Tag Archives: 1979

Monteverdi Sahara

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1979 Monteverdi Sahara

Offered by Oldtimer Galerie | Toffen, Switzerland | October 19, 2019

Photo – Oldtimer Galerie

Peter Monteverdi’s Swiss car company produced some wild supercars, some Chrysler-based sedans, and some luxury off-roaders based on the very humble International Scout. Two such SUVs were produced: the Safari and the Sahara. Production began in 1977 and lasted through 1982, when IHC killed off the Scout.

Luxury SUVs were fairly rare in the late 1970s, and the Swiss market was pretty much limited to the Range Rover. Which is why Monteverdi pounced on the opportunity to offer a competitor. The Safari was bodied by Fissore, whereas the cheaper Sahara pretty much just used the Scout’s bodywork as-is.

This restored example is powered by a 5.7-liter IHC V8 good for 165 horsepower. The Sahara didn’t sell as well as the Safari, with as few as 30 examples having been built. This one is expected to bring between $30,000-$35,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Bristol 412

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1979 Bristol 412 Series 2

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | September 4, 2019

Photo – Brightwells

Another Bristol! The 412 was the successor to the 411, and we’ve featured four of those so far. This model was produced in two series between 1975 and 1981. Production figures were never released to the public, but its thought about 80 were produced before Bristol slightly revised the 412 and renamed it the Beaufighter.

The 412 was built side-by-side with the 603, and the cars were very similar. This car uses a 5.9-liter Chrysler V8 good for 170 horsepower. Top speed was 140 mph. The body of this Bristol was actually designed by Zagato, and it’s a targa.

Remarkably, for a handbuilt car this rare, the pre-sale estimate is only $18,000-$22,000. Click here for more from Brightwells.

Update: Sold $17,258.

Alpine A310

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1979 Alpine A310 V6

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | June 17, 2019

Photo – Artcurial

While Alpine was affiliated with Renault for most of their existence, they weren’t taken over by the company until 1973, which makes the A310 the final product introduced by an independent Alpine.

The cars used a tubular steel chassis with fiberglass bodywork and a rear-mounted engine, and the early models were all four-cylinder cars. In 1976, an update was released which saw the introduction of a 2.7-liter V6 good for 148 horsepower. Top speed was 137 mph.

This car comes from the A310’s best sales year: 1979, when 1,381 of these were sold. In all, 9,276 V6-powered A310s were built, with an additional 2,340 four-cylinder models. This car is selling at no reserve with a pre-sale estimate of $39,000-$50,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Comuta-Car

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1979 Comuta-Car

Offered by Mecum | Chicago, Illinois | October 25-27, 2018

Photo – Mecum

The Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar was an electric microcar built between 1974 and 1977. This tiny wedged-shaped, bug-eyed thing was available in some very 1970s colors. About 2,300 were built. Hilariously, the company billed themselves as America’s sixth-largest automobile manufacturer, which was technically true.

The design was purchased by Commuter Vehicles Inc. in 1979. This new company built pretty much the same car, but badged as the Comuta-Car, with a Comuta-Van variant available as well (but mostly for the Postal Service). Production lasted through 1982 and some kits may have been sold after that. By then, 2,144 Comuta-Cars had been built.

This example is fitted with a 12 horsepower electric motor that runs on four batteries. It has a terrifying 50-mph speedometer and a plastic body. It will sell at no reserve, so go get it. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Bitter CD

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1979 Bitter CD

Offered by H&H Classics | Duxford, U.K. | March 29, 2017

Photo – H&H Classics

Erich Bitter’s German car company built its first car in 1973 and it was this, the CD. Since then, they’ve only built two other models and we featured one of them. The CD was a hatchback sports car built between 1973 and 1979. The car stems from an Opel concept car, the Coupe Diplomat, that was shown at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show. Opel didn’t put the car into production, but they encouraged race car driver Erich Bitter to build it instead.

As Opel was owned by General Motors in 1973, the CD is powered by a 5.4-liter Chevrolet V-8 making 227 horsepower. The original body was by Frua, but it sported some updates from Bitter when it was shown at the ’73 Frankfurt Motor Show. The design was again a success and Bitter took enough orders to start production.

Unfortunately, the fuel crisis of the 1970s ruined any plans this car had for success. In seven years of production, only 395 were built (against a target of 200 per year). This is one of 37 built in 1979 and it was used by Erich Bitter himself before he put it in his personal museum. The first real owner acquired it in 1990 and it shows just 42,000 miles. It should bring between $74,000-$86,000 despite the fact that the photo above makes it look as if this car is emerging from the sea. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $84,228.

Bianco Coupe

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1979 Bianco S Coupe

Offered by Auctions America | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | April 2, 2016

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

Here’s another Volkswagen-based car from Brazil. The Bianco was designed by Ottorino Bianco (who designed Formula 3 cars first). It debuted at the 1976 São Paolo Motor Show but would only last through 1979 when the company closed.

It’s powered by a rear-mounted 1.6-liter Volkswagen flat-four. The body is plastic and fiberglass. It certainly looks like a kit car but they were actually built at a factory – by hand. About 20 per month were churned out.

If you’ve never seen one these don’t worry – most people haven’t. This car comes out of a Brazilian collection and has to be one of very few in the U.S. It should bring between $10,000-$20,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $24,750.

International Scout II

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1979 International Scout II Rallye

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 23, 2015

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Jeeps kind of had the market cornered with off-road utility vehicles after the war until International Harvester threw their hat into the ring in 1960 with the Scout. The original Scout model was the Scout 80 and there would be numerous other versions produced until the model range went away after 1980, which makes this Scout II a very late example.

The Scout II was a four-wheel drive SUV produced between 1971 and 1980. They were all two-doors and could be had as a wagon or pickup. These were the days when SUVs were somewhat crude and entirely functional – none of that front-wheel drive Honda CRV cute-ute business we have today.

The catalog description is bit vague here, saying that it as a V-8, but it doesn’t specify if it is a 4.4-liter or 5.0-liter. It does have the Rallye package and the hardtop is removable. These are really interesting, cool trucks and the forefathers of the modern SUV. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Mecum’s lineup.

Update: Sold $14,750.

Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Turbodelta

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1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Turbodelta Coupe

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 8, 2014

1979 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Turbodelta Coupe

This Alfetta GTV is a limited-edition model from 1979 called the “Turbodelta” which was developed by Autodelta, Alfa’s motorsport division. It is a homologation special so Alfa could compete in Group 4 Rally.

It starts with an Alfetta GTV. The engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter straight-four tuned to make 150 horsepower. Top speed was around 130 mph (I’m noticing a pattern among these cars). This is an all-original, low-miles example with known history.

Only 400 examples of the Turbodelta were built. This should sell for between $35,000-$38,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Artcurial.

Update: Sold $49,867

Five Rare Alfas

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1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 8, 2014

1965 Alfa Romeo Guilia TZ

The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ was new for 1963 and it was built to replace the Giulietta SZ. The TZ was developed with Autodelta – Alfa’s dedicated competition arm. It features a tubular chassis and sleek wagon-esque bodywork from Zagato – thus the “TZ” for “tubolare Zagato.”

The car uses a 1.6-liter straight-four making 160 horsepower. The car was very light and could do 130+ mph. TZs won their class at all of the big races including Le Mans, the Targa Florio, Sebring and more. The competition history of this car is unknown – if it was used in competition at all.

Only 112 Giulia TZs (sometimes referred to as the TZ1) were built between 1963 and 1965. This one has undergone a comprehensive restoration and is ready for classic car rallies or vintage racing events, depending on what your preference is. This car should sell for between $1,025,000-$1,365,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $1,289,366

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1966 Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroroute

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 8, 2014

1966 Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroroute

Consider that the car you see here is one year newer than the car above. It is essentially a factory-made replica of one of their own cars. It is styled much like the 1750 Gran Sport by Zagato that Alfa built in the 1930s.

It uses the mechanicals from the Giulia 1600 – a 1.6-liter straight-four making 106 horsepower. The body is aluminium (which it wasn’t in the 1930s). There are also likely some creature comforts that the earlier cars lacked as well.

Between 1965 and 1967, only 92 examples of this very rare Alfa Romeo were built (it was not a success in its day). You almost never see them. While not as valuable as a real 1930s 1750 Gran Sport, this car should still likely bring between $47,000-$75,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Artcurial’s special second-day all-Alfa sale at Retromobile.

Update: Sold $75,604.

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1986 Alfa Romeo 75 1.8 i.e. Turbo Evoluzione

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 8, 2014

1986 Alfa Romeo 75 1.8 i.e. Turbo Evoluzione

The Alfa Romeo 75 was a plaid, boring ol’ mid-size sedan built between 1985 and 1992. A standard 75 – or even some of their upscale, limited-edition trims aren’t collectible. But this Turbo Evoluzione certainly is. In order to meet FIA Group A regulations, Alfa had to build road-going versions of their 75 Group A Touring Car.

This is the result. The engine is a turbocharged 1.8-liter fuel-injected straight-four making 155 horsepower. Top speed was 130 mph and it could hit 60 in 7.5 seconds. This was a pretty badass sedan for 1986.

The cars were only built for a year and only 500 were made – which makes this a very limited edition model considering over 375,000 Alfa 75s were built in total. This car should bring between $20,000-$27,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $38,606

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1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Turbodelta Coupe

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 8, 2014

1979 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Turbodelta Coupe

Next up we have a pair of Alfetta GTVs. This one is a limited-edition model from 1979 called the “Turbodelta” which was developed by Autodelta, Alfa’s motorsport division. It is a homologation special so Alfa could compete in Group 4 Rally.

It starts with an Alfetta GTV. The engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter straight-four tuned to make 150 horsepower. Top speed was around 130 mph (I’m noticing a pattern among these cars). This is an all-original, low-miles example with known history.

Only 400 examples of the Turbodelta were built. This should sell for between $35,000-$38,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Artcurial.

Update: Sold $49,867

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1981 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Grand Prix

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 8, 2014

1981 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV Grand Prix

Here’s the other limited edition Alfetta GTV we’re featuring. It’s a “Grand Prix” special edition. It was built to commemorate Alfa Romeo’s return to Formula One, which occurred in 1981.

Underneath, it’s all Alfetta GTV. The engine is a 2.0-liter straight-four making 128 horsepower. Between 1981 and 1982, only 650 examples were made and this one has low miles. It should sell for between $11,000-$16,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Artcurial’s lineup.

Update: Sold $14,477.

TVR 3000S

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1979 TVR 3000S

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 9, 2012

TVR never sent many cars to the U.S. and they haven’t sent any (officially) for decades. Which is a shame because they were one of the last true volume builders of outrageous supercars.

The 3000S wasn’t quite a supercar. But back in the 1970s TVR was building British sports cars with solid performance. I don’t normally associate TVR with the likes of Triumph, MG and the like, mostly, I guess, because TVR was privately owned and managed to avoid the meltdown of the British automotive industry in the 1970s. Plus, they are rarer and command comparatively more cash.

This is actually a good looking car – just don’t dare mention the fact that it (or other British cars of similar vintage) could resemble a Datsun (trust me, I learned that the hard way). It has a 3.0 liter V-6 making 142 horsepower.

The 3000S was only in production in 1978 and 1979. Only 258 were built and of those, only  67 were left-hand drive models and only 49 of those were exported to North America. So, in a way, this car is one of 49. This car is the perfect car to buy if you want to show up at a British car show in something other than an MGB. It will definitely turn heads among those in the know. It is estimated between $40,000-$50,000. For more info click here and more on the sale here.

Update: Sold $24,200.