Our Duetto was purchased on eBay in May of 2007 from a small dealer in the Dallas area. The poor dear had sat there forlorn and exposed to the elements for 2 years. She suffered the indignity of loosing her rear window, which led to flooding of the cockpit floors. The resulting rust was limited to the floors, as the trunk, wheel arches and rockers were in beautiful shape.
I have located and spoken to the first two owners. She was delivered in white over red, which was not what was ordered, but the red upholstery soon grew on the first owner. He kept the car for 10 years, replacing the 1600cc engine with a 1750 along the way. He says he did it under the back yard tree, using a branch to secure the hoist. During these years he also backed the car into an obstacle and put a dent in the trunk lid.
Over the next few decades, she was oblivious struck in the nose (as usual) and received a few cosmetic repaints. When sold to the dealer, it had been sitting in storage for a number of years.
In our care, she was given a full mechanical rebuild, and the floors replaced. Newer-styled ATE brakes were installed to replace the original Dunlop kit, a task that included front spindles and a rear axle from a 1982 Spider. After getting the Duetto registered in the spring of 2009, we ran the car for a few months. The white paint was an eyesore; with the hidden body damage gnawing at us, we had here media blasted and prepared for a full repaint. At the same time, a 1967 1600 cc engine was procured, rebuilt, and prepared for installation in place of the 1750.
Lovely red leather seat covers and console carpet from World Uphosltery
1600 cc Alfa twin cam from the "OMG" 67 Stepnose GT, during rebuild
The New 1600cc installed in repainted engien bay
