30 Years On - check this out

[aggie57]

I know quite a few people on this forum also frequent the AlfaBB but for those that don't check this thread out:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/gt-1965-1974/46776-one-more-gtv-road-again.html

The GTV in question is a 1974 2000 GTV, in Le Mans Blue and owned for 13 years by the same person in Hamilton New Zealand.  Now those that know me know that I am an old Kiwi, and have lived in Australia for 27 years.  Those that know me well also know that I owned some Alfa's back in NZ before I left there in 1981 for the UK.

Well, this was one of them.  A short 29.5 years after I sold this car we're reconnected. 

Driving in New Zealand in those days was oh-so-different to Australia now.  Very few cars, everyone driving pretty slow and what policing that existed was done in a very friendly way.  Great roads though, of course mainly 2 lanes and generally winding through the countryside.  Brilliant Alfa country. 

As a young bloke with a newish Italian sports car you got plenty of looks and could pretty well do what you wanted.  Someone slowing you down - just pass.  Fast.  In a hurry or late - just go fast!  How the hell did I make it to my thirties? 

Although I only owned it for 10 months and I had owned a 1750 Berlina and a Sud Ti before it, this was the car that sold me on Alfa Romeo.  Apart from 6 months in early 1983 I have owned one ever since. 

Alister

[alfagtv58]

A great story Alister.  I have a bit of a back story of my Alfetta (but no photos), but nothing on the 105.  Brilliant!

[aggie57]

Thanks Phil.  We constantly see posts of "I've bought this new car" (I've done that myself!) and so often it's a car that's been around for years and has a real history.  Wouldn't it be great to use these forums to piece those stories together.

[Paul Gulliver]

A short 29.5 years after I sold this car we're reconnected. 

Great story Alister. Sort of like bumping into an old girlfriend that has weathered the test of time. Makes the heart beat a bit faster.

[aggie57]

Yes - good analogy!

[pep105]

Hi Alister
Great story and a beautiful 105. Very rewarding to know your old chariots still around and in good hands.
Thats one of the great things about this forum, love hearing stories like this. I have some history on my old 75TS
makes you feel good when you can piece the puzzle together.

Paul - that is a good analogy, however Id rather bump into one of my old cars than one of my ex girlfriends  

[Paul Gulliver]

Paul - that is a good analogy, however Id rather bump into one of my old cars than one of my ex girlfriends   

Pep,  The last one I  bumped into I complimented her in still recognizing me in my advanced state of decay

[david sammartino]

reading the story in the link, whilst is fantastic, i cant stop comparing it to running into somebody in the street who tells you that they used to sleep with your wife/gf/partner/whatever . or is it just me?

[aggie57]

reading the story in the link, whilst is fantastic, i cant stop comparing it to running into somebody in the street who tells you that they used to sleep with your wife/gf/partner/whatever . or is it just me?

Ha!  Get out, get out - she's mine, all mine!!! 

[L4OMEO]

i cant stop comparing it to running into somebody in the street who tells you that they used to sleep with your wife/gf/partner/whatever . or is it just me?

Yeah I hate it when that happens

Great story Alister. I lived in Hamilton from the mid 70s through to the end of the 80s, and have vague recollections of your car. I had no idea of its race history though. You're absolutely right about those back roads around the Waikato though - the Alfa Club used to organise runs down to Taupo and all through the network of forestry roads winding through the region. Awesome driving roads, great times. Although I did write-off my first Sud on those wonderful roads (trying to get from Hamilton to Raglan in under 30 minutes), so it wasn't all great 

Cheers
Rory