@@BeantownToBigD She and that car were killing us... and she well knew it! lol Years later, I would be spinning wrenches on those and other European cars, and finally purchased a W111 250SE Coupe with 4 on the floor and sunroof, at age 29. I still have it, and it still puts a smile on my face at age 60.
How much fun can you have with 1.3 liters and 90ish horsepower? Yes. It's beautiful and it sounds amazing! Incredible restoration! What an absolute jewel. Thanks for the tour and the drive! Also... deer jousting will be in the Olympics one day.
I have a Giulietta sedan 1.6 from 1981. Same mechanics of the Alfetta. The sound of the Alfa Romeo Twincam engine is fantastic, i suggest everyone to drive one with those engines, it's truly an experience.
Bella macchina! I’ve owned a ‘60 spider for 37 years and wholeheartedly share your enthusiasm for Alfas and your observations about Alfisti. It’s amazing that a car designed 70 years ago and having less than triple digit horsepower can’t be beat for driving fun.
I had an Alfa for just a year circa 1968 but loved it, even though it was pretty badly beaten up. Glad to learn of your good and much longer time with a stronger example!
More Alfa’s please!!! This car is absolutely gorgeous to look at and to listen to. The Alfa’s I’ve owned have always been my favorite cars, despite the amount of care they require. Even an old 4 door Alfa sedan feels “alive” in ways that other cars don’t, regardless of price. If you can get your hands on an Alfa Romeo Montreal or Junior Zagato either would make for an incredible show!
I owned a 73 Montreal from 83 to 91, still can't forgive myself for selling it, 😢 but life got in the way. It worked out tho, I currently have a 72 MGB GT hatch in show cond, ❤ it to bits 😊 and literally every part is available... not like old Alfas
How good is this. And how good does this little engine sound. I am in love and wish I was sitting in this empty passenger seat at this beautiful sunny day.
Wow, this car is pure delight, I love classic Alfa Romeo, and classic roadsters in general, they seem to be alive thanks to a more direct mechanical essence than modern cars. Another one of my wishes. Please find a good early copy of the Fiat 124 Spider, your review of it would also be very interesting, unfortunately there are almost no POV videos with this Fiat, although it is a fairly common and affordable classic car. Greetings from Russia, you are watched even in such remote corners of the world, I think your channel is the best about classic cars in POV format!
In 1964 I bought a "Normale" Spider. Prior to this as daily drivers I had a Healey 100 and a MGTF. My sister had a Triumph TR3, So, I knew the British sports cars well. And the comparison to the Alfa was "night and day". Handling on any road surface including rough "B" roads. Plus comfort of a long-travel suspension on the same roads. Wind up side windows and huge amounts of room. Wonderful car, and in 2005 I bought a Giulietta Spider that had a 1600 in it. Installed a "warm " 2 L, LSD and C/R gears. Outstanding performer on any winding road.Saw 6500 in fifth which works our to 130MPH---Sigh
I don't know what you're talking about, when you say that Giulietta owners are 'gluttons for punishment': I 'daily-drove' two different 1300 'Normale's as my only car, for more than six years - they were some of the most reliable cars that I've ever owned. (I'm 68 years old - I've had quite a few cars...) I put way over 100 K miles on these, and if I was going to do it all over, I would replace the stock drum brakes - which work just fine - with 105-series ATE discs (an absurdly easy conversion), and get some less-fragile seats! Otherwise, make sure it's got the 5-speed transmission (again, an easy conversion), throw an alternator in (the stock generator is a bit marginal), make sure that the convertible top is in good shape, and you're all set. They really are the best old ALFA to live with... If you're over 5 ft. 8 inches tall, I'd certainly recommend the '101-series' long-door cars (preferably with the later taillights - much prettier, and they work better)!
I did a rotisserie restoration of a 1959 750/101 transition Giulietta Spider Normale. I bought it with no engine/transmission, the seller said bring wheels and take it away. I finished it in the original red with black interior, put a 1750 engine/5 speed into it. Re-chromed everything, had suspension powder coated, did it all right. Sold it for $10,000 in the late 1990s, I weep to see what good cars are bringing now.
I feel you, I had a rally prepped 180 HP Type 105 GT Veloce 74, I stupidly let it go in 1990 for $4600😢. Last yr I found it,only 20 mi away, been warehoused 30 yrs, owner wants $50K
You said it "why I love to drive". Many people think they are drivers but they really are posers. If you really love driving, all the good and the bad, the smells, and also the tactile feels and visceral buzzes in driving a drivers car then you will always love and appreciate an Alfa Romeo. They design automobiles to deliver on all these factors for over 80 or so years. Forza Alfa!!
I have owned 6 Porsches (including a current Boxster), 2 Vettes, a fantastic little ‘86 Fiero GT, an RX7, Camaro SS, 2 GTOs, a BMW 328S 6 speed, a ‘63 Impala SS Convertible etc…barely a day of my adult life at 75 goes by without longing for my 1958 Alfa Giulietta Spyder Normale. A true lost love. I sold it because I just got married (my gf/wife loved it too), I was being reassigned to Germany and could only take one car. What a mistake.
My roommate in college had one of these. His was the 1300 cc dual overhead cam, also. This was back in '68/'69. I believe it was an aluminum body, too.
One of our old neighbors in the SF Bay Area had the coupe version of this car. I didn't realize how cool that was until much later (this was back in the late 60s into the early 70s).
What a beauty. It brings back memories of a couple of Spider Veloces I had in the '70's & '80's and the way they liked RPM's and the way they shifted. The first 911 I drove had the 915 transmission and I thought it felt agricultural by comparison. And what a restoration, it would be nice to know more about that, but thanks for a beautiful video!
Never drove one, but when I sat in one at a dealer, I was put off by the steering wheel location. On the other hand, that has to be the most beautiful steering wheel ever made!
I spent much of my youth playing and tinkering with old Italian cars like this one, except the ones I tinkered with were not this nice. Your description of the driving experience is spot on. The best example is at 13:30 in the video. An exit ramp, 3 rd gear, high RPM and your're still under 50 MPH but the experience is still thrilling. It's the sensation of speed that impresses. I could drive for hours on 2 lane country roads, rarely see 60 MPH yet be constantly rowing gears between 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Such wonderful car.
Gosh. I'm in love all over again. I've wanted one of these, since I first saw one....many, many years ago. I'd probably trade my soul for one, actually.
This car is beautifully restored, a work of art. I wouldn't have done it with the tan interior, don't think that was ever used in period, but it does look good. You are right about the way they drive, it was so easy and natural to heel and toe them, I've never driven a car that was so easy to do that, even my 2016 Mazda MX-5 is not as easy.
I like the light ASMR approach! Gives more chances to hear that little jewel of an engine. Your comments reflect a similar experience I get with my Alfa Series 3 Spider. If anyone's watching this and thinking they want this experience but working with a modest budget, the Spider that followed, especially S3 cars, represent excellent value not to mention the benefit of having modern Bosch fuel injection, disc brakes, and better corrosion protection.
I saw one of these at a motor display last year. It was in pale blue with a cream/white interior. It was essence of Sophia Loren driving on the Riviera in summer distilled. I had the pleasure of driving a friend’s 1600 GT Junior in the 70s with a bigger version of the same engine and it was wonderful in every way. I used to read CAR magazine every month as a teen and I remember they wrote “If Alfa Romeo made a robot, it would be human.” Says it all really as Tedward basically did.
Absolutely gorgeous. And the 'Alfa song'! Echo below who's experience was not 'challenging': my '67 GTV (w/'73 2000 Spica) was a faithful daily driver and autocross steed through college and beyond. For pure delight, in a 3 way tie with my Ferrari 308 and Maserati GranTurismo (current)
Personally, I like this new format. The other format is good but this way you get to hear the car more. And I enjoy the quirky weird cars. Nice job as always Mr. Tedward
Another feature of the Veloce is the two piece oil pan. It has intricate baffling inside to keep oil around the pick-up tube, a highly engineered unit. When I was restoring my 1959 Normale I found that a pan from a 116 series Alfetta would fit, it worked fine even though it wasn't as elaborate as the Veloce pan.
Thanks for sharing! Nice condition for 1960 Alfa. More of 911 guy myself. But these little Alfa Romeo were really cool sports cars. Fast enough to enjoy a country road with top down Would imagine is much harder to get parts for when something breaks compared to 911?
I don’t know if I’d admit that a Giulietta is “better than a Miata.” I believe the Miata is that good! But I have to admit, the Italian car EXUDES charm and character, which the Miata cannot, quite, match!
Back in the 1980s a lady in my neighborhood had a baby blue Spider Veloce as her daily. Always drove it wearing a kerchief and big dark sunglasses she wouldn't remove even when she entered a store.
MY GOD 😊. something about old classics engines addicted and enjoyable to me also relaxing 😍 more than modern engines. no matter the size or how much cylinder it have. i just enjoy it. even the starter sound. this car god sooo much clean. but the camera a little bit tilting down. you are so lucky Ted. i say it before and i say it again. you do something i love to do. 😢💔. am so jealous. i love to be your friend 😊. i want someone knew about automotive world very well i love to talk about. keep up the good content Ted. peace
@TreDeuce, I almost thought I had commented on this video before. I had a 59 spyder in the 60s when I was in high school. Mine wasn't a Veloce but the man I bought it from raced it in Lime Rock, CT and had made modifications which he claimed gave it 120 HP to the rear wheels. That car cost me $700. What a great time I had with it. Of course, I wish I still had it, but my father got rid of it when I was in college. Didn't like it taking up space in his driveway.
Oh no, am I going to have to go on BaT now to fill the Alfa-less hole in my garage? (I had Sprint Normale a few years ago-still the most fun car I've owned).
