Another 750B restoration in the UK - 1955, chassis 1493 00555

williamcorke · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:06 AM

I've been looking for an early 'eyebrow' Sprint for a while, and then last month - like London buses - two turned-up in Sweden within a short distance of each other (we can probably blame the industrious Jo Bonnier for this, as Sweden seems to be a good source of early Giuliettas, and he was the importer in the mid '50s).

One of the cars that surfaced (the earlier one #349) was advertised on giulietta.com and there's a web site featuring it (http://gillbrand.com/alfa). I don't know if it's been sold yet.

The other is much more by way of being a project... but looked to me like a good base to make into a very 'original' car, and one I would want to live with (among other problems I had with #349 is my aversion to bright red cars), so I bought it.

1493 00555 was last on the road in '67, and a restoration was started in the early '70s and soon abandoned; but fortunately few parts, well relatively few, have gone missing in the interim. Supposedly, the car was, when new, road-tested by a Swedish motoring magazine called something like Teknikvärld. It would be great if someone could point me in the direction of a dealer in old Swedish mags, or might even have a copy of the test salted away. I know we have some Swedish Giuliettisti on this forum...

Anyway, I collected the car from Tilbury docks today, and have attached a couple of pictures of the car doing its best to keep away from the salty Thames estuary water. It wasn't a great day for car transporting, as 2ins of rain fell (really) during my drive. I guess the deluge will have at least have removed any North Sea salt that had found its way on to the bodyshell.

Next step - inventory the parts I've got (have spotted some missing bits already) and decide who I'll get to 'do' the body. There's no rush. The car is going to have to wait in line behind an Aurelia B10 that's half done.

My first impression of the car is pretty positive. The only significant rust that will need attention is in the sills, and even then is localised to a couple of spots. Right rear wheelarch has been bodged and will need a proper repair panel, but the inner is all sound.

Some pictures of the car in Sweden also follow...

Cheers,
William

williamcorke · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:16 AM

As sent to me by the seller.

The paint on the engine will have to go!

Interior is interesting. I suspect it is the original seating, as all the door and side panel trim matches, and the cards are numbered. The piping is a rather gaudy metallic silver/gold, and the black vinyl is of a very heavy type. There is a cushion in the back, but under it the ledge is carpeted.

The original type air cleaner is present, similarly the oil filler cap, etc.

williamcorke · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:18 AM

From Sweden.

Twin cam · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 10:13 AM

Hi William

Many congratulations on the purchase, it looks a super basis for a rebuild. You are right about early Sprints and Sweden, my car 00024 came from there as well!

What was the original colour of the car, I see red in the engine bay ledge? I'm also with you on Alfas in red and my car was a lively mid-light blue originally and will be going back to it when it gets restored.

I am envious of your original air filter, it the only bit I'm now missing so if you or anyone else has a spare then let me know, its the one for the 32mm Solex as seen in the pics above. If all else fails, perhaps I could twist your arm into letting me borrow it to do a fabricated copy!

Good luck with the rebuild when you get round to it.

Best wishes

Paul

Paul Gregory

williamcorke · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 12:03 PM

Thank you Paul, I knew you had #24, and that it had come from Sweden, from an earlier thread online somewhere...

I don't have a spare air cleaner, but of course you're very welcome to borrow mine if you want to. Are you going to Rusper on 5th November? It's quite local to me, and I was thinking of dropping in.

The mid / pale blue colour really suits these cars, and I'm hoping that the patches in the engine bay where the red has flaked away are this colour, and that it is original to the car. The metal trim attached below the rear windows is painted black (on top of red): would they be body colour? I will make some paint stripper powered investigative expeditions beneath the top, green layer of paint soon.

Of course if I were able to turn up a copy of the Swedish magazine from 1955 then that would probably answer the question.

Another route is to ask the Archivio in Milan, but I don't have an email address for Elvira's successor. Can anyone supply this?

Regards,
William

**papajam** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 12:21 PM

archiviostorico@alfaromeo.com

Congrats on a great find, William!

GTV-GR · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 01:50 PM

hey man nice car! Black looks so cool on it!! It gives an impression like the owner is part of the camora etc.

**Subtle** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 04:06 PM

Please stop showing pics of black Sprints--each time I see one I get very tempted.

Oelholm · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 12:31 AM

How come the car isn't RHD?

Sweden was a left side driving country until 1967...

williamcorke · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 01:42 AM

I don't think Alfa made any RHD Giuliettas until the 101 series. Strange, given that Lancia had hardly made a single LHD car until the mid '50s, and all pre-war Alfas were, AFAIK, RHD.

The car isn't black, so Subtle's heart-rate can drop back... is actually dark green. I removed a patch of paint from one of the front wings last night, and found, not many layers of different colours of paint as expected, but just undercoat and a thin skim of filler (fender, and bondo to our US cousins...). Presumably the '70s partial restoration took the outer body back to bare metal. Investigation of the paint on the engine bay ledge found no colours beneath the red top-coat other than what looked like original prepping materials.

I have emailed the Archivio Storico (thanks to Jim for the email) and hope that they will solve the mystery. I'm betting the car was red - the door shuts on the 'B' post (under the Al finishing panels) are red and look original.

A couple of questions for the group:
- are there any Bertone records of build / spec
- the bonnet and boot lid are Aluminium. Is this 'factory standard'?

Cheers,
William

Collivanfan · #11 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 06:45 AM

William,
Congratulations, looks like being a super project.
I have Sprint # 0871 & that too has the aluminium bonnet, the boot is steel but I am not sure if it is the original item.
I understood that cars pre-#900 had ali bonnets...
Tony Stevens
England

johnnym · #12 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 10:27 AM

Looks good- I am very jealous!

By the way, is the floor original (I need something to copy!)

John

williamcorke · #13 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 01:57 PM

Hi Jonny,

I've been enjoying your thread.

Not sure if my floors are original, but you're welcome to come and have a look / measure if you'd like to. I'm between Dorking and Guildford, so not too far away.

Cheers,
William

williamcorke · #14 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 03:27 PM

Just had a proper look at the floors. I'm pretty sure that they are original and not replaced. Would they be the same as a '57 car? Perhaps one of the experts can tell us. The bulkhead/firewall on the early cars is certainly different to later cars, being a flat sheet of steel.

Latest detective work on the colour question suggests that the car was red, then black, then dark green. Still awaiting the archivist's word on this.

William

AlfaTaso · #15 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 06:03 PM

Wow!!!!!!!!!!