For Sale: 1973 Berlina, project or parts

[davestebs]

And I have a place to store it, but no good way of getting it here. My friend with truck and trailer would be seriously terrified of pulling a trailer through Chicago.

[chasking]

I am just a few blocks from the expressway! Very easy to get into and out of town; easy to park by my house!

[davestebs]

The expressway is the scary part. It's a whole different reality to people who have lived all their lives in small towns. He won't even drive a car on the expressway. I know better than to ask about a truck & trailer.

[Andrew]

Last summer I drove a Ford F700 (Fred S's old race transporter), 390, 5 speed, 2 speed rear end, weighed 14,000 lbs, plus a Buick Skylark in the back, through San Diego and I-405 LA rush hour traffic, including running out of gas by LAX, then to Pasadena, then over the Grapevine, then to Shafter or some other hole in the Valley, then to Berkeley, in one day by myself.
Surely Chicago cannot be scarier than that? It was quite a day.
Andrew

[Andrew]

All by way of saying, a Berlina is worth the effort.
Andrew

[davestebs]

Chicago is not scary to me, but it is to my friend with the truck. I own half the trailer with him. I'm thinking about getting my own truck.

Andrew's trip does sound epic.

[vince7]

Andrew, that sounds like an epic trip and quite a transporter for an Alfa! Does it have a past history with other race cars? I collect pictures of old ramp trucks and other race car haulers, and have an ex-NASCAR and USAC '62 Dodge ramp truck as one of my projects. Feel free to send me pictures of yours....

vince
vstrazzabosco@yahoo.com

[Andrew]

Vince, it was all covered on this thread:
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfa...ar-hauler.html

My poor memory, the truck was even more bad-arse than I recalled; it's an F750, not an F700. It was Fred Shuedekopp's truck when he was in SoCal. Once he moved north, it stayed behind in Vista CA and eventually he and his partners sold it. It happened to be five miles from my dad's house, and I needed to move a free nonrunning Buick Skylark from Santa Monica to Berkeley, so all the pieces came together. I flew to SD, picked up the truck, spent the night at my dad's house, then headed north the next morning.

I didn't buy it, I just moved it for the new owner, who is in Petaluma just north of me. So we got the truck and Buick moved, plus some tires and other junk I picked up in LA, for the cost of one plane ticket and some (a lot really) of gas money. A 390 four-barrel Ford big block is by no means overpowered for a 14,000 lb truck with a box on it as big as a house. Got 8 MPG whether cruising or going up the Grapevine. Out in the Valley with a moderate headwind, 55 MPH was as fast as it would go.

Back in the racing days they drove this all over the west with a Giulietta inside and a GTV on a trailer behind, not to mention three of four guys (it'll seat six) plus tools, parts, tires, etc. I cannot imagine how arduous those trips must have been. This truck needs a modern electronically controlled diesel in the worst way, for both performance and economy. I believe that's part of the new owner's plan, but have not talked to him really since I handed the truck off to him last summer.

Andrew

[Andrew]

Somebody wants to pay my transportation and provide a truck, I'll go get it. Makes no sense but I'm happy to do it. I love these kind of adventures.
If it were in CA someone would probably have bought it by now, if nothing else as a backup LeMons racer. It's perfect for it.
Andrew

[vince7]

Thanks, Andrew, that is definitely an epic trip. The older trucks are cool to see, too. Below is a link to a shot shot of my project Dodge, hope it comes through.

vince

Beautiful flower pictures to brighten your day on Webshots

[chasking]

Just a bump to keep this on the front page of the Classifieds. Please, read the comments above, particularly Andrew's---he is a leading authority on these sedans! My dad has a nice Spider he's going to sell me as soon as I can make room in my garage, so please, give poor Bernie a new loving home. (Or, part him out and make some money, although I hope someone will put him back on the road!)

[Andrew]

The unquestioning Berlina-lover in me is having to be forcibly restrained from making an offer or otherwise figuring out how to make this work. The more sensible person sees the fenders, rockers, and lower doors. I already have one Berlina that doesn't make sense to own, two wouldn't improve that situation.
Have you tried your local craigslist? The BB is a tough crowd compared to the real world. I posted to the LeMons site, but the $1000 price tag might scare those bottom-feeders.
Andrew

[chasking]

Yeah, I'm going to try craigslist. I figure it would be better for all involved if Bernie's new owner came from the Alfisti community and had a good idea of what he or she is getting in to, but, I do want to sell the car.

[Andrew]

Updated LeMons post hinting that you're a reasonable person and would like it to go to a good home.
Andrew

[chasking]

Good morning everybody!