Not a Porsche: What Do You Know About Alfas? Options

[silver six]

I know this is a little off topic but I was curious: what do you folks know about Alfas?

I've always liked the mid-sixties and early seventies Alfas, especially the Guiliettas. Is the cost of ownership similar to a 914? Are they as reliable? Are parts as easy to get? Or at the end of the day would I just have to throw money at these cars to get them to run right? I'm no stranger to throwing some money at my Porsche but my expectation is that Porsche parts/technology is such that if I fix it once it stays fixed (for at least a few decades). What about the Alfas?

Here's an example. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...8&category=5356

douglas

[dagdal1967]

Hey SS. (Silver Six).

I've got a friend who is an ALFA ROMEO Freak.. Used to sell them for a living..

The older ones (especially the older Convertables) hold their value well. There weren't very many imported to the USA so they are a bit of a rareity, although because they are somewhat unknown, their price stays reasonable.

Older Alfas (Like many older Italian Cars) are known for spuradic build quality. If you get a good one, they'll run forever.. If you get a bad one... well... You'ld better own a bicycle!

Reliability on the ones with good build quality was quite high! They are absolute drivers cars, so if you get the chance to drive that little beauty, you'll most likely fall in love. *IF* you fit in it that is.. I'm not sure that the one in the pics are the same, but the spiders used to be SOO SMALL!!! .

Check out the shifting angle as well.. That has been a buggbear in many an italian sports car.

I can put you in touch with my friend (via e-mail) so he can give you the full skinny on that particular model.. It is very likely he has some of the original brochures and road tests for it.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Anyway.... Hope that is helpful in some small way.

Doug