Importing a Sprint to the USA

lanciat · #1 (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 07:26 AM

I'm considering importing an Alfasud Sprint to the US from Europe. At the moment, it would have to be a 1982 or earlier car to be imported legally, although it's now getting close enough to calendar year 2008 that a 1983 Sprint could soon be imported legally.

Questions for European Sprint fans:

1. Where's the best place to find one of these cars? I assume they're plentiful in Italy, but are there other countries in Europe where I would be likely to find one in decent shape?

2. Given the pre-1982 or 1983 time frame that I'm limited to, what should I be looking out for (besides rust, which I understand is of particular concern on 'Suds).

Thanks for any and all help!

Greek · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 12:51 AM

Keep in mind that the models before 84 have the inboard brakes which makes them hard to maintain and repair.

So apart from the rust in the ussual places , check for leaks in the inboard brakes, try to open the rear windows because their mechanism tends to rust and stuck. it is very hard also to fix them.

As for the electrical , just make sure that all controls aroung the steering wheel such as wipers switch are working as they are also hard to find , especially out of Europe.

One last advise... Since you are going to import a car i guees with a container , try to fing spares from scrapyards even from early 33s and stuff them on the trunk of the car. I mean stuff like water pumps , oil pumps , windscreen mechanisms, little stuff that are cheap to remove from a abandon car in the yard.

AlfaAddict · #3 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 02:39 AM

I think that Greek gave you good advice pertaining to Sprints in particular. As for where to look, give Germany more than a cursory glance, as well as France. What few Alfa's I saw while living there (Germany) were very well taken care of. In France I would look within the Nice area, which surprisingly had just as many Alfa's as Citroens, although Peugeot was dominant. I actually saw very few Alfa's in Paris region

.

lanciat · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 07:45 AM

Thanks for the replies!

Are the inboard brakes on '83 and earlier cars such a PITA that it's worth it to wait until I could legally import an '84? I've heard that the '84 and later cars are built on the 33 platform, and that, as a result, spare parts are more readily available for the '84 and later cars.

Didn't the '84 and later cars have rear drum brakes?

alfa33veloce pa · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 12:11 PM

you can get a nice sprint green cloverleaf now for a decent price ,what about england or would you not have one because of the wheel being on the wrong side.
you get a few on ebay now and again.

Greek · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 11:23 PM

Well , inboard brakes gave the car better driving performance ( i have a personal expirience from both models) and that was the distinctive part of the car ( along with SUD's) and also rear disk something rare for that time.

Keep in mid few things....
-Models until 83 had greater rust problems that latest models.
-Very few people know how to maintain inboard brakes nowdays and even less ore to repair them , even in Europe. So most of the job has to be done from you.
-Inboard brakes are better (with proper upgrades) but if you are going to use it as an everyday car or just for a ride there is no need to have 100% performance.
-In latest models you can upgrade easily the front disks from those from an 16v 33 and quite easy back drums to disks .Of course in case that you dont want to keep originality.

All the other parts are more or less the same

Oelholm · #7 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 12:08 AM

The inboard brakes will only be an issue if you face problems with it... Any half decent mechanic will know how to handle them (or maybe it is not as common as it is in Europe?). Anyway, do not let that scare you...

I would be more concerned about other things, as you are living in USA and therefore would have to import everything needed when something special goes wrong. I would therefore not try and modify the brake set up, and also shy away from 33 upgrades, which will only make it more complex for you to import the correct spares.

Also, look at the styling, it is quite different with the plastic bumpers. That's a question of personal taste, but I prefer the earlier model.

As to which country, I would recommend Germany, as they are (usually) very honest, there is a good selection and (at least in the southernmost parts) very limited damage from salt/rain etc. Would be very wary of buying a car sight unseen in Italy. They have different understandings as to what is a "perfect" car. Also, cars from Italy is more often than not a bit scruffy in the panel department and I reckon that you do not wish to have to import spare panels from across the pond!

genius · #8 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfa33veloce pa

you can get a nice sprint green cloverleaf now for a decent price ,what about england or would you not have one because of the wheel being on the wrong side.
you get a few on ebay now and again.

alfa33veloce pa · #9 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genius

Hi...

Personally I'd steer well away from anything from the UK...not that the cars may not have been cared for but simply because of the amount of rust causing salt used on the roads during winter...and we all know how rustproof 80's Alfas were...

Cheers

Mike

lanciat · #10 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 10:30 AM

OK, if Germany is the place to look, can anyone suggest some on-line resources (classifieds, German Alfa clubs) where I might find 'Sud Sprints for sale? Believe me, I'd rather wander around Germany in person,

but that's not going to be possible for a while.

Thanks for all of the helpful advice!

alfa-arna · #11 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 11:19 AM

ebay.de theres a red one on there now

Oelholm · #12 (**permalink**) 09-29-2007, 01:11 AM

I'll try asking some of the German Enthusiast this Monday, hopefully they will be able to help you...

lanciat · #13 (**permalink**) 09-29-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oelholm

I'll try asking some of the German Enthusiast this Monday, hopefully they will be able to help you...

AlfaAddict · #14 (**permalink**) 09-29-2007, 09:23 AM

Hello,
along with Oleholm I'll see what I can do. I have a friend in Germany that helps to ship vehicles to Africa every month. And, I would imagine that shipping is shipping. I would think finding a Sud is easy, I'll get back to you later in the week on that. Good Luck in your quest!

lanciat · #15 (**permalink**) 09-29-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaAddict

Hello,
along with Oleholm I'll see what I can do. I have a friend in Germany that helps to ship vehicles to Africa every month. And, I would imagine that shipping is shipping. I would think finding a Sud is easy, I'll get back to you later in the week on that. Good Luck in your quest!