>
> Hello,
> I am thinking of buying an Alpine GT 1964 (Hardtop only) in white.
> It is for sale at GBP 4250 and seems in very solid and good
> condition. It is for sale from a classic car garage. It is claimed to
> have had a new gearbox.
> a) Is it worth it?
> b) Will it be as reliable as the trusy old beetle I'm thinking of
> trading in for it?
> c) Are they a 'practical classic'?
>
G'day,
I've had my Series II Apline for eighteen months and apart from the small
hiccups that make owning a car like this interesting there have been no
problems.
I did have low oil pressure that refused to go above 30 psi hot or cold.
The engine sounded very tight but I was still suspicious. I took out the
pressure relief valve and found that at some stage someone had put the cup
back in the wrong way around so it was at full flow at about 25 psi instead
of 50 psi. Since then I've had no problems.
The electrics are very simple so that when things go wrong as they do they
can be identified.
My car has a 1967 Gazelle engine ( I don't know if the US had them but they
are the same shape as the Minx but a bit classier) it's the same 1725cc
alloy head engine as the series V but maybe with lower compression. I think
this makes it more reliable, and it is a common enough swap. It's still good
for 70mph in third.
Speaking of reliable I had a Minx for 6 years before I got the Alpine and
after the initial engine rebuild that I did at home it never required
mechanical attention and never visited a professional mechanic. In that time
I did 70,000 kms, and it was not parked undercover. Reliable!
You should love having an Alpine, everybody I know does.
Anthony
Series II Alpine
Mark I Tiger (in transit from San Diego)
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