Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 16:09:09 GMT 12
First there was a '78 Alfasud, a regular 1.3L (1286cc boxer engine), a red one. I don't recall taking any pictures of it back then, so here's one from the ether that looks much like it.... (This pic is a 1300 'Super', which has different hub caps.)  The most forgiving car I think I've ever driven. This thing could be taken into corners without thinking about it, you just drove the car out with the steering & throttle (lift off & the back came around, dial a bit less understeer & power down to straighten it up)  Could have done with more power - ie the 1300ti or the 'Cloverleaf'.
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 29, 2017 16:15:49 GMT 12
Always had a soft spot for Alfas, not so much the post war models though. Unlimited funds I'd like this one   simple image hosting
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 16:25:12 GMT 12
Twin supercharged, in-line 8, with twin overhead camshafts - 1937 
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 17:02:55 GMT 12
That was mid-80s. In the early 90s then came an '86 Giulietta 2.0L saloon - this was a 'series 3' facelift model, with rather too many plastic body trims & the 2.0L twin cam cast alloy engine, which didn't have the free-revving 'brio' of the 1.8L version. Still, with 2 litres & twin side-draught Dellortos, it had plenty of torque - and great sound.  (I always liked the wheels on this version.)   (Not as nice as earlier GTV or Spider interiors, with wood wheel & dash, but quite nice.)
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 17:08:25 GMT 12
This fella was rear wheel drive, with 'transaxle' gearbox, part of the rear differential - better weight distribution supposedly. The gearbox was temperamental on cold mornings - until you put synthetic into it, a transformation.
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Post by michaelw on Feb 9, 2017 10:23:05 GMT 12
an alfa transaxle gearbox was a prime example of the difference between italian and german engineering.
the germans could make it work from day 1, eg. porsche 924
speaking of alfasuds...
only the italians would put the oil filter over the inboard front disc brakes where the pads can easily get dripped on.
remember this scene fron the james bond film octopussy ?
pure fantasy, in reality roger moore would still be trying to find a gear and forget the tailout antics, gtv's only know understeer, more so on v6s, great motor though
aside from the usual dodgy italian electrics and dreaded tin worm, alfas were wonderfully examples of fun to drive small cars.
two years later (1974) design legend giorgetto giugiaro would shake up the auto world with the landmark first generation vw golf.
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Post by Owen Y on Feb 9, 2017 11:38:16 GMT 12
Haha yes, my old boss had one of those - rust never sleeps Alfasud inboard front discs (the Giulietta saloon & the Alfetta GTV above also had inboard rear discs) - I've changed oil filters maybe 20 times on the Sud & never had problems with the discs, but yes, the 10" inboard discs (on the transmission driveshaft) were quite close, but just behind the filter..... 
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Post by michaelw on Feb 9, 2017 12:09:33 GMT 12
you were obviously more skilled than the usual alfa mechanic back in the day there was also a run of suds fitted with under-specced fiaam oil filters rhd lancias and fiat were just as carefully designed. had two (an hpe ie and fiat tipo) with broken clutch cables - they had to meander from the rhd pedal to lhd master cylinder. love italian cars, no love for their design quirks.
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Post by Owen Y on Feb 9, 2017 12:41:46 GMT 12
We've had a Fiat 127, 128 (good fun), Unos (2, one was a lemon from new). The Sud was a brilliant car, great design but was built lightweight. By the time they got to the 145/146, the same 20yr old mechanicals were reliable & body rust was fairly well sorted. We had this Alfa 145 for near 20 yrs.....  A shadow of the earliest Alfasuds, handling-wise - even the later Alfasuds seemed to have somehow lost some of the 'magic'.
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Post by Graham on Feb 9, 2017 13:01:08 GMT 12
Stop it please, you are bringing back bad memories.   I was NZ National Service Manager for Fiat and Alfa Romeo in the Azzurra/Ateco era. The Italians were great fun to be with on my numerous visits to Italy but don't expect them to sort out any technical issues quickly. "Not to worry, we will fix it tomorrow" was the usual response. Cheers Graham 
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Post by guitardude on Feb 9, 2017 14:19:35 GMT 12
Plus one with Graham. Brings back too many memories of my dearly departed Lancia Fulvia Coupe. Wish I still had that one. Anyone still got one ?
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Post by Owen Y on Feb 9, 2017 15:08:09 GMT 12
Great job Graham The Fulvia Coupe was good looker guitardude, 1.4L as I recall. Along with the v popular Fiat 124 Sport later. Both not seen any more.
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Pundit
Post by harvey on Feb 9, 2017 18:28:58 GMT 12
Yes, love em - and hate em.
Being in the motor trade too I've been able to drive the best kind, someone else's.
My first was a 155 Twin Spark I took for a strop out the back of East Auckland and the gear stick came out in my hand. 😁
My wife came close to buying one but we went to the doctor and took a pill to cure that particular ailment.
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Post by michaelw on Feb 9, 2017 18:30:31 GMT 12
my 84 lancia hpe ie was a pig !
crummy paint quality - needed all the black exterior trim repainted,
sunroof leaked, door pillar leaked, rear window came loose and you guessed it - leaked .
only thing that didnt leak was the motor !
electric windows worked when they felt like it.
it wasn't even that great to drive, mr setright told fibs !
glad to get rid of it after a year.
have been tempted over the years by various newer alfas/fiats but even the most "fastidious" examples were not good enough.
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Post by Graham on Feb 9, 2017 20:04:10 GMT 12
How come the motor didn't leak ?
You must have had a good one !!
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Post by guitardude on Feb 10, 2017 7:29:25 GMT 12
Hi Owen,
The Lacia was a 1.3 13 degree V4, 2 twin choke carbys that were a real trick to balance. Huge induction roar ! Handled like a dream. Last one I had was a pre fiat one which was built like a swiss watch. I actually had a Fiat 124 too. That was forever breaking down when we first had it but settled down after a while. All sold in the name of buying our first house along with my beloved Triumph motorbike. Ah the days before kids and mortgages, of course now I am past kids and mortgages i'm too sensible to countenance any such purchases now...
Probably.
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Post by michaelw on Feb 10, 2017 9:57:28 GMT 12
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Post by guitardude on Feb 10, 2017 10:15:31 GMT 12
Not sure that helps michelw !
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Member
Post by james on Mar 13, 2017 21:05:05 GMT 12
Have a soft spot for the Italian cars
Owned a 124 BC coupe (twice)
Great handling car in the wet (the modern tyres overwhelmed the chassis in the dry) recall a great drive around a very wet East Cape, drifting gently through the open bends near the rev limit in 3rd and 4th.
It worked surprisingly well on gravel - steering with the fingers (not the shoulders) and the throttle.
Another day I was following my mother home to my parents place (On a quiet country road). We turned the corner off the main road and it was all on mother had decided that her near new 132 2 litre should not be passed by an aging 124 coupe,we wound the cars hard down the 2km straight. Both cars were nearly at maximum velocity - I was somewhat relieved the coupe was quicker as I was still on the right hand side of the road as we fast approached the one lane bridge.
The coupe often suffered from banging the sump on obstructions, this would knock the end off the alloy oil pick up - lost count of the times I had to sort that out.
Another favorite trick was the front exhaust pipes would be knocked back and foul the steering - not the most sensible design.
The biggest fright I had in the car (excluding my partner of the time spinning on gravel at 140k) was when I approached an open road T junction at some speed, I braked and the car lurched down in the left front - the steering was jammed - I sat on the brake to eventually come to a halt on the right hand verge. Subsequent inspection revealed that the end of the left hand lower wishbone had broken off this had let the lower ball joint and suspension free to wander as they pleased. The broken arm had then pierced the tyre and stopped it from turning - despite being unloaded the the disconnection of the ball joint the near new tyre was worn through the steel belts.
Have owned a raft of other Italians (Still have an Integrale Evolution) but they have stories to be told another day.
Trust your ears.
43 posts
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Post by Owen Y on Mar 14, 2017 21:47:25 GMT 12
Nice tale, and well told james (or should that be Giacomo?  ) Of course, to any Italian, no one can match Mama!
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Post by michaelw on Mar 14, 2017 22:46:19 GMT 12
nice reminiscences james.
do you have any photos of your integrale ?
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Could have done with more power - ie the 1300ti or the 'Cloverleaf'.
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