[alfa] Duetto spotting

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Apparently this message did not make it through, thus the repeat, if in fact it actually did:

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I agree with most of what Andrew Watry said in his Duetto spotting 
guide. However after consulting my US version of the 1750 parts manual, 
The "Center bar of front bumper" (meaning it goes from bumper to bumper 
and across the grill) is part No. 105.03.59.072.00/01. Most of the 69's 
which have come into the shop have had them. They are always mangled of 
course and only one client wanted his repaired and installed - though I 
have all repaired and just don't install them.

Not mentioned was the 105.03.59.072.00/02 "Center bar of rear bumper". 
It goes between the two rear bumper overriders and is below the license 
plate. I have seen only one of these and it was on the same '69 Spider 
as the one which had the front center bar installed.

While I would never imply that any Alfa dealers at the time were 
unscrupulous when the car was new (or later), it is conceivable they 
might have removed these items (or they came unmounted and packaged in 
the trunk?) and then sold as optional extras.

Most likely virtually all have been hit and simply removed. Though do 
find it unusual the front center bars mostly remained and the rears are 
almost always missing completely from the car.

Technically of the two, the rear might offer some minimal protection, 
whereas along with being ugly, the front center bar inevitably pushes in 
the grill when hit making the grill virtually impossible to repair.

Originality regarding the Duetto's and Round-Tail's: Andrew is correct 
in his Duetto spotting guide (except his questioning the center bars) 
but failed to add the caveat: "Assuming all of these components have 
been kept original". Most likely the side marker lights have not been 
changed so the Duettos will have the single lights ahead of the doors 
and the 1750's will have the red side marker in the rear behind the 
wheel well and the yellow one in front of the front wheel well.

Obviously this conversation only applies to those with US cars. Along 
those lines, I'm not sure how much those outside the US "feel the need" 
to use non-factory cast wheels, rather than the original steel ones with 
hubcaps (more anon). We also don't seem to mind switching wheel sizes 
and either making up the wheel / tire circumference by using wider / 
taller tires...or not. Obviously the wheel studs all need to be removed 
and replaced with longer ones.

Hubcaps: The Duettos should have the narrow band hubcaps and the 1750's 
the wide (7") hubcaps. My theory is either the 7" hubcaps virtually flew 
off the 1750's or someone went around stealing them at night and now has 
a small warehouse full of them. Out of the three '69 Spiders in the 
shop, I have a total of about 25 to 30 small band hubcaps - and not one 
7" band hubcap. It was mentioned (twice) in the "Original Alfa Romeo 
Spider" the 1750 "Biba Restoration" car had the incorrect hubcaps. I 
don't believe reproduction 7" band hubcaps were available at the time. 
Today, I don't believe the small band ones are available but the 7" band 
ones now are.

I'd previously mentioned it wouldn't have been that unusual for a Duetto 
owner to  upgrade to the 1750 seats with headrests - as Dave Hammond 
mentions he did with his '68 Spider.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA
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