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Duetto nose and dimple

4631 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  67duetto, 
Wille R.
Hm, to me this Duetto nose looks a bit strange. Not mine, but a good Duetto. Like a modified aftermarket version. Am I the only one who thinks it's a bitt odd? Too sharp edge at the top, or what's strange with it. My 1967 does not have such a significant shape, I'm the original owner and it has never been welded, just resprayed.

Would like to have comments from the US Duetto specialists, please.

Thanks Wille R.

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Alfajay
Yes, I agree 100%. The ridge above the grille in the photo that you posted appears to have too sharp a crease, and to be too prominent.

Duettos should definitely have a ridge above the grille - many bodyshops finish them smooth following a collision - but it should not be as large/sharp as the one in your photo. I could post a picture of my Duetto, but it probably looks just like yours (and not like the one in the picture)
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Wille R.
Thanks, I think I have your Duetto already in the registgry. Anyway, I agree totally with you. The funny thing is that the Duetto with the strange nose is located in a famous museum, very famous and I think it gives the wrong reference.

Thanks
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P
Willie,
perhaps it has a replacement nose cap. The nose caps out of Germany seem to be more pronounsed. My '67 looks nothing like that and does not have body filler in it. I too have been intrigued by cars that I have seen like that and thought that there was something wrong with mine.I have compared to the many factory photos I have and none of the original factory photos show anything with such a distinct ridge in the nose.
regards,
Paul
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tiger0529
I think I know (or we ALL do, don't we?) the "famous museum" you are talking about:eek:. They brought 20 cars from that museum to Yokahama, Japan back in 2002 for a exhibition and I actually saw this Duetto in person among others which are far, far more valuable and expensive. I was very surprised to find out that they included this Duetto and a Giulia 1300 sprint (which Sig. Magro insisted on calling Giulietta Sprint) in the lineup, because they have many more interesting cars that would have been appropriate for the exhibition. I volunteered for a couple of days as a interpreter and had an incredible experience being surrounded by the Italian jewels. I even had an oppotunity to open the driver's side door of the 8C 2900 LM:eek: I was shaking so bad and had goose bump all over my body!! Anyways, back to the topic: I had a chance to look at this Duetto with very critical eyes (just because my mother was getting her Duetto restored back then) and found some flaws such as this weird nose and poorly repaired rocker panels. The overly pronounced nose bump is probaly due to the lack of the repair panel (upper nose cone) when the car was painted. Hopefully they will get around to give her a better rhinoplasty in near future.

Wille R. said:
The funny thing is that the Duetto with the strange nose is located in a famous museum, very famous and I think it gives the wrong reference.
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my San Franscisco Duetto has an 8-inch long dimpled nose. During the PPI, the Mechanic commented it is the original nose, it passed the magnet test. It still has the coper top radiator, wing nut for the air box. some pictures have been posted in the picture room under Duetto in San Francisco.

Here is a link:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/picture-room/41622-duetto-san-francisco.html

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Wille R.
My point is that the later reproduction fronts are welded on, but they area bit sharp at the edge. If the welcing etc. is done properly, the magnet tric will not determine if it's moulded. One good way (IMHO) to determine is to feel with your fingers underneath. I have been helping loads of intending Duetto buyers over the years and so far, no original Duetto has had this sharp edge and shape. However, every (front) restored has.

Just my 0.02
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Guys, Please check out the Motor Trend Classic Fall 2010 issue. Another 1750 Spider has the same long, dimple nose. A rare sighting ! I have seen less than 5 of such noses. It depends on the viewing angle, the nose length various. Another data point is of originaliity is that there should be LIPS inside, next to the grill. I think the picture above is probably original, like mine ;-). They are becoming endanged.
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NikosF
This one, at another 'famous museum' in Italy seems to have a much less sharp nose.

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2
The question is nearly as bad as Duetto sill lines, should they show ?? :D

The correct nose for me has also never been really been put to bed. I’ve “wondered” about the correct shape for about nearly ten years now and without access to a known as new car am sleeping at night having decided that it’s the rounder, shorter bump that is correct.

1. It appears on the majority of cars
2. This nose bump is more in keeping with the 750/101 spiders
3. Similarly, the nose bump is more in keeping with the nose of the 156 and later cars

4. More importantly there’s a nice reproduction of it available and the winner always writes history :)

That said… when we went to the Alfa Museum (Torino).. their Duetto (looks like the same car as Willies picture given the rope) on display in pride of place on the fourth floor – had the long knife ridge (it’s just not a bump)





I need to graft a series two front end and repro nose shortly and would be interested in all your thoughts on the best way to do it, ie. weld nose bump into nose and then weld to car or weld nose onto car and then weld nose bump in.

I’m more concerned about a correct way to get everything aligned.

Craig
- neither in the US or a specialist
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A
The museum car has had a bad nose job. Apparently, there is a contingency wanting to declare such modifications as "original." Sadly, the persistence to define these things as "correct", however well intentioned, is likely to encourage copy cat behavior.

I would love to get some detailed photos of the back side of these repairs. The SF car appears to have had a lot of work done before the respray. The nose could be corrected, or left as is, since it is nonstructural, but the rockers appear to have been skimmed with filler rather than replacing the compromised structure. Shiny paint can hide all kinds of things.

Anyway, these long, pointy 'dimples' are incorrect. And, that is my two cents!

Abby
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All my researches and experiences are based on the Alfa factory, the Alfa Musuem and some concurs judges . Well, in all fairness, I bought the SF Duetto from a private collection of a well known Silicon Valley collector 11 years ago. I have not done any body work nor paint job after my purchase. The nose area is all metal and appears to be very original, I used a magnet to test it. I will try to take some pictures underneath the nose but a very difficult area to reach. The bottom line is they are meant to be driven, enjoyed and I am lucky to have one looks like the one at the Alfa Museum, correct or incorrect does not matter to me. I love my Duetto, Happy New Year!
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Anfanuts
Dittos on the two cited Duettos . . . Too sharp from ANY I've seen. Of course these two could be right and the 327 other ones I've seen (exaggerated estimate) all wrong.
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Being an owner, I have seen many Duettos too within the last 15 years in shows, concurs and Alfa gatherings. I remember seeing about about 5 other Duettos with similar noses, including one very close to this in CI Monterey last year, they are out there but very rare (survivors?). Another Duetto with similar dimple nose was feathered in the Motor Trend Class Magazine, Fall 2010 issue. May be, just may be the Duetto at the Alfa Factory Museum, display in pride was fake to confuse people ;-)
I am no engineer nor mechanic but have heard metal body part, hence this dimple nose can be x-rayed for detail analysis of any signs of repair. I offer my car for analysis by the professional. It would be nice to have a metal technology profession to chime in and I am happy to proceed if other Duetto owners would participate. May be the TV show "myth buster" can help to rewrite history.
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