Descrizione
I`m struggling to contain my excitement. One of just 27 remaining UK- supplied RHD Series 1 Alfasud Ti`s in Alfa Red and it`s with us! With 1 lady keeper for the past 35 years and a recorded 63, 500 miles, this is an incredible find and for a genuine Alfisti, it is virtually the Holy Grail. A running project, the car requires light restoration and recommissioning having been off the road, garaged for over 20 years. But is it beautifully original and offers almost a unique opportunity to acquire and restore one of the most iconic Alfa Romeos of the past 50 years.
Launched at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, the 4-door Alfasud was immediately praised by the motoring press for it`s styling and innovative technology. Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign provided the clothes for a compact sporting saloon featuring a front-wheel-drive flat 4 (Boxer) unit of initially just 1186cc with belt-driven overhead camshaft on each cylinder head. With a combination of McPherson struts and beam axle suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering, the car was 10 years ahead of it`s competition and drove like it as well. With a low centre of gravity, handling and road holding became legendary. All it needed was more power. Enter the Ti model. Only ever sold as a 2-door model, the Ti (or Touring International) was introduced in November 1973 and came with quad round Halogen headlights, special alloy wheels, front and rear spoilers, a 3-spoke steering wheel, auxiliary gauges, contrasting black and cream sports seats and most importantly, a Weber twin-choke carburettor pushing out a further 10BHP. More power came again in July 1977 with the fitting of the newly developed 1286cc engine (first seen the previous year in the Alfasud Sprint) developing 75BHP. And so, the 1. 3 Ti was born. It continued to evolve with plastic wheel-arch trims and spoiler from May 1978 and larger plastic bumpers, different lights and more power again from 1980 onwards. None though had the purity of design and balance evident in the early Series 1 cars making them so highly sought-after by collectors today.
Our car was registered in November 1977 and supplied new to a gentleman on the Sussex Coast. He retained the Alfa for exactly 6 years before selling to a friend in Eastbourne who subsequently enjoyed the car for 3 years before selling to a lady in Forest Row. The Alfa remained with her at this address until her death just 6 months ago. The car was garaged and for reasons unknown to us, not used after 1997. We are told that when her executors came to clear her house, the Alfa was discovered in the garage, covered in a thick layer of dust. Since acquiring the car, we have coaxed it back into life, changed both cam belts, freed off the clutch and brakes and given it a basic clean-up. It now starts on the key, selects gear, drives and stops albeit the offside front road spring has since gone in the process! But it is a fabulous base for a light and relatively straightforward restoration and what you see is what you get. Work is required - the bottoms of the doors have gone requiring plating, rear arches need replacement and fronts need repair, but otherwise it is amazingly sound. The underneath including sills and boot floor is surprisingly good. It`s the same story inside the cabin - all totally original and all correct. Other than faded carpets and a small hole on the drivers` seat, it is a virtual time-warp and with more time and a little TLC would present extremely well. Under the bonnet, we would recommend a full re-commissioning before taking to the open road but nothing complicated and all parts are readily available.
These Ti models are so rare today, finding such a low mileage unmolested example really is quite a find. It deserves to be restored properly and we would dearly like to find it the right home to start it`s next chapter.
The Alfa comes with a Registration Document and original Handbook. It is MOT and tax exempt.
Probably a unique opportunity.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
