Site dedicated to my Alfa Romeo GTAm named Ciao Bella. Restored by Al Leake (d.2008)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance 2009
Entered my Alfa Romeo GTAm into the 2009 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival. It was one of 150 cars selected for this years event.
Here is my car in the GT Touring Class (actually it is between classes as it could also have been entered in the Mixed Racers class). While the mix of cars entered this year was not as great as I have seen in past years. According to officiators the public turnout was the greatest ever in the 8 year history of this annual event. My Alfa was well received by both Alfisti, enthusiasts and the general public alike. Apparently some of the judges didn't "get it".
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
EuroAutoFest2009
At this year's wet and wild Euro Auto Fest in Greer, SC (home to the USA BMW plant) this annual festival of European marque cars featured the Morgan as the honored marque.
I walked away with the 1st place (best in class/Alfa Romeo) plaque and a Crowd Pleaser plaque. Not a bad take for the weekend.
These awards are to honor the memory of Al.
A few additions were made to the car last month by Giuseppe of Alfa Imports in Charlotte, NC. They included a boss red oil pan protector and a few minor adjustments to get her in tip top shape for this show and the Concours d'Elegance in Hilton Head Isl., SC end of this month.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Ciao Bella
jpsaleeby@aol.com or call (912) 656-2297
For more pictures and info scroll down.
VIN: AR 1532263*
Engine block number: AR 06224*048772*
Autodelta, Alfa Romeo's competition arm, prepared the GTAm from stock GTVs for the European Touring Car Championships. In 1970, the GTAms won six of nine races, and the Dutch driver Toine Hezemans secured the European Driver's Championship. These cars were raced successfully in the early 1970's.
There is controversy regarding the "Am" in GTAm. Some state that "America" is an interpretation; the other reading is "Alleggerita maggiorata" [meaning lightweight modified (made bigger) in Italian], the later probably being correct. The GTAms were lighter than their sister GTVs as the bonnet and trunk lids were fiberglass as well as the doors and fenders.
Only some 44 original GTAms are known to have been produced by Auto Delta.
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