RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf
Discussion
The earlier cars with the metal topped cam covers also had tubular manifolds - the combination of the two seems to result in a more rorty induction noise and more willingness to rev compared to the later plastic topped engines. Leather was always an option, personally I prefer the cloth seats as they seem to support you better and you sit lower. I'm on the hunt for a low mileage early car with the Black & Grey cloth seats but it looks like I may have to settle for a left hooker as rust seems to be attacking a lot of the early UK cars - most of the LHD cars have a much nicer centre console that was never changed for RHD cars with circular rather than rectangular air vents.
BFleming said:
Didn't the flat 4 get carried over from the 33 (or the ARNA), not the 'Sud?! In any case, this one has the correct engine, and looks sweet. My cousin ran one of these from new, and got a shock how much the value had plummeted when he eventually chopped it in for a 156. His never went wrong though - excellent car. Quirky looks in my opinion, but allegedly 370 left on UK roads, compared to about 250 Tipo's. Strange one that.
I saw a 145 the other day, and a couple of 146s recently too. I haven't seen a Tipo of any description since about 1997Way hey! I am another who had one of these. And it couldn't pass a garage without wanting to check in. Bought it at first sight when one year old just after the 147 came out. Six months later, and £500 disappeared on the aircon. Not a penny back. Thanks Alfa! Still kept it for 5 years, though. It was not built for high mileage - I would say it was built for approx 6000 miles per year as a second car. Any more and your looking at high maintenance costs. It had to be kept in tune, else the acceleration was gutless, and it chewed a set of front tyres every 9,000 miles or so. Those were the days. Sadly, it's put me off buying a modern Alfa. Therefore this week's shed would be like going out with a former girlfriend. Not the done thing.
SVX said:
I loved my 33 1.7 i.e. That little flat four inspired most of my stable of horizontally opposed goodness. Always fancied a 145 Clover - glad to see that they didn't all dissolve.
Me also, I had a 33 Green Cloverleaf with the 1.5 Twin Choke Delortos with Foam sock on the top in....even now that engine note makes me have a sex wee, such a great car to own at 18 and dreamt on replacing it with a 145 Cloverleaf.I bought a second standard 1.5 for parts as mine was always a work in progress (arn't all Alfas!)
Work ran a fleet of 6 2001 145 1.8TS's as test mules for a few years, lots of distance covered in them and I grew to really love the quirky driving position and thrashy engine
BFleming said:
Didn't the flat 4 get carried over from the 33 (or the ARNA), not the 'Sud?! In any case, this one has the correct engine, and looks sweet. My cousin ran one of these from new, and got a shock how much the value had plummeted when he eventually chopped it in for a 156. His never went wrong though - excellent car. Quirky looks in my opinion, but allegedly 370 left on UK roads, compared to about 250 Tipo's. Strange one that.
When the 145 came out, it had the 1.6 and 1.7 16V 33 engines, though both can trace themselves back to the Sud's 1.5 and 1.7 8V engines with ease. They were only used because the smaller I4 Twin Sparks weren't ready. The 2.0 in the Cloverleaf was first then a 1.6 and 1.8 joined it in the Phase 2 cars. And most speedos of that era sat at 5 or 10mph. Showing your youth PH?
Personally, I love the styling. Compared to the dreadful Escort Mk5 or blobby Golf Mk3 of the era, they're far sharper styled.
Edited by Ali_T on Friday 3rd October 14:07
RicksAlfas said:
I had two - a 1996 and a 1999. Fond memories of them both, dominated by the revtastic engine. The original 150bhp "metal topped" engine always seemed livelier than the later 155bhp "plastic topped" one as in this car...
And I had the red one! 
(from 1999 onwards iirc Rick?! Hope your'e keeping well mate!) What a great little car, very fond memories of it from the induction noise to the super quick steering. Had more return visits to Alfa than I care to remember, but the majority of the issues were down to the incompetence of the local main dealer..
On one occasion they used a hacksaw on the leg of the expansion tank to move it so they could fit a new cam variator, then "glued" it back together!
On another occasion they told me they'd fitted a new wiper assembly to cure the wipers going off the screen. First time I used them the wipers didn't even touch the screen! I later found out they'd fitted a second hand wiper arm assembly - all while the car was still under manufacturer warranty
I did once get a few free spanners though which they left in the engine bay after a service
Despite all this I never fell out of love with it, and haven't had many cars since which look back at so fondly.
king lovely. 
Maybe I'm alone on this, but I think the 145 looks as nice as the 147 and the side crease breaks up the boxiness. To me the 146 looks a bit like a boxier Alfa GT. I've never driven an Alfa but I've only ever read good things about the steering and handling of older four cylinder models. 'Mixed' opinions on the reliability and dealers!
Flat6 said:
And I had the red one! (from 1999 onwards iirc Rick?! Hope your'e keeping well mate!) What a great little car, very fond memories of it from the induction noise to the super quick steering.
Haha! Yes, so you did! It was 1999. The black one I got then, we ran it until 2006 and moved it on with 80,000 miles on the clock. It's still living in Haworth and looking in fine fettle. I wonder how many miles that's got on it now? (from 1999 onwards iirc Rick?! Hope your'e keeping well mate!) What a great little car, very fond memories of it from the induction noise to the super quick steering. All well here thanks. Hope you are too!
CMYKguru said:
One way to find out for sure - get it bought! 
Ali_T said:
They were only used because the smaller I4 Twin Sparks weren't ready.
Really?The 145/146 came out in '94. The 155'd been on sale for two years already with 1.7 and 1.8 TS lumps, and it was the same basic engine that'd been in the 75 for years before that. Even the 1.8 16v TS had been in the 155 for a year or so before getting into the 145/146. It was only the 1.4 which was "new".
I spent about 6mo with a 155 widebody 1.8 16v as a CoCar - nice car, SO much better than the E36s I had before and then again, but VERY idiosyncratic and a bit fragile...
Leins said:
I saw a 145 the other day, and a couple of 146s recently too. I haven't seen a Tipo of any description since about 1997
That prompted me to do a quick search as I haven't either...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-K-FIAT-TIPO-2-0-16V...
Still looks good I think.
CMYKguru said:
That looks like a nice car from the photos although the description suggests it's got minor cosmetic issues who cares really for under £500?! It seems like a good car and at that price you won't have any real costs to buy/keep it unless it has a serious problem and you have to scrap it. I know this sounds odd, but in many ways I 'miss' having crap cars. You just don't get the feeling of moving or driving in most cars, and I also miss not 'worrying' about anything car related.
Richair said:
Oh no my Alfa itch is flaring up again... must... not.... scrat... oh bugger, anyone want to buy a nice mk2 golf GTI?
Maybe last night's few pints of ale are still blurring my judgement, but the 145 does seem to be aging well and I reckon a nice CL would make a nice daily/dogging-waggon (that is a car for transporting my dog before anyone manipulates this).
Hmmmmmmmmmm
Maybe last night's few pints of ale are still blurring my judgement, but the 145 does seem to be aging well and I reckon a nice CL would make a nice daily/dogging-waggon (that is a car for transporting my dog before anyone manipulates this).
Hmmmmmmmmmm
Sorry, couldn't help it.
These are fantastic machines. Obviously a bit biased as I owned a 155 V6 from 2001-->2010 (the newest car I had ever owned at the time) and a colleague at my old work place bought a 145 CL on my recommendation
It was a reliable fun sporty hatch that always made him smile. The turn in with the quick rack is super sharp and that engine wasn't far off the pace against my V6. I loved that 155 though, the only car I've owned which redlined top (5th @ 140mph indicated) gear and you had to back off.
These days things are a little different though. I sold my own Alfa 4 years ago as it was getting really expensive to run. Parts prices are on the high side and can be astronomical. I remember paying £110 for a timing belt tensioner! One one occasion I could not get hold of a top rad hose for love or money FFS. I thought I was in it for the long haul as was already fairly commited during my 9 year ownership but bought a Jaguar XJ8 which was actually cheaper to run on the whole! And I cover 20k miles a year.
I think they are getting more of a following now due to their rarity and because they are actually really fun to drive and not as unreliable as many point out. The car in the ad looks lovely and just the perfect spec in my opinion (I dislike Red cars!) and Leather was a rare option back then in most cars of this class.
Some pics of my 155 just for the sake of it. Alfas of this era are getting very rare, the 155 I bought 13 years ago was a very rare car then and I still have not seen another like it.
windows screen capture
pic host
I have 3 sheds! A Cloverleaf, a 1.8 and the now incredibly rare 1.7 boxer. I have owned all manor of cars from BMW's to Volkswagon's and like to think i know my cars. The 145 is easily the most rewarding and pretty looking car(s) i have ever had the best fortune to own. My wife sports the cloverleaf and is always stunned by the amount of 'glances' she attracts from all and sundry! I drive the French Blue 1.8 which is fully stripped out with race suspension and rollcage (just for laughs, and i get plenty) and smile every time i turn the key! All three for the price of a people carrier..... Not hard to wonder why we love 'em! Shed no...... classic yes!
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