Wheeler Dealers GRM Episode 14: 1978 Alfa Romeo Duetto 2000 Spider

Welcome forum-regulars to another Episode of Wheeler Dealers GRM, where one of us buys an unloved old car, attempts to fix it up, and then hopes to move it on to the next unfortunate sap before getting bankrupted!

In this episode, regular contributor Javelin decides to take Top Gear's advice to heart, and finally buy an Alfa Romeo! This of course being GRM means that it's not a good one, or a desirable one, or even a running one technically...

This little brown beauty was a trade-in at a local car dealership and wouldn't stay running for longer than a few minutes. She's a 1978 Alfa Romeo Spider! Check out the nifty factory vinyl-covered hardtop!

That's a sexy machine! Okay, not really. It's a turd brown rubber-bumper kammtail. But it was cheap-ish at $1200, it's completely rust free, and check out the engine bay!

The interior is just clean as a whistle. No cracks or tears, and everything works.

You can just feel the real wood and metal of the tiller in your hands by looking at this photo:

Yes, this should be a fun one. Grab your popcorn!

That looks really clean for 1200.....

Jesus Mary and Joseph that rear bumper is bad. Fix that first.

In reply to mazdeuce:

Nah!

mazdeuce wrote: Jesus Mary and Joseph that rear bumper is bad. Fix that first.

Just cut it off. Sometimes amputation is the only option......

I cannot look away .... so, subscribed!!

I approve of this ambitious purchase. Also, it does look really good for 1200.

I kinda love that, warts and all

Uh, what picture? I don't see any picture?

1988RedT2 wrote: Uh, what picture? I don't see any picture?

I see them.

I can't be looking at this. Must....find....practical....car.

mazdeuce wrote: Jesus Mary and Joseph that rear bumper is bad. Fix that first.

Isn't that called a boat tail?

Although I think the common nautical term is transom step. Edit: correction, swim platform.

So what's the plan ?

Edit- just looked closer at the pictures- that engine has been worked on- not just because the cam cover is polished and the SPICA have the air box replaced by the air cleaners... but the exhaust has been replaced with an earlier, pre-75 header.

That car should have air injection into the exhaust, IF it were stock.

I'd look first at the main fuel pump, and the two filters (one in the back and a canister one in the engine compartment).

The cams in that car are actually the same as the earlier cars, but timed differently- you can correct that using some new indexes that you can find on this page- https://centerlinealfa.com/sites/centerlinealfa.com/assets/files/default/cam_install.pdf

I wish I could point you to an online manual to tune the SPICA, but Wes' manual is the go to guide- about half way down this page- http://www.wesingram.com/hp.htm

Chassis wise, they are easy to tighten up with some parts off of circle track car.

Dusterbd13 wrote: That looks really clean for 1200.....

Looks great for $1200.

It can be a decent challenge car...

Looks great for the $$$. Really clean.

The bo-donka-donk rear bumper has to go. Can you bolt on an earlier model bumper?

Too bad about the nose. Looks tough to fix right. I'll be watching this one.

Gonna need a shrinking disc to fix that nose.

I'd be happy to just have an Alfa Romeo engine on a stand in my garage.

And I really like brown cars.

And hardtops make convertibles better.

And I don't hate giant rubber bumpers.

And I even have some spare change in my pocket this week.

It's a good thing that you are on the other side of the country (yes, I have already confirmed this).

In reply to Woody:

It seems like the perfect car for a road trip. Maybe you can find a buyer for your friend's NC out near Javelin and do a cross-country & back?

Pete Gossett wrote: In reply to Woody: It seems like the perfect car for a road trip. Maybe you can find a buyer for your friend's NC out near Javelin and do a cross-country & back?

It actually seems like an awful car for a road trip. And I told the girl with the NC (which will sell on eBay this weekend, by the way... Beautiful 2006 Miata)that I don't want anything for my assistance.

In fact, I think that the suction truck in Sacramento would make for a more interesting road trip.

Javelin wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: Uh, what picture? I don't see any picture?

I see them.

Huh. Must be a photobucket thing. I can see them if I pull them up from viewing page source, but nothing shows in the first post in Firefox on my machine.

Car looks amazing for 1200.

In reply to Woody:

If it fits it ships for a low flat rate!

Wow I loves that interior!

How do you subscribe to a thread?

In reply to yupididit:

Click the red heart icon below the add post button.

HappyAndy wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: Jesus Mary and Joseph that rear bumper is bad. Fix that first.

Isn't that called a boat tail?

That's the factory-optional picnic table. Highly desirable.

Javelin wrote: In reply to Woody: If it fits it ships for a low flat rate!

You could always see how far you can push that Media Mail abuse...