Any Alfa Owners Here?

[onewhippedpuppy]

I must confess, I've always been a sucker for Alfas. The boat-tail Spiders and GTV/A are just stunning looking, and the GTV-6 has an appealing boxiness to it, especially with the impact bumpers removed. I always thought that a Spider or GTV would make an awesome weekend car, and the GTV-6 could be an affordable, fun DD.

So obviously they're cool looking, but what are they like to drive? I always had the impression that they were a good amount of fun on the street or track, and make the best noises this side of a Ferrari. True? Are they a nightmare to maintain or repair?

This is all just out of curiousity, all I have the money for right now is admiring them from afar.

[Ronbo]

I was foolish enough to buy a new GTV-6 back in '83. Yes, it was a lot of fun, and the engine had that great sound that only Italian engines seem to have. Handling was sweet given the 50-50 weight distribution.

About a year and a half into ownership, after the warranty expired, it started experiencing electrical problems (randomly shutting the car off and sometimes restarting), 2nd gear synchro worn, and leaking head gaskets. Calls to Alfa resulted in their admitting that they've gotten some bad parts from suppliers, but I was on my own with repairs. Totally unacceptable, especially since this was my daily driver and I in no way abused the car. Plus, it only had about 11K miles on it at the time. Later that year Road & Track's long term test GTV-6 developed all the same problems as mine.

While I still have a few fond memories, it was easily the worst car I've ever owned.

[speeder]

A GTV-6 would not be an example of one of their better cars, unfortunately. Real Alfas have twin-cam 4 cylinders, and they are bullet-proof. (Sort of the 911s of their line). Also, with Alfas you want the oldest one you can afford. Every year you go backwards the quality goes up, until right after WW2 when they (and Lancia) were hands-down the best-built cars in the world at the time. Maybe ever.

You can tell that I'm a little biased, but I'm still right. I miss the Alfas I've owned as much or more than the Porsches. They are works of mechanical and design art of the highest order, and they hit you in that illogical/emotional place as well. There is no marque in the world with a richer racing history than Alfa, and yes I am including Ferrari and Porsche+ Lotus, Renault, you-name-it.

Just don't buy a GTV-6, no matter how cute you think it is. They are the 1st generation 924s of Alfas.

[onewhippedpuppy]

No GTV-6, got it.

So, would cars like the boat-tail Spider or GTV fit in with their great cars? I have to say, the GTV is about my ultimate classic car.

[onewhippedpuppy]

[onewhippedpuppy]

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'd love to pick up another old 911 some day, but one of those could easily sway me. The fact that good "driver" condition cars can be had under $10k doesn't hurt.

[Christien]

Interested and timely thread. My father and I were out today in his 79 Spyder Veloce, checking out some brake problems. He's had the car since 1995 and has indeed had a number of problems with it, but nothing that has made ownership not worth it. This one is a 4-cylinder 2L engine. It does indeed have a great sound, though I wouldn't think it would be any good on the track at all. There's just not that much power there. But it would definitely be a fun daily driver. Compared to my 72 911, it shifts better and is probably a smoother, more comfortable ride, though of course with a lot less power. The convertible top takes all of 2 seconds to open or close. I really enjoyed driving the car.

I'd think you'd need time or money (maybe both!) to own one, though, as it seems there's always something wrong somewhere. Right now we're trying to diagnose a braking issue, and it feels like a stuck caliper on one of the pass. side wheels.

[126coupe]

I like Alfas too

[onewhippedpuppy]

I figured we'd have more owners on here. Of course it's a Porsche BBS first, but there's a genuine appreciation of all cars on here. According to Jeremy Clarkson, "You're not an enthusiast until you've owned an Alfa Romeo".

[speeder]

There is probably a good Alfa board out there, and like Porsche owners they are smarter than the average bear. Great pics, Minkoff. Santo's is a great shop w/ a great owner.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yeah, it's Alfabb.com. I just like to get opinions from my trusted Pelicans.

[FastCarFan]

Alfa fan here. Never owned one (yet) but I have had some fun times in friends' Alfas.

There is something about the soul that Italians put into their cars.

In fact, as I was leaving my driveway last night in my 911, a Ferrari 360 Modena drove by. I was behind him at the stop sign at the end of our street. As he accelerated away (very mildly because we were in a neighborhood), the sound was amazing. And he was only accelerating to 25 mph.

Any car enthusiast has to love Alfas & Ferraris.

[Overpaid Slacker]

I own a boattail, and it's a fabulous car on most fronts.

I'm having it painted this summer, and as part of the project, I'm replacing the (diesel tractor-inspired) injection with a set of twin Webers. I'm also replacing all the susp. bushings with new, and the brakes.

It's not a wicked fast car, nor is it a wicked handling car. It is, however, a wicked car. And it sounds great.

Can't wait to try her out with the Webers.

JP

[lendaddy]

JP, have/could you post some pics of your Alfa?

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
No GTV-6, got it.

So, would cars like the boat-tail Spider or GTV fit in with their great cars? I have to say, the GTV is about my ultimate classic car.

When I was a kid, there was a boat-tail spider in the underground parking at my grandmother's condo. In ~10 years, it never moved, and got dustier and dirtier as time went by. Every time I went for a visit, I'd stand there and stare at that car. In my eyes, one of the best looking small roadsters EVER, right after the Guilietta.

I'm always surprised by how inexpensive the 70s & 80s Spiders are, compared to MGs and Triumphs.

FWIW, my stepmother's brother owns a Spider he bough new in '81. He loves it, and it has never left him stranded. He converted it from the (mechanical?) injection to side draft Weber

[the]

I had an 81 Spider, it was a great car. Believe it or not, it was dead stone reliable! I had it a couple of years and did nothing but change the oil.

I liked the GTV-6, but they haven't aged very well looks-wise, IMO. And the interior is a weird, unappealing bunch of really cheap feeling plastic. There are some good GTV-6 enthusiasts sites out there with some really cool tricked out ones.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally posted by the
I liked the GTV-6, but they haven't aged very well looks-wise, IMO. And the interior is a weird, unappealing bunch of really cheap feeling plastic. There are some good GTV-6 enthusiasts sites out there with some really cool tricked out ones.

Making the GTV-6 look good takes nothing more than removal of the diving board bumpers and the body cladding. After that they are damn good looking cars. Very ugly interior though, I can't argue that.

I think much of the early Spider issues were due to the fuel injection. Spica (I think) seems to be nearly as bad of a word as Lucas, at least in the Alfa world. Weber conversions seem very popular.

[notfarnow]

A friend of mine has a Milano with a bad 2nd gear synchro and a some wacky electrical issues. When can you come get it?

[Nader]

I have a 69 roundtail Spider with a later carburated 2L modified engine. It makes about 140 hp after dyno tuning, and it weighs around 2100 lbs. I drive it pretty hard, and granted that it's 40 years old and not exactly "tight," it still seems to ask for more. It sounds great with the Ansa headers and exhaust, and loves the higher revs. Beautiful and fun, so I'm building another 69 Spider into a vintage racer. My impressions of these cars:

The brake and clutch pedals are floor mounted like the Porsche, the gas pedal is suspended. I find it easier to heel-toe than the Porsche. The steering wheel is thin wood jobber that feels like a wet noodle when driving aggressively. That, the metal dash, and lack of a shoulder belt (lap belts only) would make a significant accident ugly.

Anyway, the engine is a jewel, it may seep a little oil, but is otherwise tough and pretty (especially with the dual Webers). Brakes are 4 wheel discs (rare for the period) and are excellent. Steve McQueen commented on that when he tested the Spider for a car mag in the late sixties. The suspension, however, is archaic with a solid rear axle that skips over pavement irregularities in the apex of a turn. The transmission, too, is no highlight. Second gear synchros are notoriously weak and worn out, and the shift throws are long with vague engagement.

Repairs and modifications are an order of magnitude cheaper than a Porsche's. A full-on race engine rarely costs more than 10K to build. Parts are abundant, and there's a wealth of Alfa knowledge on the internet. Every major city seems to have at least a couple of well-respected Alfa-specialist shops. What may cost the most is also the cars' weakest point; rust.

That's about it. The cars have a long and great history, and are about to make a stateside comeback. Their cheapest offering here will be at least $50K. That might push the older cars' prestige up a bit, and perhaps their values as well.