'69 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce 1750 "Boat-Tail", Pininfarina designed, series 1

Description

This is a very original, honest 1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Veloce Spider “Boat-tail” (series 1), being presented to you refreshed out of long term storage and was over (30) years in the ownership of a world renowned scientist with 2 Phds in engineering and an avid Alfa Collector, enthusiast and President of an Alfa Romeo Owner's club. It comes with a rich provenance and has won trophies at several shows and benefits from an earlier engine out, bare metal restoration of the body at which time it was re-painted from silver to Alfa red with a burgundy base coat primer (see photos) and the engine & transmission were rebuilt as well. The original SPICA mechanical (belt driven) fuel injection pump was re-built and tuned by the renowned Wes Ingram. This “Boat-tail” is in excellent running and cosmetic condition. Original and unique to the car which gives this quaint little gem so much character & personality are: 1. OEM 14 x 6.5 steel wheels with chromed Alfa Romeo period correct hub caps. All in excellent condition. Hub caps are not dished or dinged. 2. Period correct OEM Blaunkpaunt AM/FM radio in dash with period correct telescopic manual antenna at right rear fender 3. Oem head light Carello Perspex fairings or covers properly mounted & not hazed, cracked or spider webbed 4. Oem gauges and original to car 5. SPICA Fuel injection works perfectly with no issues whatsoever. Recently serviced. 6. Driver's side door mirror only. Period correct. 7. Original jack, full size spare wheel with brand new Good Year tire; tool kit in trunk. 8. Original Driver's/Owner's hand book in glove box 9. Period correct, Oem ignition key with separate key for doors and glove box. 10. Period correct, Oem, seat lap belts that hook to steel horse shoe above center hand brake lever 11. Oem, Alfa Romeo steering wheel with wooden rim, original gear knob and hand brake grip. 12. Original matching numbers 1789 cc twin overhead cam, 4 cylinder alloy motor with cast iron liners, fully rebuilt with all original Alfa parts. Mated to a 5 speed with reverse gear transmission rear wheel drive. Rebuilt. 13. 2 speed toggle switch wipers. New blades. 14. Interior cabin foot-well heater works well.

Recent Service by an Alfa specialist: includes: 1. Engine oil & filter replaced. 2. Transmission oil drained and replaced. 3. Differential fluid drained & replaced. 4. Coolant flushed, filled and bled. 5. Brake fluid flushed through, replenished and bled. 6. Wiper blades replaced. 7. Fuel pump & filters replaced. 8. New NAPA battery installed 9. All (5) wheels removed, spin-balanced & reinstalled. 10. All wheels' threaded lug studs & lug nuts wire brushed, cleaned, Never-seize grease applied. 11. Tire pressure checked 12. New drive shaft gaibo or rubber spider installed.

Condition: The engine runs like a dream. Does not burn oil. No oil leaks other than maybe a slow drop in 6 hours. Engine pulls strong through all gears with No issues experienced on long drive. The transmission shifts smoothly through all gears including the 2nd gear other Alfas are known to have problems with. Reverse gear no issue. All the lights work. Turn signal Flashers all work. Original horn works. The Wipers work. Cabin Heater works. Brakes are very good and does not pull to any side but stops on a dime. Suspension is very good with shocks and coil springs refurbished during the restoration. Car is shod with (4) 14 x 6.5 Vredestein tires (Holland made) in practically new condition. A new Good Year tire is on steel full size spare. Convertible top black vinyl tonneau cover and a fire extinguisher is included (in trunk).

Many pics of under chassis are posted which reveals a clean under section. The car was pampered and always garaged all its life and shows in the pictures and is even nicer in reality. She was in storage in recent years due to age and health of the previous owner. However the car was freshened up and made ready for its long journey (1843 miles) to Houston, Texas that she achieved absolutely remarkably without a break down. It speaks greatly for a nearly 50 year old exotic jewel of a car.

Pending repair/service by Seller or Buyer: 1. New (both) seat bottom foam cushions on order from Centerline Alfa direct to upholstery shop to replaced squashed seat bottoms 2. A new set of custom floor mats in Palomino brown on order from World Upholstery in San Francisco. 3. New lower ball joints (pair) on order (from Centerline Alfa) to be replaced. Will be done. See pics. 4. Speedometer needle doesn't go past 40 mph; issue remains to be sorted. Pending. Odometer works good. All other gauges work good. Gauge lighting is dim. 5. Passenger side door glass crank slips and lowers glass half way only to fully up. To be sorted. Pending. Quarter windows both turn and lock. No issue. 6. A rust-hole about 3” in diameter in Front right wheel well exists. Pending. See pics. 7. Interior cabin ventilation fan works but squeaks on & off. May need removal, oiling and refit. Pending.

Testimony of road worthiness: I flew up on a 1 way flight to pick up this jewel after having already paid for it months ahead. I drove this nearly 50 year old exotic 1843 miles home across (13) states and 3 days. She made the road journey without any issue bar one: When I first stopped for gas I noticed air low on the left rear tire. I added air and had to keep adding air due to a slow leak. The next morning at the hotel I tried to get the wheel off but simply couldn't get any lug nut loose. I made the trip home by regular stops for air. An older tire tech at shop near my home got the wheel off. Apparently the left side wheel lug nuts turn clockwise to open; counter clockwise to bolt wheel on. The right side wheels on this car follow the conventional direction. I tipped the old tire tech for teaching me this. Alfa Romeo dominated the field of racing for decades since the company was founded in 1910. Vintage Race cars had center spinners; so to prevent left side wheels from falling off, the spinners tightened up in direction the left wheels turned. The leak was a faulty tire valve and not a nail.

Reason for sale: This jewel is being sold due to the acquisition of another '69 Alfa Romeo Spider (silver) from LBI, Limited which may be seen on their website in Past Offerings. My silver '69 was also restored to a higher specification & very much higher price-point but is not as “original” as this jewel. I also have a series 4, '91 Alfa Spider Veloce in addition to many other exotics in my Collection. Storage/space issue forces me to let go. A reasonable offer will be considered and I will assist with the shipping arrangements and can answer any queries. A 1750 SPICA Maintenance technical manual, color photo album of the restoration, and Owner's hand book etc. accompanies the sale. There is no car cover but I did buy an Alfa red car cover with bag that is for a modern Alfa 4C with Alfa logo embossed and has a tight fit. It is included. Tonneau cover for the convertible top & a fire extinguisher is included. Receipts for work done to freshen car out of storage, new battery etc all is included. Any questions or more pictures: please be free to ask. I will entertain a reasonable offer and encourage you to nominate AIG locally to do a comprehensive inspection or for you to fly down and inspect & test drive the car yourself before deciding to buy. You will not be disappointed. This is a sharply appreciating investment grade Alfa, series 1 as the most desirable and purest Pininfarina design of all 4 series. In 2013 a series 1, Boat tail in teal green sold at Barrett Jackson auctions for $128,000/. If a 1 cylinder, 13 HP BMW Isetta can appraise for anywhere from $35,000/ to $90,000/, the classic Alfas are certainly under-appreciated and undervalued and bound to rise and catch up. An absolute joy to drive; and a head turner.