Alfa 90...to restore or wreck

[iniezione]

Hi Alfa Friends,
I picked up an Alfa 90 last week, intending to just pull the Busso out, put it in a GTV shell, and scrap the rest....but I'm getting sort of sentimental about it and now wondering if it's worth while trying to restore. It seems like they are pretty scarce now and parts are going to be pretty hard/expensive to find. I didn't know anything about the 90's except that it had the wonderfull Busso V6. The things about it that are getting to me are all the quirky 80's stuff, like the door handles, that far out instrument console and slanted gauges, the hand brake, the overhead centre console complete with window switches and crazy green interior light, the rear transaxle and inboard discs....and the glove box with breifcase...which is still there by the way.

Am I doing other 90 owners a favour in parting it out or should I restore? It's got a fair bit of rust in all the usual places but the interior is pretty clean and seat foam all good. It will need new covers due to fading and carpets from water damage...blast that rear window being broken. Needs new front left headlight and indicator and rear window. Would you keep the rear Zender spoiler or not?

I really am in two minds what to do. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks and Cheers,
Bruce
PS, Will add photos once I work out how to do it.

[Colin Edwards]

Restore it - they are very rare!

[Paul Gulliver]

Check the bottom of the B pillars . Rust there gets into the stills and starts getting very expensive to repair.

[iniezione]

Hi Colin,
Thanks for the encouragement. If you look at the photos you'll see I will probably need a good deal more! Do you still think it's worthwhile trying?
Cheers, Bruce

[iniezione]

...and a few more "details"

[Colin Edwards]

Mmmmmmmmm!   Nasty...........on second thoughts!! 

[aggie57]

Looks well past saving; pull out the engine, transaxle, brakes, and (if it's there) the briefcase and send the rest to the crusher. 

[poohbah]

That looks way too crusty to save.

For interest sake, there are currently a couple advertised on Facebook. A very tidy V6 manual in ACT for $9k (briefcase missing...) and a very straight-looking "project" car in Victoria for $5k (hasn't run for 10 years, needs paint too but also manual and has the briefcase too!).

Interest in them may be starting to rise a bit.

[iniezione]

Hi Poobah,
Thanks for that information....I'll check them out. I've just been looking to see if there's a 90 shell in good condition in Vic. As a mechanical engineer, the mechanical stuff is sweet, but panel work/rust is always a pain.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Bruce

[poohbah]

Hopefully you can access these links:

www.facebook.com/groups/1489348214704573/permalink/2770889379883777/?sale_post_id=2770889379883777

www.facebook.com/groups/1121514337979368/permalink/2457535074377281/?sale_post_id=2457535074377281

The second link is the $5k Vic car (Shepparton), but you may have to be a member of the Alfa Romeo of Australia FB group to see it.

[iniezione]

Thanks poohbah

[Craig_m67]

Tin, Roof,.... Rusted!


(B52s)

[iniezione]

Hi Poohbah and Others,
Thanks for the comments and suggestions....looks like the Naaaa's have it.
I looked at those 2 x 90's on FB marketplace and they look way too good! And too complete! What I really need is a good 90's body with no engine, mechanicals or even internals. Does anyone have one or know of one hanging around....any other 90 owners out there wanting free up some space in their shed and part with their spare 90's body?
Cheers,
Bruce

[Beatle]

Looks well past saving; pull out the engine, transaxle, brakes, and (if it's there) the briefcase and send the rest to the crusher.

And the headlight glass, save the headlight glass.....$$$$$

Not sure if it's possible but you might also save the steering column mechanism and fit it to your Alfetta.  90 has reach adjustment the Alfettas lack.

Power steering could also be made to fit an Alfetta if you are going crazy with tyres.

If you have the storage space I'd pull it completely apart and save anything salvageable.  Even parts such as sun visors and clips are worth something to someone.  The bumpers look very straight, door locks and keys, interior lights etc etc etc

[poohbah]

To Alfatango's point:

I was negotiating to buy seats/door cards for my Alfetta GTV from a guy interstate a couple of years ago for about $500 (from memory). But I had to terminate once I found it how much the transport was going to cost - I could have bought a whole new car for less than the cost of transporting the seats. And that was before covid...

You basically need to find someone who is already travelling your way who is happy to sling stuff in the back of their trailer to make it worthwhile.

That said - I recall I guy in South Australia had a handful of 90s and 75s in a paddock that he was selling a few months back on FB. So keep your eyes peeled.