Friday 12th November 2010

SOTW: Alfa Romeo GTV T Spark

A red Pininfarina-penned Alfa coupe this week - how could Shed not?

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It's red. It's a coupe. It's got that coveted Pininfarina badge. It's even got an MOT until next April. And it's an Alfa Romeo.

And we really should just stop writing about today's Shed of the Week right now, because if we need to say anymore about this car, then you probably shouldn't be reading SOTW. Heck, maybe you shouldn't even be on PH.

But just in case you don't quite understand why we've selected a flaky front-wheel drive Italian coupe with a six-figure mileage as this week's shed of choice (and actually we can see where you might be coming from there), allow us to explain our logic.

It's a horrific cliche to say that you're not a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa Romeo but, like all the most annoying cliches, there is some truth in it.

This is because the decision buy - and then run - an Alfa is something you are far more likely to do with your heart than with your head. Nobody (at least nobody with any sense) has surely ever bought an Alfa Romeo expecting it to provide them with years of faultless, trouble-free transport. From time to time that might [i]happen, but as an Alfa enthusiast you'll be happier living in hope rather than expectation.

But the key is that a good Alfa is more than the sum of its parts (fortunate, in many cases). It looks good, it feels good. It makes you feel good. It's more than just an appliance. And that is why every true enthusiast should own one at some point - because it is the essence of why cars are more than just transport (and sometimes not even that).

And so we come to why an Alfa Romeo shed is such a gem: it's a genuinely cheap way to scratch that Alfa itch (something, I'm ashamed to say, that I have yet to do). After all, even if it does go epically wrong, you're only going to lose £975 quid.

Having said that, this particular Alfa GTV looks to be a clean, honest car in reasonable mechanical and cosmetic condition. Could be the perfect car for an Alfa novice. In fact I do hope somebody buys it soon, because I can feel my wallet twitching already...

Advert is reproduced below

Alpha Romeo GTV, 2.0 T-Spark 16V (1997)
101,500 miles £975

Leather Interior, Electric Windows, PAS, Electric Door Mirrors, MOT April 2011, Taxed Jan 2011, 101,500 Miles, 3 Prev Owners, New: Tyres (Pirelli P6000), Clutch Master/Slave Cylinder, Front Wheel Bearings, Factory Rear Spoiler, 8 Disk CD Player/Radio/Cassett, Factory Carpet Mats, Original Handbooks & Workshop Manual(CD), Manufactured 1997 & Registered Aug 1999.

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[W00DY]

Superb.

Great colour combo, shame the V6s aren't cheaper. Was really tempted by an £800 spider that needed 'tidying' on gumtree but decided it was probably a bad idea.

Edited by W00DY on Friday 12th November 10:53

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Alfa, Predictable Shedding from PH!

[robsco]

Beautiful, but one thing that concerns me is an owner who can't spell Alfa properly.

[Frimley111R]

That looks like great value. Good shed.

[firman]

Great shed! That interior is

[IOM Q]

i want that, looks great for the price, top shed

[Matt0812]

Excellent Shed! But why was it built in 1997 and then not registered until August 1999? Surely there wasn't that much of a backlog?

[louiebaby]

That looks clean and tidy. I'd never fit, sadly, but if I did...

You'd want to check it's not a Cat D, or if it was then have a look at the work done, but for shed money, what's not to like???

[tr7v8]

That is very very tempting, also based near me in Kent...... no no no....

[jamieboy]

Private plate?

[anything fast]

such a tempting buy!! looks nicer as coupe than a spider IMO. Effortless style, nice interior, decent build quality (for an italian car) and pretty reliable.. I would love a black one with red leather.. and of course a must have the V6 engine.. however at this kind of money the 2 litre lump is still sweet engine and well worth a look

[snotrag]

Brill.

And as for losing your £975 - even if the absolute worst came to the worst, there surely must be £300 in the Interior and the Alloys, especially as its the 'right' colour, and then another £80 from the Scrap man?

Great Shed IMO, best for a while.

[jamieboy]

Matt0812 said:

Excellent Shed! But why was it built in 1997 and then not registered until August 1999? Surely there wasn't that much of a backlog?

The build date is probably right, this is a phase 1 car. Phase 2 cars were introduced in September-ish 1998, so either someone got a good deal on an old-spec car in 99, they got a bad deal because they didn't know it was old-spec, or (and this is where my money would go) it's a typo and was actually registered in 1998, which would also fit the R-plate.

[lordlee]

Belt and sponge suspension bushes aside they are lovely to look at and the seats are fantastic. Not much else at this money looks so good. Top shedding Riggers!

[Riggers]

The Crack Fox said:

I love these, great SOTW, but no mention of how they drive ? It's not all about the looks, is it ?

I'll leave that up to you guys - I've never driven one!

(Though my suspicion is that they don't drive that badly - the multi-link rear suspension was quite trick for the time and I doubt 155bhp is enough to cause horrendous torque steer)

[Goodfella 555]

Possible shed of the year? Top shedding and yes i do want

[Bavarianbeauty]

Great shedding! What a sexy car. Is probably better to look at than to drive but for that kind of money you cant go wrong! Well, until the belt snaps and the engine eats itself...

[DannyVTS]

If it was manufactured in 1997 and registered in 1999, it would have a T/V plate

It was manufactured in 1997, hence the R plate. I wonder if it was made and registered and then just sat for 2 years, or maybe the initial service history has been lost

[kambites]

Hmm, well it's clearly not currently owned by an Alfa enthusiast because in my experience, enthusiasts can usually spell the name of the company they enthuse about. Look good for the money, though.

[SWH]

ooh... now I need some bodywork for the front of mine... that could just do the trick, then flog the rest on eBay.

If anyone does buy it... when it dies and/or you've had enough (it may not of course!!) can I have first dibs on the bonnet, bumper, headlights, in fact most of the front?!