Need advice: Adding to the garage... Duetto anyone

[mlc240z]

OK, I give up.

What is year/make/model of that "or" car? Kinda looks like a "Steve McQueen" 275 GTB4

I love it.

[tamo3]

I like Alpine A110.

Alpine A110: Description of the model, photo gallery, modifications list ...

Haven't seen real one in my life.

[Wade Nelson]

does anybody here have experience with these cars?

I had an E-type, 1967, 4.2 motor, covered headlamps. WHEN it ran, it was fantastic. Smooth, powerful, tons of torque out of that big six.

The E's as a breed had lots of problems. Overheating was probably #1. I eventually diagnosed what caused probably 85% of all E-type overheating, a very funky original thermostat with unique features that NONE of the available or aftermarket replacements had --- namely a second plate which shut off the bypass. And a too-small coolant overflow tank. Along with 22 hoses, one of which was almost ALWAYS leaking or ready for replacement. The problems with that car were almost NEVER in the bottom of the engine, clutch, or transmission. They lay elsewhere -- electrical, cooling, hydraulic...

The electrical system was not robust in any manner; and the OEM 2-blade cooling fan downright pathetic.

And the parts were horribly, horribly expensive, even 25 years ago.

It's a beautiful car to look at. A treat for the eyes. As a weekender, maybe. A daily driver, no way.

The two best days of a Jaguar owner's life are the day they purchase it, and the day they sell it. Not necessarily in that order.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I am currently working on getting pricing and info on this...

It is new york state.

But that would be a great long drive back. The prices are all over the place. I have seen great ones from 18-25k. NO telling where this guy will come in at.

[Mikes Z car]

That looks like the car in that Richard Pryor movie where he is blind and his buddy is deaf?

[Zedyone_kenobi]

That white car is OUT, I mean out

That guy is looking for 40k for that car. Hagerty and hemmings show the current value for a concurs restoration is 32. I think everybody in NY state is crazy.

[Captain Obvious]

There's a lot of love for the Duetto and the prices reflect that. You're probably already aware, but you can get basically the same car with the Kamm tail for much cheaper. I think the Duetto ended in 69 and the vertical back Kamm tail started in 70. Cheaper, but doesn't carry the same "mystique" as the Duetto. If your wife doesn't care, then a later Kamm tail might suffice.

Forgot to mention it before, but I've not heard good things about the SPICA fuel injection system. Everyone is always screwing with it and bitching about the unreliability and lots of people pull the whole system off and throw on a pair of Webers instead. However, with myself being a flat top carb proponent, I'm sensitive that there may be different views on that situation.

I looked at my books and I don't have anything new enough to cover the Duetto.

All my info is from back when the Spider looked like this: :kiss:

[Carl Beck]

I just went though a similar process. Looking for something that the Wife and I could enjoy in a more or less Classic Car or Special Interest Car. We really didn't want a "project" as much as something that was ready to drive and enjoy.

Had to have:

Modern A/C for Florida {her main objection to the 240Z}

Convertible - she missed her last one...

Sporty..to Sports/GT

Classic Car Insurance

The requirement for modern A/C pretty much ruled out most 40 year old sports cars. A retractable hardtop seemed to be the best of both worlds ie Convertible with good A/C.

Mecerdes Benz SLK 230 Sport

FWIW,

Carl B.

[240dkw]

You should come up here for this auction, this guy donated his whole car collection to a local collage to auction off as a fundraiser. I count three E's in the bunch. Have no idea what they will fetch or condition.

J.C. (Jack) Anderson Auto Auction - VehiclesMar2013 - a set on Flickr

[9teen7t240z]

I'm considering a later model XJS convertible (1995-1997) for my "ball and chain" (). I had an earlier year model with the V12 which was an awesome driver.....when it ran. But, Jaguar had still not worked out all of the kinks in their electrical systems by 1992. I understand that the 6 cylinder models made during the end of the production were about as good of a car as Jaguar ever made. Anyway, it's the type of car that the little lady can appreciate, while being one that I can enjoy as well.

As for 60's era roadsters, I've always liked Maxwell Smart's Sunbeam Tiger.....but how often do you run across one of them?

[Arne]

Are you looking for a project, or ready to drive? The first post said project, but the white was obviously not.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I am looking to buy the best Duetto/spidier I can. Yes the boat tail is a definite requirement. The reason I started to look up cars like the white one is my budget is around 20k. That gets you to near the top of a #2 condition car. As these cars are nearing 50 years old, they are going to be projects as we know no matter how good they look in pictures. Unless you buy a #1 pebble beach car there will be gaskets to fix, rubber to replace, carbs to tune, bushings to renew, wiring to clean off, etc. The list of projects goes on. I had pretty good success with my spend more up front approach to my Datsun, and I still replaced the engine, tranny, bushings, hoses, seals, mounts, fuel lines, fuel tank, well you guys know. So I thought I would throw more money at the problem with a car that will no doubt not be as robust as a Datsun. I do believe that these cars like british cars are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be, when they are in a good state of repair. So I want to by one that,like my datsun requires next to ZERO body work. Thus the 20k price. I will spend the next 5 years getting the car how I want it.

So in my mind any Duetto outside of a perfect #1 condition, is going to be a project.