Low-Mile, 2-Owner, Documented from New, SPICA -- SUPERIOR CONDITION!

1974 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce. 2-Liter Iniezione Series 115

THIS IS THE ONE!

The right year

The right colors

The right specs

Low-mileage (documented)

2 owners from new. all records and fanatical care.

Solid: No rust issues!

We are offering this sensational Series 115-Series Spider for its second owner. who has reluctantly decided that it's time to let another enthusiast to drive it and enjoy it. It has been slavishly maintained since new. The first owner made sensible upgrades to the suspension. wheels and tires. and added some appearance alterations that rounded-out his vision of perfection for a car that he would keep and love for thirty-eight years. He wisely left the drivetrain in standard trim. keeping it perfectly tuned rather than trying to ‘hop it up'.

This is not a ‘beginner classic' for someone looking for an inexpensive project car. and it's not a car to buy and ‘flip' for a profit. What we have here is an outstanding example for a marque enthusiast Driver who has done his or her research. and appreciates the best of what makes these Alfa Romeos such true classics. So. rather than bore you with Wikipedia boilerplate. let's work from the standpoint that bidders will be informed Alfa enthusiasts who know their way around a Series 115 Spider and know what they're looking for:  

1974 is something of a connoisseuer's year for the Spider: Classic stainless steel & rubber bumpers. clean Kamm-tail styling. gorgeous hooded instrument pods and full 2-liter injected power. Only '73 and '74 offer this combo. This low-mileage '74 was one of the last built. in October '74. and the owner didn't take delivery until September '75.  

SPICA Injection: An integral feature of the car's character. a healthy SPICA system offers a different. and altogether more refined. driving experience than Weber or Del'Orto carbs can do. along with all the power. Very exotic in the 70s. it's an often unjustly maligned system that did amazing things for Alfas compared to typical emissions-strangled cars of that era. Alfisti are still split on the subject of carbs or injection. but a good SPICA car is a joy. providing a strong torque curve and peak power with no flat spots anywhere in the rev range. It's truly part of the charm of a 115-Series Alfa. and should be preserved. This car's rebuilt SPICA pump was done by Wes Ingram about 4000 miles ago. and the thermostatic actuator replaced just before that. It works incredibly well: Cold starting is quick. and after a brief warming. power delivery is silky smooth from idle to redline.  

Being a mid-western car all its life. it was driven only seasonally. The odometer reading of only 63. 25 is documented in log books going back to the first dealer service at 600 miles. Accompanying the car is a thick file of receipts listing maintenance performed and parts purchased. along with corresponding mileage and dates going back to 1975. The car was driven less and less as the years rolled on. sometimes just a couple hundred in a year.

Walking around this car makes an immediate and strong impression. The car was repainted once. in March 1992 with Glasurit paint and clearcoat. nbsp;and the finish is excellent: Nearly flawless. with a very glassy mirror finish that still looks fresh. There are very. very few chips. The nose panel is excellent. nbsp;and I could see no evidence of crash repair anywhere on the car.  (The sleek. low nose of a Spider is very susceptible to parking lot damage. so always check it carefully for filler and alignment!) Just prior to the fresh paint. the owner added the front air dam. replaced the rocker panels and rear arches with new metal. The rear bumper was removed and a custom panel expertly crafted and worked in -- It is symmetrical. fits flawlessly. and looks sensational. A roll bar was also bolted in. It has been removed by the current owner. but comes with the car and can be bolted back in. The car has a beautiful stance on its classic Shankle springs (lowering it about an inch). The Austar wheels (made specifically for Alfa Romeos) were a popular accessory on the 80s/90s (the owner has the center caps stored in his closet). The Kumho tires (195/60x14) look new and all have deep tread depth. The glass is all excellent. as is the convertible top. The panel gaps are all even and aligned; fit is excellent! It is my regret that I wasn't able to detail this car before taking photos – It would really highlight its beauty and make it sparkle.  

Getting down a little closer for a more in-depth look. the steel on this car is amazing. The floors. sills. valance panels. fender arches. spare tire well. trunk panel edge (all the typical Alfa rust traps) are all corrosion free and excellent. The front valance panel has a small dent at the center. near it's trailing edge. but this is not easily seen from above. Underneath. there is typical oil residue on the chassis and behind under the engine (‘Italian rustproofing'. we call it!). The brand new exhaust stands out. as does the very effective accessory chassis stiffener (essential with suspension upgrades on these cars). the red Koni shocks. and the undented sump guard. There is some bent metal on the edges of the chassis rails (see pics). suggesting that the car left the road some time. but I couldn't find a hint either in the log book. or in driving: The car is impeccably stable and solid on the road. and tracks straight. Overall. the chassis is incredibly clean and solid. including the floor pans (replaced in '97 at  59. 00 miles). There is one small rust bubble from moisture accumulating under a paint chip near the bottom of the driver's door. but this is indeed very minor. I looked in vain for any real corrosion.  This car is solid and rust free by any reasonable definition: No disappointments!

Inside the cockpit. everything looks fresh and good. Not new. but mileage-appropriate and mostly original. There is a dash cap with no cracks. The seat upholstery is excellent. The finish on the beautiful wood steering wheel looked perfect to me (no scratches or cracks). The seatbelts are missing (competition harnesses were installed and later removed). and there are bolt holes for the roll bar. but these are easily rectified. Under the accessory embroidered carpets (slightly faded) are the original (and very expensive) rubber floor mats that were original equipment. They are in exquisite shape. The accessory leather gear knob looks and feels nice. The original top boot is installed. It has a couple of broken clips. but still fits and doesn't lift in the wind. Overall. the whole interior is exemplary for being nearly forty years old – Just beautiful.

Under the hood. everything is neat and tidy. The newer master cylinder is still shiny. Coolant is clean and green. Oil fresh. Cam-covers clean and polished to a nice finish. There's a high-voltage electronic ignition and coil installed. The head is clean and oil-free (The head was rebuilt. ported and new valve guides installed at 42. 49 miles). Hoses and belts look fresh and new. It's easy to see where the real emphasis was on this car: Mechanicals. Low-restriction air filters integrate nicely (and sound great!). and the owner tells me that the original factory airbox will also go with the car. Inside the trunk is just as good. with shiny paint and a clean. corrosion free spare tire well beneath the original and correct rubber mat (protected by a “cocoa mat”).  

The owner warmed the car up carefully and took me for a spirited drive before I was allowed to slip behind the wheel to sample its charms for myself. On the road. this car was a real surprise. and it exceeded my expectations. Revelations. in order of their appearance: Superb throttle reponse – Eager. smooth. and with a sweet/gruff voice.  A firm brake pedal – No mushiness. and the rotors are true. Silky clutch take up: Progressive. smooth. light. Combined with the fresh U-joints. the clutch the action is perfect (almost sexy!). Excellent gear change (rebuilt about 6800 miles ago). I never beat a synchro or heard any grinding. Will not jump out of reverse (. always check this on an Alfa; it can mean excessive wear and an expensive repair!).  Direct and precise steering with no slop. and great road feel transmitted through the wood wheel. Sparkling acceleration with no hiccups. Smooth cruising at highway speeds. Excellent stability. even braking with hands off the wheel. Strong and stable cornering with no chassis flex. Curiously. the tachometer and the speedometer read a bit slow (opposite of typical!). The speedo cable was replaced with the trans. and no one is sure what's causing the issue. but I'd start with making sure the correct cable is fitted. My favorite surprise. though. was that the pedals were great for heel-n-toeing: This is not typical of a SPICA-engined Alfa. and must have been modified. This car is a sensational driver – As good and well-sorted and satisfying as an Alfa Spider can be.

Flaws in this Alfa are few. simple. and appear easily rectifiable: Seatbelts should be installed. The radio didn't turn on this week. Parking lamps did not illuminate when I tried them (possibly a ground. possibly the switch?). and the map light in the mirror did not go on. And the speedo & tach could be sorted out. That's about it! Beyond that would be quibbling. and a leisurely weekend in the garage would go a long way.

The litany of receipts shows obsessive maintenance. Following is a short list of some of the work done on this car that I noted going through the receipts (note the short mileage intervals):

57. 00 ; June 1997: Transmission rebuilt. New U-joints. New floor pans welded in. Wheel bearing service.

57. 00 ; March 1999: Wes Ingram rebuilt SPICA pump.

58. 67 ; July 2000 : Replaced thermostatic actuator. set to spec.

59. 36 ; May 2001: Replace drive belts. FI belts. FI filter.

59. 00 ; July 2001 : Lower ball joints. upper control arms. Trailing arm bushings. tie rod. adjust valve    clearance. New sump.

60. 00 ; November 2002 : Repair radiator. Bosch platinum plugs & new spark wires.

61. 67 ; September 2006 : Change coolant. ANSA exhaust tip.

62. 47 ; October 2007 : New top

62. 01 ; April 2009 : Change coolant. Replace brake master cylinder. Optima battery.

63. 90 ; October 2011 : Change coolant

63. 58 ; August 2013 : Oil & filter change

63. 50 ; October 2-13 : New starter & flywheel 

There is a sensible reserve price on this auction. reflective of the car's excellence. but still well below the present owner's investment. The reserve amount will not be low enough for someone looking for a quick “flip” on resale. but represents a bargain value for a driver who wants to invest in a car for a long-term romance. The car is worth much more; end of story –

HIGH BID BUYS THIS CAR NEXT WEEK!

A personal note: I have thirty years direct experience with Alfa Romeos of every stripe: I know‘em. I love 'em. I have purchased them both new and used. and owned or driven every model Spider from the 1966 Duetto through the final 1994 ‘Commemorative Edition'. All hyperbole aside. I will honestly say that THIS is the BEST driving Alfa Spider I have ever experienced. new or used. It has a tight and precise feel to all of the controls and a superbly tuned engine for quick. smooth pleasure driving. I did not want to park it or give it back…I just wanted to keep going; anywhere. anyplace. Only the best Alfas will impart that magic feeling. and it is that experience for which you buy an Alfa Romeo in the first place.

This car is a keeper for a passionate Alfa fanatic: NO DISAPPOINTMENTS…I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country tomorrow (in fact. I'd LOVE to!)

The Fine Print:

GOOD LUCK! Please bid to the value this car may hold for you. Please feel free to ask questions or add comments. Please ask questions BEFORE you bid.  We will respond quickly and honestly. This car is located in Minneapolis. Minnesota 55410. nbsp;about twenty minutes from the airport. Inspections are invited and encouraged!

CONDITIONS: Winning this auction constitutes a legal and binding agreement between the Buyer. the Owner and the Selling Agents. Please bid sincerely and sensibly. Zero-feedback bidders must contact us first before bidding to establish some level of seriousness-of-intent; It's nothing personal. just business: We. and many others. have been stung on eBay Motors by too many dead-beat auction winners.

Vehicle is sold "As-Is and Where-Is". If the Buyer comes to pick up this car and is in any way dissatisfied. he or she will have the Option of walking away from the Deal with Full Refund of the Deposit and any Payments made to the Owner.  Otherwise. no warranty is expressed. implied or offered.  Neither the Owner nor the Selling Agents can or will take any responsibility for this car after it leaves the premises.

PAYMENT: Buyer must make a $200 DEPOSIT by PayPal within 24 hours of the Auction Close. The Deposit will secure the Deal for all Parties involved. Failure to make Deposit within 24 hours will risk Cancellation of the Sale at Discretion of the Owner and Sellers.  BALANCE MUST BE PAID within 7 BUSINESS DAYS of sale by SECURE PAYMENT or CASH at PICK-UP.  

TRANSPORT: Buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs. Car is garaged in Minneapolis. Minnesota 55410. We do not offer quotes on shipping. There are many vendors to choose from offering vehicle transport: DAS. and FedEx/Passport are two great places to start getting bids.  

STORAGE: While the Auction Winner sorts out pick-up or transport arrangements. nbsp;Owner can offer. free of charge. dry indoor storage for up to 30 days after auction termination. Longer periods can be arranged at cost if necessary. Seller cannot accept any liability during this storage period.

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Thank You for Looking! We are fluent in classic European cars. We are hobbyists. first and foremost. and happy to hear from you on the subject of cars or bikes. In addition to AUTOMOBILIA and PARTS. WE HAVE SOLD DOZENS OF VEHICLES ON eBAY. EACH DEAL A HAPPY ONE FOR ALL INVOLVED! We also sell non-automotive items on eBay under the names 'kowalski0001'.  We invite everybody to review our auctions and feedback under both seller names. >>MM1000auto>> was created to auction the THINGS WE LOVE MOST: CARS. PARTS. and AUTOMOBILIA!

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