Alfa Romeo 33 1.7 Cloverleaf
Discussion
"I'm probably going to scrap the 33. I've got too much to take care of and it's annoying the neighbours."
"What?!?? Why? What's wrong with it?"
"Nuffing. It's just annoying me."
So went my exchange with Phil of Alfacraft, my long-term Alfa sage, during a recent visit in my 164. The 33 had been part of the scenery pretty much the entire time I'd known him, a 33 Cloverleaf in champagne gold taken as part payment for some serious work on another customer's fleet, and used as an occasional runaround.
The street on which it is stored is residential and the residents have never been thrilled with the expanding collection of Italian machinery over the years. As an incomporable library of Alfa lore he has changed the cambelts and anything else mechanically off, but never kept it shiny. He was recently caught as the tax ran out on this one, and the street has major building works underway. It's days were numbered, one way or another.
But this is a 1.7 carb'd boxer! The first facelift Quadrafoglio Verde, in gold! I did what any petrolhead would do - check HowManyLeft.com. A handful of survivors. Goodness.
He knew full well how would react to the 's' word in regards to an old Alfa, and so he's hoodwinked me into taking care of it for a bit, and perhaps find the right owner. Which might be me. But not until he unearths a V5. Probably.
The plan is to blow out the cobwebs, give it a good run and take it to the Festival of The Unexceptional on the 20th July for a picnic and then get in contact with 33-minded people who can give it the love and attention it needs.
But first, it needed a jump.
Walk of shame, PH style:
Key works, choke works (yes, a choke), clutch down after a little charge time...
Cranking was long and firing intermittent, and finally ignoring the handbook I have the accelerator a small tap - success! A dozen legged insects dashed for the exit as the raspy boxer tinged, popped and zinged itself to life. Leaves fluttered, spiderwebs tore, and I nudged it to the nearest petrol station as the needle was almost scraping the road. I swear I could hear the cheers and applause from the residents in the street too.
Remember:
No leaks on the drive home, a solid whiff of unburnt petrol though and an engine that is so eager to rev and make a racket it induces near delirious giggles with each start.
Once home I gave it a solid hose and brushing, removing the expected layers of moss in the window rubbers, sedimentary London dirt on any flat surface and purged corpses of insects past.
Further inspection today, but for now here are some tiny Alfa details that you won't see on any 3 paragraph description of this model.
I don't need this car, right?
"What?!?? Why? What's wrong with it?"
"Nuffing. It's just annoying me."
So went my exchange with Phil of Alfacraft, my long-term Alfa sage, during a recent visit in my 164. The 33 had been part of the scenery pretty much the entire time I'd known him, a 33 Cloverleaf in champagne gold taken as part payment for some serious work on another customer's fleet, and used as an occasional runaround.
The street on which it is stored is residential and the residents have never been thrilled with the expanding collection of Italian machinery over the years. As an incomporable library of Alfa lore he has changed the cambelts and anything else mechanically off, but never kept it shiny. He was recently caught as the tax ran out on this one, and the street has major building works underway. It's days were numbered, one way or another.
But this is a 1.7 carb'd boxer! The first facelift Quadrafoglio Verde, in gold! I did what any petrolhead would do - check HowManyLeft.com. A handful of survivors. Goodness.
He knew full well how would react to the 's' word in regards to an old Alfa, and so he's hoodwinked me into taking care of it for a bit, and perhaps find the right owner. Which might be me. But not until he unearths a V5. Probably.
The plan is to blow out the cobwebs, give it a good run and take it to the Festival of The Unexceptional on the 20th July for a picnic and then get in contact with 33-minded people who can give it the love and attention it needs.
But first, it needed a jump.
Walk of shame, PH style:
Key works, choke works (yes, a choke), clutch down after a little charge time...
Cranking was long and firing intermittent, and finally ignoring the handbook I have the accelerator a small tap - success! A dozen legged insects dashed for the exit as the raspy boxer tinged, popped and zinged itself to life. Leaves fluttered, spiderwebs tore, and I nudged it to the nearest petrol station as the needle was almost scraping the road. I swear I could hear the cheers and applause from the residents in the street too.
Remember:
No leaks on the drive home, a solid whiff of unburnt petrol though and an engine that is so eager to rev and make a racket it induces near delirious giggles with each start.
Once home I gave it a solid hose and brushing, removing the expected layers of moss in the window rubbers, sedimentary London dirt on any flat surface and purged corpses of insects past.
Further inspection today, but for now here are some tiny Alfa details that you won't see on any 3 paragraph description of this model.
I don't need this car, right?
My dad had one in red from new as a company car, bought from Mangoletsi, sales man was Fraser Hudson who is now their MD I believe
Torque steered like crazy but was so much fun to drive
Remember the clutch went pop at 13k miles, when investigated if transpired that the factory had fitted a 1.5 clutch - the joys of Alfa!!!
Apart from that, over 2 years and 40k miles it was 100% fault free
Torque steered like crazy but was so much fun to drive
Remember the clutch went pop at 13k miles, when investigated if transpired that the factory had fitted a 1.5 clutch - the joys of Alfa!!!
Apart from that, over 2 years and 40k miles it was 100% fault free
I had two 33s back in the day... both 1.5s rather than 1.7s unfortunately. Both were utterly reliable (apart from a brake pad that disintegrated on the way to Edinburgh and made a scraping racket for 400 miles). Great fun, and I still very fondly remember the wonderful wooden steering wheel in the second one. Happy days. Hope you find someone worthy to take this lovely vehicle on.
Happy days! I used to own a 1.7 Sportwagon - it found its way to me after my second Thema turbo, a 16v, died and despite mourning my loss rather keenly I came to love the Alfa very dearly. I really shouldn't write this, but please would you PM me if you decide you're not going to take it on?
A peek at my car history on my profile should give you an indication of my automotive inclinations..!
A peek at my car history on my profile should give you an indication of my automotive inclinations..!
I had the 4 x 4 version in the same colour and I am sorry to say it was the worst car we've ever owned. It was an unlucky car and every repair seemed to cost a version. And, despite it coming with an RAC 100 point check and supposedly having been inspected by the local Alfa Indy in Clapham, the 4 x 4 system didn't work as was pretty standard.
Got rid after 12 months for our 164TS which was one of the best cars we have owned. Motor was great on the 33 but everything else was not so good.
Good luck!
Got rid after 12 months for our 164TS which was one of the best cars we have owned. Motor was great on the 33 but everything else was not so good.
Good luck!
I had one of these, a 1.5 twin carb. It was lightweight, engine was very responsive and it accelerated to 80 quickly but you were revving the knackers off it if you tried to go any faster as the gearing wasn’t set up for it. That’s most driving though so it didn’t bother me. It was a bit of a s
theap in retrospect but I loved it at the time.
theap in retrospect but I loved it at the time. 
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