24 November 2008

Frugal Italian Style










What I would give to be a retired college professor. Kinda like an architect--you know ---a very cool job. This afternoon I was invited for a ride with my ex-college art professor. He had to go the court house. Something about a form he needed in order to get a speeding fine reduced from $250 to $80. I never did understand...But I do understand his car.

This is a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giula Sprint GT in text book BRG with a saddle tan interior complete with Italian tags. It is a thing of beauty just sitting but who wants to sit? Just before getting to the court house, my professor takes a detour into a housing development. I'm wondering what in the hell he's doing as we roar past the empty security gate and in front of us is a complete development sans houses but with lots of turns, corners and straight aways. What a vision of beauty. I still have an ear to ear grin that will not go away.

The 1600 cc engine has amazing torque and pulls from a dead stop like a hornet. A smell I haven't experienced in 20 years fills the car and combines with a slight whiff of gas. A unique Italian smell which is very different from an English sports car. I can't put my finger on it but I like to think it smells like Sophia Loren's armpits--unshaven of course. Earthy but very alluring. I had a friend who was Italian and in the middle of conversation he would take of his watch with a leather band and smell his wrist. The car might smell something like that but my watchband is stainless steel so I couldn't tell you.

Here again, we're talking tons of affordable style just waiting for you. Sure, it's an Alfa but it beats a Fiat. My professor tells me it breaks down as follows:
$2,000 for a 1966 Alfa Romeo Giula Sprint 2+2 (14 years ago)

$1,400 for a engine rebuild (14 years ago)

$1,600 for a paint job (12 years ago)

$1,000 for headliner, carpet and upholstery (10 years ago)

$6,000 Total

$6,000 for more erudite style than you'll ever get with anything banged out today. The bad news is these things are going up in price but they're still a relative bargain. As the masses ditch their Escalades and Suburbans only to go back into debt buying a piece of plastic resembling an egg--you can have real style with this. In the words of my childhood hero, Alexander Mundy, " Buena Fortuna, baby."

11 comments:

  1. Go Bob, go! ME

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  2. Excellent post. The armpits comment is still cracking me up. What a nice, stylish ride.

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  3. I've had several of these over the years, and there are two items I think you missed.

    One is the stepped up bonnet. Looks like nothing else. Second is the sound. So incredibly sweet.

    Thanks for reviving old memories.

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  4. Probably the best description of the smell of the inside of a car I've ever read!
    and so true...it's a great car.
    My friend who is a Professor of Neurology spent 10 years and a fortune fixing one up with all sorts of Alfa extras(1960's parts of course) for racing What a blast. A short while later it was stolen. The bastards probably shipped it off to Germany where the market for these cars is soaring. What a shame. My friend still weeps.

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  5. I really like the '74 GTV. Beautiful cars!

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  6. Love the Alfa Sprint GT, and the shot of the map pocket badge. I've been in some great classic cars, but not this one. Someday, perhaps. Great post!

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  7. Oh, and I wish I could hang out with some of my old college profs.

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  8. I LOVE it, baby! I drove one of those once from a heist at a villa outside Portofino. Hugged the turns like Sofia in a sheath dress. Baubles in the trunk, a raven haired, sloe-eyed beauty in the front. It was like...whew! Had to return the loot though, the following month, when I got word they belonged to my great aunt! My pro dad was not amused...
    - Al M.

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  9. Mrs. Ponti requests you be informed that, although "ladies" of your acquaintance may be pitted, she has "underarms". Teddy Leopold

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  10. ME- He goes to the bathroom a lot but that's a whole nutha story.

    Nick- You're not in agreement about underarms?


    Toad- You're right about both so I added a photo of the bonnet. People hear this car before they see it. A beautiful low and deep moan that moves into a whine, kind of how I imagine Sohia Loren would sound like when she...you know...

    Initials CG-I hope il professor reads this and heeds warning.

    Brett-The '74 does have that beautiful bonnet as well. Amazing to watch the prices on these in just the past three to four years.

    Ben- With il professor and his wife's permission, I may have some more on this very beautiful couple and their beautiful home. A Trad Home & Gardens.

    Al M.- Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Baby, you don't know what it's like down here.

    Anon 15:22- I agree with you but armpits seems smellier than underarms. You know?

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  11. Thanks for the photo update

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