This Alfasud Giardinetta is probably the best I have seen locally in the last few years.

This car is a Giardinetta built in Brits, in the Republic of South Africa in 1983, a year before Alfa Romeo disinvested from the RSA in 1984.

Since then they have returned with imported models. In the intervening years it took some effort to maintain these old models in an acceptable state of roadworthiness.

According to the owner of this car it was bought in 1993 for ZAR 4,500-00. It was used as an everyday commuting vehicle for another 9 years.

In 2003 it was re-sprayed in its current colour the closest that could be found to the "fire-cracker" red that he 1984 Alfa Romeo 33. The dashboard was also redone.

The colour is however much 'deeper' than the red of the Alfa 33, with a bit more maroon in it. Locally it is known as '"toffee-apple red".

To date the owner has spent approximately ZAR 9500-00 on the car which equates to approx. USD 1335-00 spent on the car including the purchase price.

Not bad for a near collectors item, don't you think?