'83 Alfa Romeo Sud 1.3SC
'83 Alfa Romeo Sud 1.3SC
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Discussion

LurntWubber

Original Poster:

33 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
I found a novel way to spend 500 notes...

Heres the general swing of things for those interested. (still gathering info)

Manufacturer: Alfa Romeo
Model: Alfasud
YOM: 1983 (have original bill of purchase!)
Engine: 1351cc (Twin-carb) Flat-4
Colour: Red (varying shades - still red though!)
Mileage: 70k

More info brewing, but thats about it for now, Don't even know what carbs are on it, the manual choke is disconnected and the previous owner suspected modification/uprating.

It's got bits of Ti trim here and there, welding over the usual areas, solid structure, rusty corners where any water has sat.

If anyone has any advise, knowledge or experiance PLEASE let me know as I think I'm going to need all the help I can get!

Ebay pics:













Guess what car pics (Used on facebook - Only one person guessed it!):




The answer pic:


More to come when I have the time/arse to get my SLR out.


Horrocks

635 posts

196 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
For some reason, I like the look of that car but cannot explain to myself why... Hehsmokin

jimmyjam

2,444 posts

247 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Fantastic. bounce
Think you'll have some work on your hands though!! May need to make some friends over on Alfaowner.com or AROC.
Good luck

robemcdonald

9,886 posts

224 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
A big concern would be the pictures appear to be several years old. So what is the current condition?
Taking that out of the equation: £500 is cheap for a Sud, You very rarely see 4 door suds even at Alfa events. Apart form the obvious rusty bits it doesn't look too bad. replacement panels and interior parts are still available from places like justsuds (although second hand).
It's well worth having a close look at the electics as well, as this could cause problems. The inboard calipers will probably leak and need rebuilding. Synchromesh on second gear will probably crunch and a gearbox rebuild will cost the thick end of £700 if you can find someone to do it. The engine should cause you few issues, but the 1.3 version isn't very powerful.
It might sound all bad, but it will drive and handle well (providing there are no suspension issues) You can get a 1.7 engine from a late 33 (118bhp) fairly cheaply, but you will need to change to outboard front brakes (no great loss) and 33 suspension.
All of that said make sure it comes with a new MoT and you'll have at least a year of fun.

LurntWubber

Original Poster:

33 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the heads up, the structure of it is solid, the panels are a bit tatty at some of the edges but i've owned worse! (*cough*honda*cough*).

It's got a ticket till april next year, and the 1.3 was the choice as i needed something cheap(ish) to run, cheaper tax, cheap to insure (im 22 and its the cheapest car ive ever insured £280/yr full-comp).

I'll likely run it for its ticket and go from there all being well. Failing that I've been reliably informed I can easily make back the cost in breaking for parts, however tragic that might be.

One thing is for sure, I intend to enjoy every (working) minute biggrin

Jazoli

9,610 posts

278 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
I think the 'sud has one of the best exhaust notes of any car, they were just so rorty back in the day, a neighbour had one just like yours, it was the best sounding (reasonably priced) car around smile

robemcdonald

9,886 posts

224 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Have you bought it??
I thought you were asking for buying advice.
If you have bought it then the first thing you should get is the Haynes manual (available online)
It's probably worth taking a look at alfaowner.com as well.

soad

34,539 posts

204 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Looks good to me - do like the car's shape.

LurntWubber

Original Poster:

33 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Haynes enroute from amazon.
And yeah it sounds tingly especially on over run. With trumpets they sound epic.

dufusmuppet

937 posts

208 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
very nice sud...get yourself over to alfaowner.com you will be well received.cool

robsco

7,875 posts

204 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
cloud9

XJ40

5,987 posts

241 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
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Very cool, there's just something about these boxy old Alfa's that really appeals.

Kitchski

6,550 posts

259 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
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I can confirm it's good fun to steer!

HarryW

15,983 posts

297 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
cloud9 Oh the memories, one of my first cars was an earlier 1.3ti, great little handling car I still maintain it was he first hot hatch before the Golf GTI. Just be careful if you drive hard on b-roads the inboard front discs will overheat and the pedal will hit the floor hehe.

Thinking about it, that car has less rust than mine did almost 30 years ago hehe

donz29

386 posts

233 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
This brings back memories! I was lucky enough to be insured on my parents 1.5 TI green cloverleaf as soon as I'd passed my test at 17.

Unfortunatly, I managed to make one bank of cylinders go pop, courtesy of some regular enthusiastic driving on the back roads. The family Alfa Mechanic did his best and found a replacement lump, only for me to dig into my bag of skill one wet night and find it woefully empty. To this day I remember having time to find God and offer up a quick promise regarding my future behaviour before the fishtailing finally got the better of me and the little Sud and I ended up upside down in the hedge.

The family Alfa Mechanic couldn't work his magic on this occassion and I therefore have to take responsibility for there being one less Sud on the road. frown

A cracking drive and a lovely sound!

unpc

2,996 posts

241 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
My first car was one of these. An 82 IIRC 1200 in white. It appeared to be a very clean example with nice chrome wheels. I made up my mind the moment I saw it. I should have looked a bit closer. 1 yr later the MOT station condemned it for rust. Rusty steering rack mounts, seat belt mounts and a drivers seat falling through the floor. What a mug!

I would say that bird st welding on the strut towers would scare me to death. Seriously, it's had it. Sorry!

road_rager

1,091 posts

227 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
I remember when I was a kid one of our neighbors bought brand new his and hers suds with matching number plates...and I kid you not within a year they were rusting BIGTIME, such a shame as nice looking cars!

LurntWubber

Original Poster:

33 posts

193 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
unpc said:
My first car was one of these. An 82 IIRC 1200 in white. It appeared to be a very clean example with nice chrome wheels. I made up my mind the moment I saw it. I should have looked a bit closer. 1 yr later the MOT station condemned it for rust. Rusty steering rack mounts, seat belt mounts and a drivers seat falling through the floor. What a mug!

I would say that bird st welding on the strut towers would scare me to death. Seriously, it's had it. Sorry!
It's got till april on the ticket.

I'l see if it kills me first.

LurntWubber

Original Poster:

33 posts

193 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Haynes just came through... was listed wrong. Is for a earlier model. AWESOME. back to amazon i go...

davemac250

4,499 posts

233 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
That welding in the engine bay is a worry.

As someone with a small history in Alfa torture (see profile pic) I cannot blame you for trying. wink

I'd suspect that the manual choke was disconnected as they had a habit of seizing and generally being a pain due to the tortuous route the linkage takes. A bit of time and patience will sort this.

A bit of fettling will have that looking lovely - just watch for deterioration of those towers.