RE: 1970 changes

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

Brian Shorey on-digest and others off-digest have suggested that on the 1970 
GT Veloce the "'enlargement of rear passenger space' was marketing speak for 
adding a half an inch of headroom in the rear via the headliner depression" 
rather than a change in the car structure through changes in sheet-metal.

The topic of "69 vs. 71 gtv differences" was raised on-digest by Paul 
Hempstead on 1 August 1998 and discussed extensively. Brian Shorey, Tom 
Sahines, Frank Anigbo, Bob Brady, Scott Fisher, Dana Loomis, Richard Welty, 
Andrew Watry and probably others participated, and Frank Anigbo in particular 
mentioned the difference of about six inches in the length of the rear shelf, 
from seatback to window, which he had discovered when he tried to use the 
rear-shelf upholstery from one car in another.

There were in fact changes in the interior rear sheet metal. The changes took 
place at chassis numbers 1532000/1532001 for the Type 105.51 USA cars, at 
chassis numbers 1454000/1454001 for the Type 105.45 RHD cars and chassis 
numbers 1375000/1375001 for the Type 105.44 LHD cars. The parts changed at 
that time included the backshelf, the rear side rails, exhaust shield, jack 
sockets, rear rail brace, trunk pan, underseat pan, and a cross-piece between 
the trunk pan and seat pan.

I have been unsuccessful in pinning down the date; the break-point for the 
USA cars is at a serial number (1532000) below the lowest number Fusi gives 
for any USA 1750 (1533201, in 1969) but well within the 1970 range of numbers 
in d'Amico & Tabucchi. Conversely the break-point for the RHD cars is at a 
serial number (1454000) above the highest number Fusi gives for any RHD 1750 
(1453558, in 1971) but within the 1970 range of numbers in d'Amico & 
Tabucchi. The LHD numbers fall in 1971 in Fusi, 1970 in d'Amico & Tabucchi.

The changeover point coincides (in the parts books) with the changes in 
seats, carpets and other details. 

Contrary to Brian and various others who suggest that the "'enlargement of 
rear passenger space' was marketing speak for adding a half an inch of 
headroom in the rear via the headliner depression", my parts books show just 
one headliner 105.02.62.098.02. for all 1750 GT Veloces, LHD, RHD, and USA.

Frank Anigbo's recollection was that the later rear shelf was longer than the 
earlier one, which he attributed to a change in order to increase trunk room, 
which is contrary to the assumptions Dana and I would make. Anybody have both 
early and late 1750 coupes to measure?

Cordially,

John H.
Raleigh, N.C.

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End of alfa-digest V7 #972
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