SOTW: Alfa 155 V6
Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Sport
This is either an origami-styled reminder of why Alfa Romeo is now in the midst of a fraught and tumultuous comeback (again), or really rather cool indeed. Shed finds itself in the latter camp. You see we’ve been blinded by our touring car sensibilities, and logic has long since left the building.
Maybe it’s the rose (or red?) tinted spectacles, but Shed adores the memory of Tarquini, Simoni, flat-pack boot spoilers and Alfa’s 1994 BTCC winning campaign. All those paint-scraping tussles with legends such as Smokin’ Jo and John Cleland; the barrel roll of all rolls at Knockhill; massive red race jackets, dark glasses and strong coffee. What a classic time for British racing.
Before any alfisti point it out, Shed realises this is in fact a V6, and therefore not the correct wheels of choice for any true BTCC anorak. Nevertheless, we can think of three good things about this. One, the Alfa V6 remains one of the classic road car engines of all time, and any chance to listen to the gorgeous music that emanates from this chrome-tubed sculpture should never be missed. Shed still remembers the sickening sense of disappointment it felt the first time it fired up a new era GM-based Alfa V6. Something about the brand had died. Two, well, it’ll be quite fast. Three, being a V6 links it to one of our favourite race cars of all time - the feversome Alfa 155 DTM. ‘Nuff said.
Ok, it’s a £999 136,000 mile Alfa with a six pot. We don’t have the space to list why this purchase might be unwise, expensive, worrying, maddening and often drastically inconvenient. Anyway, we’re too busy remembering Tarquini on two wheels at Donington Park…
Advert: Manual, 136,800 miles, ALFA ROMEO 155 V6 Widebody 1995 N WIDE BODY MODEL WITH BOOT SPOILER LOWERED SUSPENSION BLACK SPEEDLINES ALLOY CDA COLD AIR INDUCTION KIT 10 DISK CD MULTICHANGER Restored Rosso Red Colour Mot until 7th May 2007 & Taxed until 1st Sept 2007 Sought after widebody v6 model with Air Conditioning Rare than standard 155, car is in good condition, has the original Alfa Romeo 15" Speedline alloys re-sprayed black. The car has been lowered slightly (g-max springs excellent cornering). Lots of extras on this model include: Air Con, seat belt height adjusters, electric heated mirrors, 4 x electric windows, spot lights, *working* remote central locking, ABS, drivers air bag, PAS, tilt steering wheels. This car has a working aftermarket alarm with working central locking system. Original Alfa alarm & remote locking was a big pile of poo! CAT Back Stainless Steel PowerFlow Exhaust Fitted - sounds fantastic with a lifetime guarantee! CDA Cold Air Intake System with Samco Hoses - cost a packet but improved pickup no end. Excellent Sony Xplode Head Unit with 10 Disk CD Multichanger in the Boot. Rocker Cover Strip & Aux Belt Changed @ 122,058 Recent work includes, new rear tyre, new slave clutch cylinder, OIL change with new sump washer, *genuine* Alfa filter & Castrol GTX Oil. New Brake PADS all round. £999ovno
Too right. Purposeful I think is the word. I'm afraid I'd take the same view I took when I bought my 156 - worth a punt at such little money no matter how unreliable it proves to be. (he says, counting pocket change as he writes!)
oh yes, glorious v6 howl and no nonesense interior, who cares if you arent the quickest out there, you will be the best looking and fulfill a few fantasies
I've finally been tempted to post, having been a 155 owner (but not a V6). We ran a 2.0 Twin Spark for six years, finally selling it a couple of years ago with 170,000 miles on the clock. Only sold it then because we had escaped Bliar's Britain & joined the increasing numbers of Brits in Northern France. It's replacement? A 156
1.9JTD Sportwagon that is also knocking up the miles at an alarming rate. It's proved to be totally reliable though, just as the 155 was, never letting us down.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUlbgNkr04g
What a driver and actually a very nice bloke, met him at Silverstone back in 05 when Alfa started the International Touring Car campaign, being a guest of Alfa, we all got to meet and chat with him.
Enjoy.
Except...
I can't get comfortable in them. 6'3" and 35" inside leg is not the size and shape of your typical Italian and it shows. I was gutted to find a few years ago that I couldn't put up with one.
As for that particular car - 136k miles and 10 days' MoT left? I don't think so.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUlbgNkr04g
What a driver and actually a very nice bloke, met him at Silverstone back in 05 when Alfa started the International Touring Car campaign, being a guest of Alfa, we all got to meet and chat with him.
Enjoy.
FOr 155 DTM, try...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaISprYJj7U
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttYX2QfYQM8
and best of all...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihuRRck_A08
www.pistonheads.com/sales/154795.htm
Quite tempted myself...
Edit: curious how this is also for sale, and parked in the same place
www.pistonheads.com/sales/159257.htm
Hmm, you can see both in the one of the pics.
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