Finally here! Right-hand drive outer headlamps for Bertone GTV from 1968-76 (GT Junior from 1971)

Spider full length floor pan 1970-93 - left and right sides

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Imola 25th & 26th September 2004

My visit to the annual “Mostra Scambio” (literally translates as “Swap Fair”), the Italian equivalent of Beaulieu Auto jumble, was once again blessed with scorching late summer weather identical to 2003. It is almost too hot for the long walk as the auto jumble encompasses the entire Imola race circuit both inside and out.

This is what you really need to get around!

Large selection of Fiat, Lancia & Alfa panels

Before you get too excited I should point out that the Italians have a huge obsession with motorbikes and the stalls at the circuit are easily 85% motorbike parts and you have to hunt for those elusive Alfa parts and even when you find them you may be shocked by the price!

However my aim this year was to find some specific rare 101 & 105 parts for customers as well as an original Giulietta steering wheel with chrome horn ring for my 1960 Spider Veloce. It was the only thing on the car which wasn’t correct and to find one in good condition is impossible in the UK and pretty tricky even in Italy. I also had a meeting with a company in Italy who re-manufacture many parts for 750/101 series Giuliettas and they supply some detail parts which I have never seen offered in the UK.
I headed first for the main circuit buildings / pit area where last year there were 40-50 cars for sale including a stunning Giulietta SS, an unbelievably over-priced SZ restoration project, a very original white 1955 750 Sprint and an average looking Bertone 2000GTV (snapped up shrewdly by German racer Alexander Furiani) which turned out to have a running 1600GTA engine in it! This year however the cars were a disappointment with little in the way of Alfas offered for sale (8 or 9 cars) and none of exceptional quality or rarity.

1967 Black Duetto 1600 for sale

There were 2 average Bertones, a couple of Series 4 Spiders, a couple of eighties Spiders, a Giulia Super and the black Duetto pictured above and that was about it!
Very disappointing……

So I set off around the circuit and after a mile of motorbike and scooter parts found Rodolfo Barbalace, a Sicilian with a stash of new old stock 105 parts. We had a brief conversation (my rudimentary Italian allows me to haggle but not to converse too deeply!) in which he revealed he has a collection of 5 Alfas including a step-front GT, a 1750GTV and a Montreal, sounds like my garage I thought! I bought a few minor parts from him, exchanged business cards and set on my way.

In case any of you are thinking of restoring a vintage Lambretta or Vepsa this is THE PLACE for you to come & source one or parts for it.

Spot the unusual Alfa alloys!

I then came across Matteo Ciuffi who has a single 9x13 and a single 10x13 Gtam wheels for sale - original used magnesium ones for 600 euros each (contact me if you want his number). A further mile of scooter & motorbike parts before coming across a used Giulietta Sprint centre heart in reasonable usable condition for 80 euros and then nothing for another mile. I felt like the 3 mile walk around the circuit hadn’t really yielded as much as I would have hoped and stopped for a bite to eat and a much needed cold beer.

After lunch I met up with Paolo who runs a small firm manufacturing and selling parts for Giulietta & 105 Giulia cars. He showed me a fascinating range of “detail parts” for the 750& 101 Giuliettas which I had never seen before as well as new door glass channels and seat runners - both items which rot out commonly on Giulietta Spiders.

Visible here are the drop glass channels and seat runner parts (top left & right) as well as fuel tank strap, boot & bonnet catches, bonnet support arm, hood frame front catches, stainless trim around the inside of a Spider door, wiper arm bases & nuts, Spider screen trim bolts and even Spider door hinge springs (in the plastic bag near the centre of the photo)

We arranged a trade discount & I purchased a selection of most of the items you see here including the metal Giulietta chassis/ engine number plates for under the bonnet (hood) of a 750 series car and all the Giulietta chassis type plates. This meeting had proved very useful & made the trip worthwhile in itself.

Outside the grandstand I met a small company with a supply of new 13x9” Gtam magnesium wheels but at a price of 700 euros each they are only for the real thing or a serious Gtam replica builder! I will wait for the wheels for my own car as I am currently in discussion with a company regarding an alloy replica at a rather more affordable price (roughly half the magnesium ones) which should be ready in the new year.

Rare wheels

Next I headed into the main circuit grandstand where the main traders have stands and sell everything from parts & owner’s manuals to books & memorabilia. In here I met Alvaro Bernardini who sells rare Italian car parts and had a Giulietta steering wheel in fantastic condition for sale. Excited but fearing the worst I asked how much? The answer wasn’t as terrifying as I expected and we settled at 380 euros which is very reasonable considering the condition & rarity.

I picked up a couple of other items for customers and then met with the company who manufacture many of the rubber parts for our cars and bought all the small detail parts they make for the Giulietta cars & a couple of items for the 105 range I‘d not seen before.

I then called it a day, loaded up my Fiat Punto hire car and headed for Bologna with my girlfriend to have a quick wander around the city as dusk fell and a pleasant meal near the historic two towers before flying back to London early on Monday morning!

Bologna by night!

I’d recommend Imola to customers looking to find a specific rare part especially for unusual models like 1900 / 102 series and Giulietta Sprint / Spider / SS but be prepared to pay for it. It is not a place to find bargains and many of the stalls will try and charge you tourist prices especially if you don‘t speak Italian! Most of all it’s a fun place to visit just for the atmosphere (Ryanair fly to Forli airport which is very close for under £100 return) and if you need scooter parts look no further!

For me it has enabled Classic Alfa to stock more of the small detail parts which, whilst not being great sellers or yield great profit, enable customers doing a full restoration to get their cars completed and with more accuracy than before.