06-27-2009, 05:22 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: In a warehouse, packing your parts...
Posts: 690
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by MeanRedSpider
Unless I'm very wrong, all RHD Giulia coupes (and very probably berlinas and spiders) had floor-mounted (standing) pedals - the reason being that there's nowhere for master cylinders to go on the RH side of the firewall due to the throttle linkage and, I guess, the carbs.
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Nope, you're very right! Although Spider right hand drive conversions use hanging pedals with a crossover linkage like a RHD Alfetta/75. The clutch master moves to the right though and can sometimes tangle itself up with the Euro airbox which gives an interesting "knock" from under the bonnet when you start the car up.
Anyhoo, back on topic...
The car was built as it was on the customer's orders, walking round it when it was at the warehouse is a bit funny as from the rear it looks like Max's stepfront, small rear lights, GTA numberplate light plinth, hoop door handles, early long side repeaters in the front wings, then you look at the front and it's a 1750 with GTA vent holes in the front panel! The car was built on a 2000 but the owner is not a fan of the original grill or dashboard (I have to say, I'm with him on this!) so it got a 1750 dash retrimmed in Alcantara and with the wood deleted. At the end of the day, it was his choice as he was writing the cheque. Thankfully, he's a man of taste and discernment so we didn't end up with magnolia hide seats with red piping! I have to say that the lovely photos do the car no justice at all, it's really ten times nicer than that in real life.
And it goes like Max's car too. Bonus!
This one is the first of (we hope) a series of cars, we'll build them on any coupe shell you want and the trim is down to your choice/preference. One thing we won't compromise on though is the running gear, they'll all get the best engine, brakes and suspension we can make, so you won't see any of these with re-manufactured ATE calipers, 140 horse Nord engines, Spax dampers...
Max and I were chatting about this thread last night and were encouraged by the comments posted. He's pleased that the first car was a "flat front" because it shows that we can do those as well. If the first had been a step front it probably would've looked like we'd just polished up his car and taken the plates off for the photos!
Already his mailbox is full of "alright then, how much?" emails. The answer is, no, you won't have to sell the wife and children.
Well, maybe one child and a kidney, depends on what sort of deal you get.
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Jim Spackman
www.alfaholics.com
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06-27-2009, 07:59 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portugal
Posts: 390
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Banks
Joao:- My father has restorered over 250 of these Bertone coupes to concours original standard, now its time for us to do something a little different and manufacture a product based from all the information we have gathered and products we have developed from my GTA Replica and our race car, and combine this with my father's concours restoration fit and finish knowledge to produce a genuine production car quality, Porsche 911 performance Alfa Romeo.
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I'm not accusing you guys of "destroying" a original car! I'm just saying that I like the "original" look of these cars... I would love to have one like that, with all your mechanical goodies but with an classic racing Alfa exterior and interior. Original 1750 grille and dashboard with wood, correct holes and another solution for the license plate (I hung mine on my 2000GTV when the bumpers were off).
As Jim Spackman said, in the end these kind of things goes according to the costumer taste and it's not up to you to judge it.
Congratulations! It's great! Best regards!
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Joćo Vale
1969 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior
1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce
1976 Porsche 924
1991 Mazda Miata MX5
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06-28-2009, 04:43 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Utrecht - Netherlands
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Love the unexpected route the customer and accordingly Alfaholics have taken by going for a non-stepnose front car! Brilliant and an example of great marketing and business choice - a whole new market will open for those owners who want to start converting later style GT's. Instead of having to take comments about bad taste, Alfaholics have now opened the route for those conversions. After all this car looks stunning!
...and the TI Super Replica is still to come!
...what will be next? Colli conversion ;-)
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06-28-2009, 05:55 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 4,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hagen111
... a whole new market will open for those owners who want to start converting later style GT's. Instead of having to take comments about bad taste, Alfaholics have now opened the route for those conversions.
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Companies like these need to maintain the original mode, because everybody ELSE wants to hack these things up, especially the younger enthusiasts used to moderner cars. We need these highly respected companies to market originality to slow the destruction of these cars ... because of course that is what we all are about, sharing the passion for these lovely cars AND the how motoring used to be.
It's a slippery slope. Max is obviously a young man and thus he is reviewing these cars compared to modern stuff, and thus finds the cars lacking and he has an itch he needs to scratch. Richard doesn't have that problem because he grew up with the limited performance of 60's cars, etc. Specialists should be encouraging the "like motoring used to be", not Alfas are only about their pretty looks ...
Maybe adding another moderner marque (Alfa Romeo has died and closed shop) to their company would be a better way to expand their business, etc.
Pete
ps: My last post on this thread.
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ps: Remember it's all just opinions 
'71 1750 Series 2 GTV: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?p=208078
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06-28-2009, 06:20 PM
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...in the Garage...
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Oakville, Canada
Posts: 1,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PSk
...Maybe adding another moderner marque (Alfa Romeo has died and closed shop) to their company would be a better way to expand their business, etc.....
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06-28-2009, 06:58 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Posts: 737
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I don't wish to get into the debate about whether what Alfaholics are offering is a good thing or not, as this clearly enters the debate about originality vrs modification. Pete has on previous occasions made his feelings clear on this. These should be respected but equally so should others views on this. Perhaps, as Pete suggests lets just leave it there. 
However, and just for the record. Alfa still sell modern cars here too in Aus. Its only you guys in the US who are missing out. Now and this is getting further off the thread topic, we also could debate as to whether or not modern Alfas are Alfas or just badge engineered Fiats. This too is a discussion that has been held previously. IMO, I am happy to call my 156 JTS Sportwagon an Alfa, for it has Alfa stamped all over it, and I enjoy driving it, being in it and yes it still feels like an Alfa to me. And I also like Fiats.
Oh and btw Mound Dawg, I sure am glad I won't have to sell both the wifey and the kids (not that I have any) and even if it necessitated the sale of one kidney, well at least I would still have one left 
Hagen's idea of a Giulia Ti Super (replica/modern take on it) is an interesting thought.
__________________
"Sporting blood has run through the veins of every Alfa Romeo produced over the last 99 years"
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06-28-2009, 09:44 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PSk
Companies like these need to maintain the original mode, because everybody ELSE wants to hack these things up, especially the younger enthusiasts used to moderner cars. We need these highly respected companies to market originality to slow the destruction of these cars ... because of course that is what we all are about, sharing the passion for these lovely cars AND the how motoring used to be.
It's a slippery slope. Max is obviously a young man and thus he is reviewing these cars compared to modern stuff, and thus finds the cars lacking and he has an itch he needs to scratch. Richard doesn't have that problem because he grew up with the limited performance of 60's cars, etc. Specialists should be encouraging the "like motoring used to be", not Alfas are only about their pretty looks ...
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At Centerline, we have some customers that strive for "as it left the factory" perfection and others who modify their cars in the same vein as these Alfaholics replicas. The nice thing about the Alfa community is there seems to be room for both schools of thought to exist and flourish, sometimes even co-existing side by side in the same garage.
While vendors have their opinions, it is ultimately the customer who decides how original to keep their cars. I do not fault the Alfaholics crew at all for offering these and whether you like their conversions or despise them the quality is obviously top notch.
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06-28-2009, 10:51 PM
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Location: Sydney Australia
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I'm forced to reply :
Please note my opinion has most definitely nothing to do with the quality of their work, which as JoeCab has correctly stated is obviously very good, and I definitely will continue to purchase things from them ... just don't like replicas that use original cars as donors.
Pete
__________________
ps: Remember it's all just opinions
'71 1750 Series 2 GTV: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?p=208078
Last edited by PSk; 06-28-2009 at 10:53 PM.
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06-29-2009, 12:04 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Posts: 737
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PSk
I'm forced to reply :
Please note my opinion has most definitely nothing to do with the quality of their work, which as JoeCab has correctly stated is obviously very good, and I definitely will continue to purchase things from them ... just don't like replicas that use original cars as donors.
Pete |
However, and perhaps just one vexed question, I guess how on earth is someone going to create that special car they so desire (eg. a replica for want of a better term) if they dont actually use an original car as a donor. Afterall, in a way even a race car was once an original car. It is not as if you can go down to your local Alfa dealer and order a new shell, unlike what you can do with a MGB.
If I recall correctly I think the issue you have was between taking a sound or even a good condition original car and giving it the GTA replica treatment (and in a way I don't disagree with your views) vrs finding a tired car or wreck and building it up, and in that instance I personally have no issue with the approach taken.
However, irrespective of what we all think, it is up to each owner to decide what they want. In a way its a bit like the discussions over tyre and wheel choices, or repainting your car another colour from what it was orginally painted etc.
At least the one thing we all can agree on is the shear quality of the builds undertaken by Alfaholics, their attention to detail, safety and the performance that can be extracted from the classic 105 design, and this is something which I wish I had the spare $$$ to take advantage of.
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"Sporting blood has run through the veins of every Alfa Romeo produced over the last 99 years"
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06-29-2009, 06:20 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portugal
Posts: 390
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Super1600
Ditto Pete and I hear what you say and hope that my comments were understood, as I know where you are comming from.
However, and perhaps just one vexed question, I guess how on earth is someone going to create that special car they so desire (eg. a replica for want of a better term) if they dont actually use an original car as a donor. Afterall, in a way even a race car was once an original car. It is not as if you can go down to your local Alfa dealer and order a new shell, unlike what you can do with a MGB.
If I recall correctly I think the issue you have was between taking a sound or even a good condition original car and giving it the GTA replica treatment (and in a way I don't disagree with your views) vrs finding a tired car or wreck and building it up, and in that instance I personally have no issue with the approach taken.
However, irrespective of what we all think, it is up to each owner to decide what they want. In a way its a bit like the discussions over tyre and wheel choices, or repainting your car another colour from what it was orginally painted etc.
At least the one thing we all can agree on is the shear quality of the builds undertaken by Alfaholics, their attention to detail, safety and the performance that can be extracted from the classic 105 design, and this is something which I wish I had the spare $$$ to take advantage of. |
It's a pity to ruin a sound original car. I have a 2000GTV in original spec and a GTA replica that I built from a "sorry old wreck".
I'm also in the middle of the build of a Giulia Super that I am going to modify for everyday use. I plan to fit a modern TS or Nord engine with standard fuel injection and 4.1 diff ratio. This Giulia is a mess: 1965 papers, 1970 shell, ATE brakes and 1750 engine fitted. The perfect car for this kind of project! If it was original I wouldn't even think of doing a thing like this!
I criticized the cosmetics of the car because I think that Max's GTA Replica is so good as most of it looks like a 60's GTA. This car here doesn't look like any of the classic racing Alfas we know. I think it is a poor example to use as advertising for his business.
My 0,2 cent's... I hope user "hagen111" and Max understand now my point.
Best regards!
__________________
Joćo Vale
1969 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior
1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce
1976 Porsche 924
1991 Mazda Miata MX5
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06-29-2009, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Utrecht - Netherlands
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Come on guys...the argument to not 'waste' cars on projects because there may be hardly any left in 20 years doesn't hold any value. There are so many cars produced and so many 105 cars out there that there will always be good cars left in original and/or restored condition in the coming 100 years. Sure values will go up if there will be more demand than supply, but who cares!??
A cars history (and attractiveness) is built over a time period where the cars are raced or driven intensively. Exactly what Alfholics are providing...
I love the Alfaholics approach simply because there is a market voor great performing cars - YET maintaining it's original presence. Also this example could be easily converted back to original spec - if needed.
Last edited by hagen111; 06-29-2009 at 01:57 PM.
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06-29-2009, 11:29 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bucharest,ROMANIA
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I agree with hagen111.Now back to write the lucky lotery ticket !
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06-29-2009, 04:16 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 20
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Can't see what the fuss is about - Alfaholics are doing a great job - and more importantly keeping younger guys like myself interested...
If man made it, it can be made again - and to museum spec if so desperately desired - in the meantime lets have some fun and keep the breed alive.
All I need is more money and actual events to speed to and enjoy...
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69 Spider Veloce - & other fun stuff...
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06-29-2009, 07:55 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 4,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hagen111
There are so many cars produced and so many 105 cars out there that there will always be good cars left in original and/or restored condition in the coming 100 years.
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You guys have no idea how rare these cars are do you. Here are the production figures:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/gt-1965-1974/269-gtv-production-figures.html
Giulia Sprint GT
1963 - 848 units
1964 - 8,767
1965 - 8,877
1966 - 135
Giulia GTC
1964 - 107
1965 - 600
1966 - 293
Giulia Sprint GT Veloce
1965 - 770
1966 - 6,129
1967 - 5,173
1968 - 27
Giulia GTA 1600
1966-69 - 493
GT 1300 Junior
1966 - 3,179
1967 - 12,387
1968 - 11,906
1969 - 14,854
1970 - 12,968
1971 - 14,174
1972 - 6,628
1973 - 5,976
1974 - 3,947
1975 - 1,604
1976 - 3
GTA 1300 Junior
1968 - 319
1969 - 82
1970 - 8
1971 - 22
1972 - 15
1973 - 22
1974 - 8
1975 - 16
1750 GT Veloce
1967 - 919
1968 - 10,418
1969 - 8,705
1970 - 11,542
1971 - 4,639
1972-73 - 11
2000 GT Veloce
1971 - 6,700
1972 - 10,210
1973 - 6,839
1974 - 1,432
1975 - 938
1976 - 14
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We are not talking GM or Ford here, but a small time manufacturer, add rust and there are not many cars left at all. Lucky if it's 50% of production. Also RHD cars are less than 50% of total production so take the 71' 1750 GTV like my car, ~ less than 2000 RHD produced ... world wide. To me that is pretty damn rare. How many Ferrari Daytona's were made for example?, answer: 1284. A 74' 2000 GTV is nearly as rare as a Ferrari Daytona ...
Pete
__________________
ps: Remember it's all just opinions
'71 1750 Series 2 GTV: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?p=208078
Last edited by PSk; 06-29-2009 at 08:02 PM.
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06-29-2009, 08:23 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Grosse Pointe, MI
Posts: 1,707
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My $.02: A while ago I was faced with the prospect of either parting out a rusted '74 GTV or creating a GTAM replica. The car's fenders were so far gone that I could see no way restore it to original. I went so far as to purchase the fiberglass fenders for the project. In the end though I decided I had neither the skill or the resources to pull it off and I ended up cutting up the car. My point is that had I built it into a replica - even a crappy one - it would have survived in some form and perhaps made it to the day that it were financially viable to restore it. So I figure any way to keep these cars on the road beats the alternative. I still regret cutting that GTV up...
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- Rich D.
I like Alfas
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