2004 Alfa Romeo 166 Ti - Moonsand
Discussion
Without really looking for it, I am now the lucky owner of a 166:
I wasn't looking for another car. Honest! But this was too good an opportunity to pass up...as it was free. Yes, free - but of course needs a fair amount of work.
As you can see from my threads on PH I am fortunate to have a diverse fleet: some in storage, some away for long time work and a lucky rotation at home according to seasons and requirements. Coming up for 10 years ago I started my first thread in Reader's Cars on my 164, saved from the tail end of the scrappage scheme that cut a swathe through neo-classics.
It started my Alfa bug, and I still have it for shows and occasional use - they really are an excellentdrive when sorted and I don't think I can ever sell it. Alas as soon as I had it 'sorted', the arbitrary ULEZ laws meant I couldn't use it in London. At that time I noted the 166 was ULEZ exempt, and added it to my shortlist of potential dailies. Then I bought a 2001 Insight instead. However, with my wife's Saab 900 was also caught in that net, so she purchased a sweet and cheap GTV, providing regular Alfa usage.
During a May bank holiday a few weeks ago I was helping my sister in law with some work at her new house, and spotted a roofline from the garden...
Not many cars have distinctive chrome roof trims and a pearlescent bronzey grey... I decided to take a walk. Lo, twas indeed a rare facelift 166 Ti, nestled into a gravel driveway, encircled by sprouting summer weeds and sporting a decent level of dust. Moondust, some of you Arthur C Clarke fans might say...
Naturally, I knocked on the door of my sister in law's new neighbour, keen to know the story. No answer, stack of mail on the side. I retired for the day, scrabbling about old 166 review archives and YouTube videos. I also found a folder on my Google Drive of 166 manuals and the exact same articles, which I now recall I compiled 'just in case' whenever I spotted a good .pdf.
The next day, the sound of a mower outside caught my attention: someone was cutting the ragged lawn of the house! I composed myself and managed a casual introduction - it was the son in law of the owner, who sadly passed away 6 months ago. He was a fellow petrolhead and understood my interest. They were readying the house for sale and took my details - although they did note it may be weeks or months before they got to this point of admin amidst the chaos. Totally understandable - we bid farewell.
The next day, a note simply said they were keen for it to go to an enthusiast and realised it was not worth too much... the 164 thread and GTV stories sent helped!
The next weekend I arrived with the MG V8, ably fulfilling its duties as my excelptionally thirsty lugger with stands, jack, tools, oil, fresh fuel, coolant, screenwash, tyre pump, OBD scanner... everything us car resuscitators have on a permanent checklist for just this occasion.
We agreed that the car was worth little in its current state - twinspark, 183K, last used 6 months ago and with one month's MOT left. I made a donation for more than scrap/breaking value to the deceased owner's chosen charity and we shook hands.
Time to give this sharp suited gentleman a gentle wakeup from his pisolino and get out on the autostrada...
Some air in the tyres... all Pirelli from 2021, lots of cracking and some leakage but enough to shift it. Note the 18in TI alloys.
A few double shots of OAT to top up the tank..
Oil was off the lower end (...can anyone else hear that? In the distance? Is that an alarm or something...?) but enough to turn it over and no evidence of headgasket or cambelt failure.
Battery was utterly and completely done - a shame as a relately recent Varta one. It must have been fate as I had the exact right size in my stores from a double purchase a year ago. In the boot like the 164!
Never had a battery with so much attached to the positive terminal...
Five litres of Shell's finest E5 hydrocarbons to boost the octane of the (full!) tank...
The car clicked and whirred into life... relays and pumps priming, I checked a few essentials (fuel lines, gear selection, handbrake, starter solenoid engagement) and it started on the first turn of the key. Woah, there was the familiar twinspark Alfa bark!
Aside from a stuck rear caliper (see stylish skid below) and lots of stuck/erratic items, the car seems safe to shift to ... well ... next door!
I eased it down the lane and into the driveway, gingerly feeling the brakes and steering. The suspension sighed and the seat leather creaked with normal noises, but in my transcendent state of joy it sounded a lot like vehicular gratitude. It may turn out to be a parts car still only worthy for breaking, but to me its still a 166 in wonderful Moonsand, and I will be working my hardest to ensure it lives on.
Next up - the initial inspection, clean and extensive safety checks for the first proper drive.
I wasn't looking for another car. Honest! But this was too good an opportunity to pass up...as it was free. Yes, free - but of course needs a fair amount of work.
As you can see from my threads on PH I am fortunate to have a diverse fleet: some in storage, some away for long time work and a lucky rotation at home according to seasons and requirements. Coming up for 10 years ago I started my first thread in Reader's Cars on my 164, saved from the tail end of the scrappage scheme that cut a swathe through neo-classics.
It started my Alfa bug, and I still have it for shows and occasional use - they really are an excellentdrive when sorted and I don't think I can ever sell it. Alas as soon as I had it 'sorted', the arbitrary ULEZ laws meant I couldn't use it in London. At that time I noted the 166 was ULEZ exempt, and added it to my shortlist of potential dailies. Then I bought a 2001 Insight instead. However, with my wife's Saab 900 was also caught in that net, so she purchased a sweet and cheap GTV, providing regular Alfa usage.
During a May bank holiday a few weeks ago I was helping my sister in law with some work at her new house, and spotted a roofline from the garden...
Not many cars have distinctive chrome roof trims and a pearlescent bronzey grey... I decided to take a walk. Lo, twas indeed a rare facelift 166 Ti, nestled into a gravel driveway, encircled by sprouting summer weeds and sporting a decent level of dust. Moondust, some of you Arthur C Clarke fans might say...
Naturally, I knocked on the door of my sister in law's new neighbour, keen to know the story. No answer, stack of mail on the side. I retired for the day, scrabbling about old 166 review archives and YouTube videos. I also found a folder on my Google Drive of 166 manuals and the exact same articles, which I now recall I compiled 'just in case' whenever I spotted a good .pdf.
The next day, the sound of a mower outside caught my attention: someone was cutting the ragged lawn of the house! I composed myself and managed a casual introduction - it was the son in law of the owner, who sadly passed away 6 months ago. He was a fellow petrolhead and understood my interest. They were readying the house for sale and took my details - although they did note it may be weeks or months before they got to this point of admin amidst the chaos. Totally understandable - we bid farewell.
The next day, a note simply said they were keen for it to go to an enthusiast and realised it was not worth too much... the 164 thread and GTV stories sent helped!
The next weekend I arrived with the MG V8, ably fulfilling its duties as my excelptionally thirsty lugger with stands, jack, tools, oil, fresh fuel, coolant, screenwash, tyre pump, OBD scanner... everything us car resuscitators have on a permanent checklist for just this occasion.
We agreed that the car was worth little in its current state - twinspark, 183K, last used 6 months ago and with one month's MOT left. I made a donation for more than scrap/breaking value to the deceased owner's chosen charity and we shook hands.
Time to give this sharp suited gentleman a gentle wakeup from his pisolino and get out on the autostrada...
Some air in the tyres... all Pirelli from 2021, lots of cracking and some leakage but enough to shift it. Note the 18in TI alloys.
A few double shots of OAT to top up the tank..
Oil was off the lower end (...can anyone else hear that? In the distance? Is that an alarm or something...?) but enough to turn it over and no evidence of headgasket or cambelt failure.
Battery was utterly and completely done - a shame as a relately recent Varta one. It must have been fate as I had the exact right size in my stores from a double purchase a year ago. In the boot like the 164!
Never had a battery with so much attached to the positive terminal...
Five litres of Shell's finest E5 hydrocarbons to boost the octane of the (full!) tank...
The car clicked and whirred into life... relays and pumps priming, I checked a few essentials (fuel lines, gear selection, handbrake, starter solenoid engagement) and it started on the first turn of the key. Woah, there was the familiar twinspark Alfa bark!
Aside from a stuck rear caliper (see stylish skid below) and lots of stuck/erratic items, the car seems safe to shift to ... well ... next door!
I eased it down the lane and into the driveway, gingerly feeling the brakes and steering. The suspension sighed and the seat leather creaked with normal noises, but in my transcendent state of joy it sounded a lot like vehicular gratitude. It may turn out to be a parts car still only worthy for breaking, but to me its still a 166 in wonderful Moonsand, and I will be working my hardest to ensure it lives on.
Next up - the initial inspection, clean and extensive safety checks for the first proper drive.
Wanted one of these for years, when I was finishing up uni about 7 years ago these seemed ridiculously cheap in the classifieds (a nice looking Ti I'm sure was about £2-3k!) and I was very enamoured with the idea of one as they're just stunning looking cars. Probably a good idea I didn't go for one in the end as I doubt I would've been able to keep on top of it at the time and it would've probably fallen into a bit of a sad state.
Fingers crossed you can save this one, as it's such a great looking spec. (And as much as I love the Busso I imagine the Twinspark is probably the smarter choice of engine)
Fingers crossed you can save this one, as it's such a great looking spec. (And as much as I love the Busso I imagine the Twinspark is probably the smarter choice of engine)
Thanks all! Appreciate the messages and yes I am extremely keen to get this one back to useable status. I do genuinely get a lot more joy revivifying a car that has stood or needs some work over something shiny and new - the rarer the car, the better!
With Day 1 ending on a high of wheels turning and twinsparks igniting, I slept not at all and sprang out of bed at 6am to spend Day 2 in assessment mode. This will be a lot more cleaning and poking.
First up, for all you algae afficianados, here are some close ups to dispel any notion you might be having of 'well it looks ok, can't be that bad!' and so forth:
Some lacquer peel:
Mossy stalagtites:
Loose wheel arch trim, quickly fixed with some plastic bits from my Alfa spares box:
This will become a theme.
Some oil, but not enough...
Power steering fluid present and ghastly:
Contents of the car was significant - a lot of paper and wrappers, the car's complete manual set and history was supplied but a few more invoices uncovered. Also a lot of cans of de-icer, oil, coolant, lots of breakdown equipment (ahem), jack, toolkit, drivebelts, and a spare wheel.
Both sideskirts are loose, one I managed to reattach by realigning the surviving clips.
The other side though... gah..
Side skirt retainer (suspected aftermarket):
Let's just remove that saggy netting on this speaker:
A springer spaniel.
Just kidding - Watson was just keen to be as up and about with an Alfa as I was.
The pinstripe... has to go. Its aftermarket, faded and of all the cars to add a red pinstripe, surely a 166 is not one:
Oh also a rainbow umbrella.
As soon as it become an acceptable hour to run a power tool I blasted off most of the surface grot and gave it a quick sponge down. It instantly looked significantly better without moss, dust and cobwebs.
Moving to the interior, which was (and still) is filthy, I spotted a business card with some handwriting in the driver's door cubby...
Always, always keep any piece of paper with digits written on them for a new, old car - it may be the radio code! Sure enough, I entered this into the In Car menu and voila! The Bee Gees 'More Than A Woman' blasted out of the speakers.
The Ti seats are simply spectacular, I am amazed these have done 183k.
Under the bonnet, I cleaned off as much mould from the insulation as possible and hoovered/pulled as many leaves as I could from the crevices.
One more thing before lunch... I wanted to have a go at the cataracted headlights. Being away from my cave, I only had... toothpaste.
One before the other not yet done...
Now I can see a bit more what it should look like!
That's it for Day 2 - admin and travel beckoned, and I had to complete my 'to do' and purchase lists before tucking the car away for future pickup.
I inflated the tyres to 39 (!) psi and will see how much they retain over a week...
AlfaManc said:
Really looking forward to how this thread develops. Looks gorgeous in that rare colour. These look so elegant compared to the massive grilles and aggressive styling you see on so many saloons today. A couple of shots of Ti (and third 166) just before I sold it.
This looks wonderful - thanks - it gives me an idea of where the stance should be!With Day 1 ending on a high of wheels turning and twinsparks igniting, I slept not at all and sprang out of bed at 6am to spend Day 2 in assessment mode. This will be a lot more cleaning and poking.
First up, for all you algae afficianados, here are some close ups to dispel any notion you might be having of 'well it looks ok, can't be that bad!' and so forth:
Some lacquer peel:
Mossy stalagtites:
Loose wheel arch trim, quickly fixed with some plastic bits from my Alfa spares box:
This will become a theme.
Some oil, but not enough...
Power steering fluid present and ghastly:
Contents of the car was significant - a lot of paper and wrappers, the car's complete manual set and history was supplied but a few more invoices uncovered. Also a lot of cans of de-icer, oil, coolant, lots of breakdown equipment (ahem), jack, toolkit, drivebelts, and a spare wheel.
Both sideskirts are loose, one I managed to reattach by realigning the surviving clips.
The other side though... gah..
Side skirt retainer (suspected aftermarket):
Let's just remove that saggy netting on this speaker:
A springer spaniel.
Just kidding - Watson was just keen to be as up and about with an Alfa as I was.
The pinstripe... has to go. Its aftermarket, faded and of all the cars to add a red pinstripe, surely a 166 is not one:
Oh also a rainbow umbrella.
As soon as it become an acceptable hour to run a power tool I blasted off most of the surface grot and gave it a quick sponge down. It instantly looked significantly better without moss, dust and cobwebs.
Moving to the interior, which was (and still) is filthy, I spotted a business card with some handwriting in the driver's door cubby...
Always, always keep any piece of paper with digits written on them for a new, old car - it may be the radio code! Sure enough, I entered this into the In Car menu and voila! The Bee Gees 'More Than A Woman' blasted out of the speakers.
The Ti seats are simply spectacular, I am amazed these have done 183k.
Under the bonnet, I cleaned off as much mould from the insulation as possible and hoovered/pulled as many leaves as I could from the crevices.
One more thing before lunch... I wanted to have a go at the cataracted headlights. Being away from my cave, I only had... toothpaste.
One before the other not yet done...
Now I can see a bit more what it should look like!
That's it for Day 2 - admin and travel beckoned, and I had to complete my 'to do' and purchase lists before tucking the car away for future pickup.
I inflated the tyres to 39 (!) psi and will see how much they retain over a week...
Edited by Spinakerr on Friday 5th June 07:27
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