1974 Alfa Romeo GTV

By any measure, $30k is a huge price, as these cars usually trade in the $10,000-$15,000 range

As described by the seller on eBay Motors: This is a one of a kind 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000. It is in absolutely mint condition, with 12,776 documented miles. It was purchased new by my wife from Alfa of Tacoma in 1976 and reportedly was one of the last GTVs to be imported to the States. It has been kept garaged and covered since new.
After the 1974 GTV was repainted in 1985 we decided to put it away and it has only been driven for occasional pleasure and upkeep since then. This car is mechanically perfect. Its only cosmetic flaw is that some of the stitching on the driver's seat is worn. Other than that you'd be hard pressed to find any other fault with this beauty.
The Alfa GTV comes with factory air conditioning and limited-slip differential. It has also had a number of options installed on it over the years. The major items include: Cromodora wheels with Pirelli P6 tires, Alpine cassette stereo and speakers, factory GTA headers and complete exhaust system, factory European cams, Koni shocks, Shankle sway bars, lowered springs, blueprinted injection pump and injectors, European taillights and side markers, Carello headlamps, chrome outside mirror, sump guard, power antenna, battery master switch, updated fuel pump and a new high-torque starter from an Alfetta. In addition the car will come with most of the removed OEM parts.

{analysis} This 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV sold on eBay Motors for $30,101, on November 13, 2004.
Designed by the young Giorgetto Giugiaro for Bertone, the GTV was an instant classic from its introduction as the Giulia Sprint GT in 1963. With simple and elegant lines and perfect proportions, over the ensuing 14 years of production its body changed only subtly, in details such as the grille, headlights, taillights and instrument panel design. The biggest revision came in 1969, with the elimination of the early "stepped" hood. It was then that the Giulia coupe became known as the GTV.
Underhood was another story entirely. Engine displacement grew over the years, changing the GTV's character. The original high-revving, carbureted 1570-cc DOHC four (1600) was supplanted by a 1799-cc four (1750) with a SPICA mechanical fuel injection system in the GTV of 1969, which caused owners no end of trouble as they struggled to get the primitive unit set up correctly. The 1962-cc (2000) GTV of 1973-
1974 had a smoother, torquier, but lower-revving motor that, despite its greater power, left many Alfisti longing for the classic "on-edge" feeling of the 1600.
Regardless of the engine, all these coupes are superbly balanced cars, with slick gearboxes and nimble, predictable handling. There's really no more tossable sports car in its class. Mechanically, GTVs are robust and reliable, with weak second-gear synchros and a tendency to blow head gaskets as their main potential
problems.
Build quality is good and the GTV has the feel of a much more expensive piece of machinery. That said, bodies are as prone to rust as all Italian cars of the era. Particular spots to check out are the double-skinned rocker panels, trunk floor (especially the battery box) and the floor under the pedal box. The drain holes in the bottom of the doors should also be checked to make sure they are not clogged, as this can lead to rust in the bottom of the door skins.
Interior trim can be an issue on GTVs, with weak seam stitching on the seats and rear seat tops, which can split from sun exposure through the rear window. Replacement upholstery kits are readily available to solve these problems. A more serious concern is cracking in the vinyl dashboard top. Although glue-on pads are sold, the only proper way to deal with this is to replace the entire vinyl dashboard unit. Redoing the seats and dashboard in a GTV could cost upwards of $3,000 in parts alone, with labor extra.
The 2000 Alfa GTV pictured here was indeed the last of the line. Though the GTV actually continued in production through 1977, it was no longer sold in the U.S.-the new Alfetta Sprint replaced it for the 1975 model year. The popularity of the Alfetta at introduction can be gauged by the fact that it took a year of sitting on the dealer's lot for the car pictured here to sell when new. Today, however, the tables have turned, as even traditionally affordable late-model GTVs are becoming increasingly attractive collectibles, while "good" Alfettas are still a challenge to peddle at no reserve on eBay.
This 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV is stated to be a low-mileage, one-owner car, with the factory limited-slip differential and air conditioning, both desirable options. Less attractive, at least to my sensibility, is that this car has been rather extensively though tastefully modified. The Cromodora five-star wheels are nice, but GTA headers and exhaust, Euro cams, Koni shocks and Shankle sway bars lead me to think that the "occasional pleasure" the seller has had in this GTV has been on the track. The battery master switch installation is the icing on the competition cake.
The car was repainted when it was 11 years old, which is not surprising, given the usual life of the original lacquer finish. The windshield was not removed during this work, though the original U.S.-spec side-marker lights and taillights were replaced with European ones at this time. Detailed photos show panel fit to be variable, with the left side door off at the rear edge and the right side of the trunk lid raised. The interior is in very good condition, with the all-important dash top appearing to be excellent, although the carpets cannot be seen underneath the red floor mats.
All in all, whether this Alfa GTV was a weekend track toy or not, it appears to be in exceptional shape. But by any measure, $30k is a huge price for a '74 GTV, as most trade within the SCM Price Guide range of $10,000-$15,000. I thought the performance mods would have suppressed the price, but the bidders (seven who offered more than $20,000) felt otherwise. Perhaps the extremely low mileage and single ownership history counted more in their minds.
As interest in these cars continues to rise and the number of one-owner, no-stories cars continues to drop, I would certainly expect more cars to break that $20k barrier. But still, the new owner here may have to wait a while for the market to catch up to what he paid. The seller, on the other hand, hit a grand slam.{/analysis}