03-07-2009, 09:18 AM
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Black is Faster...
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Aptos, CA
Posts: 2,276
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As long as you're not aiming for a show-queen that requires a perfect-fit/match everywhere and every time, I'd say go for it.
I feel that parts availability is rather good for a "driver"-type level of restoration. For my restoration, I refurbished the car's original parts, bought repros, and bidded on eBay - this three-pronged approach seemed to get me everything that I needed to make the car look and work halfway-decent. I source Repro/NOS parts from three suppliers in the U.S., and two in the U.K.; these have served me well.
In my opinion, if the engine and mechanicals are performing to Alfa standards, getting the rest right isn't so important.
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03-07-2009, 11:37 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Columbia South Carolina
Posts: 68
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Try Randy Pene 760-271-2508 He seems to have a lot of stuff and i know he just bought two more Spiders i brlieve a 1-750 and
1-101
Dennis
__________________
Dennis Skraba
73 Spider, 68 1300JR RHD, 62 Giulia Spider
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03-08-2009, 12:00 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Juan Capistrano
Posts: 1,817
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by jonny_alfa
I've seen this same problem of a lack of good repro parts with other marques (porsche specifically) and have found that when the prices (for finished cars) rise enough AND there are a sufficient enough number that need restoration people will begin knocking off repro parts, and they do get better.
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Yea, but 750/101 Alfas don't meet either of your two criteria. For whatever reason, they just haven't appreciated the way that Porsche 356's (say) have. And there just aren't that many of them out there - not very many were sold new, and there has been a high attrition rate. Consequently, as someone wrote previously, there are few people making repro parts. I have fooled around with 356's as well as Alfa 101's, and would say that the availability of Porsche parts is infinitely better.
Unfortunately the parts that you need - seats, bumpers, trim - are among the scarcest. Mechanical parts are no problem, particularly for 101's. Unfortunately, the seats tended to fall apart, and low-budget owners would throw them out and drop in a set of junkyard seats. Note that because of the way that 750/101 convertible tops fold, as well as the narrow width of these cars, you really need correctly-sized seats - most junkyard and aftermarket seats will be too wide/tall.
Not to burst your balloon, but engines and transmissions aren't that great as "barter bait" - unless you have veloce bits or 750 engine parts, the mechanical components for these cars are fairly available. Unfortunately, it's stuff like seats, bumpers, and trim that everyone is after. OK, you have a '57 spider, which I guess would make it a 750. But, is it a Veloce or Normale?
But after all this, I hope we don't come across as trying to talk you out of Alfa ownership/restoration. For many of us, the search for parts is half the fun. And, as Patrick wrote, you can get your car running without a lot of the hard-to-find stuff (like trim). Sure, you won't win any concours, but if that's not your thing, who cares? You can always locate trim pieces over time.
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Jay Mackro
San Juan Capistrano, CA
'63 Guilia spider
'65 Guilia Sprint GT
'67 Duetto
'91 164L
Last edited by Alfajay; 03-08-2009 at 12:11 PM.
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03-10-2009, 07:22 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 6
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alfa parts , redux
Hey all,
thanks for the update on all, including barter bait (re engines, trannies, etc). Good to know what's hot and what's not. If anybody REALLY wants to sell some parts please send me a mail.
Looks like i may have located a windshield frame locally, as well as bumpers.
Time get specific - i need seats, top mechanism, gas tank, and window mechanisms (regulators) - w/ good glass.
Anybody in need of 1300 - whole engine or parts - trans - rear end?
br
jon
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03-10-2009, 07:33 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Posts: 693
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Spider door glass is flat, so any half-decent glass place can cut you a pair of windows off a cardboard pattern from a friend's car.
A set of Spider bumpers are on US Ebay right now.
Ciao
Greig
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04-10-2009, 07:44 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Holland, MI/Breckenridge, CO
Posts: 161
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Do you still need any trim parts? how about a windshield? or a cage for a top? I Have a few of those things. If you need them PM me your email adress and we'll send you some images of the parts. I believe i also have a passenger door window glass. I have a complete door but need that. Its a race car so i do not need the glass thats in it. Let me know...
Phillip
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04-20-2009, 07:00 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 6
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archaeology 101 - the giulietta saga continues
Hi All,
thanks again for all the great info, insights and connections. I do have the Alfa here now at the garage and have been digging through parts. I've been going through the message boards here looking to identify some parts - transmissions right now. I got about (4) trannies with the car. I'll post some pix here later and any help would be appreciated. Also, i believe the PO may have been collecting these extra parts to 'go racin' so if anything is an upgrade/better pls let me know
thanks!
jon
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04-29-2009, 08:07 AM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 3
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You know Andrew, I would love to look more into the Fiat 850 Seat idea. I need seats bad. Back in the 80's when I first got my (58) Giulietta Spider and was trying to find taillight replacements pre-public-Internet-as-a-resource, I found out that at least one year of the Nash Metropolitan had the exact Lucas "523" lights used on the Giulietta, so I found a guy that had a bunch of Metropolitans and "viola!" problem solved (and cheap too! [I even got extras] :-)
Now that I am desperate for seats, I really want to look into the dimensions of other seats like the one you mentioned. It is possible that the EXACT seat was used in something else, but even if it is just the same dimensions, the upholstery can obviously be made to look totally legit anyway. Since my car will never win a concours, I am fine with not paying an arm and a leg for 'reproductions' that are not necessarily any more "exact" than another seat with the exact dimensions.
So, any chance you can get any measurements of that seat? ...and of course I have to ask one of you Giulietta guys for those measurements too, as I do not have any seats and I'm ready to get yet another one of these beauties back on the road.
This board is such an awesome resource, it would be so great if we could source yet another (very) hard to find part just by putting our heads together.
Thoughts anyone?
-Michael
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