Re: Biba, Daily Drivers

[Tom Lesko <tmlesko@xxxxxxxxx>]

OUCH, Biba, I thought you were one of us? Will Owen is right on the
money. Have you ever actually owned/driven one of these VERY reliable
cars? By the sounds of it, you haven't! You are way down the wrong road
here. Buy one, use it as a daily driver for 10 years and get back to
us. . .

I know you have restored . . .what, 1 of these cars (?) (with nearly
daily requests for help from the 750/101 digest) and your client had
problems after delivery (?)  Any restored car needs to be sorted out
after you make them "look nice", like any of the Spridgets or
ass-engined cars that you mention would. After that, they are VERY
reliable.

> > One of the more vulnerable elements of these cars is the generator
Absolutely NOT! The generators work fine and last a very long time.
People do alternators for more amps not better reliability. Stranded
because the brushes failed??? What are you drinking?

> > since you modified your 1300 / 1600 motor
> > so you can keep up with traffic,
Bullsh _ _!  My '65 Spider Veloce has seen WELL over 100 mph, STOCK! I
backed off, the car just wants to keep on climbing! Traffic has trouble
keeping up with ME!  Time for you to go back to the Spridget Digest.

Tom Lesko
Hingham, MA usa
Giulia Spider Veloce owner for 33 years

> Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:35:41 -0700
> From: alfacybersite <acs@domain.elided>
> Subject: Daily drivers
>
> In #702 Will Owen muses: "...I can't imagine that a Giulia or Giulietta
> would be any less usable. As long as the car is properly maintained, an
> older vehicle such as this can actually be a better choice for daily
> service,
> given the lower registration costs, ease of service, availability of
> parts and freedom from smoggery."
>
> ********
>
> Will, all, let me define Daily Driver as I see it. First, one lives in
> an area which pretty much requires getting on a freeway / interstate to
> get anywhere more than say 15 miles away.
>
> Secondly, it is your Only car. No back-up, no wife's car, no nothing.
> She goes belly up (even if it is relatively minor), you fix it or you
> don't drive anywhere - including work.
>
> One of the more vulnerable elements of these cars is the generator.
> But,
> you might say, generators were used for many decades and people got
> along fine. First 'fine' is a very relative term. Additionally
> virtually
> any filling station had a good handful of brushes and could probably
> get
> you running again. Try that today.
>
> Yes, many Giulietta / Giulia owners convert to alternators, but you're
> now beginning to mess with the whole vintage daily driver bit. Next
> step
> is electronic ignition. Then since you modified your 1300 / 1600 motor
> so you can keep up with traffic,  it starts getting tired at around 60k
> (+ or -) miles. So you put in a 1750 or 2000.
>
> Note all of this work takes place in the evening or on weekends so you
> can have the car ready for work. I disagree with your 'availability of
> parts' statement. Chances are you'll need to stockpile new and used
> parts since expensive overnight delivery is not soon enough.
>
> True, it probably still looks pretty original from the outside (except
> for those wider rims and sticky 50 series tires) but it is still a neat
> old daily driver...
>
> ...or is it really?
>
> (Epilogue: Chances are if one is married, the day will come when one is
> under the car and look over to see a pair of suitcases with a firm
> female voice from above saying, "Don't bother getting up. I'll leave
> you
> the car. The rest is mine." been there done that all.)
>
> *********
> There was a comment recently regarding the fellow who was contemplating
> buying a Normale and I suggested he look for a Veloce since they are
> much more valuable once completed. The comment that was made to the
> potential buyer was (in essence), buy the car, don't try to make money
> off the project.
>
> I doubt if anyone has ever made money after doing a complete
> restoration
> on virtually any Alfa (except perhaps a handful of some of the 30's
> cars).
>
> Most often price guides indicate which particular models are most
> desirable to owners / buyers. While not always, the higher value is
> most
> often indicative of desirability - as in fun to drive, looks neat,
> possibly is more zippy, and possibly sold for more when new. This fits
> the Giulietta / Giulia Spider Veloce. However, the Bugeye Sprite is
> worth about three times what the latter 'improved' Sprites go for. A
> Porsche 356 Speedster is worth about two and a half times what the
> considerably more expensive 356 Cabriolet sold for originally.
>
> Essentially I was saying, "Spend your time, energy, and money on the
> more fun car."
>
> Biba
> Irwindale, CA USA
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