Barn find 1974 Alfetta sedan

[Mike]

Howdy all.

Some of you may have seen the GTV6 that I found layed up for many years.  Well foe the past 8 or more years Ive been on the lookout for an Alfetta sedan.  Back in the day I built up a silver 74 sedan, it was a ripper but sadly the passage of time and some careless owners toom its toll and it now sits in my shed awaiting decent rust repairs.  So with peices the way they have been on sedans I chose to look for another car in better condition.

The car would have to be a 1974 first half of the year.  These cars were in my view, the most attractive with their narrow heart grills and black gauges etc.  Being the first half of the year meant they also got weber carbs instead of the later delorto's.  I also wanted full history, single owner and completwlty stock....oh...and rust free please..!  Ha!  One unicorn please sir.

Well patience paid off.  I looked at many over the years but all fell down on one or more of the criteria.  Id kind of given up,  but one day I was chatting with a mate who is in the fiat circles.  We talked about the cars we have the ones we wanted as usual...I meantion my on and off hunt for a sedan.  He casually says "oh yeah,  a mate of mine is selling a sedan foe someone...a ..'74"...Bull I say...must be a later model...surely not.

It must have been fate.  A few photos were exchanged and over a couple of months a trip from wa to vic was organised.  I roped in a mate from tas and from nsw and together we embarked on a great road trip to a little country farm where the car awaited in the same spot it had for many years under a thick layer of dust. A 4th month 1974 alfetta sedan, 1 owner, techically 2 if you count the last owners dad. 75000 original miles, rust free bar the 2 rear doors.  Paint crazed with some signs of minor repair around the rear screen.

It was really surreal. The mate of the mate was a top bloke and drove us out there. Dave who will chime in on here, and is the best mate a bloke could have drove his car and car trailor from Pambulah to country Vic for the rendevue.

So in short the car jas turned out to be a ripper. It started up after some cranking and settled in to the smoothest Idle I have ever witnessed on an Alfetta..and Ive had a few!

Cutting to the chase,  the car was taken to Daves magical cave where all good alfettas go to have life breathed back into them...and the odd fiat!  This thread will detail the process of putting this sedan back to its former glory.

[ItalCarGuy]

What a find! Looking forward to updates.

[Mike]

And a spare 😁

[Mike]

Inspection time before ordering the parts list.  Looking like the job list will not bw as long as expected.  Will rebuild brakes and replaces all hydraulic cylinders given the time left sitting.  Although will  check that  they have not been steel sleeved..could be lucky, previous owner was clearly very handy as a fitter and turner.

Underbody exceptionally sound.  Funky old school koni on the rear with helper spring.  Not seen those in a while.

Plan is that my mate Dave will do the basic mechanicals and then we will drive the car to vic and rendevue with another mate to tow it back to WA.  In WA I will address panel and paint.  Not sure how far to go in this space.  I appreciate patina, but will be on the lookout for two perfect rear doors, so if anyone has a pair, contact me pretty please.  Paint wise, boot bonnet and roof are a must. Front right fender hard a little patch job that needs omproving on, rear windscreen rear lower left has some bog and front windscreen is series 2 screen so am on the lookout for a s1 sceeen...again, Im your nee best friend if you have the glue in type!  I jave one on the blue donor but of course I have to successfuly remove it and then polish out imperfections...rather a new screen.

[kaleuclint]

Great story!  Nice car!  Following with lots of interest...

[Fetta GTV]

helper spring Koni's

[Fetta GTV]

should clean up nice!

[carlo rossi]

i have to agree with mike the 74 alfetta was the best looking the dash the steering wheel the smell the little grill
it was bertones best
i would love one again
how clean is that car
is it rude to ask how much or do we not ask these questions

[Mike]

In reference to previous comment regarding Webers, I dont think the sedan got webers after mid 1974 in aus. ADRs came in in 76 relating...and interestingly not adopted across Australia at same time. Of course car manufacturers were forced to comply to ensure cara could be sold in all states.

Price I prefer to keep to myself but it was not cheap sgall we say, nor was I looking to low ball. Honest money for honest car with great history.

Dave has been hard at work removing grime inside and out.

[carlo rossi]

still inlove cant beleive the dash is in such good nick
other than the seat it looks 5 years old at best

[Fetta GTV]

Box of goodies arrived in the post this week.
This weekends job is to pull all the callipers and overhaul with new seals.
Brake hoses and master cylinder will be replaced
Will be pulling radiator and giving cooling system a good flush.
replacement set of driveshafts ready to go in as well.
Then I will see what I can do with drivers seat, have another good passenger seat. hoping there is a way to change base over to driver seat some how.

[Mike]

Dave prepares for dedion over haul.  The boots on the rear cvs are shagged.  We are starting to toy with the idea of taking her to auto Italia in Canberra next year.  Something to aim for!  And then perhaps a short trip across the Nulabour 😎

[Bourney]

The Alfetta looks incredible. Congrats.
Love those rear view mirrors! What a find! Many years of enjoyment ahead.

Regards David

[bonno]

Hi Mike
Hope you can make it to Auto Italia 2018 and maybe worth considering attending Alfesta 2018 which is being hosted by AROCA NSW Easter weekend 2018. I have been to the last 3 x Auto Italias and have been incredible events (refer to National Events for photos specifically Marisa Gangemi)
cheers
bonno

[Mike]

We will see how things pan out but definitely keen to get to Canberra with Dave