Alfa 2600 sprint coupe

[zac]

I noted someone had a 2600 Sprint for sale in March 2009, and an curious as to what price they bring. I have just purchased one in the UK that has had over $80,000 spent on restoration since 1995. My wife has gone ballistic over another car purchase (9 cars and a motor-home) so I may be selling it when it arrives later next month. It's Burgundy with black interior, and all original. It seemed like a good idea at the time but I'm thinking it may not have been such a smart move! She owned an Alfasud many moons ago(mid-70's?) and a family friend had a 2600 Sprint back in 1966 so there was a bit of nostalga involved.

[Davidm1600]

HI Zac, I am sure you will get some other responses re this as they can be a difficult car to price out here in Aus.  I am not quite sure which car you might have been referring to that was previously for sale but from my observations re 2600 sprints for sale over the past couple of years, they seem to fall into a number of categories, as similar to most other older Alfas (ie 105s etc).

Restoration projects ranging in price from say $2K-8K.  I think there is currently one on ebay for around $8k.  Mid range cars in reasonable tidy condition for around the $10-15k mark.  I recall a nice one (dark blue) that recently was for sale around this price which had been restored but had a Holden 6 installed instead of the Alfa motor (the Alfa motor was included but needed to be rebuilt).  And then nice cars from $25-40k.  Beyond this upper price I don't recall ever seeing any for sale here in Aus.

$80k in restoration costs does seem a tad excessive, so I can only imagine it must be pretty impressive.  There might be one for sale to compare with yours on www.carsales.  If so it would be worth checking out.  good luck if you have to sell it.  Dave

[John Hanslow]

I think the one that one a Wash'n Shine Award at Spettacolo 2009 was sold earlier this year for under $20k as price was reduced for quick sale.

[zac]

thanks for the two responses so far. Looked up carsales and car point and the prices are $8000 to $38,000!!! Obviously condition has a fair bit to do about it! Might try putting this on national register to see what other input.

[massiveluvbuddy67]

Hi,
The 2600 is an interesting beast, neither fish (a sports car) nor fowl (a four seater tourer). Probably a 2 seater tourer with wafty suspension and narrow tyres. I stupidly sold the best one in Australia (IMHO) last April for $27k. It had a fastidious restoartion in the early to mid 90's by the then President of the club. It has gone into a collection in Wagga and we will  not see it again for many years unfortunately.
I currently own a beautiful 2600 lovingly restored by Tony Hawker and his dad 20 years ago.
They are a complex car to restore and spare parts are available but difficult to source at times.

There is a small (perhaps very small) group of people who are very keen on them. Just be mindful, if you are looking for a 105 drive this is not the car.

The 2600 for $38k has been for sale for 2 or 3 years and is less than impressive according to photos.

I know of a 2600 that is stripped and ready for painting, has had the engine rebuilt years ago (but not turned over), spare block, bits and pieces, webers etc, it is all there I believe,for $6.5k. If anyone is interested PM me and I will put you in contact with the seller.
Best Regards
Phil

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Just be mindful, if you are looking for a 105 drive this is not the car.

What are they like then?  (and apologies now for taking the post off-topic)

[Davidm1600]

 Sheldon, I think in essence, Phil summed them up pretty well. A grand tourer of the old days.  To my mind they are probably the next  best thing to a Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini GT from the 60s but within an affordable price range. The only other cars of the same ilk but much rarer than the 2600 include the Fiat 2300 coupe and Lancia Flaminia GT (of which my brother recently bought one to restore).

Personally, I like the 2600 coupe, and would love to get one, one day.  I do know of a few down here in Tassie which might be available.  I know of 6 down here in various condition.

[tony]

just to add my 2 bob,s worth re 2600,s.
I have owned and been in touch with 2600,s for over 30 years [ my mother in law owned a series 2 , bought new in Hobart and now unfortunately not so well looked after here in Victoria ].2600,s come in a number of guises, series 1 , which mine was and is now Phil Nash,s are to my mind the most desirable, as far I am aware there are 3 in Australia [ if the one being imported is a series 1,factor in a little more value ], 80 were officially imported here and quite a number came ex UK [ my old one ], Butterworth [ RAAF] , South Africa and Europe.If it is a series 2 and is RHD, then very few were made. I agree with all the previous comments about the difficulty of valuing them simply because they are not common [ they were the same price here as an E Type when new ]. I used to drive mine 350 kms to Spettacolo and back, and as a highway cruiser it is as good as any equivalent Aston of the time [ for example ], slightly heavy steering , damping a little soft [ although with Koni,s a vast improvement ], seat springing accentuates the ride quality ! Whilst they don,t have great gearing in terms of accelaration , the torque is amazing....they just keep pulling...the motor is bullet proof and easy to maintain.Mechanically they are quite easy to look after , some have gone to Webers ,but there are no mysteries to them.

So if you are in the market , go for it and help and help preserve these elegant cars. PS check out Luzzago,s web site , there is a nice one for sale there also classicdrivers web site for more 2600,s.

[Ads]

Thanks for the detailed impressions there, Tony.  All I can add from a brief experience with a 2600 was that it felt incredibly smooth to drive, the engine (on Webers) combining with long gearing to give that serene, wafting quality that you associate with other accomplished 60s grand tourers.  Its engine, perhaps strangely, reminded me of the 330 GT Ferrari we had in stock at the time, a 'creamy' (for want of a better word) smooth idle turning into a cultured snarl as revs rose.  Not as demonic as the 330 up top though 

[zac]

Hi guys!  Thanx for all the input. As I mentioned initially, I haven't been involved with Alfa's and really appreciate the comments. Zac.

[spoynter]

Pity it's not a berlina, I have an (albeit casual) ear to the ground waiting for one to come up for sale

[Paul Gulliver]

Spoynter,
If your interested in a Berlina you ought  to have a look at Club Ads on the home page for this ad.




Berlina 2000 1975 Manual, Gold Bronze. Tan interior. One careful fastidious owner 160,000 miles (original) careful country driving. Good mechanical condition.  Little or no rust. Always garaged. Father now in nursing home and needs to sell S3,000 ono ph: 0429 3339 919.

   

[Davidm1600]

Hey Sam, Rob Panetta (Manning Motors, Sydney) has 2, 2L Berlinas for sale (one silver, one blue).  From memory I think he was asking around $2.5K for each.  I have photos of each, if you would like to see them.

Myself, I would love a 1750 Berlina, but there are not many left and rarely come up for sale.  I couldn't take another project on in anycase at this time.

However, and in context of this discussion did you mean by any chance a 2600 Berlina, for if so, goodluck as there would be so few here in Aus.  The only guy I know who has/had one was a guy over in South Australia (can't think of his name at the moment), which he was restoring as well as a 2600 sprint.  Dave

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Berlina 2000 1975 Manual, Gold Bronze. Tan interior. One careful fastidious owner 160,000 miles (original) careful country driving. Good mechanical condition.  Little or no rust. Always garaged. Father now in nursing home and needs to sell S3,000 ono ph: 0429 3339 919.  

Don't use this phone number though, as it was printed incorrectly.  It should be 0429 339 919

[bonkfrog]

Always wanted one. I have memories of a silver? 2600 spider in Sydney around the late sixties. I wonder where it is now - did it have wire wheels?