And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Friday, June 14, 2024
If I thought I could keep one of these running....
Then it's a good thing it's not a Fiat. It's an Alfa-Romeo GTV. I had three different 60s-vintage Alfas, drove them hard, and never had any trouble with them. Now the Jag was another story. - a truly elegant POS.
Me too. I had a '61 Giulietta Sprint, '61 Giulietta Spyder, '69 1750 GTV, '71 1750 Spyder. On the 1750's the electric fuel pump motor had to be cleaned out about every 20K but otherwise no problems.
About the Jag, since it seems to be a perennial last-place finish among maintenance surveys, yet still seems to be able to maintain its high-status image, I suppose the owner hopes that the message is, "I am so well-off that I can afford the high cost of keeping this vehicle running."
I was a young airman stationed in Italy in 1972. I lusted after one of these, but bought a Fiat instead because I could pay it off by the time I went home. I guess that proves right there that i didn't deserve the Alfa.
They are not hard to work on. I had 2 1974 Alfa’s, Fiat 850, and x1/9. I always lost money on them. Header, cams webbers etc. Porsche 356 was a better use of my time and money. I always made money. The English cars had such bad rubber. They should have stuck with leather. I did have good electrical rebuild shops and hydraulic hose makers. My 2008 vette was better than all. Now I drive 2012 Tundra 40 miles a week.
The Fiat didn't acquire the definition "Fix It Again Tony" for nothing.
ReplyDeleteThen it's a good thing it's not a Fiat. It's an Alfa-Romeo GTV. I had three different 60s-vintage Alfas, drove them hard, and never had any trouble with them. Now the Jag was another story. - a truly elegant POS.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I had a '61 Giulietta Sprint, '61 Giulietta Spyder, '69 1750 GTV, '71 1750 Spyder. On the 1750's the electric fuel pump motor had to be cleaned out about every 20K but otherwise no problems.
DeleteAbout the Jag, since it seems to be a perennial last-place finish among maintenance surveys, yet still seems to be able to maintain its high-status image, I suppose the owner hopes that the message is, "I am so well-off that I can afford the high cost of keeping this vehicle running."
DeleteProblem was, you had to keep replacing the smoke that leaked from the Lucas wiring components...
DeleteI was a young airman stationed in Italy in 1972. I lusted after one of these, but bought a Fiat instead because I could pay it off by the time I went home. I guess that proves right there that i didn't deserve the Alfa.
ReplyDeleteIts beautiful and probably modified enough to be reliable. Back then rust was the real enemy.
ReplyDeleteThey are not hard to work on. I had 2 1974 Alfa’s, Fiat 850, and x1/9. I always lost money on them. Header, cams webbers etc. Porsche 356 was a better use of my time and money. I always made money. The English cars had such bad rubber. They should have stuck with leather. I did have good electrical rebuild shops and hydraulic hose makers. My 2008 vette was better than all. Now I drive 2012 Tundra 40 miles a week.
ReplyDeleteEven Italian master mechanics can't keep one of those running.
ReplyDelete