Friday 27th November 2009

SOTW: Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0

Shed fancies a gamble on a 1980s Alfa. Bellissima!

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If you thought last week's Fiat X1/9 was a bit of a punt, then this week's offering is the Shed of the Week equivalent of slapping £995 on black 16 at the roulette table.

But, much like making a gamble at the casino tables, the potential rewards of Alfa GTV ownership are deeply tempting. The odd thing is, as soon as you start trying to quantify what makes the GTV so good, you start to struggle.

The 1962cc DOHC twin-carb engine, for example, is noted as a sweet motor, but it's got none of the gloriously throaty gargle of the V6 fitted to more powerful models. It's not particularly rapid, either, although its 132bhp gives it enough oomph to sprint to 60mph in 9.3secs on the way to a 120mph top speed.

The underpinnings - shared with the Alfetta saloon - are also of the good rather than great variety: the unusual rear-mounted gearbox gave good weight distribution and ensured decent traction for the correct-wheel drive Alfa, but the double-wishbone/torsion beam front suspension and de Dion rear suspension arrangement was competent rather than inspiring.

It was also outrageously impractical. It looked like a hatchback, but it wasn't. It looked like it could carry four adults in comfort, but it was actually quite cramped. And the driving position was of the long-arm, short-leg variety that typified so many Italian cars in the 1970s and 1980s.

And now this GTV is knocking on the door of 30, we'd better not even start to talk about the dodgy electrics or rust issues that were already a potential hazard when the car was brand new...

And yet...there is something about the GTV's Guigiaro-designed shape that oozes cool. Every time I see one the hunched, muscular fastback shape never fails to make me desperately want to own one. Despite some fussy detailing (particularly around the C-pillar and D-pillar, the GTV's lines inexplicably put me in mind of a hyena in an expensively tailored suit; there's a lot of style and panache there, but beneath it is something rather more crude and possibly even savage. It's a good look.

This particular £995 hyena has been the seller's daily drive for two and a half years (brave chap) and the motor is in allegedly fine fettle. It's done 140,000 miles since 1982, the owner proudly states that all gauges and switches work, and the car is also fitted with a wooden Momo steering wheel (although there are no interior pics provided so we can't confirm that).

The advert makes it plain that the GTV isn't perfect (just as a Shed should be), but a worn synchro on second and a tatty door card ought not to be a deal breaker.

Yes, it's impractical. Yes, it's a risk. And yes, it's utterly wonderful. Less than a grand to scratch that Alfa Romeo itch? You know you want to...

Advert is reproduced below:

1982 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2.0 For Sale
£995

For sale my early plastic bumper Alfetta GTV (or GTV really). Good condition for year, been my daily drive since May 2007 and never let me down. Can't confirm the mileage but the engine is good and strong with no problems and easy starting. All guages and switches work!!! Oil pressure good and water temp steady with no overheating in traffic. MOT mainly entailed tyres last year. Rare OGLE dash and Momo(?) wooden steering wheel.

Stuff I have done;

Ball joints
New rear discs
Professionally fitted wheel arch repair panel to offside rear
CSC exhaust rear box and new mid section
Steering column switches (had the wheel off - not easy)
Propshaft donuts 2/3
Refurbished Fuel Tank

Stuff that needs doing;

The gearbox second gear synchro is worn (I double de-clutch but you might not want to!!!)
Some tidying of the bodywork externally
Probably needs new pads to front pretty soon

THE GOOD - great fun to drive, turns heads, shiny paintwork and overall reasonable interior (not concours), sounds great, good engine and clutch, still pretty quick - REAR WHEEL DRIVE

THE BAD - that second gear synchro, driver's door card tatty, gearbox can rattle a bit at tickover when hot and the clutch engaged

THE UGLY - GTV6 bumper to front (washers not connected)

Have got a set of Superflex bushes for Watts linkage and braided front brake hoses along with front indicators that will be included (haven't got round to fitting them.

Happy to answer any queries.

See Shed of the Week on Facebook

[aarondrs]

Oooh so close with my guess of Lancia! Always liked these, really fancy a later GTV6 but I bet a cheap one would be a money pit!

Edited by aarondrs on Friday 27th November 12:36

[andyps]

Sorry, I can't ever think of an Alfa GTV as a shed.

And I'm not reading too closely as it could be too tempting and I couldn't afford the car and the divorce which would be likely if I bought it!

[jamieboy]

Love these - happy memories of my old GTV6.

[jamieboy]

Now, who is going to be first to trot out "if only Alfa made something like this today, instead of their overweight, re-bodied Fiat, fwd, badge-engineered rubbish"?

[ewenm]

jamieboy said:

Now, who is going to be first to trot out "if only Alfa made something like this today, instead of their overweight, re-bodied Fiat, fwd, badge-engineered rubbish"?

You?

I like this, but prefer the 75 that Clarkson bought in the Alfa TG Challenge.

[pSyCoSiS]

I like the look of this - the lights remind me of 80s BMWs.

I am actually really tempted to buy an Alfa - I love the 164 and 155s boxy image.

Just the reliability is a little worrying.

Watch this space!

Nice SOTW - well done

[Belfast Boy]

hmmm, I smell a money pit but at the same time I like it, another cool and interesting Motor for SOTW.

[williamp]

Like it,. I'd drive it wearing a dark red silk shirt being chased by late 70s BMW 5 series in German police markings a la Octopussy.

[jamieboy]

ewenm said:

You?

Fair point. I'm sure my cynicism will prove unfounded.

[pSyCoSiS]

ewenm said:

jamieboy said:

Now, who is going to be first to trot out "if only Alfa made something like this today, instead of their overweight, re-bodied Fiat, fwd, badge-engineered rubbish"?

You?

I like this, but prefer the 75 that Clarkson bought in the Alfa TG Challenge.

Yeh i like the look of those cars - them, along with the wide-body 155 and the boxy 164s.

I think i am def having a punt at an Alfa soon !

[Justayellowbadge]

Outstanding. I too do not want to look too closely.

Please block me from this thread.

[clonmult]

I wish Alfa could make something like this for todays market instead of the bloated rebadged Fiats.

[Escort Si-130]

I like Alfa's but Im sorry, this car is just 4kin ugly. Its one of those cars no matter what engine or how good a review it is still crap IMO. It could be the faster car in the world, its still ghastly.

[MogulBoy]

Loved my GTV6 and would assume the 2.0Ltr is at least 90% as good.

Weak spots are rust at top of the front wings (near the suspension turrets) and some parts, such as wing mirrors, were very hard to come by even when I owned my '84 in '95!

You still see a few of these kicking around in Switzerland in reasonable condition and I would have no trouble finding some space in my fantasy garage for a mint/concours example.

Great car.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NokALAW-DCE

[tim200sx]

Ever since watching Roger Moore tear around Germany in a GTV6 in Octopussy I've fancied one of these

Edit: as illustrated above

Edited by tim200sx on Friday 27th November 13:30

[Beirut Taxi]

Why no PH'O Meter?

[dublet]

Beirut Taxi said:

Why no PH'O Meter?

It would break.


Just like the Alfa.

[jdcampbell]

I had a 2.0l one of these and it was brilliant. I really loved that car. Very comfortable and practical and I remember it being a hatchback, so I'm not sure the OP has his facts right. I loved the rear wheel drive handling and the ease with which it could be drifted and contollled. Front wings rusted like hell though.

130BHP was a hell of a lot in those days and the throaty roar from the Twin Dellorto (or was it Weber) carburettors made it snort like a rally car. Expensive to maintain if I remember - came with inboard front discs? Alfa bills were shocking from Mangoletsi near Knutsford.





Above pictures were taken around 1983, when I was a mere 23 years old.

I would have one of these as a weekend car in a flash - if I could find one in decent condition.

Edited by jdcampbell on Friday 27th November 14:36

[robsti]

ewenm said:

jamieboy said:

Now, who is going to be first to trot out "if only Alfa made something like this today, instead of their overweight, re-bodied Fiat, fwd, badge-engineered rubbish"?

You?

I like this, but prefer the 75 that Clarkson bought in the Alfa TG Challenge.

Are you out of your mind!

[Nickellarse]

Top shed! Everyone should own an Alfa at some point in their life.