'59 Giulietta Sprint Veloce for Sale & Milano Sacred Knowlegde

["Patitz, Gary W" <Gary.Patitz@domain.elided>]

A friend has had trouble subscribing so I volunteered to do it for him - 

1959 alfa sprint veloce. Virtually rust free body, has a little surface rust but nothing that goes all the way through.  Dent in left front fender but is an easy fix. The car is all apart and ready for restoration. Original motor is missing but the car comes with a 1300 normale sprint engine S/N 1315010175.  Almost all the parts are included except for the front bumper and the two side grills. Picture are available upon request. I am asking $2800 but the price is subject to negotiation of course. I can be reached via e-mail at Michael A. Rowbottom@domain.elided or you can direct correspondence to:

Michael A. Rowbottom
25027-D 110th Pl. SE.
Kent Wa. 98031

Regarding the recent spate of the Milano woeful -

Milanos too have unique characteristics which became apparent within the first year of their launch.  The drive train of course, was a carrier over.  The "everything-else" on the other hand was a different story. 

I had the fortune/misfortune of working at an Alfa dealership at the time of the Milano's launch in the US.  I was  impressed enough with Milano on its arrival  that I purchased a Verde to add to the fifteen or so Alfas I already had. Before I had even taken the car home, the sun roof broke - it would not shut all the way (Sound familiar? Fortunately the dealership ate that one).  Next came the infamous interier door handle problem - they break after repeated usage (either glue in a washer or keep a box of them handy); then the exterior plastic anthracite trim began to appear to oxidize before my eyes although the car was religiously garaged;  the Recaro seats go threadbare within a year; the  wheel arch moldings were generally a quarter to half an inch off;  and so on.....

I had not had this experience with an Alfa before so I started to ask around and discovered (in the days of pre-Alfa Digest) other Milano owners and dearlerships experienced the same problem.  So I accepted it, reattached/fixed whatever the latest glitch was and went on.  But oh how I loved driving the thing.  The 3.0 litre was a joy.  If if their was truth to the old Alfa addage that you buy an Alfa for the engine and the body is thrown in for free - this is it.  So take heart new Milano owners - you are not alone or the only ones to have experienced some of these unique eccentricities.

As for the car, I sold it and bought another Giulia.  The car landed up in the San Francisco area where it was totaled within a year.....
Gary W. Patitz
Boeing Phantom Works Seattle
Program Management
206-662-0307

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