Solved - NEH 2766: Home-modified 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

[Carnut]

What's this, for 1 point?

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[Carnut]

Experts?

[Iluvatar]

Moretti 750?

[nicanary]

I'm working on the assumption that this is the US. I have a feeling that the car is GRP-bodied, since the original red colour extends right through to the dash -top, and the instrument binnacle is part of the one-piece moulding.

It's almost certainly not a volume-produced car - is it an American special ?

[Carnut]

It's not a Moretti.
But I'm not sure where the work was done, but I don't think it was in the US.  It will have plenty of GRP in it but the original car on which it is based - which is in fact a volume-produced model! - was made of steel.

[nicanary]

Is this a rebodied Austin-Healey Sprite ?

[Carnut]

Is this a rebodied Austin-Healey Sprite ?

No..

[D-type]

Presumably that also rules out Innocenti.

Is it Triumph based?

[nicanary]

I've seen those wheels somewhere before. Is it an Osca ?

[Carnut]

I've seen those wheels somewhere before. Is it an Osca ?

No!

[kwgibbs]

Is it Japanese?

[Carnut]

Is it Japanese?

No!

[nicanary]

Right, I'd better start asking questions. Italian ?

[Carnut]

Right, I'd better start asking questions. Italian ?

Yes!

[nicanary]

If it's volume- produced, it's a Fiat. And are those the wheels from a 128 3p ?

[Carnut]

If it's volume- produced, it's a Fiat. And are those the wheels from a 128 3p ?

Actually it's not a Fiat!

[nicanary]

I'm getting old. I'm past my prime.

The rounded instrument binnacle and the wheels - it's an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. I have found reference to a 1957 Veloce model which had a similar customised front end, and was found wearing a "hardtop" made from a VW Beetle rear window. Is this the same car after work had been done ?

[Carnut]

I'm getting old. I'm past my prime.

The rounded instrument binnacle and the wheels - it's an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. I have found reference to a 1957 Veloce model which had a similar customised front end, and was found wearing a "hardtop" made from a VW Beetle rear window. Is this the same car after work had been done ?

I think it probably is, yes.
It's a home-modified Giulietta Spider.
Can you post a picture of it wearing the hardtop?

[nicanary]

I found it mentioned on the Giulietta website, and also as an E-bay sale. This is the rear view - it's different, you have to say that.

[nicanary]

And this is a front view, which makes me think it is the same car as you selected for the puzzle. I believe the puzzle photo shows the car after the restoration work has been started, and the VW roof has been removed and replaced with a GRP (or VW steel!) rollover bar.

[Carnut]

Thanks.
It's so similar it must be the same car, although the front is rather different.  The nose on the puzzle car is longer and the headlight cutouts are a different shape..

Maybe your pictures are an earlier version!

[nicanary]

Thanks.
It's so similar it must be the same car, although the front is rather different.  The nose on the puzzle car is longer and the headlight cutouts are a different shape..

Maybe your pictures are an earlier version!

Crikey, you're right ! Maybe I've got this wrong, although it does seem unlikely that there were two cars of that similarity. Perhaps the new owner decided to make alterations which would make the car more aesthetically pleasing. I'll keep this car in mind in case I come across anything about it in the future.