Oops … this should have gone in the photo thread. Hope an admin can move it .

 

Wow, that's a beauty and my favorite color for a GTV. And the pics worked!

 

Very cool, and to have owned it from new.

 

Looks fantastic! Agreed on the colour - my first car was a 1970 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe in the same colour and it still hits home with me.

 

This was the colour of my second GTV.....I really thought it was the best colour for one! ...until my current one of course...

Kudos BTW for hanging on to it since day one! I only wished I did the same with mine 35 years ago...

 

I see your car has the US style bumpers with the small turn lights.....did it not come with side markers? Is it a US model? If so, do you still run it with the SPICA system?

 

I have the Spica system stored but converted to Webers and carb cam in 1980. The early Spica had repeated failure of the thermo tube thingy …. that was a pain.

 

I don't know, I might have a problem with the color. Here's mine...

 

Absolutely gorgeous Gary! And incredible to have owned all this time.

I'm always curious as to how the ownership experience has been for those who bought and maintained one of these gems from new.

Ever needed to restore? Engine rebuilds? Trans etc

 

The car has 60k miles on it. Originally shipped with a speedo in kms ? I had the dealer replace with a MPH speedo as Canada was not metric at the time. Unfortunately the dealer kept the km speedo or I would have used it as of 1978.
The best upholstery is unusual too. I think a 1750 in Australia has similar upholstery. I will upload a picture of the seats.
I did a head refresh, valves and guides about 40 years ago. The car was in storage for 12 years, driven for 2 years and put back in storage for 16 years until 2 years ago. I have replaced all of the the rubber hoses and belts, clutch master and slave and brake master cylinder. Also put the Alfaholics stage 2 brakes on it. id a thorough detailing. I have kept the original parts.
The car has never been driven in winter, put away every Halloween and taken out in May so rust isn't apparent.
The car was thoroughly sprayed with rust inhibitor many many times regularly.
I have taken a long trips from Niagara Falls to PEI with my wife and kids in 1974 and to New York city in 1975.

 

 

I replaced the carpets last autumn so the seats came out.

 

Woah!......are you saying that that colour combo on the seats were original to the car? And those are the original seat covers as well?

 

Yes that is the way they came … I put dressing on them and wipe it down twice a year ..
I don’t leave the car in the sun, always been stored in heated storage and in my garage.

 

Yes that is the way they came … I put dressing on them and wipe it down twice a year ..
I don’t leave the car in the sun, always been stored in heated storage and in my garage.

This is when the car was coming out of it’s 16 years of storage

 

Cool post and great history; the car looks fanatastic. But as an Australian who has spent many years in and around 105 Coupes there I can’t say I’ve ever seen a 1750 GTV with seats trimmed like that.

 

I recall seeing a post at one time of a GTV in Australia that had the seats upholstered a similar way.
The car I bought was on display at Man and his World in 1970 . It is thought by some of the Canadian Alfa guys that the car was
“customized” by the importer, a dealer here in Montreal Canada for the display.

 

I recall seeing a post at one time of a GTV in Australia that had the seats upholstered a similar way.
The car I bought was on display at Man and his World in 1970 . It is thought by some of the Canadian Alfa guys that the car was
“customized” by the importer, a dealer here in Montreal Canada for the display.

So sounds like the seats weren't factory optioned as such but customized for display once imported to Canada.

Very interesting stories and history! I'm sure very few have survived certain climates quite as well as this from new (i.e. always stored all winter, etc)

 

She is a gem.

God I wish I'd gotten my cars colour right, it is an awesome colour ... will I ever get over this stuff up?
Pete

 

My number is close for sure AR153 1099. Lets see what I discover when I get to the car.

Nice......mine was 361 cars prior to yours on the production line...and should have been identical in all respects to yours .I'm still surprised that the factory would have blanked out the holes on the bodywork for the side markers which would have required some customization of the harness as well. Out of curiosity...do you still have the original sales receipt for your car? That would be even rarer if you do.

 

When I decided that the 68 Mustang GT had to go bc of vibration, I wanted an Alfa coupe. My best friend and mentor had brought a 1963 Alfa1300 Guilietta spider from Europe and I drove it and my brother got a 1966 1600 GT so I knew what I wanted. In1969-1970, Alfa was in a somewhat confused state in North America, especially Canada. The import centre in Rexdale Ontario ended up closing. A dealer in Montreal took over importing. When I ordered my car in 1969, I was told there were none available and they would let me know when one was available. I was soon told there was one in Montreal that was going to be displayed at "Man and His World" if I would take it, I could have it as soon as the event closed. I got the car in Late summer of 1970. I have looked in my papers in past for the original order copy and sales bill but no luck. The local dealer in St. Catherines that I got the car from was out of business at the end of that year as I recall. I did take the car to a succession of dealerships for service over the years following before I started doing my own maintenance. A pop -up dealer in Oakville (can't recall the name), Maranello Motors in North Toronto, Esposito Motors in Toronto, a fellow at Lawrence and Caledonia in Toronto.
I have vivid memories of the first rides in the car, my first passenger was my daughter, she was 10 months old.

 

When I decided that the 68 Mustang GT had to go bc of vibration, I wanted an Alfa coupe. My best friend and mentor had brought a 1963 Alfa1300 Guilietta spider from Europe and I drove it and my brother got a 1966 1600 GT so I knew what I wanted. In1969-1970, Alfa was in a somewhat confused state in North America, especially Canada. The import centre in Rexdale Ontario ended up closing. A dealer in Montreal took over importing. When I ordered my car in 1969, I was told there were none available and they would let me know when one was available. I was soon told there was one in Montreal that was going to be displayed at "Man and His World" if I would take it, I could have it as soon as the event closed. I got the car in Late summer of 1970. I have looked in my papers in past for the original order copy and sales bill but no luck. The local dealer in St. Catherines that I got the car from was out of business at the end of that year as I recall. I did take the car to a succession of dealerships for service over the years following before I started doing my own maintenance. A pop -up dealer in Oakville (can't recall the name), Maranello Motors in North Toronto, Esposito Motors in Toronto, a fpellow at Lawrence and Caledonia in Toronto.
I have vivid memories of the first rides in the car, my first passenger was my daughter, she was 10 months old.

Hi Gary.
As I understand it in 1969 or maybe 1968 Alfa Romeo was establishing itself in Canada for the first time with Alfa Romeo Canada(Rexdale) (before that Alfas were sold through independent sportscar dealers), so if it was in a confused state about 1969 it must have be start up issues. Too many Dealers, over estimating demand, and the like.

In the USA Alfa Romeo Inc. (Newark) had been established since the Mid 1960s so if confused I know not why.

See: Alfa Romeo in Canada

Ciao

Ken

 

Nice story and history. You mentioned that the TA was problematic and you switched out to Webers.....if you ever want to go back to the SPICA (for originality purposes) repairing the TA is not that difficult (I rebuilt mine and the whole system works quite nicely on mine now). I'd offer you help with that if you ever decide to go that way. I guess too that your original Spica system would not have logged many miles on it either....so that too is possibly in very good condition provided it was stored in a dry place.

 

Thanks for your offer of assistance.
When I did the Weber conversion, I ordered and installed the European cams as well.
The FI cams were in my toolbox, along with some Alfa specific tools including the FI air-flow instruments. The box was stolen in 1992.
I do have the injection pump, manifold, fuel pump, etc., etc.
Will think about restoring, however as having a good running car, the Webers are great.

 

I have had discussion as I am sure many have regarding the Canadian Alfa situation in 1969-70. One reason given that 1969 was an importing mess had to do with the emissions rules that came into play.
Maybe you have some definitive information on this Ken. I do know that the cars were in short supply during that year. I was lucky to get the one I have.

 

The Canadian government only applied safety and smog requirements for the 1972 model year. But Ontario had its own regulations as early as 1969, which is why Alfa Canada imported both Euro spec (1300, 1750, Giulia Super) and USA spec 1750 cars during that period. But everybody was free from purchasing a car in the next province. How's that for confusion.

 

@Gary Hooper, whatever he case, you have an incredibly beautiful and unique Alfa Romeo car show car. Kudos to you for not only keeping her, but keeping her in such wonderful shape!

 

Thanks, I enjoy it and look forward to the rest of my driving days with my Alfa .

 

What part of the country do you reside? If in the GTA....join the drives with the DEA group....east of the GTA has some nice little group trips that are fun.

 

I know them, great bunch of people, and I have been on a drive with them and plan to do more.

 

Great color, reminds me of Robert Alblas's video (

)

 

great color

 

Looking forward to seeing and hearing your GTV on the next drive!