Giulia (Type 105) 1962-1993

Peter Ford with Ian Williams & Dan Howell of Dan Howell Classics

15 May 2025: Just emerged from a year-long total engine rebuild by Dan Howell Classics in Wrington near Bristol.

VWD 242S has had 9 owners prior to my brother Peter and me purchasing her in October 2023.

She was owned for 10 years by Larry Adler the famed harmonica player and composer, being used as a daily driver around London.

Unfortunately, very little history came with the car and it appears to have been in a very poor condition when in 1999 an enthusiast started to rebuild it himself.

The bodywork is very sound, but poor body preparation (and spending 7 years under a tarpaulin) has shown up a lot of micro-blistering spots, but they appear to be surface level rather than anything nastier. We will get to a body restoration in due course.

Other than the engine rebuild, the gearbox was checked and found to be fine, the prop shaft was overhauled with new doughnuts, carrier, bearing etc.

The rear brakes received new calipers and pads, the fronts just pads and the discs were cleaned up.

The electronics were updated with new 123 ignition, flamethrower coil and hi tech plug leads.

The cooling system was totally renewed and all hoses changed.

The Solex ADDH carbs were replaced with new Weber 40 DCOEs in summer 2025 and were set up on a rolling road.

An electronic fuel pump fitted in early 2026.

The plan is to rebuild and lower the suspension with an Alfaholics fast road kit during 2026.

The body war last sprayed circa 2000 and had a poor level of preparation. Many areas have microblistering, but there seems to be no real rot in the car. Time will tell.....