I picked up the Alpines in Alabama this weekend. Here's the scoop:
Series IV - Given to my younger brother who lives in Henderson, NC
Paint and interior are in pretty bad shape, but the body has
surprisingly little rust or dings. It only has two coats of paint, of
which the top coat has literally flaked off! The tag on it was from
'84. Couldn't turn the engine with the crank I found in the trunk, so
it looks like a complete rebuild. All of this was expected for a car
that hasn't been driven for 12 years. The one thing I wasn't expecting
was that the steering box is broke and the bolts that hold the trunion
rod are broke off in that front axle piece.
- Therefore, does anyone have a steering box and/or that front axle
piece that they will be willing to part with?
Series V - I will restore for my wife (or at least that's what I
telling her now. We will see who drives it the most after
it gets finished.
This car has wire wheels (in great shape!), an overdrive tranny,
Motorola (sp?) radio with surround mounted under the dash, original
seatbelts, and sunvisor brackets (no sunvisors). The body is in fairly
poor shape with the usual rust in the drivers side floorboard and
rockers. (It is still better than the one I drive every day!) The
front has been hit and repaired, but not very well. The engine is
disassembled and the front bumper, the drivers seat, and the rear view
mirror are missing. Someone drained the oil out of the transmission,
so it is very rusty inside. This is probably what is wrong with the
SIV engine as well. The car is painted a pale yellow. I know it is not
an original Sunbeam color, but it looks great on this car and I am
tempted to respray it that same color. (I hear balking from some of
the purist out there - I am about as "purist" as they come except for
color codes. There are very few paint colors that look really good on
an Alpine.)
- So, here's what I need for the V, help with assessing the extent of
transmission damage and advice on rebuilding it; a rear view
mirror; a drivers side seat; a drivers side fender, or maybe even
the entire front clip; and a front bumper. Oh, and a shifter for
the transmission.
These cars are definitely project cars and it will probable be a year
or so before they see the 70 mph they attained while under tow, but
still not a bad deal for $800.
Chris Stephenson
Alpine III - daily driver and rust bucket extraordinaire
Alpine V - Help!
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