For Sale: The Finest Original 1750 Roundtail Spider in the World

[JWHALFA]

The Finest Original 1750 Roundtail Spider in the World

If you are interested in Duettos and 1750 Roundtail Spiders, and planning to be in California during the "Car Show" week in Carmel, Pebble Beach and Monterey California later this month, you might want to stop and see my 1969 1750 Spider. If you were there last year, you may have seen the car at the “Concorso Italiano”, where it was featured in the “Centerpiece Display Area” for original, un-restored cars

This year the car will be displayed at the “Carmel by the Sea Concours on the Avenue”, which takes place on Tuesday, August 14th.

The show is on the streets of “Downtown Carmel”, beginning at 11:00 A.M. , and ending at 5:00 P.M.

My “DUETTO” will be in the Vintage Italian Sports Car Section, and is entered as an original un-restored vehicle.

The car has never been repainted. The actual mileage on the car is under 20,750 miles and EVERYTHING IS TOTALLY ORIGINAL including the upholstery, carpets, rubber mats, the convertible top and its rear window, and even the 43 year old Pirelli Cinturato tires which are saved now for car show use only.

On and after Wednesday, August 15th, the car can be seen at the “Briarwood Inn” in Carmel ..... on San Carlos St., between 4th and 5th .

At that time, the car will be offered for sale for $60,000.

If you are SERIOUSLY interested, and you'd like to see more photographs, please send me a PM with your email address and phone number, and I'll forward many more pictures to you directly.

Thank you for your consideration,

JWHALFA

P.S. ..... To paraphrase another outspoken Alfa B. B. member :

For those “Barking Chihuahuas” that will say my price is too high without ever having seen the car in person, please find a fire hydrant somewhere else.

[67duetto]

I saw this car in person @ CI 2011. Best I've ever seen, stunning! I doubt if there are any other out there in this original, very well kept conditions.

[ekys]

Anybody know if these cars came with tan interiors?

[rosso]

where did your spider grow up. i was in Chicago in the mid 70s and there was an alfa dealer in Lake Forest who had snagged an absolutely mint roundtail with 20,000 miles on it and,,,,was putting it ,,,away!

[JWHALFA]

In response to EKYS question.

I've had several PMs to my post and a few interested parties have asked about the headlight covers and the interior color.

This is what I know :
According to the FACTORY RECORDS made available from Centro Documentazione Alfa Romeo, this car was actually manufactured in December 1968. The information I have though not documented, is that the car was used as a display model at the Chicago Auto Show in Early 1969, and then maybe other Auto shows around the country.
The salesman at the dealership where it was purchased, insisted that the car was shipped from the factory as you see it in my photos, as an early example of what would be available, when the main body of new production vehicles were to arrive in the Spring of that year. Thus the headlight covers may have slipped past any DOT inspections in a rush to get the car to Chicago for the Early 1969 Auto Show, which at that time was one of the two or three biggest car shows in the country. The headlight covers on this car are definitely FACTORY INSTALLED, with all the correct hardware. Another interesting variation is the Black/Creme interior color combination which was available that year, but not commonly supplied in a Red car. This was also possibly a result of Alfa Romeo wanting to make their new model as outstanding as possible for the early 1969 Auto Shows around the U.S.A..
At that time, guys were wild-eyed, waiting for their "Duettos", so they could have the car that Dustin Hoffman drove in the movie "The Graduate" which premiered more than a year earlier.
Many of us had ordered our cars almost a year in advance.
Except for the headlight covers and the interior color combination, all other aspects of this car are totally what you have been told to expect and "CORRECT" for a 1969, Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce Iniezione.
This car, in many ways, is a rare example of the correct definition of the word "UNIQUE".

JWHALFA

P.S.
I believe the Black/Creme color combination usually came in either Blue, Gray or White cars in the Roundtail era.
I also recall that if you were willing to wait 6 or more months for a special ordered car, you could get any paint color with any interior color on the two charts. In any case you have to see this car in person to realize how beautiful the combination is.
Years later in the 80s and 90s, Alfa commonly shipped the Red Spiders with Creme or Tan interiors.

[JWHALFA]

To answer "ROSSO" s question

Where did your spider grow up?
I was in Chicago in the mid 70s and there was an alfa dealer in Lake Forest who had snagged an absolutely mint roundtail with 20,000 miles on it and,,,,was putting it ,,,away!

ROSSO,

Your memory is pretty good but not perfect.
When HE snagged it, it had 5,000 miles on the clock.
A few years later, I sweet talked him out of it with alot of $$$$$$$weett talk.

JWHALFA

[rosso]

it was an extraordinary car then and as a 25 year old,,,i WANTED it. glad it has survived intact and that after all these years it has less miles on it than we do. just picked up an early 67 myself, also very original but wears her age with distinction. best of luck with the sale.

[fgsavoia]

If the car is in its original conditions, and I don't have reason to not believe that, the price could be considered an out-of-the-market price for an exceptional car indeed.

This car - these cars - has only an issue: as long as its value (not only the economic one, but also the historical one) is strictly related to the originality, you should have fear to drive it. And the more the time passes, the bigger is the fear, unless you wait for midnight to get a quick tour around the block, just to get engine and transmission running.

So, its destiny is mostly like to become a museum (private or public) or a trailer queen.

[divotandtralee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgsavoia If the car is in its original conditions, and I don't have reason to not believe that, the price could be considered an out-of-the-market price for an exceptional car indeed. This car - these cars - has only an issue: as long as its value (not only the economic one, but also the historical one) is strictly related to the originality, you should have fear to drive it. And the more the time passes, the bigger is the fear, unless you wait for midnight to get a quick tour around the block, just to get engine and transmission running. So, its destiny is mostly like to become a museum (private or public) or a trailer queen.

[fgsavoia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by divotandtralee I think you mean bag it or lose it.

[goliardico]

Stunning Duetto, JWH!

If by any chance you happen to have it in Los Angeles (or nearby) before or after Carmel, I'd love to do a thorough photo shoot on it.

It would've made a lovely addition to my Alfa Spider article a while back:
Six Generations of Alfa Romeo Spiders | Alfalicious – Enjoy life. Drive an Alfa Romeo.

Good luck with the sale!

Cheers,

Afshin

[divotandtralee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgsavoia This is correct for sure. If a car is really exceptional, just pay it. I have only a doubt, and please don't get me wrong: I would only understand and perhaps fill up my gaps: weren't these cars painted with nitro? Read it as: has the car been polished?

[fgsavoia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by divotandtralee I'm not sure you understand what I meant. when I said "bag it or lose it" .Here is one example--http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?id=76&cid=179

[divotandtralee]

I live 1/2 mile from the ocean.. I moved here from KC. The difference in metal surfaces is night and day.. The 1750 "dont-calll-it a-a Duetto" needs a conditioned space to maintain it's newness and a full time care taker.

This is the reason I sold my '57 Sprint ( see for sale) .. I knew it would only go downhill from here and I have my share of drivers.

[ossodiseppia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWHALFA .......Thus the headlight covers may have slipped past any DOT inspections in a rush to get the car to Chicago for the Early 1969 Auto Show, which at that time was one of the two or three biggest car shows in the country. The headlight covers on this car are definitely FACTORY INSTALLED, with all the correct hardware.