The Confortevole Debate!

[johnnym]

In investigating the history of my Sprint, I have heard many different opinions on the confortevole specification, and have read a few threads here where this has been discussed. There seems to be a difference of opinion, so I thought it would be a good idea to start a dedicated thread so that all the information could be combined.

I have been told that the Confortevole cars were simply early 750 veloces that were not lightweight (e.g they were either one or the other). I have also been told they were late 58 cars, between lightweights and 101 cars. The specification may have been steel-bodied 750 Sprints with a rear seat installed as standard, and chrome-rimmed door windows. Others have said the cars were always based on 750 veloces.

So, does anyone know for sure, with reference to Alfa documents? Did confortevoles have lightweight parts? when were they made? Has anyone any photographs?

Let the debate commence!

John

[AR58SprintV]

Look back to the Giulietta Sprint Veloce First series thread starting 04/08 by Lionel Velez. Grieg Alfisti SA is basically correct. The books are cited.
Your car is a 1st series Giulietta sprint with a Ruddspeed conversion and an optional back seat, not a confortevole. It will be challenge and I applaud your rebuild effort.
By the way, the confortevole was from Sept. 1957 to April 1958 and includes Lionel's car 1493E*06611.
Cheers, Laurence

[AlfistiSA]

Thanks Laurence

I'd forgotten they started as early as Lionel's car, interesting as Chassis 06600 was always purported to have been the swap over to the new 101 type nose, yet Lionel’s car is 06611. Incidentally Fusi puts the start of the ’58 Sprints, (Normale's & Veloce’s) at 1493*06009.

I’ve listed the main differences between the 750B’s, 750E’s and 750E Confortavole’s below, doubtless there are others, which more learned folk will add in.

On the 6” vs 7” lights debate, my 05880 is supposed to be in the 7” light build, yet has 6” lights.

750B

A 1493*XXXXX Chassis designation ( The “B” was never stamped)
Bertone Body number on the scuttle begins with 65XXXX
6" lights (later ‘58’s had 7” lights)
65 Liter fuel tank
Single twin choke Solex carb
4 speed tunnel case transmission - some column shift / some floor shift
Single hooter
Flat boot floor
Straight handbrake linkages at the diff
9/41 differential
Choke knob
7000 rpm rev counter
120mph speedo
Air filter canister on top of the carburettor
Single air scoop under LHS front mudguard
Engine numbers beginning with 1315*0XXXX
Mechanical fuel pump driven off the nose of the motor by the exhaust cam
Large bakelite covered cam cover nuts – 14mm hexagon fitting
Steel doors, bonnet and boot
Heater
Frameless wind up glass side windows
Conventional door trim – flat internal panel with small map pocket
Steel bumpers
Steel / brass eyebrows



750E Lightweight

A 1493E*XXXXX Chassis designation (E denotes a Veloce)
Bertone Body number on the scuttle begins with 77XXXX
6" lights
90 Liter fuel tank
Twin DC03 Weber carbs
4 speed tunnel case transmission floor shift only
Twin hooters – (there are some conflicting reports here)
Ridge in boot floor for fuel breather
Split handbrake linkages
10/41 differential (9/41 available on request)
No choke knob
8000 rpm rev counter
140mph speedo
Bracket on RHS inner wing for fuel regulator
Bendix double clicker electric pump at tank
Blank off plate at the front of the head
Thin knurled cam cover nuts – 10mm hexagon fitting
Cam cover plinths milled down
Cylinder head milled
Veloce aluminium air plenum
Air filter canister against the firewall
Dual air scoop under LHS front mudguard
Engine numbers beginning with 1315*3XXXX
No heater
Sliding plexiglass side windows
Hollowed out door trim with large door pockets & “elbow room”
Aluminium doors, bonnet, boot
Aluminium bumpers, eyebrows


750E Confortavole (Comfortable)

A 1493E*XXXXX Chassis designation (E denotes a Veloce)
Bertone Body number on the scuttle begins with 65XXXX*A*
Bertone Body number on the scuttle ends with *A*
7" lights
90 Liter fuel tank
Twin DC03 Weber carbs
4 speed tunnel case transmission floor shift only
Twin hooters – (there are some conflicting reports here)
Ridge in boot floor for fuel breather
Split handbrake linkages
10/41 differential (9/41 available on request)
No choke knob
8000 rpm rev counter
140mph speedo
Bracket on RHS inner wing for fuel regulator
Bendix double clicker electric pump at tank
Blank off plate at the front of the head
Thin knurled cam cover nuts
Cam cover plinths milled down
Cylinder head milled
Engine numbers beginning with 3XXXX
Veloce aluminium air plenum
Air filter canister against the firewall
Dual air scoop under LHS front mudguard
Heater
Aluminium framed wind-up side windows or frameless windows – depends on what Alfa fitted in production
Conventional door trim – flat internal panel with small map pocket
Steel doors, bonnet, boot
Steel or aluminium bumpers, eyebrows – depends what Alfa had left at fitment


These are what I can remember off hand - let the debate begin...

Ciao
Greig

[alfazagato]

Hang on, I am sure that lightweight Veloces had heaters.

[AlfistiSA]

Hi Stuart

I'll defer to you on that one !!

Hmm, we need you to post a few pictures of your '57 E... hint, hint

Ciao
Greig

[johnnym]

Greig- brilliant, very helpful indeed!

John

[alfazagato]

Greig,
Work starting later this year and will be here for you all to roar with laughter at! But as a taster....look at this!

[6alfas]

Interesting indeed, no hole for the ashtray......

[alfazagato]

Too fast to smoke! But seriously, the holes for the pull knobs should be angled either side of the rectangular ashtray hole, these clearly aren't. Until I get the paint off I can't say what's going on, but the car was prepared by Conrero and raced comprehensively by Jean Rolland in France in the late 50s so he may have had some racing device fitted and the hole welded up! There's also no "pea" light adjoining the ignition switch for the headlights. Who knows what went on in the late 50s early 60s? It is some 50 years ago now!

[pathung]

HEY..., that picture and accompanying history of the car belongs in the 750/101 Photo thread! Get going, Stuart, we need exterior shots, too! It's a very special car, no doubt!

[alfazagato]

Partick,
An external photograph is already on the 750 photo thread. You replied to it!

[pathung]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfazagato Partick, An external photograph is already on the 750 photo thread. You replied to it!

[AlfistiSA]

Hey Stuart.......... no heater......

Actually not much of anything in there, I see she has had a split case gearbox upgrade, interesting holes in the dash, be nice to see what is under there - have you tried looking under the dash to see what has been filled in ?

I see that she still has the pump for the windscreen washer "Tudor bottle" fitted - for the uninitiated - it's just below the dash, directly above the brake pedal & the silver hooter ring basically bisects it, the later 101's had the foot pump on the LHS of the clutch.

750 info snippet: The 750's had 2 squirter nozzles for the windscreen washers, the 101's had one central dual squirter - "Luigi-on-the-line" must have been seriously confused during the interim period.......

As for the rest, she looks pretty good inside, the doors look reasonably intact & many lightweights had "racing seat" mods. The steering wheel & horn ring look good, as do the instruments. I've got some pictures of a lightweight that ran the Mille Miglia - when I find them, I'll post them for you.

Nice catch !!

Ciao
Greig

Pat - Memory is the first thing to go, but I can't remember what the second is.....

[Marco750B56]

AlfistiSA;

Thanks again for the very important information about the 750B´s.

Regards

Marco