Barnfind GTV6...ok shed find

[Mike]

Thanks all.  I'll be sure to check out thw thread again when the time comes.  I had already read it.  I am aware the fetta did not get leather, an indulgance on my part.  I love the smell and done right I think will be nice. Perhaps I will get a driver seat sorted first.  If anyone has a good one let me know!

[Mike]

Back on gtv6. Valve springs have been tested and are all within 2pound of spec so will be retained.  I was keen to test for peice of mind. Time for assembly.

[Paul Newby]

Back to the Ruby Red Alfetta.... 

Wow, what an original Alfetta, even has the original rivets in the front grille! It is obviously an early one has it has the central adjuster for the headlights (three in total and not two like later cars.) Is it a 6/74 Compliance with Weber carburettors? The early ones (anything before 12/74 Compliance) had that as well as the silver heater controls (not black), wooden steering wheel and an interior light positioned centrally above the rear window (check.)

How do I know this arcane stuff? Well I had a 6/75 Compliance first series Alfetta, which had none of the features unique to the early 74 models - later headlights, later heater controls, plastic steering wheel and Dellortos, but importantly still had the mph/km/h speedo, narrow grille and 10548 cams of the 1800 "S" prefixed engine (this all changed with the wide grille 1.8 that came out here in late 75.) My car also had the 1.8 badge on the bootlid, that Alfa guru Tony McKone said it shouldn't have had, but by mid 75 the Alfetta 1.6 had been introduced (in Europe) so I argued that it was probably correct.

I've only seen one Alfa (an Alfetta 2.0) in Ruby (Rubinca?) Rosso AR518 - it is a very nice colour and rare.

As for the seats, I would try and retrim/restore them in the original vinyl, but that's just my opinion...

[Mike]

Hi.  Yes it is 8/74 compliance.  Colour is ar518. Rubinia met.  Ive not seen a 1.8ltr car im this colour ever and can not find one on line to compare.

It has the matched webers also. It runs so smooth its just amazing.  Factory Pioneer radio works perfectly although one headlight globe needs replacing...all other elecs work perfectly. I'm very pleased.  There are some spots to tidy up but considering its 43 yrs old she is doing very well. 

Say I notice the email we used to be able to send the vin to to confirm original build spec is not working.  Anyone know what it is now? Id like to confirm details.  Also if anyone is in vic and ia popping into milea miglia maybe they can dig out some history on her for me 😊.  Snap some screen shots of their computer system perhaps. 
Say can anyonw confirm if these were sold in aus with Michelin xzx tyres?  Its wearing tyres that were manufactured pre 2000 in either 23rd week 73, 83 or 93.

[Paul Newby]

On the tyre front I'm not sure about the Michelin XZX being standard on new Alfettas. My 1974 2000 GT Veloce has a Michelin XAS 165x14 tyre on the spare and my old Alfetta GT had a Goodyear Supersteel 185/70x14 on its spare.

The holy grail for early Alfettas is a working clock.... 

[Mike]

Clock works!

[aggie57]

On the tyre front I'm not sure about the Michelin XZX being standard on new Alfettas. My 1974 2000 GT Veloce has a Michelin XAS 165x14 tyre on the spare and my old Alfetta GT had a Goodyear Supersteel 185/70x14 on its spare.

The holy grail for early Alfettas is a working clock.... 

My '73 GTV has the same Paul, it's the original.  Still holding air 45 years after manufacture.

Mike - the understanding is that XZX was typically reserved for higher performance models like Ferrari and Alfa Montreal.

[Mike]

Good point. I should check my spare.  Ferrari tyres hey? 😁

[aggie57]

Good point. I should check my spare.  Ferrari tyres hey? 😁

Ha!  At least you don't have the famously delaminating Pirelli CN36. I can hear the thump thump of one going even now!

Did you ever buy tyres from Tom Woolnough in Melbourne?  In the 80's he was the place most AROCA people used, a great club member sadly missed. He had a great supply of seconds from the local Dunlop factory.  Soft as hell and didn't last more than a couple of sprints but cheap and hardly ever actually round! 

Sorry, the brain got sidetracked.

[Paul Newby]

On the tyre front I'm not sure about the Michelin XZX being standard on new Alfettas. My 1974 2000 GT Veloce has a Michelin XAS 165x14 tyre on the spare and my old Alfetta GT had a Goodyear Supersteel 185/70x14 on its spare.

The holy grail for early Alfettas is a working clock.... 

My '73 GTV has the same Paul, it's the original.  Still holding air 45 years after manufacture.

Mike - the understanding is that XZX was typically reserved for higher performance models like Ferrari and Alfa Montreal.

I think you will find that the Michelin XZX was similar to the XAS, a friend that 165x15 XZX on his Flavia in the 90s.

The Ferraris et al had XWX 70 profile tyres, which I believe have been reintroduced by Michelin (with modern compounds) for their classis range.

I remember our family Volvo came with Michelin XVS 185/70714 as standard back in 1980. At one point he put on Pirelli CN36s because they were cheaper....

[poohbah]

Say I notice the email we used to be able to send the vin to to confirm original build spec is not working

According to a recent poster, Centro Documentazione (or whatever its called) is now charging a largish fee to provide that information. Only came in after the AR museum re-opened to the public.

[aggie57]

On the tyre front I'm not sure about the Michelin XZX being standard on new Alfettas. My 1974 2000 GT Veloce has a Michelin XAS 165x14 tyre on the spare and my old Alfetta GT had a Goodyear Supersteel 185/70x14 on its spare.

The holy grail for early Alfettas is a working clock.... 

My '73 GTV has the same Paul, it's the original.  Still holding air 45 years after manufacture.

Mike - the understanding is that XZX was typically reserved for higher performance models like Ferrari and Alfa Montreal.

I think you will find that the Michelin XZX was similar to the XAS, a friend that 165x15 XZX on his Flavia in the 90s.

The Ferraris et al had XWX 70 profile tyres, which I believe have been reintroduced by Michelin (with modern compounds) for their classis range.

I remember our family Volvo came with Michelin XVS 185/70714 as standard back in 1980. At one point he put on Pirelli CN36s because they were cheaper....

I apologize - that does ring true now you lay that out.

[Mike]

Anyone have an idea how many sedans were sold into aus in 1974?  Be interesting to see a list of salea per month.  No doubt tricky to come by.

[Paul Newby]

Anyone have an idea how many sedans were sold into aus in 1974?  Be interesting to see a list of salea per month.  No doubt tricky to come by.

It is a bit difficult to know. The Alfetta was road tested by the major magazines in December 74, so it was probably release around that time - I think the launch may have been at the Sydney Motor Show, which is usually October. I've seen press photos of the display (Metallic Olive Green) Alfetta in front of the Art Gallery of NSW. I'm sure the earliest Compliance I've seen for Alfettas is 6/74. I've seen a lot which were 12/74 Compliance and they probably sold well into 1975. My old 6/75 Compliance (first series) Alfetta is a rare bird - I've never seen another 1975 built first series Alfetta.

I think at that time Alfa Romeo Australia (ARA) were probably selling 800 to 1,000 cars a year. They were always restricted by quotas - they were always in the market to buy more and increase sales. Alfasuds would have been the volume seller for ARA, but the Alfettas were popular. I doubt that more than 200 would have actually been sold in 1974 but considerably more sold in 1975.

[Mike]

Well I own 3 x74s and know where one olive green one is. Who owns the other 196? 😁