Where to start? - Semi abandoned gifted '69 Spider

I’m excited this has already garnered such attention. It’s a good sign I’m in the right place!

I have not gone over the car for more than a few minutes but it does seem generally solid. No rust in fender areas or in the trunk and rear suspension areas that are suspect on other cars of similar vintage. I was pondering why then hood was in such bad shape in comparison to what else I saw so an engine Fire is a possibility.

I have a decent garage to dedicate to this so I can start more of a real inspection once it’s in there and up on stands.

The plan is to certainly sort it mechanically and get it driving before I touch any of the cosmetics minus removing the glass shards in the drivers compartment!

I’ll certainly post along the way and get all of your expert eyes better pictures once it’s indoors.

In terms of risk vs reward on this I already realize this is more love than investment. My dad had a 73 and he’s very excited to have me work on this with my son. Also if not totally clear, I’m into this for exactly $0 so I have as low of an initial investment as possible!

CF4L said:

I have not gone over the car for more than a few minutes but it does seem generally solid. No rust in fender areas or in the trunk and rear suspension areas that are suspect on other cars of similar vintage.

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If that car has lived outdoors under a blue tarp then it probably has some rust. Lift the carpets and check the floorpans. Check the spare tire well. Look carefully at the rocker areas for signs of bubbling. I'm not trying to sound pessimistic - I own a roundtail myself and they are wonderful cars - but rust is likely in a car with this history.

I was pondering why then hood was in such bad shape in comparison to what else I saw so an engine Fire is a possibility.

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I'm skeptical about the underhood fire theory. The pattern of the paint damage on the exterior of the hood doesn't match the area of rust on its underside. I think the exterior paint has just been baked by the sun, and that the underhood rust was caused by water thrown by the fan, perhaps aggravated by a leaking water pump. The brown stuff on top of the engine looks more like a rat or mouse nest than fire debris.

As others have written, repairing the windshield and replacing the top frame are going to take some work. The windshield frames do not unbolt on these cars - it is welded to the unibody. So a bodyshop will need to straighten what it can, and graft in good, used material where necessary. Finding good, used parts may be tough. As bal4833 wrote, replacement glass is readily available.

Nice entry into the Alfa world, looks like a fun project. That for sure is not a weekend project to get it going again.
As others have said, replace all the fuel hoses and rubbers involved. They will inevitably be rotten. If it were me I would also have the gas tank cleaned out or replaced, I would be willing to bet its cruddy in there and it will drive you nuts later when you get it running.
Pull up the carpets and look all around with a flashlight, look under the seats from in and under the car. If you can repair rust or you know someone who can, you probably shouldn't be too afraid. If you cant repair rust and you have to pay a shop, just be aware your checkbook will suffer!

If you get the body solid and setup the fuel system, replace the tires and brakes(may just need pads, may need lines and calipers, none of which are super complicated), the mechanicals won't be difficult most likely. The SPICA system can be rebuilt by Wes Ingram, you may get lucky and not need it but I wouldn't bank on that. The transmissions are usually fairly solid, change the fluids first. Inspect the wiring, squirrels and mice are your fears here, not the Italian manufacturer.

Most projects on these cars are fairly straight forward and do able by anyone willing to learn and put in the patience. Bodywork/Paint are going to be your financial pains compared to the engine.

What looks solid outside may not be solid once you get the car in your garage. The frame rails need to be inspected. If you can get under the car with a large screwdriver, use it as you would an ice pick to check frame rails for structural integrity. The floors pans will more than likely need replacing as will the rocker panels. A windshield frame from a 66-69 Spider should be relatively easy to find. I suspect there are a few folks here with parts cars.

As folks have stated, the top frame is going to be pricey to replace. You'll need to inspect the frame to see what is left. The two "B" pillar parts are the hardest to source as these commonly break. They can be repaired. The front bow that mates with the windshield typically rusts. This is by far the most difficult part to find. Prices for used frames are all over the place. You could spend up to $2k on one, depending on where your source it.

As for the mechanical components, I do not recommend putting the key in and cranking the car. That can do a lot of damage. If you plan to move forward with a restoration, I don't see any reason to try and start the engine.

I'm looking forward wot watching your project.

I had the windshield frame for you! I kept this 1966 Duetto part around for years and years.


After trying to give it away, it finally got tossed just last year. Sorry about that.

Have fun with your project!

Jeff

There have been comments about many projects that warrant.. "I wouldn't buy the car if it was free!" .. There is a lot of truth to that. The comments about rust are very valid. The absolute worst environment is a car parked on GRASS in a tropical climate under a tarp..It's a perfect terrarium. If the car didn't have a fire, the engine compartment demonstrates how that type of storage can be devastating to metal. So with that said, your "free" car is going to free you of many many many thousands of dollars. Are you prepared for that? I hope you consider that when moving forward. The other side of the coin is putting it up for sale and establishing a price as it is. It almost comes down to taking offers and they will be widely and wildly spread across the board depending on the motivation of the buyer. I would definitely put the urge to turnover the engine on hold. Even if you can free it, which I doubt, it won't add any intrinsic value to the situation and can cause more damage that any value you think it has. Sorry to rain on your parade. It is a conundrum you need to noodle.