You lot are a bad influence Alfa 164 auction reprieve
Discussion
I blame Spinaker. And some others, but it’s primarily his fault. I was reading his 164 thread, thinking ‘he’s brave. I would never have the guts to buy an old Alfa, let alone the lesser regarded 164’ when a marketing email lands pushing an online classic auction.
And low and behold, what’s in it but a Rosso Corsa 164 Cloverleaf 3.0v6 Busso manual.
And it’s mintier than the hole in the centre of a Polo (mint, not the VW).
I was smitten. Never owned an Alfa, had to be a V6 busso with a manual box if I did. Never considered the 164 but are they going to be next? And how rare is a mint early 90’s Alfa?
Plus look at it. Look at it.
So auction day dawns and I pop a cheeky bid on, get on the board. There is a flurry of activity and then it stops. Nothing more all week.
I’m biding my time, waiting for the end.
End day arrives and I’m sitting with my finger poised over the bid button.
120 seconds to go.
Still not moved. Still just over the reserve price.
90 seconds to go, auction ends. Wtf. I didn’t put my bid in?
Turns out the countdown clock was not in sync with the time, time. So I lost out.
I was proper disappointed. So I hammered out a ‘disgusted of Devon’ email to the auction people. Felt a bit better.
Following day I got a phone call from the auction company explaining why there was perhaps an issue, apologising that there had been a mix up. I had calmed down so I calmly accepted it was my error I was just disappointed. Then the bombshell, actually the winner had emailed to say Lockdown2 was killing him financially and blah blah.
‘Would I be interested in completing the deal instead?
No extra money. Just pay the owner.’?
Why yes I would.
Now some might shout scam or shill bid or whatever. But I was going to buy it anyway. At more money. I am confident I saved about £800-£1k.
Anyway, I paid to have the car transported. Here it is.
1994 164 Cloverleaf 3.0 v6 manual in Rosso Corsa over Nero leather. Alfa Owners Club rosette winner, A4 box file stack of receipts for work done and not had an MOT advisory since 2012.
I don’t know if the BBS alloys were an option but they have the correct Alfa centre hubs.
Rear spoiler is in the back ready to go on and finish the body kit look.
I love it. But it’s SORN’d and in the garage for winter.
Just hope I can do her justice for you 👍🏻.
Oh, and @Spinnaker. I’m looking for a wooden finish steering wheel and gear knob.
And low and behold, what’s in it but a Rosso Corsa 164 Cloverleaf 3.0v6 Busso manual.
And it’s mintier than the hole in the centre of a Polo (mint, not the VW).
I was smitten. Never owned an Alfa, had to be a V6 busso with a manual box if I did. Never considered the 164 but are they going to be next? And how rare is a mint early 90’s Alfa?
Plus look at it. Look at it.
So auction day dawns and I pop a cheeky bid on, get on the board. There is a flurry of activity and then it stops. Nothing more all week.
I’m biding my time, waiting for the end.
End day arrives and I’m sitting with my finger poised over the bid button.
120 seconds to go.
Still not moved. Still just over the reserve price.
90 seconds to go, auction ends. Wtf. I didn’t put my bid in?
Turns out the countdown clock was not in sync with the time, time. So I lost out.
I was proper disappointed. So I hammered out a ‘disgusted of Devon’ email to the auction people. Felt a bit better.
Following day I got a phone call from the auction company explaining why there was perhaps an issue, apologising that there had been a mix up. I had calmed down so I calmly accepted it was my error I was just disappointed. Then the bombshell, actually the winner had emailed to say Lockdown2 was killing him financially and blah blah.
‘Would I be interested in completing the deal instead?
No extra money. Just pay the owner.’?
Why yes I would.
Now some might shout scam or shill bid or whatever. But I was going to buy it anyway. At more money. I am confident I saved about £800-£1k.
Anyway, I paid to have the car transported. Here it is.
1994 164 Cloverleaf 3.0 v6 manual in Rosso Corsa over Nero leather. Alfa Owners Club rosette winner, A4 box file stack of receipts for work done and not had an MOT advisory since 2012.
I don’t know if the BBS alloys were an option but they have the correct Alfa centre hubs.
Rear spoiler is in the back ready to go on and finish the body kit look.
I love it. But it’s SORN’d and in the garage for winter.
Just hope I can do her justice for you 👍🏻.
Oh, and @Spinnaker. I’m looking for a wooden finish steering wheel and gear knob.
Well this over-delivered - wow!
What an incredible example - well know in the alfa community - you can search the plate to find a lot of history of it at shows and some of its evolution over the years.
The wheels are non standard but its become this particular ca's signature - BBS is a great fit.
As I've spent 6 years of so attempting to get my Twinspark look vaguely respectable I'm in awe of the 'skip to the end' approach here - this is one of the best. Also, aren't the seats incredible?
I MAY know where to find a wooden steering wheel in Italy... PM sent!
What an incredible example - well know in the alfa community - you can search the plate to find a lot of history of it at shows and some of its evolution over the years.
The wheels are non standard but its become this particular ca's signature - BBS is a great fit.
As I've spent 6 years of so attempting to get my Twinspark look vaguely respectable I'm in awe of the 'skip to the end' approach here - this is one of the best. Also, aren't the seats incredible?
I MAY know where to find a wooden steering wheel in Italy... PM sent!
Edited by Spinakerr on Friday 13th November 20:16
Cambs_Stuart said:
Good purchase! It looks in fantastic condition. What are your plans with it?
That bit I hadn't thought through Probably write up a list of fettles and just 'tinker'.
Spinakerr said:
Well this over-delivered - wow!
What an incredible example - well know in the alfa community - you can search the plate to find a lot of history of it at shows and some of its evolution over the years.
The wheels are non standard but its become this particular ca's signature - BBS is a great fit.
As I've spent 6 years of so attempting to get my Twinspark look vaguely respectable I'm in awe of the 'skip to the end' approach here - this is one of the best. Also, aren't the seats incredible?
I MAY know where to find a wooden steering wheel in Italy... PM sent!
What an incredible example - well know in the alfa community - you can search the plate to find a lot of history of it at shows and some of its evolution over the years.
The wheels are non standard but its become this particular ca's signature - BBS is a great fit.
As I've spent 6 years of so attempting to get my Twinspark look vaguely respectable I'm in awe of the 'skip to the end' approach here - this is one of the best. Also, aren't the seats incredible?
I MAY know where to find a wooden steering wheel in Italy... PM sent!
Edited by Spinakerr on Friday 13th November 20:16
I thought you had sussed it straight away because there won't be many with those BBS alloys on. I'm happy it's well known and it's had all the heavy lifting done already. It just needs the final finishing touches.Ah, the skip to the end approach. Also known by me as the 'cheating' approach. I have neither the skills, patience or bottle to buy some of the stuff other PH'ers do. But I do have a good eye and speculative approach. Plus I do love the dodgy 90's factory bodykit. Poor old Pininfarini penned that awesome shape and then someone said 'we must adda da bodykit'.
As for the seats. I actually don't know. The delivery guy took it off the truck, drove into my garage and then I had to get back to work inside. After that it went dark so first time to look her over properly in the daylight will be tomorrow. They look lovely mind.
Things I've noted so far that would need correcting:
Fake Carbon bonnet slam needs to go.
Underbonnet clean up & titivate the cam covers.
Fake Carbon vinyl B pillar wrap. Needs replacing, removing etc because it's been badly applied and crinkles at the edges.
Boot carpet doesn't fit properly/fastened in.
Battery not fastened in properly. Seems a bit small or there should be a wedge or something under the retaining arm.
There are a couple of points the previous owner has raised so I can look at those, but they are the usual old car/Alfa gremlins.
Despite it being clean, it needs a good detailing. I think the paint might be looking a bit tired so maybe get the pro's to buff it with the rotary.
There's something amiss with the drivers side seat edge around the controls. It looks like a cleverish bodge or Alfa put a really crappy cover to stop the seat controls being activated by accident. Photo of that to follow.
I also spotted (whilst looking for the battery to put her on trickle charge) a little bit of smoke or steam coming from the front. She was cold, had literally just started. Seller said she never made any smoke or other stuff so he has no idea. Could be drastic, might not be a problem. Time will tell.
So there we go. That's the initial feedback.
Edited by Projectblue51 on Friday 13th November 20:57
larrylamb11 said:
Outstanding! I've had a few 164s and one of the most favourite cars I've owned was a late 164 Super V6... such happy memories of hoofing around in it revelling in the wailing V6. Absolutely cracking thing.
Yours look a minter. Great purchase.
Good health to enjoy, sir and bravo.
Cheers Larry, that's good to know. It's a bit of leap for me. I've always wanted a GTV6 (the 80's one) so this is a good start. Having sold the supercharged Holden to fund the truck build (see 'I bought an SV' thread) I took to whipping around in a diesel mini. So this is to bring back that exhaust note missing in my life. Yours look a minter. Great purchase.
Good health to enjoy, sir and bravo.
B'stard Child said:
PS I honestly can't see how "you lot" could possibly be a bad influence when you have just bought a corking Alfa
To be fair, I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't been reading through a load of these posts stirring up my petrol DNA Also, it just kind of landed in my lap (well the advert did).
p.s "you lot" in this case is a term of endearment meaning 'bunch of my kind of people' - I hope it wasn't taken as an insult? Oh, wait you mean I'm the bad influence?
I shall take that
Alfa wise,I couldn't find a really good 155 back when i was in the market,so I bought a really nice red 156 2.0 Twinspark with a Sportpack instead,owned it for a few years and loved it to bits,only itch to scratch would've been a V6 but the car came up and was just right. Love your attitude to the purchase and seems like the right car came up spot on.Looks lovely,wheels may not be 'correct' but i think they still set the car off pretty well.Great shape the 164,read Spinaker's thread myself too,props to you gents on your choices.
Looks lovely. Very strong money though? I hope you'll be happy with it. 
https://themarket.co.uk/listings/alfa-romeo/164/2a...
https://themarket.co.uk/listings/alfa-romeo/164/2a...
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