Continuing the love affair with Giulia

I’M STARTING TO believe that every great Alfa story starts with a tow truck.

The Alfa was doing great. I was at the Grand National Hot Rod show and realised I was 1.8 miles from the famed church used in The Graduate, so made a quick stop for a pic. Then I was scouting locations with a client in Franklin Canyon, where they shot the intro to the Andy

Griffith Show: no problem. I even put on a set of steel braided brake hoses, which made a big difference.

It was only when the Alfa was included in a magazine story with the new Giulia and the Milano that, well, it started doing Alfa things.

Sunday afternoon, car beautifully waxed and detailed, tank full, driving home ready for a 6am leave. Climbing a hill on the 405 freeway, I go for a downshift… hmm, not downshifting. Not shifting into any gear at all, stuck in fifth. Lucky to make it off the freeway, I coast to a stop and call the AAA.

Next call is to the story’s writer, who answers quickly. ‘Wow, did you already get my email? The Milano is running on only five cylinders.’ Now I don’t feel so bad that my Alfa’s only got fifth gear. We push the shoot back a day. While I’m waiting for the AAA, a beautiful blonde highway patrol officer pulls up behind me to offer condolences and block traffic. Only in LA.

I was at the shop by 8am the next morning, 8.45 gearbox out and apart, a tiny bolt had broken in half, easy fix. The writer stopped by too; he just needed plug wires for the Milano. We were back on track!

We shot outside of Mojave in an old mining town over two days. The cars ran great. As the sun set, I was driving the Giulia back towards Mojave, reflecting on the past day’s work, when I noticed the headlights starting to dim, the radio had no signal, top speed was falling. The alternator had quit, 88 miles from home. Hello, AAA? I need a flatbed.

But four weeks have now passed without a problem. Seems even Alfa stories can have happy endings.