Conserv

Very impressively dry, Barney! And un-molested (no speaker holes!). And complete (steelies still mounted!). Do you know where the car spent most of its life? Did someone apply black undercoating in the wheel wells, or is that just 47 years of dirt, grease, etc.? Obviously a Fjord car with Navy Blue interior. Did you previously report the VIN here? Pre-VIN 2761944, or within the range, VIN 2762015 to 2762373, when U.S.-spec tii’s reverted to the 121 head and plastic intake runners? The engine block appears to have been cast May 19, 1972 (“19E” within oval frame and “72” outside oval frame). The intake manifold plenum (accumulator) appears to have been cast in February or March 1972 (2 or 3 nubs surrounding “72”). Best regards, Steve

Been there, done it! Frequently... 😉 Best regards, Steve

I believe all the Solex DIDTA’s have black plastic floats. Regards, Steve

Hey, Tom, Just to be clear, the 32/32 DIDTA is the Solex two-barrel downdraft, standard on U.S.-spec cars from mid-1972 on. I’m not seeing anything here about the Solex carb or am I somehow missing a post? Thanks and best regards, Steve

I last used Paltech Technologies to rebuild and restore my ‘76’s Solex. It turned out well and looks “as original”. Carbs are not perpetual performers: they all need periodic rebuilding. Back when carbed cars were my daily drivers, I tried to stick with a plan of rebuilding carbs every 4 years or 40,000 miles. Now, with my ‘76 only adding 2,500 miles annually, I’ve stretched out the time interval. When idling issues arise, however, it’s usually a reminder that it’s been too long since the last rebuild.... 😉 Regards, Steve

I’ve been there. Fun collection of cars! No Bavaria when I visited — a few years ago! (Are the rubbers on the front bumper overriders flipped upside down?) Regards, Steve

Hmm.... Not a Repa. Not what I expected. Looks like an Autoflug. Do the female receptacles look like the ones shown below? I don’t have any extra: just trying to figure out what you have. Regards, Steve

My estimates are based on dates confirmed by Archives and previously published on this forum. My estimate of May 1970 for VIN 1571584, for instance, was based on VIN 1571242 (April 8, 1970) and VIN 1571321 (April 16, 1970). Thus, I’m confident the manufacturing date for VIN 1571584 is after April 16th (‘02’s, unlike the Big Coupes — and old Alfa’s 😋 — were produced sequentially, but for a few 1 or 2-day “hold-overs”). How much after April 16th? Well, I’m just guessing, but my track record is pretty good. 😉 Regards, Steve

Ted, I’ve long assumed that the jack’s built-in crank handle arrived with the square taillights, so 1974. But — to be honest — I don’t actually know when the jacks graduated from (a.) a hex bolt for the lug nut wrench to (b.) a crank handle. I must admit the jack in the original post looks pretty darned pristine, matching the original rim in tidiness. Is there any possibility the crank handle was available by March 1973? Best regards, Steve

David, I haven’t looked in a Bavaria’s trunk since about 1978, so what I say may be nonsense! First off, have you scoured the original Owner’s handbook for photos of the trunk? Have you looked at ads for original Bavaria sales brochures or road tests, or, even better, actual sales brochures or road tests? Recall that the answer for the Bavaria could well be the same as the answer for the 2500 and 2800 before the Bavaria, and the 3.0S after the Bavaria. The rectangular spare wheel hold down used on 1966-1974 ‘02’s is, similarly, rectangular and notch to grasp the edges of the spare wheel’s center bore. I wonder if you’re simply looking at two spare wheel hold-downs. Never mind the unusual plated finish on the ‘02 hold-down shown below; most were painted black. Second, a threaded stud, protruding upward from the trunk floor adjacent to the spare wheel well, was used to hold ‘02 jacks before 1974. Is there any possibility the Bavaria takes a similar approach — there appear to be multiple candidates? The moveable arm on the jack has a hole to fit over the threaded stud. That’s all I’ve got! Regards, Steve OOPS: others got here first, with better information no less!

Stuart, Since there were at least three different seat belt suppliers over the course of ‘02 production — Klippan, Autoflug, and Repa — and their buckles are not interchangeable, you might want to specify the manufacturer. A 1974 probably left the factory with Repa seatbelts, but who knows what’s in there 45 years later. Regards, Steve