RE: matching numbers

[JHertzman@xxxxxxx]

In AD7-229 Doug Bender asks about matching numbers, and ends with two
questions: 
"Questions I have: is there a book or documentation stating how to determine
if an Alfa has matching numbers?  For which models would it be important?"

The most basic book for documentation of Alfa Romeos is the one commonly
called "Fusi", after its author, Luigi Fusi. Its title varies slightly by
edition, but the edition probably most widely used is "Alfa Romeo: Tutte le
Vetture dal 1910". There are other books specific to individual models, which
are again usually known familiarly by the name of the author; if a Giulietta
person refers to "Boscarelli" (or to "Anselmi") he is referring to the book
"Alfa Romeo Giulietta". Boscarelli does not list all Giulietta numbers, but it
does list numbers (and production dates, and colors, and first owners) for the
Sprint Zagatos, early Sprint Veloces, and early Sprint Speciales. For example,
the Sprint Speciale with chassis number 00010 has engine #00094, was built on
the seventh of July 1959, gardenia white, and bought by Paolo Parravicini in
Albevilla. Fusi gives more general data, in this case that the Sprint
Speciales built in 1959, series 101.20 had chassis numbers from 00021 to 00114
and engine numbers from 00001 to 00120. The alert reader will note that the
car I had just cited from Boscarelli is not in that range; according to Fusi
00004 to 00008 were built in 1957 and 00009 to 00020 in 1958. Discrepancies
are to be expected, they were more in the business of building cars than in
the business of keeping meticulous records, and, some would say, they are
after all Italian. D'Amico-Tabucchi agrees with the 1959 date.

Fusi gives matching chassis and engine numbers from 1910 through 1936, at
which point the really low production cars (8C 2900, the "Pescara" 2300s)
still have matching numbers while the Turismos go fancy free, and by 1939 they
are all loose.

Doug also writes:
>> I have never hear an Alfa person mention matching numbers.  In fact it
doesn't seem to matter, and often helps the value of a car to swap in a better
engine for example (larger, later, or upgraded components, say to make a
Normale look like a Veloce), or replace drum brakes with disks etc.
Originality doesn't seem to be a big deal with the Alfa croud.  I would assume
however that when restoring something really rare such as a GTA or a TZ that
originality would become much more important.  "Originality" can mean
"original style" (i.e. having the right type of headers on a Veloce), or
"original to the car" (i.e. matching numbers).<<

Not completely correct that it "often helps the value of a car to swap in a
better engine for example (larger, later, or upgraded components, say to make
a Normale look like a Veloce)". Some distinguish sharply between a Normale, an
Abnormale, and a Veloce. The tipping point is roughly where the price starts
declining and starts going up, and before long discriminating buyers start
removing the larger, later, or upgraded components to restore a car, if
possible, to a good copy of original condition. Someday, if enough survive,
people will be removing the three-liter engines from GTV-6s, looking for old-
style balky-shifting gearboxes, raising the suspensions to stock height,
paying a premium to Coker Tire for 195-60 R 15 Pirelli P-6s, and looking for
just the right shade of blue for the seats for a silver '82. 

John H. 

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