1978 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 2000
(Featured on 23rd May 2014)
Make: Alfa Romeo
Model: Alfetta
Sellers original description:
According to the Alfa Romeo Museum archives this Alfetta 2000 Saloon was manufactured on June 30th 1978 and it was invoiced to Alfa Romeo GB on July 19th 1978. It was sold new in South Croydon, Surrey, and first registered for road use on September 1st 1978. The original paint colour was metallic silver, just as it is now.
We purchased this fully restored and immaculate Alfetta directly from the charming Gentleman who purchased it new from Bell and Colvill of Caterham in Surrey.
The enormous history folder of this superlative motor car commences with the original hand written order form from Bell and Colvill dated August 21st 1978. The options chosen above standard factory specification were air conditioning, cloth upholstery, metallic paint, a 5 push-button radio, and coach-lining down the sides. The total price of the car was £5,771.00, which included twelve months road fund licence at £50.00 and £8.00 worth of petrol. Bell and Colvill forgot to fit the coach-lining to the car prior to delivery so the cost of this on the original order form was credited back to the Gentleman in February 1979.
The Gentleman spent his working career in the advertising world until his retirement in 1998. His first Alfetta was an 1800 Saloon that had been purchased new as a company car in October 1973, with the Gentleman purchasing it from his company in 1975. This car was part exchanged when it had done 42,000 miles for this silver 2000, where an allowance of £1,550 was given.
Bell and Colvill carried out servicing and routine maintenance on the Alfetta, including fitting a new speedometer in August 1979 when the inoperative speedometer recorded 6,008 miles.
In February 1983 another Alfa Romeo service agent started looking after the car called Stephen Victor Services of Clapham, London SW4. In the late 1980’s the Gentleman started using KIngham’s of Croydon.
In June 1992 a British Rail employee reversed into the back of the Alfetta in a railway car park. The damage was light but it was a situation that would alter the life of both the car and its owner, and commenced a long route that leads to the incredible condition that the car is in now.
In early 1993 the car was submitted to a local restoration company to repair the car-park damage to the boot-lid, rear panel, and bumper, and also to carry out a bare metal re-paint on the remainder of the car. These works were completed in March 1993.
Not satisfied with the quality of the repairs, the Gentleman started to strip the car down in late 1993 / early 1994 so that it could be repainted again.
An additional engine was acquired in 1994 that had reportedly done only 2,000 miles. As the engine had not been used for some time, despite its low mileage, the Gentleman commissioned a Mr John Clifton of Liphook, Hampshire, to re-build it with many new components including new pistons and liners. We were informed that Mr Clifton also re-built the gearbox.
In April 1995 the first of five large purchases of black car interior hides were purchased from famous leather supplier Connolly Limited of Wimbledon, London SW19. The Gentleman had a professional trimmer in Cheam, Surrey, re-trim the seats in the Connolly leather while he did a fantastic job of trimming the dash-board, interior door panels, and rear parcel shelf in Connelly leather himself.
During 1997 Carl Rosner Automobiles Limited of South Croydon, Surrey, (Triumph motorcycle dealers for South London since 1974) carried out a re-paint of the car to an exceptional standard.
To compliment the fabulous leather interior of the Alfetta, during the course of 2001 the Gentleman had Creech Coachtrimming of Crystal Palace, London SE19, trim wonderful light grey Wilton carpets to his patterns.
In April 2004 the Gentleman had Vehvac Limited of Edenbridge in Kent overhaul the air conditioning system and convert it to operate on modern R134a gas.
June 2006 saw the Alfetta visit the Alfa Romeo specialist Bianco Auto Developments in Hookwood, Surrey, and obtain its first MOT since the restoration commenced in late 1993. The recorded mileage at this MOT was 103,614, taking into consideration the speedometer change.
Four days after this MOT on June 18th 2006, the Gentleman entered the Alfetta into the Alfa Romeo Owners Club National Alfa Day concours which was held at Boughton House in Northamptonshire. He must have felt that his thirteen years of hard work spent restoring the car were worth the effort as he won his class in the club concours.
After eight months of discussion between the Gentleman and ourselves we purchased the Alfetta from him in November 2013. He had only driven the Alfetta 1,310 miles between completing the restoration and selling the car to us.
Included in the enormous history folder are the original service books, hand book, and brochures of both the Gentleman’s first Alfetta and this one.
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