I did it again ... this time it's a 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe

[Cees Klumper]

I really did not mean to, but I had no choice. The thing is, for the past couple of months I had been looking and looking for a workspace all around Los Angeles and just could not find one. Then, a few weeks ago, the gentleman who I bought the Fulvia from here in Santa Monica in 2020 was offering for sale as a restoration project the other car he had in his garage at the time: a lovely 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint coupe!

The 'package deal' we agreed was, I buy the Alfa and rent his 2-car garage for up to a year in order to finish the Lancia (see my other thread on that, it's 97% finished but I need a workspace for the final 3%) and restore the Alfa. I will start February 1. Very excited.

The Alfa has received an engine transplant and now sports an already-rebuilt 1600 cc (Duetto) engine and 5-speed gearbox. It runs very sweet, and is registered and titled. It does need some serious rust repairs and paint, as well as some other things, but 'the bones' are solid and after all this is what I love to do.

[thelews]

Alfas are fun.  Picked one up this fall.

Good luck with the resto.  Do you know all the vendors for parts?

[mdsalemi]

Very pretty cars, with lovely proportions! Fast and light!

[Pinder]

It looks really nice. never seen one before. but I like the lines on it. Good luck with it.

[Peter van Es]

I've seen these Alfa's, even rallied. Lovely lines but a bit too "fine" for rallying. How's the power and handling on your Lancia, always loved those for rallies...

Peter

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks all,

@Thelews - gathering sources but any and all tips more than welcome! I like that GTV, had one when I was 18.

@Peter - have not been able to drive the Lancia yet; need to button up some final things and hope to get it CA titled in a couple of months' time. It is supposed to be very 'tossable' but we'll see. The Giulietta has drum brakes all around. It does now have about 40% more horsepower than it did originally, and I will need to see what the long term plans with it will be, but since it is from 1961 I don't expect any handling miracles for sure.

[thelews]

Classic Alfa, Myalfagroup, Centerline, Vicks, Alfaholics, Alfa Parts Exchange (used)

CA and MAG are overseas.  I've gotten deliveries from them in 2 and 3 days, great!

[Cees Klumper]

Great, thanks John!

[Figoulu]

Very nice little car
Congratulations  for your purchase
I guess you can measure the difference between Italian and German construction and quality

[thelews]

I guess you can measure the difference between Italian and German construction and quality

Not much to measure, no comparison.

[Cees Klumper]

I will say that I have been very impressed with the overall quality of the '72 Lancia Fulvia that I 'nut-and-bolt' restored, compared to my '69 Pagoda. For example, I decided to use the original front and rear window seals rather than reproductions, as they were still in excellent shape. Will be interesting to see how the '61 Alfa measures up to either.

[thelews]

IMO, it will be hard for any car to match the quality and engineering that went into the Pagoda and all MBs of that era.  Let's begin just with machine screws for just about everything.

[neelyrc]

Back to the Alfa! 

I read in another thread that you are considering going sans bumpers.  When you start to dismantle, why not remove the bumpers first and let’s see what it might look like. 

Best of luck with the restoration. Looking forward to following the effort.

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Ralph - my inspiration for the 'bumperless look' came from several existing examples (as well as the cost, time and hassle of having to have my old bumpers rechromed). Here the comparables, any and all opinions on whether to go the bumperless route more than welcome. I chose same color so it could be as comparable as possible:

[BobH]

IMHO definitely with bumpers, old cars just look nude without them

[Jordan]

Cees, just leave the bumpers off for now and see how you like the look yourself.  Love the two tone colour scheme of the bumperless version.  If you keep the bumpers off you may want to change the wheels, maybe Campagnolo or Cromodora.  Both were used on early Alfas.

Keep the bumpers off your Lancia.  Looks much better. 

[Jack the Knife]

I like the bumperless look. It improves many cars. Some cars, the bumpers were very well-integrated. With others, it's like an afterthought. 3.0 CSL and 2002 Turbo have no bumpers and look great. Bumperless 356 looks clean (and helps it look less Beetle-like). Real racecars (think like the Silver Arrow) never have a bumper and look fantastic. I think many people are just conditioned to see a car with bumpers, just like they are expecting to see a lot of sidewall on their old car's tire.

[mclewis]

Bumperless, especially in the front.

[mdsalemi]

Oh, my—WHAT a pretty car, with or without bumpers. Oh sure, it looks cleaner without but there’s enough chrome on the front that the bumper looks appropriate for the car, well integrated into the design and period appropriate as well.

If it were me, I’d re-chrome the bumpers now. Plating is only going up in cost. You can decide to use them later. But if you sell the car, at least it’s complete.

[MikeSimon]

My take: With bumpers. Bumperless cars like the BMW 2002 Turbo and 3.0 CSL have front spoilers/facias - thus no bumper. The bumpers - as the name implies - have a purpose and I do like that on a street car. Even if I am careful, others may not be. Bumperless has a adolescent look to me. Like excessive spoilers on little street cars, e.g.: some Subarus. It is a "wannabee" look trying to say "I am usually racing"

[Cees Klumper]

Brief update on the Alfa is that I've almost completed the rust repairs. The front chassis members that extend to the sides were both practically gone so I had to fabricate new ones and weld them in place, along with various neighboring floor and side panel sections. Also the trunk floor was missing in one corner and to remove the rear bumper required some extensive modifications, but it's all done.

Everything is stripped and once I have fabricated a new nose, I can start building the car 'back up' starting with the paintwork. I am hoping it will be finished in the Spring.

[Iconic]

Cees,
Are you doing this work in France?
Enjoy !
Mark

[Cees Klumper]

Hi Mark - no, this is a photo from a month or so ago, in Santa Monica. So the Alfa project is now paused until we get back in October.

Here in France I have the Pagoda but it really doesn't need anything, and I did some maintenance to one of our two more modern Volvos (a 2001 C70 convertible T5 and a 2002 S80 T6), but other than that it's just the house that needs some maintenance, like painting the shutters and window sills - no car restoration work here. 

[Iconic]

Thanks Cees!
I enjoy reading about all the cars you restore.
I'll have to wait for the next updates after you are back in the US.
Take care,
Mark

[rwmastel]

Should we start talking about international home maintenance, home improvement under the Way Off Topic forum?  LOL!