Great Italian car thread

[pixelpimp]

iva cosworth said:

pixelpimp said:

Fantuzzi said:

I'd like to see the Alfa museum, although annoyingly the 33 stradale is a fake...

Excuse me? How can it be a fake, being part of the Alfa Romeo museum?

No one wants to part with a real one possibly...

Don't suppose there's a lot to go around.

There is only one Tipo 33 Stradale and that is at the museum. This car is the prototype. Where this 'replica' rubbish comes from who knows, probably wikipedia.
There are a few actual road cars knocking about which sadly are not as good looking and have a more pointy front end and a side vent behind the front wheel. I think 18 chassis were made.
This is the prototype that I shot at the factory in 2009, nothing fake about it.


and at Geneva 2008

and Balocco in 2010.

[Fantuzzi]

pixelpimp said:

iva cosworth said:

pixelpimp said:

Fantuzzi said:

I'd like to see the Alfa museum, although annoyingly the 33 stradale is a fake...

Excuse me? How can it be a fake, being part of the Alfa Romeo museum?

No one wants to part with a real one possibly...

Don't suppose there's a lot to go around.

There is only one Tipo 33 Stradale and that is at the museum. This car is the prototype. Where this 'replica' rubbish comes from who knows, probably wikipedia.
There are a few actual road cars knocking about which sadly are not as good looking and have a more pointy front end and a side vent behind the front wheel. I think 18 chassis were made.
This is the prototype that I shot at the factory in 2009, nothing fake about it.


and at Geneva 2008

and Balocco in 2010.

It is on wiki and other places as well - from Ultimatecarpage.com's omment section on the 33 stradale

'The Museums Car is not the Prototipo. It carries Chassisnumber AR105.33.12 and was build on an Magnesium (Daytona)Chassis in the late 70th, for the Museo Storico. Prototipo was sold to Galeria Abarth, in Japan.'

I will do some more research, but if you have had a chance to get behind the scenes in the museum then that sounds promising - plus more info on your photographing of the tipo 33 would be great!

[jacklewisno1]

Theres only one way to settle this........FIGHT!!

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

Theres only one way to settle this........FIGHT!!

I hope pixel is right - he has seen the car and spoke to its handlers then he is in a better position than I to say,they use it for displays and events it will increase my chances of seeing one in the UK! It was at goodwood in 2008, so hopefully I might catch it in the future.

jacklewisno1 said:

2-3 million? Maybe a bit optimistic mate, but 20-30k? Possible. What about the VX220? I know it has a terrible badge, but its in my eyes its better looking and faster. Get the turbo version and its a quick as an R8. Its got to be tempting.

Im finding myself more and more drawn to the Fiesta St-2. Its not as good looking or as stylish as the Abarth, but its supposed to be a riot to drive and its also a lot cheaper to run. The insurance quote was just £400!! Bargain for a 22 yr old. I just wish my Abarth had more steering feel, i think a new suspension is on the cards next year.

How many Baileys have you had Jack, you should know my wit by now!

I expect they will go the same way as the Elan price wise, although its stability of price is far from my mind in wanting one - 725kg kerb weight and 0-60 in under 6 is!

The turbo is tempting, although fro all I've read the purity of the standard s1 is hard to match - I'm like a nun all about the purity...

On hot hatches, I don't think the fiesta will give you the steering feel you want - I'd say go for a Renaultsport clio 200 cup - meant to be bloody fantastic, great front arches as well.

[jacklewisno1]

Im a bit more dirty so id probably have the Turbo Vauxhall.

A friend of mine had a Clio 200 cup F1 thing. The interior was depressing, no sense of personality at all, although as you say fantastic to drive. I think ill go down the upgraded suspension kit. Probably a Koni one so long as i can find one with the correct sized bolts in order to prevent the infamous knocking problem.

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

Im a bit more dirty so id probably have the Turbo Vauxhall.

A friend of mine had a Clio 200 cup F1 thing. The interior was depressing, no sense of personality at all, although as you say fantastic to drive. I think ill go down the upgraded suspension kit. Probably a Koni one so long as i can find one with the correct sized bolts in order to prevent the infamous knocking problem.

Sadly the interior is pretty plain Jane, but 8000rpm Jack and steering feel - I wouldn't be so fussy, plus with the recaros in the cups don't look too bad on the inside. And you get a little yellow stipe on the steering wheel, like a Porsche gt3 rs...

I think your problem is the Abarth was too well trimmed, the interior of the Abarth is pretty amazing for a cheapish hatch, now most stuff looks either dull and colourless or cheap.

Would that be the EsseEsse kit(s) from Abarth?

[jacklewisno1]

Fantuzzi said:

Sadly the interior is pretty plain Jane, but 8000rpm Jack and steering feel - I wouldn't be so fussy, plus with the recaros in the cups don't look too bad on the inside. And you get a little yellow stipe on the steering wheel, like a Porsche gt3 rs...

I think your problem is the Abarth was too well trimmed, the interior of the Abarth is pretty amazing for a cheapish hatch, now most stuff looks either dull and colourless or cheap.

Yes your right, the Abarth interior punches well above its weight in terms of style and luxuries.

Ive noticed the yellow stripe which is cool and despite those seats its still not enough for me to be tempted.

The friend that had the clio then went on to get the Megane RS thing. The interior in that was boring too. It had recaro seats which looked great but were bone hard, apart from that all that was different was a yellow rev counter and yellow seat belts. All rather uninspiring.

Fantuzzi said:

Would that be the EsseEsse kit(s) from Abarth?

In the Esse Esse you get a lowered ride on Brembo springs but standard damping. This results in a bouncy and uncomfortable ride. The Koni damping system is supposed to provide a firmer ride which removes the bounce but yet is more comfortable. Especially when fitted with fiat coupe bump stops. Its the same setup you get in the 595 Competitzione (did i spell that right?). Looking at around £800 all in inc fitting etc. Not cheap, but cheaper than an x1/9 or Fieats ST2.

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

Fantuzzi said:

Sadly the interior is pretty plain Jane, but 8000rpm Jack and steering feel - I wouldn't be so fussy, plus with the recaros in the cups don't look too bad on the inside. And you get a little yellow stipe on the steering wheel, like a Porsche gt3 rs...

I think your problem is the Abarth was too well trimmed, the interior of the Abarth is pretty amazing for a cheapish hatch, now most stuff looks either dull and colourless or cheap.

Yes your right, the Abarth interior punches well above its weight in terms of style and luxuries.

Ive noticed the yellow stripe which is cool and despite those seats its still not enough for me to be tempted.

The friend that had the clio then went on to get the Megane RS thing. The interior in that was boring too. It had recaro seats which looked great but were bone hard, apart from that all that was different was a yellow rev counter and yellow seat belts. All rather uninspiring.

Fantuzzi said:

Would that be the EsseEsse kit(s) from Abarth?

In the Esse Esse you get a lowered ride on Brembo springs but standard damping. This results in a bouncy and uncomfortable ride. The Koni damping system is supposed to provide a firmer ride which removes the bounce but yet is more comfortable. Especially when fitted with fiat coupe bump stops. Its the same setup you get in the 595 Competitzione (did i spell that right?). Looking at around £800 all in inc fitting etc. Not cheap, but cheaper than an x1/9 or Fieats ST2.

True the Renaultsport interiors are rather poor, I'd rather have an elise-esque Spartan job than a crappy plastic affair.

The Koni kit sounds promising, but the big and most important question is, do you get an Abarth crate with it?

[jacklewisno1]

Ha, no i dont think you do. I believe it only comes with the entire Esse Esse kit. But dont quote me on that. I'd love the crate, its so cool. I think i'd take it apart and stick it on the wall of our man cave.

[Flying Phil]

Here is an Alfa not yet mentioned in this thread - but a thing of rare beauty.

[Fantuzzi]

Flying Phil said:

Here is an Alfa not yet mentioned in this thread - but a thing of rare beauty.

That looks great, I'm pretty poor on my later Alfas, is it a GTV6 variant?

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

Ha, no i dont think you do. I believe it only comes with the entire Esse Esse kit. But dont quote me on that. I'd love the crate, its so cool. I think i'd take it apart and stick it on the wall of our man cave.

I'd use it as a coffee table.

[jacklewisno1]

Fantuzzi said:

That looks great, I'm pretty poor on my later Alfas, is it a GTV6 variant?

I thought you were a connoisseur! I have no idea what that is either, looks a GTV6 as Tuzzi said.

[fondelli]

It's an Alfa Sprint 6c. Alfa built a few Alfasud Sprint prototypes that had the 2.5 v6 mid mounted driving the rear wheels. That was as far as the project went- pity

[Fantuzzi]

fondelli said:

It's an Alfa Sprint 6c. Alfa built a few Alfasud Sprint prototypes that had the 2.5 v6 mid mounted driving the rear wheels. That was as far as the project went- pity

Ah part of me wanted to say sud, but the rear arches made me think otherwise.

That sounds like one hell of a car, shame Alfa didn't do it!

EDIT -Only just realised the car has its name written on the bloody back of it! Nxt time I should look harder...

[Fantuzzi]

http://jalopnik.com/alfa-romeo-almost-built-this-m...

http://www.autosital.com/alfa-romeo-alfasud-sprint...

Dangerous levels of want for that sud sprint 6c...

[jacklewisno1]

BTW i do have an SS crate forgot to about it...



Not quite coffee table material though.

[Fantuzzi]

jacklewisno1 said:

BTW i do have an SS crate forgot to about it...



Not quite coffee table material though.

Do you mean the small box in the cellophane?

Isn't that a pencil case...

[jacklewisno1]

Yes it is a pencil case, but it looks like the crate

and you could balance a cup on it.

Nice vid of a fiat 850 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0kAi3r4i8c

My dad had one when he was my age.

[Flying Phil]

Fantuzzi said:

Ah part of me wanted to say sud, but the rear arches made me think otherwise.

That sounds like one hell of a car, shame Alfa didn't do it!

EDIT -Only just realised the car has its name written on the bloody back of it! Nxt time I should look harder...

It did inspire me to build this.........

and yes - it does have a transverse 164 3 litre 24 valve engine and gearbox mounted at the back!