[johnnym]

Hello everyone,
I thought some of you may like to share my journey as I restore my 1957 Sprint normale.

I bought it about 4 months ago from an old-fashioned car restoration workshop near where I live. I had been talking to the owner- a great bloke called David Cooper- who said "I've got an old Alfa round the back that is a wreck- take any parts you want from it". I went round and found the Sprint. It was in pretty bad condition- almost overgrown with brambles, no doors or bonnet, and had been sitting outside for about 15 years (see top photo). David had bought it as a parts car when he restored Nick Mason's (of Pink Floyd) Sprint, but as this was a 101 he didn't use too many parts. The car is unusual in that it had been converted to RHD by Ruddspeed. As far as I can make out, it was originally delivered in Milan in '57 (thanks to the Archivio) but then imported and re-registered in the UK in '58 (it has a '58 Bedford plate). I assume this is when the conversion was carried out. The car also has unusual rear seats- with a large front bolster like the one shown in the Nada book but with a more styled back. They were original- when I took them out the Bertone three digit number was chalked on the back.

I started to take parts from the car, but was amazed at how solid the body of the car was given its age and exposure to the elements. Eventually, I came up with the daft idea of restoring it and bought it from David for £50.

 

[johnnym]

I travelled over there about once a week and have now stripped everything off of the car. The engine was not original- someone had put in a 61 Giulietta TI engine which was totally wrecked. Today we put in angle- iron stringers across the doors, bolted some 4X2 across those for stability and removed the last major component- the rear axle.

The plan for the car now is to have it blasted with plastic media, then brought back to my garage so that I can assess the damage. It will need a lot of welding- major repairs to the crossmembers, new floors, new sills, major welding around the trailing arm mounts, rear valence and boot floor. The good news is that this is not my first resto and (more importantly) I have an excellent bodyshop almost next door whose owner is a good friend. And I am not in a rush.

In the mean time I am restoring the parts I have taken off and slowly replacing the missing or irretrievably damaged bits. I have already got hold of an engine, two doors, a fuel tank, boot lid, and various trim bits.

 

[johnnym]

Oh yes, and I forgot to mention that my 1966 Duetto had to go to finance it (and to placate the wife!!)

 

[lowmileage]

2 week turn-a-round flip based on the photos above IMO




Are you kidding. That project should keep you out of the bars. On second thought, it might get you in them

 

[alfazagato]

Attaboy! What a lovely project. Makes mine appear nothing in comparison. Let me know what you are short of as I have some Sprint parts surplus.
Lets talk again.

 

[Peter]

you're one brave man, kudos to you for bringing her back! Will she be RHD, or will you bring her back to the original LHD? Keep posting pics!

 

[johnnym]

Lionel,

Many thanks- I may be in touch. I will see what falls off when the blasting has been done!

Peter,

She is staying RHD. She ill never be concours, so she may as well be unique. Also, the Ruddspeed bulkhead casting is too beautiful to leave out!

Stuart,

I'll be in touch!!

John

 

[Lionel Velez]

Lionel,

Many thanks- I may be in touch. I will see what falls off when the blasting has been done!

Peter,

She is staying RHD. She ill never be concours, so she may as well be unique. Also, the Ruddspeed bulkhead casting is too beautiful to leave out!

Stuart,

I'll be in touch!!

John

John,

I do also can provide you with the wiring loom. www.classicwiring.com

Have fun with the car restoration.

Lionel

 

[Marco750B56]

Good Luck!

Great restoration project!

Best regards from Madeira.

P.S. - I note under the original "ROSSO ALFA" are onde ORANGE colour! The same in my Giulietta Sprint 1956, under the "rosso alfa" ( red ) are one ORANGE colour! ( ? )
This orange colour are for protection? or else?

?

Thank you

Marco Pestana
Marco750B56

 

[Carlos Vasconce]

Out of all the resto projects beeing done by bb members, this one has to be the most.. I don't even know what to say!!!!!!!!!!!...

But it sounds a fantastic project... and one "to keep you off bars"... or to drive you into them on a definite basis".

Good luck and keep everyone posted of further developments.

Regards,
Carlos Vasconcelos

 

[john.harrill]

Now that's ambitious!

 

[alfa soon]

This is going to be a looooooong thread if it gets regular updates... and I look forward to them!

 

[johnnym]

I know it looks bad... (well, it is bad!!) but I have already restored lots of the parts. The steering box, for example (before & after!!)

 

[johnnym]

Good Luck!

Great restoration project!

Best regards from Madeira.

P.S. - I note under the original "ROSSO ALFA" are onde ORANGE colour! The same in my Giulietta Sprint 1956, under the "rosso alfa" ( red ) are one ORANGE colour! ( ? )
This orange colour are for protection? or else?

?

Thank you

Marco Pestana
Marco750B56

Marco,
there are about ten colours on the car in layers an inch thick! From behind immovable objects (lubrication plate etc) I think the original colour may have been light blue, but there is also grey, red and obviously this lovely orange colour. I can't believe anyone ever painted this car orange, so I think it was probably an undercoat!
John

 

[lowmileage]

I know it looks bad... (well, it is bad!!) but I have already restored lots of the parts. The steering box, for example (before & after!!)

Some may regard the bottom photo as an over-restored piece lacking the patina of the original steering box as shown in the top photo. I wish to differentiate myself from those "some."

 

[Peter]

Some may regard the bottom photo as an over-restored piece lacking the patina of the original steering box as shown in the top photo. I wish to differentiate myself from those "some."

nah, looks like the aluminum (or for Johnny, aluminium) has not even been painted

 

[Subtle]

Steering box looks good.

 

[AlfistiSA]

Nice one John, glad you are restoring the '57, shout if you need info / pictures from 05262 or 05880 ?

That steering box is a RHD Alfa part, used in the RHD Giulia Spiders and the RHD Giulietta Ti's.

Glad you are planning to keep her RHD, I found pictures of a RHD Giulietta Sprint in one of my books, "Essential Alfa Romeo Giulia & Giulietta Coupe's and Spiders, by David Hodges - ISBN 1-870979-59-1

3 pictures of a navy blue '59 / '60 Sprint Reg 255 HYU, with a RHD Ruddspeed conversion.

Ciao
Greig

 

[johnnym]

Thanks Greig- unfortunately not my car (was 4199AC, possibly again, but having problems with the licensing agency). If you could send me photos of the RHD car especially the dash, I would be really interested.

Well folks, today was back axle day. I brought it back to the garage, and started to strip it down but am having a real problem getting the hubs off- I have split it and the nuts are now soaking in penetrating oil. I just can't get good purchase on them with either sockets or spanner.

Once the hubs are off, the backing plates, axle tubes and diff case will be off with the front suspension parts and the wheels (as of this morning separated from the rotten tyres) to the blaster to get cleaned up and the steel parts powder coated. Then I plan to reassemble the rear axle and front suspension and stick them away until needed.

 

[AlfistiSA]

750B dash board - '57

Hi John

This is about the best picture I have of a 750B dash board, This is a baby blue car being restored in California - it's a stunning restoration

The 3 toggle switches on the LHS of the dash should be "beavertail" switches, but these are now available again, but at eye watering prices.

The silver cannister under the speedo is the push / pull pump for the windscreen wiper nozzles.

Regards
Greig