'84 or '79, which one?

[John M]

Here is a series three break down for you on how they differ:

83-85....foam tail spoilers, dual dash pod gauge cluster, older style interior, L jet injection, available in Graduate, Spider, and Spider Veloce Trim.

86-89....plastic tail spoilers with center brake light, monodash pod and center console, new and older style interiors, L jet injection. Added the Quadrifoglio premium edition (trim level...same mechanically).

90.....same as 86-89 but now with motronic injection (same as series 4)

91-94 series 4

Unfortunately, you most likely will not be able to get classic car insurance on the car in your name. Most have provisions that you must have 'X' number of years driving experience...usually 10. But check around. Your dad could insure it in his name...but he still might not be able to add you on as a driver. Worth a check for sure. Even the series 4 can be insured through classic car insurance providers as its deemed a collectable auto.

Below you will see my 78 and 92.....can you guess which one I spent the most on? The 78 has over $18k invested in it over the years. It started out as a $2k car running but with rocker rust...all the parts there...not too bad mechanically. She does have a performance motor. My body work and paint time were free except the cost of materials. The 92 cost me just around $6500 to purchase and when all done will be in the neighborhood of $10k or so.....maybe more if I modify the engine. Its been basically paint work and interior stuff. Nothing seriously wrong body wise. And like the 78, the body work and paint work were free except the cost of materials. So this is how I rationalize buying a better car up front. Costs lots less in the long run.

Best Regards,
John M

[Davy13]

One thing I never understood when people are looking to buy a 'classic' car of sorts... Too many people look within an hour drive of where they live... I say expand the search to 8 hours away (or further). It may be a royal pain in the butt to get it home, but what is a mere 8 hours, to get the the perfect specimen? It took me about 12 months to replace my spider after she fell victim to a Drunk Chevy Silverado, but it was well worth the wait to get exactly what I was looking for... Don't be afrain to borrow a flatbed, and go to the next state over, if in means getting a better car for a great price. Don't just buy the unrestorable cheap one next door because it is convenient...

[John M]

If you find one that you are interested in......post it up here and see if someone will go look at it for you. Pictures can be deceiving on the computer, but a good Alfa owner will know where to look and it might cost you a beer sometime...once you are legal!

Not necessary that it come from out west. Lots of these around. I suggest you check in with some of the local alfa owners and see who they know that has one for sale. Private message John Paradiso (Paradiso) here on the Alfabb. He can put you into contact with the right people to get you started on a quest in your neighborhood.

Best Regards,
John M

[Davy13]

Still love those chromed rims, John!

[John M]

Thanks Davy! A little picture for you....the lady showing her legs!

Best Regards,
John M

[Aaron Silidker]

Hey, just wanted to chime in as one of Jared's good friends/his mechanic. I went with him to look at these 2 cars today as well as all of the others that he has looked at. I am also 19, but with a little more mechanical experience than Jared (have owned many motorcycles, built a few monster garageish creations, just finished a cobra replica, work in a shop at the moment). I would be the one teaching him during the course of this project, so I feel that my input into what he purchases is significant. I don't want him to get a total pile of junk and then end up spending a ton of time fixing it, I would rather see him with a 8 out of 10 car then a 1 out of 10 car.

Here is my opinion on the cars, they are in far less than stellar shape. These can in no way be "fixed" to a point where they can be driven on the street, they both need full restorations. The bodies are rough (no worse than others I have seen) and mechanically they were both questionable. I would second guess buying both for 500 dollars to restore myself. They arent rare enough cars to jump on the cheapest one you find just so that you have one.

The spica car would not run for any sustainable period of time, it kinda just spitted and sputtered. I told him to stay away from spica. I don't want to deal with mechanical FI and I don't think Jared would want to either, seems to be more trouble than it is worth.

Both cars need tops, and I would do a full interior treatment in both (seat covers, carpet, etc). They both need extensive paint and body work which I can do, but not quickly. Both need all exterior trim, it is extremely pitted. Tires, brakes, all rubber parts must be shot, fluids, exhaust etc. These cars have been in the weather for a loooong time. Both have holes in the rear quarters where the battery is located, rust around the headlight buckets and the outer rockers are rusted, so presumable they both need inner rockers too. Could not get under the cars to see frame condition for the most part. Engine on the 79 was covered in grease and oil, and was a huge turn off to me. The other 84 we had looked at a few weeks back was mechanically immaculate, but the body left alot to be desired. 500 is a fair price, but as you guys have said, for parts only. Full restoration (or even partial restoration to make them less like turds then they are now) seems redicilously expensive for the end product.

The lady who owns them says they were driven not to long ago, but judging by the shape of the tops, the shape of the tires and the overall condition, I highly doubt it.

I have told Jared 100's of times this is not the first car you want to get as a project and I am glad you guys agree! My feelings are that he should spend a little more now for a solid car and tinker with it rather than attack a complete restoration. I started my mechanical tinkering on lawnmowers and just recently (at 16-17) built a cobra replica after about 10 years of learning.

But, on that note, where is a good place to look for Alfa's with no rust? They seem to be rust magnets, and it seems to be an unstopable cancer once it starts without a complete dissassemble and tanking of the car.

Thanks for the input guys (and gals?)

[Gubi]

Yikes, sounds a lot uglier than the initial description! If you're looking for a driver, definitely two cases of "run like hell". I mean, they need tops, tires, interiors, significant body and paint work, exhausts, fluids, rubber hoses, probably rubber suspension bushings & guibo (is *anything* good on them?) and that's without even knowing the condition of the inside of the engine and the transmission!

Run. Do not pass go, do not pay $500.

The problem with CT is that any Alfa that old that has seen winters in the Northeast is probably going to have rust cancer in a bad way. If you want a local car, you're going to have to basically find one that's been pampered.

S3 Spiders are relatively plentiful out here in California (Rust? What's rust?) but then you need to get it inspected and shipped. I've gotten irritated quite a few times driving across the Bay to see a car that turned out to be a hunk of junk...can't imagine how irritated I'd be flying across the country only to find out the same!

If you want to try, there's always www.craigslist.org for San Francisco or LA. I'm sure you can get a recommendation on the BB for a trustworthy mechanic if you can convince the owner to take it in for an inspection for you.