Great Italian car thread

[Fantuzzi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdR4OiduPdo

The sound at the end is savage, as the car alarm testifies...

[jacklewisno1]

I couldnt find the original link for the advert, i assume its been sold. But i did find the 850tc http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C420903

and this interesting piece http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C349726

Ha that video made me laugh, great sound. Shame we couldn't hear more.

Heres another good sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZnUEz2WS7Q

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

Heres another good sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZnUEz2WS7Q

I remember watching that a year ago or so, pretty brutal v12 in that 512, shame the 512 at Silverstone classic died before I had a chance for a proper listen.

Not sure if you saw this about a year ago in mags, but there was a Abarth 500 Trofeo one make series car that had been road registered for sale, think it was around 35k! Seemed a little pricey but I suppose it would be race ready.

[jacklewisno1]

Fantuzzi said:

jacklewisno1 said:

Heres another good sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZnUEz2WS7Q

I remember watching that a year ago or so, pretty brutal v12 in that 512, shame the 512 at Silverstone classic died before I had a chance for a proper listen.

Not sure if you saw this about a year ago in mags, but there was a Abarth 500 Trofeo one make series car that had been road registered for sale, think it was around 35k! Seemed a little pricey but I suppose it would be race ready.

35k, wow that is expensive. But i suppose you'd pay the same for a special edition Abarth. So maybe its about right?

Heres some pics of Ferrari's world finals weekend...









There not the most beautiful cars, but you have to respect the technology.

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

Fantuzzi said:

jacklewisno1 said:

Heres another good sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZnUEz2WS7Q

I remember watching that a year ago or so, pretty brutal v12 in that 512, shame the 512 at Silverstone classic died before I had a chance for a proper listen.

Not sure if you saw this about a year ago in mags, but there was a Abarth 500 Trofeo one make series car that had been road registered for sale, think it was around 35k! Seemed a little pricey but I suppose it would be race ready.

35k, wow that is expensive. But i suppose you'd pay the same for a special edition Abarth. So maybe its about right?

Heres some pics of Ferrari's world finals weekend...



There not the most beautiful cars, but you have to respect the technology.

That is some rather impressive damage!

True the modern Ferraris look a little 'fashion' rather than 'style', if that makes sense.






Cant help thinking the new Speciale 458 is alittle on the style front, I thought the 430 scud was really good looking.

[pixelpimp]

ooh 512.

[jacklewisno1]

pixelpimp said:

ooh 512.

If im not mistaken that pic is from an article a few years back featuring the 512 and 917. Motorsport magazine i think. Im sure its in the pile of mags next to our loo.

[pixelpimp]

jacklewisno1 said:

If im not mistaken that pic is from an article a few years back featuring the 512 and 917. Motorsport magazine i think. Im sure its in the pile of mags next to our loo.

In Auto Italia Magazine to be precise, although that infamous shoot was shared with Octane and 911&Porsche World.

[jacklewisno1]

pixelpimp said:

jacklewisno1 said:

If im not mistaken that pic is from an article a few years back featuring the 512 and 917. Motorsport magazine i think. Im sure its in the pile of mags next to our loo.

In Auto Italia Magazine to be precise, although that infamous shoot was shared with Octane and 911&Porsche World.

Ahh yes Octane was where i recognised it from. Two of my all time favourite cars

[Rob93]

Oh my...

[jacklewisno1]

Whats the general opinion on the 164? Ive never been a huge fan but then ive always compared it to the 166, which i think is so much better looking. Found a short vid of a 'tarted' 166. It does sound good

http://vimeo.com/41443403

[Liquid Knight]

jacklewisno1 said:

Whats the general opinion on the 164? Ive never been a huge fan but then ive always compared it to the 166, which i think is so much better looking. Found a short vid of a 'tarted' 166. It does sound good

http://vimeo.com/41443403

Only six cylinders?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsvxXzoYxx8

[rijmij99]

jacklewisno1 said:

Whats the general opinion on the 164? Ive never been a huge fan but then ive always compared it to the 166, which i think is so much better looking. Found a short vid of a 'tarted' 166. It does sound good

http://vimeo.com/41443403

They're the best car Alfa ever made end of debate.

[rijmij99]

Liquid Knight said:

Only six cylinders?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsvxXzoYxx8

so was that one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQigN057dMw

now THAT'S a V10

[Fantuzzi]

rijmij99 said:

jacklewisno1 said:

Whats the general opinion on the 164? Ive never been a huge fan but then ive always compared it to the 166, which i think is so much better looking. Found a short vid of a 'tarted' 166. It does sound good

http://vimeo.com/41443403

They're the best car Alfa ever made end of debate.

That quite a claim, I think you'll need to back that one up!

Unless it was a joke I've missed...

[rijmij99]

Fantuzzi said:

That quite a claim, I think you'll need to back that one up!

Unless it was a joke I've missed...

Well going from my personal experience and that of a few people with knowledge far superior to mine the 164 is the best of the bunch.

Obviously this discounts proper exotica like Montreals/GTAm's/8C's but as a car you can actually afford and drive it is wunderbar.

When you compare it to anything that has come after it still stands head and shoulders above them (166/156/GT/Brera) and when you look at what came before it (6/Alfetta/75) it still bests them.

Then you look at the other Type 4 cars and they pail in comparison, the SAAB 9000 being the only one you'd buy with your own money (discounting 8.32's obviously).

Obviously there are cars in Alfa's history that are better at certain things but when you put them all in a blender the 164 is the only one that can pull them all together. This with the handicap of wrong wheel drive too!

The 164 is also superior than many of its contemporaries (Audi 100/200 and Mercs of that vintage) the only car that can be considered "better" is the E34 5 series and that's only just in my opinion (I've owned both).

Taking all this into account if anyone can name an Alfa that can better the 164 I'll eat my hat

[Rob93]

Cousins daily driver for a few years!

[Fantuzzi]

rijmij99 said:

Fantuzzi said:

That quite a claim, I think you'll need to back that one up!

Unless it was a joke I've missed...

Well going from my personal experience and that of a few people with knowledge far superior to mine the 164 is the best of the bunch.

Obviously this discounts proper exotica like Montreals/GTAm's/8C's but as a car you can actually afford and drive it is wunderbar.

When you compare it to anything that has come after it still stands head and shoulders above them (166/156/GT/Brera) and when you look at what came before it (6/Alfetta/75) it still bests them.

Then you look at the other Type 4 cars and they pail in comparison, the SAAB 9000 being the only one you'd buy with your own money (discounting 8.32's obviously).

Obviously there are cars in Alfa's history that are better at certain things but when you put them all in a blender the 164 is the only one that can pull them all together. This with the handicap of wrong wheel drive too!

The 164 is also superior than many of its contemporaries (Audi 100/200 and Mercs of that vintage) the only car that can be considered "better" is the E34 5 series and that's only just in my opinion (I've owned both).

Taking all this into account if anyone can name an Alfa that can better the 164 I'll eat my hat

I see what you mean as an all rounder, but I'd definitely think the likes of the Guilietta Sprint veloce or the Guilia GTA stradale could be at the top, meant to be rather stunning, both in the day and now.

But with modern alfas its a fair point.

[rijmij99]

Fantuzzi said:

I see what you mean as an all rounder, but I'd definitely think the likes of the Guilietta Sprint veloce or the Guilia GTA stradale could be at the top, meant to be rather stunning, both in the day and now.

But with modern alfas its a fair point.

Yeah maybe I should have said "the best car Alfa made post 1975" or something

[jacklewisno1]

Liquid Knight said:

jacklewisno1 said:

Whats the general opinion on the 164? Ive never been a huge fan but then ive always compared it to the 166, which i think is so much better looking. Found a short vid of a 'tarted' 166. It does sound good

http://vimeo.com/41443403

Only six cylinders?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsvxXzoYxx8

Spins it out and then carries on like a boss!

rijmij99 said:

They're the best car Alfa ever made end of debate.

Isnt the 166 based on the 164? If so surely they would be pretty much the same to drive. I think the 164 is a little bit too angular, the interior of the 166 is much more like it In fact i think i'd rather have a Brera 3.2 than a 164, so much prettier. I parked next to one the other day