Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint by Job Vreugdenhil fills the void

This is magical to me

The license plate is different, the rest is correct. Job Vreugdenhil has filled the void after the forced sale of the Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint in which he pretty much grew up. “This is magical for me,” says the late twenties classic technician, as he directs the freshly restored gran turismo through the landscape. “All the memories come flooding back.”

Text and photography: Aart van der Haagen

Intense, when a family has to sacrifice its showpiece in financially difficult times to keep its head above water. “I had a really hard time with it,” says Job Vreugdenhil, thinking back to that dark period in 2012. “It was certain to me that I would one day experience the same Alfa would purchase. In fact, I immediately started looking, even though as a 17-year-old I knew I wouldn't be able to afford something like that for a while. The 2600 was sold at the wrong time, when it still had little value as a classic. Shortly afterwards you saw prices quadruple.” The emptiness dragged on for seven years until an opportunity presented itself. “When I restored mine with my own hands Citroën When I put it up for sale, I came across an advertisement online for a 2600 Sprint from 1965 in Italy. Admittedly a project, but in exactly the same color combination as my father's and quite complete.” The latter is decisive, because the parts for this model cost a fortune. 

Jammed

Work to be done, such as replacing the six-cylinder in-line engine. “The original was stuck due to an improper revision, I suspect. I found another one in the Netherlands, but when I got home the block turned out to be cracked. It just so happened that after many years my father came into closer contact with his old man Alfafriends and one of them still had a suitable engine, albeit with a cylinder head that was so worn that it could no longer be leveled. Fortunately, there was another one in my father's extensive old stock. After grinding the crankshaft and purchasing new bearings, pistons, bushes, gaskets and seals, I could start building it. I just had to find a good five-speed gearbox from somewhere. What do you think? Suddenly such a transmission appeared in our moving belongings, brand new.”

Tinkering

The condition of the bodywork was not too bad. “It even turned out that new sills and original floor plates were welded in at some point. Later I would like to take care of a few spots, but for now I think it's fine, because the restoration of such a Alfa 2600 Sprint costs tons of money. Reason why I'm saving the spray painting of the carriage for the future. Now I have rolled it and had a friend polish it.” The still very decent blue leather upholstery remained untouched, but new dark red carpet was necessary. In terms of chassis, Vreugdenhil could largely make do with a brake overhaul plus replacing the decayed pipes. More energy was required to repair the badly damaged wiring harness. “From the left C-pillar towards the back, I had to completely renew it, because I came across all kinds of junk.” Ten years after the slightly traumatic experience, the technician beams behind the wheel of his own Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint. “This feels more special to me than purchasing my house.” A keeper, as is also evident from the collecting craze that is emerging among the new loving generation. “We scored a donor body in Belgium. After all, you never know.”