1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 Restomod ($55,000)

August 31, 2017

Location: Miami, Florida
Chassis: AR3021807
Engine: 2.0-Liter Twin-Cam Four-Cylinder
Transmission: Five-Speed Manual
Mileage: 110,456
Color: Rosso Alfa | Black Alcantara & Vinyl

Street, Track, Or Somewhere In-between, The Bertone Coupe Can Do It All

The Giulia Sprint GT, and succeeding GTV models, make up one of Alfa Romeo’s all time greatest vehicles. Thanks to a relatively high production number, a strong enthusiast following, and huge subsequent selection of quality aftermarket support, the Tipo 105/115 makes for an ideal classic canvas for seemingly limitless builds. The GTA and GTAm motorsport pedigree offer plenty of Autodelta inspiration for a new generation of outlaw builds. Whether it’s completely stock, a dedicated track car, or something of a hot-rod for the street, these charming coupes can pull off any style.

While undeniably attractive and elegant in factory trim, these cars have the ability to change character entirely with some go-fast goodies and typical race car accoutrements like a hot cam, roll cage, and bumper delete. That’s the beauty of the GTV, it’s a wonderful template for any imagination.

THE CAR

This 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV2000 started life as a late Tipo 115-series car, meaning it looked a bit different than it currently sits. The car was restored in California approximately four years ago by a collector, who kept it for some time after completion before selling to another Californian. The car eventually wound up at The Barn Miami, and they’ve subsequently gone through the GTV to bring everything into tip-top order.

This tastefully hot-rodded GTV has been built and modified for a vintage racer feel to be enjoyed on the street. The entire car has been properly restored and set-up to ensure every component works together and functions seamlessly rather than letting it become a conglomerate of parts thrown together like so many other restomods. This is not a build for a quick-flip profits either; this is a thought-out assemblage buttoned together with the finest parts, and assembled by veteran mechanics.

The 2.0L motor was rebuilt by Anthony Rimicci of Santo’s Italian Car Service—one of Los Angeles’ premier Italian classic specialty shops. The full rebuild consisted of a port and polished head with larger valves and L8 camshafts, Borgo 10.4 compression pistons, a cross-drilled head and block, new dual Weber 45 DCOE carburetors with aluminum mounts, operational internal throttle control knob, a Pipercross KK600 air filter with 45mm trumpets, Marelli Plex electronic distributor, Classic Alfa high performance stainless steel headers, Magnecor KV85 plug wires, an aluminum radiator, new belts, and Alfaholics silicone radiator hoses.

The five-speed manual transmission was rebuilt by Miami-based Italian specialty garage Auto Veloce, and has only seen a few hundred miles of use since. The transmission is said to shift perfectly with no grinding or synchro pop-out issues that commonly plague these transmissions. Service documents for the transmission rebuild are included in the sale.

The body wears four-year-old Rosso Alfa paint, which is believed to be the original color for this car. However, before the respray, a complete ’73-to-’69 bodywork backdate was performed. The rear valance panel was replaced with an early style one to accommodate the smaller taillights, and a ’69 front grille and center heart were installed to mimic the early smooth-nose look. The original wheels were swapped out for GTA-style 14-inch items that were refurbished during the restoration and still look new.

To complete the outlaw look, a half-cage was bolted in with Sabelt harnesses, the overrider bumpers were removed, and three blank white roundels were added—one to the hood, and one on each door. Yellow-lens high beams add some color up front, as do some Autodelta Quadrifoglio triangle vinyls on the fenders and rear valance.

Inside, ’69 1750 GTV flying buttress bucket seats were fitted in addition to Alcantara-wrapped door cards and a custom rear seat delete panel sewn in a classic quilt pattern. An authentic Hellebore steering wheel was pulled from a Lamborghini Espada and made to fit the Alfa’s hub, and the Alfa Romeo crest center horn button is a nice touch.

Overall, it’s evident this car was built with a clear vision from the get-go: a classically-styled outlaw with a vintage racer feel and the power to back up the looks. This is a well built outlaw GTV seeking a certain type of enthusiast.

EXTERIOR

Body – The body panels are believed to be original with the exception of the rear valance, which was replaced with an earlier style piece to complete the small-taillight backdate during the restoration.

Paint – The nonmetallic Rosso Alfa paint was professionally applied approximately four years ago, and remains in excellent condition. There are a few minor blemishes, most notably of which is a small scuff on the driver’s side quarter panel. The finish remains bright with good shine and no sun damage.

Trim & Glass – All trim and brightwork are authentic Alfa pieces and are clean with good fitment. Minor blemishes can be seen on the vertical trim behind the side window glass. The greenhouse is comprised of all original glass, which remains free of cracks or major pitting.

Wheels – The GTA-style 14-inch alloy wheels were repainted in the correct metallic silver, are complete with black Alfa Romeo crest center caps, and wear grippy Toyo Proxes R888 rubber with plenty of tread life.

INTERIOR

Steering Wheel – The authentic Hellebore leather-wrapped Lamborghini Espada steering wheel is in very good condition and fits the overall racer-look perfectly.

Dashboard & Instrumentation – The dashboard is topped with a custom black Alcantara cover, and the original Jaeger instruments are in place and fully functional.

Seats, Trim, & Carpet – The ’69 1750 GTV-spec flying buttress seats are very desirable and attractive, not to mention the added bonus of increased bolstering. The seat covers are custom with vinyl side bolsters and Alcantara centers for contrast and extra grip. The black carpeting is in very good nick, as are the Alcantara-wrapped door cards. The rear seat delete panel is stitched in a quilt pattern that looks very sharp.

MECHANICAL

Engine – Fully custom engine built by Santo’s Italian Car Service performs perfectly, revs beautifully, and best of all, packs a punch.

Original Motor: Believed to be.
Engine Number: Available upon request.
The Drive: The engine starts promptly every time and compels one to find the limiter. The dual Weber carbs sound throaty and the engine makes good power for a street build.

Transmission – The five-speed manual transmission was completely overhauled less than 200 miles ago by the well-known-and-regarded Auto Veloce garage in Miami, Florida, and now performs flawlessly.

Original Transmission: Believed to be.
Gearbox Number: Available upon request.
The Drive: These five-speed transmissions are a joy to use with a firm but easy-to-use clutch engagement, long but direct throws, and smooth gear change action. These are truly wonderful gearboxes to operate, and this is one of the finest examples.

Handling – With a stiff, lightweight unibody construction, four-wheel disc brakes as standard, and a classic independent front/solid axle rear suspension set up, these Tipo 105 are renowned for their precision handling and surprising capability.

The Drive: This car was completely rebuilt and upgraded four years ago and has been thoroughly gone-through and maintained since. It is very peppy, rev-happy, and a real switchback screamer.

ORIGINALITY

This car has been extensively modified and personalized. It goes without saying that there are more original GTVs available, but this car remains very original in terms of chassis and body construction. While this car is a ’73-to-’69 backdate, the parts used are either correct Alfa Romeo original parts or very high quality aftermarket equipment. There were no costs cut during the restoration process.

DOCUMENTATION

Included in the sale are various service records, parts receipts, and restoration invoices.

MARKET OBSERVATIONS

1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV – Bring-a-Trailer – August 2, 2017 – $76,500 – Rosso Alfa | Black Vinyl, full restoration with Alfaholics bolt ons
1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV – Bring-a-Trailer – August 2, 2017 – $49,000 – Amaranth Rosso | Cream Vinyl, full restoration

OUR THOUGHTS

Stout 2.0-Liter – While this is primarily a 1750 GTV backdate, the 2.0-liter inline-four was kept for the extra power. The engine was rebuilt at Santo’s Italian Car Service in a street hot rod style, meaning it’s faster and more eager to rev than its factory spec, but not overly high-strung. It’s a nice balance between performance and reliability.

Rising Market Values – As is, the GTV is phenomenal value for money regardless of where you land on the collector spectrum. A few recent sales at auction are certainly showing increasing demand in this market. Highly original examples command top dollar, but interestingly the restomod cars are also performing very well. We believe this is attributed to how small the Alfa world can be, the number of specialists available in key demographics, and the large knowledge base shared amongst enthusiasts.

Buy A Complete Build, And The Restoration Is Free – The only thing more expensive than a classic car is a restoration. This GTV has been professionally restored using only the very best parts and methods. The result is a turnkey canyon carver that’s priced competitively, saving you the expense of restoring a GTV yourself.