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Hi Patrick
Referring to Sprints:
1493 is a 750 Chassis designation - a stamped "E" after or sometimes above the 1493 denotes a Veloce, while the "B" for Normale was never stamped.
10102 is a 101 Normale while 10106 denotes a 101 Veloce.
So yes, while a 1493 is Technically a 750, there did come a time when there was a transition from 750 to 101 and cars built during this period have come to be known "Interim Cars" or "Transition cars"
This period was from around Chassis 1493*6600, Circa May / April '58 to the start of the 101 designation 10102.15501, in 1960, (according to Fusi). By '61 the 1493 Chassis designations had been phased out.
My personal opinion - duck for the flames.... is that there are pure 750's, Interim cars and pure 101's
The Interim cars with the later 101 chip-cutter type grilles and larger tail lights are part of both series and play a unique part in the evolution of the Sprint, they are so varied, that it is difficult to find two which share the same specification, for during this period, so many things changed on the cars, below is a list of some of changes & it is by no means a definitive list, so feel free to add to it.
1.) Front seats -750 seats have removable lower cushions, 101's are fixed
2.) Dash tops - 750's are fixed & painted, 101's are removable
3.) Dash mirrors - 750 mirror glass is held in place by a 3 jaw spring clamp, 101 uses a crackle black housing
4.) 750 engines are not the same as 101 engines - only the pistons & barrels are interchangeable.
5.) 750's used a 4 speed tunnel case gearbox, 101's used a 4 speed split case gearbox - the floorboards are also different, early cars have flat floors, later cars have a taller hump in the transmission tunnel to accomodate the split case gearbox
6.) The differential bearings are different in size - trust me here, it's not by much, but the 750's use a smaller size.
7.) The dash knobs on a 750 are gold, on a 101 they are silver
8.) 750 radio blanking plates are metal, 101's are plastic
9.) 750 sills are open at the bottom, 101's are closed
10.) 750 jacking points are through the outer sill cover, 101's are below the sill.
11.) 750 mudguard or fender flares are rolled over the wire bead horizontally, the 101's are rolled vertically - you need to see & feel this to understand
12.) 750's use the aeroplane casting on the boot, 101's have the number plate bracket.
13.) 750 numberplate lights are in the aeroplane casting, 101's have 2 dome lights on the rear bumper.
14.) 750 front bumpers have no lip on the rear edge, 101's have a lip on the trailing edge
15.) 750's use a light construction front suspension with a 4 bolt upper wishbone, 101's use a much heavier construction front suspension with a 2 bolt & bridge upper wish bone fixing - BUT there was a medium construction front suspension in the Interim period- the wishbones are clearly 3 different sizes and the bush size also changed.
And so it goes on and on, any or all of these changes could be fitted to cars built between the interim years, obviously the early ones have more 750 characteristics, while the later ones have more 101 characteristics.
Please note that all of the above are subject to what "Luigi-on-the-line" fitted at the time
Interim cars are to be celebrated as they are a wonderful blend of any or all of the above and as I've said, they represent a very important phase in the Bertone's build & the evolution of our little Jewels. I've mentioned elsewhere on this board that in about April / May '58 Bertone moved premises and hired an additional 50 heads in the new & bigger premises, these new artisans brought new idea's and concepts in the building of the car, coupled with the sanctioned Alfa Romeo Mid Cycle Enhancement, (MCE in the Motor Industry) where the nose & tail were face lifted, slowly morphing the 750 into the 101, meant that there was a flurry of evolution and activity from April / May '58 to December '60.
If you have an Interim car, you have a very important piece of Giulietta history.
For the record Dad's 11 Jan '60 Sprint was built with 101 seats, 101 front bumper, 750 aeroplane, 750 motor, (1315), a 4 speed 101 split case gearbox, 750 rear bumper, 101 sills, 101 wheel arches.
Looking at the myriad of differences between my '57 and '61, it's hard to believe that they came from the same Works.....
Ciao
Greig
Donning the flame proof suit as I speak......
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