Promoting the Alfa Romeo164!

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Lightfoot
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:07 pm

Promoting the Alfa Romeo164!

Post by Lightfoot »

Hello there!

Just thought I'd say how pleased I was that Classic Cars saw fit to print my letter praising the 164 in their August 2016 issue whilst also including the photo I attached of my own 'bianco' Cloverleaf. Every little bit of 164 promotion can only help the cause, hopefully.

Of course, the editor saw fit also to 'tamper' with the wording of my original submission (grrrr!) which was a bit of a shame but I've found there's nearly always this price to pay when you land up in the hands of editorial control.

Although the main points I'd mentioned were covered, I felt that some of my detailed enthusiasm for the 'Leaf's 'drive' ended up being watered down.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I've attached the original letter as 'like wot I wrote it at the time':

Alfa Romeo 164 Letter to Classic Cars.


“Congratulations, Classic Car! Articles on the vastly underrated Alfa Romeo 164 are a rarity these days so I was pleased to see your feature in the June edition. I’ve owned my ’93 24V 164 Cloverleaf since 2002 and have encountered and overcome most of the problems you listed although not, as yet, the £6K engine rebuild (yikes!). Mine has been a professional working car all its life and is now on 195,000 miles but these days a dedicated Alfa specialist with European connections (such as Alfa Aid) is essential due to the parts situation you reported on.

I only wished you’d devoted a few more words to the exhilarating driving experience afforded by the 164 for it really does have a Jekyll and Hyde quality, particularly in 230 BHP V6 guise. Yes, it can easily do the continental GT ‘thing’ (at 100 MPH it’s running at only two-thirds of its capability) but it may surprise people to learn that it can also turn instantly and very effectively into what is loosely termed a ‘B-road attack weapon’.

Since 1977, a driving benchmark for me has been a certain moorland road between Porlock and Lynton, along which I’ve put all my past performance cars (mostly smaller Italians) to see how they measured up. I confess to having been worried that the 164’s handling might fall apart ‘in extremis’. Not a bit of it. The ‘Leaf deftly conquered the benchmark. This car has a chassis of rare pedigree. Someone at Alfa Romeo really knew what they were doing when they set the 164 up. For a sizeable FWD executive saloon it’s a remarkable achievement.

You need the use the gearbox to keep the engine on song across challenging roads (due to the high final drive ratio) but since the gearlever is a flick switch and delightfully co-operative that’s hardly a chore. Double de-clutching down into first for tight uphill and downhill hairpin bends, for example, quickly becomes second nature. I once described the Cloverleaf as a ‘four-door, super-executive Fiat Strada Abarth’ and I’d stand by that today.

Musically, the 164’s V6 doesn’t hit the operatic high notes of the smaller versions such as that in the Alfetta GTV 6, for example. Words such as ‘sonorous’ and ‘mellifluous’ are often used to describe the sound but, regardless, the engine note is cultured yet purposeful across the entire rev range. This is a strong, free-revving engine, a joy of a powerplant which makes the 164 feel truly special. Add in the elegant yet discreet looks and you have a genuine and inspirational Q-car which is a delight to drive.

The Alfa Romeo 164 was a landmark vehicle for the Milanese firm who had long struggled to build a credible ‘large’ car and Alfa worked extremely hard to get it right. As a result, the 164 has that tangible feeling of having been built UP to a price rather than down to one. I would argue that not only is the 164 one of the all-time great Alfa Romeos but that it is a truly great car full stop.”
Alfa Romeo 164 Cloverleaf QV.jpg

Kegsti66
Posts: 2849
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:20 pm
Location: Northamptonshire

Re: Promoting the Alfa Romeo164!

Post by Kegsti66 »

Nice write up.
I have never actually experienced the drive in a 164, but I have always liked the look and finish of them.
As you say, a rare sight now , but a pleasure to see.

Lightfoot
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:07 pm

Re: Promoting the Alfa Romeo164!

Post by Lightfoot »

Thanks, glad you liked the write-up. I confess (obviously!) to being a true fan of the 164.

There's a small number of them beginning to emerge for sale currently. Alfa Aid in Maidenhead have two (both black) which they're advertizing on behalf of an Alfa collector who's currently down-sizing his classic collection.

Another one I spotted for sale has had a great deal of recent work from the looks of it (including a full re-spray) and for those out there who are passionate about Alfas being red, well this one certainly ticks that particular box! See below:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C760004

Looks and sits just right in the photos - and at under £5K (just) it could just be the cheapest but classiest way out there to acquire yourself a genuine 150 MPH projectile!

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PETROLHEAD
Posts: 3045
Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:51 pm
Location: Nottingham

Re: Promoting the Alfa Romeo164!

Post by PETROLHEAD »

I loved my QV, great car, and if circumstances were different it would still be sat here now for sure.

Pleased to say that it is loving cherished, more importantly used regularly, by its new Alfa mad owner, and thats how it should be :D

2015-08-07 20.50.29.jpg
SHREW

I AM the Law!


Alfasud 1.7-16v, Charade Turbo SR, & The Dirty Diesels - GT Cloverleaf, 159 Ti Sportwagon, Saab 9-3 Sportwagon

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