Well I bought it in September and haven't driven it a single metre, but at last "the red one" is getting there. I've discussed the fact I own TWO automatic GTVs in the relevant thread already - the one I'm currently driving is white and looks like it was kicked downstairs a lot because there's not a single straight panel on the whole car.
This red one is in much better condition. No rust, straight as a die (well, as best as it could be made for my budget and after 30 years and at least two significant accidents).
I know what people say about red GTVs, but after seeing this one finished, I simply don't care! We've used the less orange of the Alfa reds from the period, though.
This car has only had two previous owners and they were brothers. The first guy bought it new right here in Canberra, Australia, and then died young. The brother inherited it and then HE died. So people only give up this car when they really, really don't need it anymore... not sure if that's a good or a bad thing?
The surviving relatives insisted the car had never been in an accident but there was buckling above both rear wheel arches and a really dodgy weld seam under the left-hand taillight. And when it came to respray, the body shop told me there was extensive repairs done to the roof!
Methinks owner number one cracked up his precious Italian sports car and then kept it as quiet as possible from the extended family. The widow of the second owner INSISTED the car had not been in an accident, and a fifteen year old photo of her husband sitting in it and grinning like a boy in a toyshop clearly shows the buckling over the rear wheels.
Next step, finding a piece of perspex (or whatever it is) to go over the speedo...
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