Category: Alfa Romeo (Page 4 of 4)

Turin: Alfa Romeo was the winner of an impressive four prizes last weekend – with its 4C and sixth series 1933 6C 1750 GS models – at the Concorso di Eleganza in Villa d’Este, a prestigious event which has been celebrating the world’s finest historic vehicles for many years.

As well as the Concorso d’Eleganza Best of Show awarded by the jury, and another prize voted for by the public, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS also won the Coppa d’Oro, a recognition granted by referendum in Villa d’Este.

The car on display, an especially rare model, was a coupé designed by the Figoni coach builders and presented for the first time in Paris in 1933, which has been well placed at several previous concorsi d’eleganza.  A lightweight version won its category at the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1935.

Between 1929 and 1933, Alfa Romeo produced a series of sports cars for use on the road and in competition, specifically the 1750 6Cs, where 6C referred to the 6 cylinder in-line 1752 cm³ engine. Originally developed by designer Vittorio Jano, the 1750 6C was presented in Rome in 1929, and over the four years which followed, it was continually updated and improved, with six successive series. The vehicles produced were for the most part sold as a complete chassis and outfitted by specialist firms, many of them with open two-seater bodies.

The Alfa Romeo 4C was awarded the Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes by referendum of the public in Villa d’Este. The fruit of the brand’s experience with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and the 8C Spider (with which it shares its rear wheel drive), the 4C represents the essence of a true sports car in accordance with the brand’s values: performance, Italian style and technical excellence for maximum driving pleasure in complete safety. The concept presents the classic formula of the two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupé with its central engine, a length of approximately 4 metres and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. These dimensions on the one hand emphasise the car’s compact attributes, while also accentuating its agility on the other.

2010 RINGS IN A NEW YEAR AND A NEW DECADE that for many of us will undoubtedly hold some new rules under a new economy. That’s not to say that everything must come to a screeching halt until the dust settles. On the contrary. The savvy buyer will view this as an opportunity to take advantage of a soft market, regardless of the pricepoints they typically play in. It becomes a question of whether the seller chooses to let go or hold on until conditions improve and the speculation of how soon that might happen. One way to mitigate that sort of speculation is to make a safer investment by limiting the initial cash outlay. What we’ve attempted to do here is to present 10 cars that have a foreseeable appreciation and either are currently available or will bottom out at under $10,000 in the year 2010. With that, here is our 10 for ’10 for under $10K:

1972-1975 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce 2000
Typical asking prices: $6,000-$8,000
Collector status: Buy and drive

The Alfa Romeo Spider has always conjured up cinematic images, from Felini’s Giulias in the late 50s and 60s, to the iconic Duetto or “Ossi di Seppia” from The Graduate. Deservedly so, there are few things that conjure up La Dolce Vita the way a tops-down Alfa Romeo can. The aforementioned Giulia Spiders and Duettos are now highly coveted and have enjoyed consistent appreciation through even the leanest times. In 1970, the next generation of Spider, the “Kamm Tail” (squaring off the earlier 1750 Spider’s “boattail”), was introduced. Soon thereafter, the motor was enlarged to 1962 cc and the name was changed to 2000 Spider Veloce. A few years later, US DOT required impact-absorbing bumpers be added in order to continue sales in the US, which Alfa Romeo did with modest success until 1993. There were some styling modifications along the way, not always agreeable, but the Alfa Spider stayed true to its roots of a fun, affordable, sexy roadster. The most classic era of the Kamm Tail is the early period from 1970 to 1975, before the hideous black US bumpers marred its otherwise beautiful Pininfarina design. When combined with the more spirited motor, the 1972-75 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce may be the next best thing to a Giulia or Boattail. There can be dozens of them on the market at any given time and many have indeed seen better days. The good news with the earlier cars is that some have been through an older restoration and, if well preserved, can be found in like new condition for about what a tired Miata will cost, making La Dolce Vita that much sweeter.