Sprinting About

[AR58SprintV]

Aluminum Sprint Window frame photos
Greig SA & Alfazagato Stuart, note that although similar in form, the frames are different in the number of ribs, and probably not interchangable as extrusions or cast sections. Time to crank up the old milling machine...or while away the hours with a file.
Thank you both for the excellent photos.
Cheers, Laurence

[AlfistiSA]

Having taken a very close look at the frames on the Confortevole, I can tell you that they are incredibly thin & look to have been fomed out of a single sheet of flat aluminium. The best description is that they resemble a[ (_._) ] type profile - OK, work with me here - try squinting & imagine the image upside down & all joined together.

The metal is incredibly thin, apparently when this car was restored 30 years ago, the frames required extensive work.

Milling & filing this profile out of a solid block would be much stronger as the side walls would be much thicker.

I really need to try & see the frames on a lightweight for comparison

Ciao
Greig

[alfazagato]

Greig,
I will be in CA in a couple of weeks time and I will make an impression and precise drawings of the profile. I will send you a copy of the drawing and I will use it to obtain quotes for the extrusion. Hope lots of people want lightweight frames!
regards,

[Twin cam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pathung Another question: what year did Alfa starting making Veloces... '56?

[pathung]

Paul,

Thanks for the additional information on the Veloce and the build date on #0024. I receive the 'Letta and have read about your ongoing investigation of #24's history. It's surprising that Alfa hasn't been able to account for you the first five months of the car's life, despite us knowing how Luigi typically operates; somebody somewhere must know something. Is there an older car out there that you're aware of?

[Mario.D]

Hi Patrick.
I own 2 Alfas in Caracas Venezuela
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Red 1956#AR1495*02955*
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Blue 1959#AR1493*09143* Engine #131507827

Thanks
Mario Di Nardo

[pathung]

Hi Mario,

I've added your Sprint.

We now have a total of 39 Sprints listed, out of thousands produced. We're well on our way!

[Twin cam]

Hi Patrick

The archive is great but finding info is not that easy and there may be more there which might be recoverable at a future visit on 00024 but I have my doubts.

I think my car may be the oldest survivor so far known and I would love to contact any other owners of very early cars. Cars 1 to 11 appear to have been prototypes and I'm not aware of any surviving.

Here's an interesting question which I will start a separate thread on, but how many cars were lottery cars? I have done a quick search in the archive and there appears to be virtually nothing about the actual lottery. What was the price of a ticket? How many tickets were sold?Who was the lucky winner(s)? Which car(s) were lottery cars??

You would have thought that as an important piece of AR history it would be well documented. Maybe someone out there has the information and if so let's hear it!

Best wishes

Paul

[sprintgtc]

Hi Patrick,
Here's one more to make it an even 40:
1957 750b # 1493 05388 Engine # 1315 04771. Built in August of '57 and sold in France. Light blue with blue/grey interior. Original engine, column shift, small headlights. Last licensed in 1974. Not rusty, just covered in Cosmoline and dust.

[GTD]

I might as well add my old 1960 Blue Sprint to this register; AR 1493.21822. Long departed; Scrapped in the '70's; probably had enough good metal left in her to return as a Toyota hub cap!

Alas, I can supply no numbers or pics for my original 750 Sprint; abandoned in New Jersey after a head-on collision. Possibly salvaged by someone but more likely it was scrapped.
Hey - that's what they did with 10 year old ALFA's in the 1970's.

[pathung]

Here's a significant car to be added to our register - Glenn Oliveria's 1955 column-shift Sprint #1493-01398.

This was the first Sprint imported into the U.S. It was painted red in Nov.1955, and delivered to Max Hoffman in December. It came equipped with small (6") headlights, column shift, and "pistol grip" starter mechanism.

Glenn races the car (#23) frequently in CSRG and other California vintage racing events.

[cstlhn]

Glenn's car is beautiful! It gets me inspired to work on mine.

David

[Carlos Vasconce]

I have to agree with David...

Carlos

[davestebs]

I had the pleasure of seeing Glenn's Sprint in his shop a couple of years ago. Seeing any Sprint is a treat for someone that lives in a small Wisconsin town, but Glenn's is extra special. Plus, Glenn is a real nice guy.

[alfacoine]

Does anyone know if Glenn's Sprint first belonged to Henry Wessels?

Jonathan