed a new Alfa Romeo GTV parked by these apartments. We took lots of photos, but seeing it live it looked better than a Ferrari.
Absolutely stunning review and great informative commentary. Many thanks, Sam
Hilarious comment about the Olds. Great review, thanks. I have a Stelvio, and while it's not as Alfa as the GTV, I love it. Go Alfa !
Geeze, if I ever buy an Alfa, I need you to come with me. You're great.
I had one of each engine size. Liked the 1300 best ‘cos it was so revvy and made such great noises. Talking of noises, if you sat quietly you could hear all 4 of them rust.
Yes, the Oldsmobile Silhouette IS what I really want.
Just chat them up on social media and TH-cam and soon cardiologists will be bidding $180k for one on BAT.
It sounds like a nightmare to find and maintain, yet I still want one
Actually they’re not hard to maintain, and there are lots of them around the world. There were over 91,000 GT 1300 coupes made between 1965 to 1977 for example. Just buy the best example you can find, never buy a cheap one that needs lots of work because it will be a money pit. There are lots of well maintained cars out there, you just have to take the time to pick the right one.
Joining the AROC (Alfa Romeo Owners Club) is the a must. You can find cars for sale, parts, and lots of knowledgeable people who can help with any questions you have. Many US states have their own Alfa Romeo clubs as well.
These are cars that should be garaged in the winter. Keeping them free of road salts and mud is vital to prevent rust. Obviously an older car will break down more because of its age, but they’re also far less complex than new cars.
There are also lots of businesses online that sell Alfa parts. If you stick to a model that was produced in large numbers like the GTV’s or Spiders there won’t be an issue getting parts.
These are not cars that you can just trust your local mechanic to fix properly. Make sure there is a reputable Alfa specialist that you won’t find too much of a hassle to drive to. The Alfa Romeo Club of American is the best source to find a mechanic near you, they will also be able to tell you who to avoid because there are some pretty bad (or dishonest) mechanics out there.
@@Mike-rk8px Thanks for the info!
One of the most beautiful cars ever made!!!
This is a great overview that say if you're a mature driver with money for a 4 wheels gold digger and you can appreciate delicate momentum this car is for you.
Totally agree with the title but I have to pick the 1300, with only two headlights (I don't think there's the 1750 version of that), commonly known as "scalino" in Italy.
To me that's peak Alfa GT and peak Alfa Romeo in general.
That's the legend.
Excellent video by the way.
My grandfather ALLOWED 🤣me to drive his one ...same red colour.i have only driven alfa since.sometimes painful and expensive, but always a pleasure..like a beautiful woman really
"All the good things in life are a little high maintenance"
I will reflect on this more, but I do love the quote
I owned a new, 1971 silver green 1750GTV from 1972 until 1985 when rust finally claimed it. What few people know is that at the Alfa factory, the 'assembled' car sheetmetal shells were stored outside in the open before making it to the factory floor to have running gear installed. My best friend, a master mechanic, was the only American to work at Ala's US HQ in Newark, New Jersey before they built the new parts warehouse, service center and showroom near Englewood NJ. the mechanics loved that Rte 9W was right outside the door and ran parallel to the Palisades Parkway up to NY State- the NJ Highway Cops would patrol the Parkway, but 9W was 'fair game' for an Italian Tuneup- & post-service test drive. One day, a new coupe came in for service to the Newark facility for a mysterious rattle. Finally, the passenger door panel was removed- along with an empty wine bottle- and the rattle stopped. I've owned or driven almost everything from Italy or Germany and the 1750 GTV remains the most fun and best balanced car ever. It also had a curb weight of 2281 lb. compared to the 1974 BMW 2002 I owned at the same time, and the BMW was really nice- but not a GTV. An no, it was not expensive on maintenance. The motor only had one inherent problem from 'coolant cavitation' which would warp heads as the steel piston liners would develop a hot spot due to a bubble void of coolant- usually on cyl #4.
Interesting, I bought a new '71 1750 GTV (burgundy over tan) in, I think it was, '72 (I think the dealership in Manhattan was owned by two brothers, can't remember the name). The grill was different, no chrome bar, it was black, but it had the four lights. Unique feature was the shift lever that came more or less out of the dash (I think because it was hooked directly to the gearbox). Ahhh, memories. Kept it until about '74 when I traded it in on a new Porsche 911S at a dealership in Hewlett, NY. The two guys who ran the dealership salivated when they saw it, got a good deal because of that and mainly because of the oil embargo (cars weren't selling). Later found out they immediately took the Alfa out to a party in the Hamptons and it blew a rear engine seal (or something like that), leaked oil all the way and had to eventually be towed back.
Great video, one of the best buyers guides I’ve come across in the whole of TH-cam!
I could sit and listen to this dude talk about this car for hours.
I saw this and thought, 'oh no not another Alfa video going over the same old common misconceptions and lazy journalism'! But guess what? It's really good.
When I was a teenager I always hoped for a GTV of this generation that I could afford. Unfortunately that was never the case. My Dad owns a 67 Duetto Spider since the Seventies. It is mechanically a sibling of the GT of this generation. My Grandma owned several Giulias of those years. Great and well balanced cars. Most cars of today do not have a gearbox that shifts as perfectly as those fifty years old Alfa Romeos.
Alfa Romeo started this engine style in 55 and put a 5 speed to their cars. Absolutely unheard of in those times.
My grandfather used to drive Alfa Romeos his whole life. Som special bodied prewar cars as well. But the last car he bought was a second hand Maserati 3500 Granturismo. But it did not come with a five speed. When I was two yeras old we drove to Modena to put a five speed gear box in it. At the Maserati factory!
I believe this engine design entered production in the early fifties.
@@machtschnell7452 Well it is possible that you are right. Were those engines put in street cars that time? I only know that the 1955 GT had that kind of engine.
I own a catalog with all the cars of 52. Unfortunately I do not have it in hand. I gave it to an italian friend who is reading it for a few days. He comes from a Lancia family while mine were all Alfa Romeo guys. I will try to find out more as soon as i get the book back.
@@machtschnell7452 I found the wikipedia article "Alfa romeo twin cam engine".: "The Twin Cam's predecessor appeared in the 1950 Alfa Romeo 1900 and was an under-square inline four cylinder with a cast-iron block, an aluminium alloy crossflow cylinder head with double overhead cams and a 90° included angle between intake and exhaust valves. Development of that engine was overseen by Orazio Satta Puliga who would also helm development of its successor. The 1952 Disco Volante had a 2-litre DOHC four cylinder engine with an aluminium block and sleeves, but this seems to have been a custom version of the 1900 engine rather than a prototype of the forthcoming Twin Cam. While the Twin Cam shared some features with the 1900 engine, it was a new design by Giuseppe Busso.[1]
The Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine debuted in the 1954 Giulietta."
The designer of this car also penned the Lotus esprit another amazing looking car in my opinion!!
Yes the Esprit design was nice but in a Lotus you’re always wondering what is going to fall apart next.
I too have owned a Alfa Spider and an MX-5. My Dad’s 1966 1600 Duetto was, to this Canadian small town teen, an exotic from another planet. Its performance and even more, its drivability delivered me to new horizons of sports car joy. Years later I have recovered much of my sports car wonder by owning a 2019 Mazda MX-5. This was the first year of the “power boosted” MX-5. Its hot-rodded little 2L engine would blow away my Alfa’s 1.6, or even the 4.2L 6 in my 1970 Series 2 XK-E. But when I think back on these three wonderful sports cars I can only conclude that while my MX-5 is by far the best car of the bunch, and the Jag the most soul-wrenchingly beautiful, the one which I bade farewell with the heaviest heart was that little Alfa. Though my current ride is superior in every way, it is the Alfa that has my heart.
That Alfa looks good in every angle. I’ll take that car any day of the week.
"Don't get a girlfriend. If you want problems, I'll buy you an Alfa Romeo." - My dad
FROM THAT POINT FIAT WAS THE OWNER OF ALFA YOU ARE RIGHT. SAME STORY WITH LANCIA.
If you really want problems, buy ANY BMW DAWG !!
@@doorgunnerangel4105 And VW owns Porsche and Audi...don't drink the German Kool Aid DAWG...when these cars were made, FIAT had NO HAND IN ALFA ....Even in the recent past, when FCA funded the development of Giulia and Stelvio and ultimately the Giorgio platform, Alfa hired a FERRARI SKUNKWORKS TEAM.....Peace DAWG !!
FORZA ALFA BABY !!!!
THE KING IS BACK !!!!
your dad is my dad now
@@モカッチ紙袋にいる猫www GATTO! "G" 👍
Great production, well done. Sam Smith, brother... You make me think of Gary Senise. Dunno why, but there's something about your delivery. Well done.
Very good advice! Mine's an 86 Spider, but so much of what he covered transfers over. Looking under that GTV is like looking under my spider.
I have an 86 spider too and I 100% agree.
This is the second car on my all time list, No1 being Ferrari Speciale, and No3 timeless Merc Gullwing
Delivery is rather terse but ALL the information is amazingly thorough. Master Class indeed. I would listen to what he has to say about any car. Wonder what he could tell me about, say, a Porsche 911SC,
or a Volvo P2000... I feel I could learn a lot from this dude.
Such beautiful cars and what an excellent rundown on what to look for.
I can't remember how many I've owned over the years...i STILL have an all original 1971 2000 GTV like the one being tested here. They're an absolute sublime driving experience, will never sell it.
If it's a US car and has a 2000 engine it is not original. 71s had 1750 engines.
@@modonnell9284 It's NOT a US car. Late 71 or early 72, bought brand new from the showroom here in KENYA.
Great video - gorgeous car being driven in corners too! I'd love an Alfa - but the rust issue is so real.
Honestly I don't understand why foreigners have This stereotype about Alfa Romeo being supposedly "unreliable". Here in Italy, and I speak as an Alfista son of an Alfista and brother of an Alfista, I have never had any mechanical issues, always treated her Well, Constant revisions, checking the enging, regular cleaning etc....
Now there Maybe 2 options:
1) Mechanics abroad don't have appropriate spare parts or are simply not familiar with Alfa engineering, Which can be complex varying on the model (in particular for 70s models)
2) People don't treat them well or drive them as a Cadillac or a Nissan expecting them to behave as something that these cars are not.
Ps. Option 3: Is the Good old Protestant prejudice towards Italians being immensely stylish, highly Intelligent, elegant, flamboyant but unreliable, simply extended to cars.
Like the English who eat only fish and chips, the Italians only spaghetti, and the French only baguettes while listening to accordion.
Banal vulgate
What a pretty car! Love the lines and proportions.
I had a beautiful 1971 GTV 1750. It was a rust free California car that was a joy to drive. It was not fast as in the 80s I was being blown away by 16 yo girls in Civics.
The issues I had were a consequence of abuse in earlier life but were attended to.
The source of all these problems stem from a quality car that requires appropriate care being bought used by people wanting to look cool and driving it like a Chevette.