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Joe's Alfa experience continues

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drooartz

drooartz

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I posted recently about my friend Joe finally understanding the little convertible thing. Well, he and his wife came up for a visit today, and drove his mother-in-law's Alfa. Neat car, though it's been sitting for a few years and definitely needs some attention. I even got to take it around the neighborhood. It felt less peppy than my Bugeye with its worn 948, and quite floaty feeling. Needs work for sure!

It's a one-owner car, that gets serviced by the local Ferrari dealer.

alfa1.jpg
alfa2.jpg

alfa3.jpg
 
After around '79 the engines had a "variable cam" arrangement. Not my favorite setup, but if right can be adequate.

You're right, Drew: your li'l non-complicated 948 will give you more 'seat-of-the-pants' feel and grunt than that Alfa can. They (Alfas) have a "big car" feel with regard to suspension, as well. They were unfortunately well and truly "over tech'd" by the time that one was produced. Very like the RB MG's of a few years earlier, in comparison to what the designers originally had in mind.


Not meaning to be snide or insulting, but after about '78 they were kinda like an AMC Pacer with a convertible body compared to the original Duettos. The earlier cars were a ~completely~ different animal in terms of performance.
 
Just talked to my friend, he made it home though the car wasn't running well. Turns out the car has been sitting for 5 years, which probably doesn't help anything. New belts and wires are in order, plus a flush of brakes, gas, etc.

I'd love to try an original one some day.

Edit: I did figure that these cars had probably suffered by 1980 -- not the best time for old car designs.
 
's where ya can buy the new Fiats, Doug! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Wonder what the original color of that Alfa was?
 
Under-bonnet shot is kinda shadowy but it looks like it may have the original color in there. Can't recognise it tho. I don't remember a pink Alfa shade. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]I don't remember a pink Alfa shade. [/QUOTE]

I also saw that pinkish color on the inner fender, Doc....that's almost the color MG used as a primer under all their cars.
 
That car was repainted in 2002, not sure what the original color was.

Tia (Joe's wife) actually said that her mom took the car to the "Alfa dealer" -- I did point out to them that there hasn't been an Alfa dealer in the US for some time... there is a local high-end import dealer (Ferrari, Maserati, etc) that her mom uses. I shudder to think what the bills must be like!
 
Whoa!

I wish I could pay meself the Ferrari hourly rate for the work I do on the Alfa.

I'd make me rich. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
 
DrEntropy said:
Whoa!

I wish I could pay meself the Ferrari hourly rate for the work I do on the Alfa.

I'd make me rich. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
Click to expand...
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif but then again that's true of even the local repair shops nowadays! Last one I used (for a Ford van, no less!) charged us $85/hr and didn't even do the work right! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif I'm better off doing it myself and losing MY work time! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
And I would come help Doc.
 
I fear you'd need to displace the resident Wrench Wench to get the job under those conditions, Jack. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Not gona happen Doc. I don't do bathrooms.
 
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