Lowest mileage SS?

[M635dude]

I was just wondering if anyone had any idea of what the lowest mileage SS out there is. My dad has a 65' with 15k original miles and I've been thinking lately that it may in fact be the lowest original mile car in a private collection. I'm guessing though that there are a few others out there hiding that are just as low though if not lower.

He has contemplated selling it a couple of times, but I will not let him perform such a travesty. He's owned the car for 37 years and is getting older now and has lost a lot of his spark towards these cars. The only reason he would consider selling it is for a modern Ferrari like a 355 or something, but I can't let him get rid of such a rare gem for something that is really a common car in comparison. Just curious to know if anyone knows of an ss with mileage as low. Also does anyone have a ballpark of what something like this would be worth? It's 100% original except it was painted when the car was about 4 years old. Here's some pics as well for your time

[don000]

Interesting car, apparently in very nice condition. With a car of this age, mileage is just one of several factors affecting value, but I certainly do not know of any SSs with less.

Rust is the real problem with SSs, so valuation will depend heavily upon the condition of the bodywork and underside. No photos of the engine compartment are provided, and mechanical condition is unknown. In the photos posted, the only obvious deficiency is a missing hood spear (and good luck finding one).

You will be probably be disappointed when you start looking at auction results and sale offerings, as the beauty and rarity of the SS are not reflected in market values. Most sell for less than $50k. Last year I acquired the Giulietta SS that won 'best Alfa' at Concorso Italiano in 2005, and as a buyer I was very pleased with the price.

If you have serious interest in determining a more precise market value, send me a PM. But I'd need to see more photos of certain points on the car.

[M635dude]

well luckily we have the hood spear, as well as a host of other spare parts for it including a rear windshield. I can get more pics if you want, just let me know what you want. I wonder if these cars will ever spike in value. I'm hoping they stay where they are for a while so that I can pick one up for myself

[Lionel Velez]

I always have found the SS to be more of a mythical and mystical creature as supposed to a real iconic trend setter as was the Giulietta spider, Sprint and the GTV. Most notable the '67 step nose GTV, and of course, not to forget the famous '67 Boattail, known from the "Graduate" movie with Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft as the seductive "Cougar". I love my '63 SS as a work of art as opposed to the GTV, a vehicle I enjoy driving and at the same time still derive the same aesthetic pleasure to look at. SS's have a unique following as well as a unique market, the truth, rather unpredictable one, unlike the GTV's, most notable, the step nose, that continues to be admired as well as appreciating in value. In truth, to the increasing re-discovery of the illusive and more unobtainable GTA, so much a mirror resemblance have catapulted the increasing desirability of the step nose GTV to new levels. As a result, I feel that the SS's will somewhat lag behind to the GTV's popularity and pricing. Remember "a vehicle that was popular when it first hit the market, its popularity shall continue for ever" Thus, who knows, you might be able to pick up a Sprint Speciale on the affordable side.

[don000]

GTVs are certainly beautiful and significant cars, but SSs look like nothing else on the road (other than certain Ferrari Superamericas) and vastly fewer were built.

Although mechanically SSs were always top of the line, they remain Giuliettas or Giulias and thus middle-market cars. They also lack the racing history of otherwise mechanically identical lightweight SVs, SVZ and SZs. These two factors are surely the main limitations on their value. In time, however, I expect that SS values will gradually move upward in relative terms, as the roads become dominated by proletarian electro-pods. I see no reason why a Series I E-type, produced in considerably greater numbers and nearly the same price when new, should be valued at 2x an SS in comparable condition (believe I can say that objectively as I own both).

Always happy to see more photos, especially of details like the engine compartment and underside. But you should have joined us at the Hemmings meet at Saratoga two weeks ago.

[mbaum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lionel Velez Thus, who knows, you might be able to pick up a Sprint Speciale on the affordable side.

[velocedoc]

Definitely keep this car in the family. It is wonderful to see original cars at this level of quality. Value...dollars don't mean much unless you want to have it appraised for insurance or you are wanting to sell it. The value of SS's have been the higher of the 750-101 cars in terms of return on the dollar as compared to a Spider Veloce. Thank you for sharing your SS with the BB.

[don000]

Mike, assume that you keep an eye on Matt Hamilton's blog (giuliettas.com) as he maintains a remarkably comprehensive directory of almost every SS I've seen for sale since May 2008. I found my car through Matt's blog.

There are a few cars in Europe that have been on the market a long time (not unlike some Flaminia Zagatos we know). It's quite interesting to compare current listings on Anamera with Matt's (earlier) notes on the same car. Maybe conditions are such that you could pick off one of these for a low cash offer.

Cars in the US seem to move quickly. In the last six months I saw two very nice ones in mid-restoration go for around $40k, but they each needed at least $10-20k to bring them to completion. The seller of mine had just under $100k in the car, and at least another $5k has gone into it since then.

Very few cars remain authentic in all details, and given the rust problem virtually all decent cars have been restored to some extent. If the car featured in this thread is rust free, it is surely one of just a handful that remain. I'd very much like to see more photos of the green one, especially the engine compartment.

If you look closely you might start to prefer Giuliettas to Giulias. There are some subtle details in the bodywork that were lost in later production, and the interiors IMHO have a much more harmonious feel.

[mbaum]

SHould have been more specific: Excellent restoration of course is fine as long as attention was paid to bringing the car back to as close to original specs as possible.

Thanks for the pointer to Matt's excellent blog. I am all over it. I am also still hunting down a blu bosboro SS in DC - mid restoration adn the owner is in a state were he is pretty much over it. I think though that I much rather prefer a "done' car.

The other day, car friends of mine were discussing Scagliones greatest achievements. My two dear friends were adamant about the ATS 2500. Of course I protested vehemently, looking at the rather ill devised mid-engine caused proportions (Too long and high back, weirdly stumpy, wedgy front, disjointed lines in the profile all over the side), but oh well. That's why we love the SS.

[don000]

Scaglione did so many interesting cars: the BAT series, Lamborghini 350GT, etc., etc. Completely agree with your assessment of the ATS, a very interesting car by not quite beautiful. But much as I love my SS, my knees truly grow weak when looking at his Alfa 33 Stradale.

While E-type owners have the benefit of multiple guides to authenticity and suppliers that challenge each other for correctness, these qualities are considerably more elusive for Alfas of the same period. The best printed reference I've yet found is the July 1961 road test of an SS in Road & Track. But the real knowledge lies in the heads of a few experts.

It would probably not be your least costly alternative, but given the extreme scarcity of truly correct cars in good condition, I would look for a sound car and ship it to one of these experts for finishing correctly. IMO the most knowledgeable and talented is Bill Gillham, who did my car and generously continues to share his vast expertise with me and others.

In addition to the excellent open forum provided by Alfa BB, you might want to join the members-only Yahoo discussion group for Alfa type 750-101 owners.

Best of luck with your search.