´55 Sprint restoration

deus-ar · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 01:39 PM

Here are some pictures of my 1955 Sprint normale restoration project which should be ready for 100 years of Alfa Romeo next year. The car came from the US + - 1989 and was a spare body for a racing car during the nineties. The race car never crashed so this car survived and was stored until 2006 when I bought it. The body was really nice with very little rust, only the front nose was replaced with a new front panel. This work was never finished and the car was in primer under the window gasket was original paint and we got the original paint code from ICI.
Due to the fact that we are parts dealer with a huge stock of parts for these cars we can replace all missing or broken components.
Here are some photos of the car. More to follow

Hein Brand

alfazagato · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 04:18 PM

Best of luck with the restoration. I noticed that there is no hole adjacent to the ignition switch for the headlight main beam warning light. There isn't one on my car either and I thought that it had been infilled. Is there any evidence of a hole?

**Subtle** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:18 PM

In just starting on my project Sprint, I'll follow this one with interest.

divotandtralee · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfazagato

Best of luck with the restoration. I noticed that there is no hole adjacent to the ignition switch for the headlight main beam warning light. There isn't one on my car either and I thought that it had been infilled. Is there any evidence of a hole?

**rcess** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 04:14 AM

I wasn't aware that any Giulietta Sprints have a high-bean indicator light adjacent to the ignition switch, nor any where else on the dash. Which raises the trivial question as to why do Giulietta Spiders have the such an indicator light, but not the Sprints?

don000 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcess

I wasn't aware that any Giulietta Sprints have a high-bean indicator light adjacent to the ignition switch, nor any where else on the dash. Which raises the trivial question as to why do Giulietta Spiders have the such an indicator light, but not the Sprints?

deus-ar · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:42 AM

Taking everything out and sandblasting the car. Body came out really nice. A small hole in the roof, some bad bodywork, but basicly a very good body. The floor is today still untouched.

Hein

**rcess** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don000

Perhaps cost engineering within the lineup, by omitting the indicator from the less costly models ?

deus-ar · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 06:47 AM

after sandblasting

Hein

AlfistiSA · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 07:30 AM

Well done Hein, a beautiful car

Lovely original colour - please tell me you are keeping the colour :-)

The high beam indicator is in the triple gauge on the cars without the dash mounted light adjacent to the ignition switch - another example of Luigi vs Guiseppi vs Toni on the production line. We've got 5 Sprints from '57 to '61 and it's a pot-luck fitment as to which-got-what.

I notice a difference of 17 cars between the Bertone Body number & the chassis number - could these account for a few prototypes and maybe the first few shells allocated to become the first of the '56 Lightweights ???

Ciao
Greig

deus-ar · #11 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 08:02 AM

I will keep the original paint. We redeveloped the colour with ICI. and painted a fridge in this colour. Something between swimmingpool and the pampers of my daughter.

Hein

**Subtle** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 08:11 AM

How much do you want for the fridge?

**Andrew** · #13 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:04 AM

Great to see a column-shift car with a hole cut in the floor from later fitting of a floor-shift trans.
There's no oval access hole to disconnect the shift cable on top of the trans? My 56 Berlina has that; did Sprints not have it?

Andrew

alfazagato · #14 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:47 AM

Rick, Many thanks as usual for your prompt and pithy reply....in fact the only reason I became aware of the omission is that my new loom had a wire for the main beam warning light! It will give me pleasure to fold it up and tape it to the loom or even cut it out and re-bind. As a matter of interest only, the EU price of these replica "pea" lights is 30% of my return flight to San Francisco. I get to Greenland free as a result of not having to buy one.
Greig, I have the original instruments and there is no provision for a high-beam warning light, only the usual town lights "luci". Where on your instruments is this light?
Talking of "luci"....please pass on my regards to your lovely lady wife. And...seats?

divotandtralee · #15 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 04:15 PM

Hein, there is a box section spanning the width of the fire wall and the only access inside it is the far left and right electrical loom outlets on the fire wall in the engine bay. If you fish a wire in there with a hook on it you will be surprised to find a perfect condominium where the Little Mouse family raised many generations. A vacuum with a heater hose attachment will suck out the remnants.

Thanks for the battery location shot. That helped with the wire access port in the floor in mine.

FYI, I know you won't take this personally as some I have pissed off in the past but the color was a very stylish in bathrooms in the 50's- including the commode, bath tub, wash basin, and splash tiles.

The fridge will have to remain in the garage with the proper local brew on ice. I doubt your wife will accept this today. Rick