Berlina Register Newsletter No. 54 (February 2024)

Notes and Comment

Into the new year and I have the dubious pleasure of being a Medicare recipient this year. Yup, 65. I bought my first Giulia TI in April 1977 at age 18 so what s that, 47 years of Alfa sedans. Hard to believe. I was always one of the kids in all my interests, starting at things young, so it s a little tough to accept being an elder now. Well, take it as it comes.

See story below on my new Berlina (well, 7 months new). Since all this it had a little noise in the engine I didn t like so I tore it down, fixed all I could find wrong, and now am happy. Rods were in wrong, rod bushings loose, crankshaft had various ills. Not exactly a rebuild but not far from it. Now happy, car is just a sweetie. Put my GTA wheels on it (see pics on the AlfaBB) and am storming around daily in it. PS, my Giulia Super turns 57 on Feb. 13, along with Timothy Rodger s/Keith Martin s old car, one VIN number lower and same color/interior. They knew each other in Arese and met again in my driveway 15 years ago.

The keeper of the Berlina Register, North American Giulia Sedan Register, and Giulietta Sedan Register is Andrew Watry, email watry@prodigy.net. Send corrections to your information or any other Giulia- and Berlina-related facts, rumors, tips, or needs. Always seeking articles for the newsletter.

See the US by Berlina

In July I bought a 1969 Berlina from a friend, car was in Chicago, so I flew there with friend Dan and his son Eoin and drove it home. This is my fourth such Alfa trip: solo in a Berlina from Phoenix in maybe 1999, solo in a 1300 TI from Boston in 2009, and with my brother-in-law in an F12 Perkins-diesel van from Chicago to Berkeley in 2013.

This car I've known for the past three owners. Belonged to a friend in Oakland in early 2000s, then a friend in LA, then a friend in Boston but it was kept in Chicago for work. Circumstances changed and he decided to sell from Chicago rather than bring home to Massachusetts. (He had his eye on another Berlina.) It's a 1969 US 1750 car, originally maroon/tan, now tan/maroon, which change was done 10+ years ago by the LA owner. Has a US 1750 in it but with carbs; Spica was removed some time ago. Not the original engine; somewhere along the way a main cap got broken so a new block was sourced. I wasn't really looking for another car but I knew the owner and car, it was easy to sell to me, and it was a fun trip, so why not.

Car was near Midway airport in Chicago across the street, literally, from the Cook County jail (see above). After having sat for some months, the front carb wasn't working so Dan and I fussed with that, cleaning and adjusting til it was OK, checked fluids etc., bought a few supplies and hit the road. We headed west from Chicago on I-88 and then I-80. In heavy rain on the freeway (thank goodness for wipers), the parking brake grabbed a bit, giving us some heart stops, thinking maybe a wheel bearing problem, but easily sorted when we pressed the parking brake lever all the way down.

First day, to Des Moines, Iowa, stayed at the Red Roof Inn (sponsored IMSA drivers in the 1980s). Nice town, great little bakery in Highland Park, and a fun Harley-Davidson social event at the dealer in the evening, which we hung out at. Then onto US 30 across Iowa and Nebraska, newly paved, follows the Union Pacific (three-track) mainline the whole way, almost no one on the road but us. I grew up an Air Force brat in the 60s, made these trips on two-lane roads countless times. One pic shows a bunch of guys, they were from Finland come to a flat track MC race in Iowa, one was a national champion. They loved the Berlina.

We cut southwest to Sterling CO for the next night on US 138. We settled into a 3750 rpm cruise. The diff, a 4.56, was very whiny and leaked a fair amount, and at 3750 it was quiet enough and happy. Probably just over 70mph. At 3800 it protested so we had a real built-in speed enforcer. Engine is strong, would leap forward at any rpm; great response, good oil pressure and temp. Trans had been rebuilt, excellent. Good tires and suspension, lowered a couple inches. With three of us and our junk, probably had 650 lbs in it. I took a bunch of tools, supplies, parts as insurance. Only trans oil and a pint of 20/50 were needed en route. Dan and I shared the driving, Eoin doesn t have his license yet so he hung out, grooved to tunes on his headphones, and enjoyed what for him was a first-ever road trip.

From Sterling, we took I-76 southwest through Denver to I-70, up toward the Eisenhower tunnel, turned off on US 40 toward Winter Park and Steamboat Springs. Lots of vacation drivers but it thinned out toward Utah. Beautiful drive. Stopped in Vernal UT, my family and I have been there before, friendly little farming town near Dinosaur National Monument. Trying to get a drink in a restaurant in Utah is an interesting exercise in semantics, where you are, specifically, in the restaurant, and whether you are standing or sitting. From Vernal kept on US 40 to Heber City, then up to I-80 and down the canyon to Salt Lake City. Crossed the salt, stopped at Wendover to pay our respects to the Bonneville Salt Flats raceway.

As it happened my brother, who lives near me in California, was driving home from Massachusetts after a year living there and we, by pure serendipity, crossed paths for tacos in Wendover. Then back onto I-80 and we both got off the freeway again in Battle Mountain. We stayed the night in Winnemucca, it was 100* the last couple days and pretty tough going in the non-air-conditioned Berlina. My brother stayed in Sparks and guess what, on I-80 through Reno we passed him in his Honda CR-V. Small world. I dropped Dan and Eoin at Reno airport to get rental car so they could have AC on their drive down the Owens Valley, back to LA. Budget Rental folks didn't know what to make of the Berlina in the Returned Cars line but it was the only place to go. Dropped them off, blasted over Donner Pass in the 100+ heat, home by lunchtime.

In total traveled about 2203 miles, though the Berlina speedo and odo are like 15-20% optimistic. Got 25 mpg at least at 70 mph. Filled the diff every morning, see the one oil slick pic, front seal is not doing much good. Added a pint of oil to the engine but we could have got by without. Used no water. So really, no issues to speak of other than identifying the howling frequencies the diff made at different speeds. Once home, I ve sorted a few ills. Dialed in the carbs better, changed the clutch slave cylinder, fixed the instrument lights, replaced the hood cable release, and have now changed the differential for a good 4.10 LS and balanced the driveshaft. All in a day s work for a 105 car.

Market Report

1967 Giulia Super. Red car, tan interior. Originally grey, now a rusty project that s been neglected for decades. Apparently complete, a car that will need everything done. $6000 ebay, Gaithersburg MD. A major project that was for sale a long time on the BB and ebay. Rockers are more air than steel, dents, trashed interior, dead mechanicals, etc. Appeared to sell for listed price but on ebay it s hard to know. Like all major projects, the purchase cost is just the buy-in. Much money and time to be spent here but glad to see it progressing. 8/23

1971 Giulia 1300 Super. Maroon car, tan interior. Billed as a Giulia Super on BaT, which it was not. Imported to US in 2021 from Italy and properly billed on BaT as a Giulia 1300 Super when sold. Basically stock chassis and interior, had a 1600 built and installed at great expense, more than the car sold for. 15 GTA mags with very high stance in rear. Trailer hitch, not uncommon in Europe. Looked decent but interior was tatty and undersides, poorly photographed, could have been a disaster; hard to say. $22,000 BringaTrailer, Nahant MA. I hope the buyer knew he was getting a 115.09 and not a 105.26; typically a big difference in value. This car generated interest, as they do, but it was rough underneath and was a BaT frequent flyer, which makes me suspicious. Stance was off, rear too high by inches but not time-consuming to fix. GTA mags are almost a certainty on a Super. 1600 is better for the real world than a 1300. Questionable undersides, with flash rust and lots of goo, would make me nervous without an inspection. I d say an optimistic buy, good luck once the buyer sees it. 8/23

1967 Giulia Super two-door sedan. Custom-shortened car, cut behind front doors and welded back together with no rear door. Perhaps two feet shorter. White with black wheels, pretty stock. $12,500 facebook marketplace, Irvine CA. If you wanted one of these, this was probably the only one around. Build by a guy 30 years ago who had a surplus of Supers. He made this, a pickup, and a sofa out of a trunk. Work acceptable. Not used in many years, probably requires full sorting. Hard to judge, a novelty; not something I d want but fair enough. 9/23

1976 Nuova 1300 Super. Beautiful Giallo Piper car with black vinyl seats. Much loved and owned a long time, had a carbed 2000, Turbina wheels. Rebuilt gearbox, refreshed suspension, whole car was in great condition. $28,500 Hagerty, Austin TX. Not everyone wants a Nuova but this seemed like a great combo with 2000, new trans, good suspension, and great cosmetics in a disco-era color. Owned 15 years by devoted Alfista. A comparable first series Super would be $10,000 more, so buying a later car, whether Nuova or not, can be a smart move. They all drive the same. 11/23

1973 US 2000 Berlina. Ivory car with black [possibly leather] interior. Rough n ready event car, lowered Stage 2 suspension, Mille Miglia wheels, Webers with air horns, big rally lights, stickers, much local and general rust. Longtime event car, proved reliable and fun, body would be a big undertaking. Console removed, cracked dash. $6300 BringaTrailer, Claremont CA. Like Berlinas used to be, fast, fun, kinda nasty. This car s condition would make it hard to justify doing the bodywork; you could buy a done car for less. But as a devil-may-care event car, just the thing. Folks love a slammed sedan with cool wheels: this car had it in spades. Price, fair enough. Was advertised a bit higher on the AlfaBB but no one buys cars there. 11/23

1972 2000 Berlina. Rosso amaranto car with grey cloth interior. Quality car from Europe, brought to the US a few years ago by a classic dealer. 15 GTA wheels, carbs, lowered, the works. Nice condition. Now, sideswiped badly on the driver s side, LR quarter mashed plus doors, bumper, C pillar. Operating condition unknown but non-crunched parts are still good. Will have salvage title. $6700 plus fees, Copart. Was a really nice car before, I saw it when it was in the Bay Area. Buyer figures he can fix for a reasonable price but man, for quality work, I see this is costing more than the car is worth. To each his/her/its/nonbinary pronoun own. 11/23

1969 US 1750 Berlina. Red car with black interior, long history in the Bay Area with an owner who tinkered. 2000, 45 Webers with Pipercross filter, much racy Alfaholics suspension underneath. Converted to hanging pedals. Very nice cosmetically, mechanically on the button after some remedial work before sale. $$ spent on lightweight go-fast parts. Stock wheels and tires, lowered stance. $37,000 BringaTrailer, Monterey CA. I saw this car over the years. The longtime owner modified, dinked around with it, did some good mods and some bodges. A local shop sorted it out for a subsequent owner who then didn t drive it and put it up for sale. Some odd remnants of its past, the conversion to hanging pedals was not the best. Still, a good go-fast car with a serious disposition. Price shocked me by $10,000 at least. To me red is not the color for Berlinas but bidders obviously thought otherwise. Strong result. 11/23

1973 2000 US Berlina. Metallic blue car with red vinyl interior. Nice looking car in nonstock colors. Originally rubber bumpers, converted to stainless. 1750 grille and headlights, pop-up clear sunroof. Steel wheels with hubcaps. Good overall condition, Webers replace Spica, rebuilt transmission, Magnaflow exhaust. Suspension appeared stock. $26,000 BringaTrailer, Beverly Hills CA. A popular car in a good color, even if metallic blue/red didn t come on US Berlinas. 1750 grille caused plenty of confusion. Pop-up sunroof, like on your 75 Camaro, would be a killer for me but the price is right in the ballpark for condition, so it didn t seem to bother folks. 12/23

1967 Giulia Super. Extremely dialed-in hotrod with long loving ownership. Green/tan, lowered, GTA wheels, 2000, 4.10 limited slip, something of a TI Super look. Impeccable condition inside and out. $67,000 private sale, Los Angeles. A giant price, double the going market rate, but these things happen in private sales out of the public eye. I can t imagine a better car. Is it worth it? Apparently was to this buyer, who can afford it. Not repeatable on your daily driver Super or mine. 12/23

1972 Giulia 1300 Super. Typical Dutch hotrod with 1600 engine, tube headers, very low stance, Minilite wheels, bumper delete, gas shocks, limited slip diff, aggressive stance. Beige cava paint with tan seats, living the beige life in Europe. Very solid looking car, has done many events, typically good Dutch condition. $33,000 BringaTrailer, Amsterdam. Nice car in every sense of the work, upgraded a decent amount but not crazy. Should be a great driver. A strong price for a 1300 Super, but appropriate for the condition and spec. 12/23

1967 Giulia Super. White car with black interior, rebuilt 1750 engine, 14 GTA wheels, low springs, Nardi wheel, long ownership. Much work done but not quite a car in daily use. Basically the owner built a nice car and didn t use it, for whatever reason. $28,500 AlfaBB, Kansas City. Very together car, from the ad, with a trustworthy owner. Sold on the BB in a matter of hours. Seems a deal by some thousands, seller just rebuilt the engine, had 50% more than the asking price in the car. Good luck, congrats to buyer. 12/23

1965 Giulia 1300 Berlina. Bluette car with light red fabric seats. 1300 Berlinas were the bottom of the line, 1300 TI engine, four speed trans, no brake booster, minimal trim, simple interior. This one, like so many, is a hotrod with 2000, five speed, big brakes with booster, lowered, Nardi steering wheel, GTA wheels with big tires, all the performance mods. Built in NL and sold through a known Dutch dealer, had it all including replica TI Super dash. Impeccable as is frequently the case from NL. Great looker and probably a great driver. $36,000 BringaTrailer, Netherlands. Cars from NL are often the best in the world and this one continues that trend. But to me the hotrods all look alike and spoil the appeal of these light simple machines. Not every car needs a two liter. To each his own. Met reserve at $36,000 but I bet the seller was hoping for more. Probably double what a stock 1300 Berlina would bring. 1/24.

1973 Giulia Super. Well preserved Dutch Blue car with tan interior. From Italy, been around the Bay Area for 10+ years. Nice solid basically stock car with a few typical upgrades, Koni shocks, Nardi wheel, 14 Alfaholics exhaust, replica GTA wheels. Body mostly solid with a few bubbles blooming here and there. Interior very nice, trim all present. Refreshingly set at a normal height, not a hotrod. $37,250 BringaTrailer, Concord CA. Charming stock condition car that generated a lot of interest. The paint bubbles were not worrying in a serious way, pics showed the structure was sound. But still, they won t get better on their own. Price is right where I guessed it would be, rare for me as I often have no idea what may happen on BaT. 2/24.