RE: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA: Spotted
Discussion
sandys said:
Seem to recall there were optional spokes alloys for the GTA for those that didn't like teledials and when Alfa fitted 330mm disk calipers due to the thing continually warping discs if you didn't have teledials then they would switch the GTA spoked wheel for these, my memory is hazy on that though, I had teledial and the upgraded brakes were no issue.
No GTA wheel was 18" there was an 18" replica teledial.
Your memory is spot-on....the original GTA spoked wheels wouldn't fit over the 330mm discs, so these were provided if the disks were upgraded. I have them on my 156 GTA and, personally, I think they really suit the car, but each to their own!No GTA wheel was 18" there was an 18" replica teledial.
I paid £3500 for mine nearly five years ago, it was original but unloved. I've spent nearly ten grand on it since, but that does include routine maintenance and the major cambelt service as well as fixing it when it had an... italian... moment.
I wouldn't change a thing though. It still feels a very special thing to drive and puts a huge grin on your face.
Typically, if you've got a good one, I'd be budgeting 2k a year for it.
I wouldn't change a thing though. It still feels a very special thing to drive and puts a huge grin on your face.
Typically, if you've got a good one, I'd be budgeting 2k a year for it.
I wouldn’t be frightened of this car in the slightest - at least from the description.
Mileage is high, but the Busso is strong as long as it is serviced, and 250k is not unreasonable. Recent cambelt (and water pump hopefully, check the invoice). As long as it’s not misfiring or anything, should be OK.
Brakes - it’s got 330s (good), £300 and a refurb from BCS will have them in perfect working order.
Gearbox - might be a synchro, might be the clutch failing, might be bad adjustment. Box rebuild is expensive, but you could probably live with it. I’d start the search for a good s/h one, stick a Quaife in that and do the clutch at the same time.
General tattiness - a quick cheap job would have it looking passable for a three figure sum. Need to fix the driver’s seat.
Big unknown is corrosion - need to get it on the ramps to see.
I have a 3.2 GT - got it with a busted cambelt for £900 5 years ago. Took 6 weekends and £2000 in parts to fix the engine, since then it had literally needed nothing other than servicing.
Mileage is high, but the Busso is strong as long as it is serviced, and 250k is not unreasonable. Recent cambelt (and water pump hopefully, check the invoice). As long as it’s not misfiring or anything, should be OK.
Brakes - it’s got 330s (good), £300 and a refurb from BCS will have them in perfect working order.
Gearbox - might be a synchro, might be the clutch failing, might be bad adjustment. Box rebuild is expensive, but you could probably live with it. I’d start the search for a good s/h one, stick a Quaife in that and do the clutch at the same time.
General tattiness - a quick cheap job would have it looking passable for a three figure sum. Need to fix the driver’s seat.
Big unknown is corrosion - need to get it on the ramps to see.
I have a 3.2 GT - got it with a busted cambelt for £900 5 years ago. Took 6 weekends and £2000 in parts to fix the engine, since then it had literally needed nothing other than servicing.
Saw this a while ago and as a 147 GTA owner I feel well placed to comment.
Firstly, the comment about picking up a good one for twice the price. Maybe a couple of years ago but prices have moved on and are continuing to rise now.
A good one now with reasonable miles will set you back around £10k. £15k plus for a low mileage minter is becoming a regular thing now. On two occasions this year I've been offered in excess of £15k for mine, one offer at £15750 and another at £16500 (it's got 50k on the clock and is in 8C Competizione Red). It owes me too much to sell at the moment as I've spent a lot this year (out of choice rather than necessity I might add) and besides, its too nice to sell and is only increasing in value.
Some pictures below:
Secondly, yes these cars can cost a lot to look after properly but the rewards are definitely worth it. 4/5 yearly cambelt services at £600-850 a go (as part of a major service), front tyres very quickly if you drive in a spirited manner, front suspension bushes regularly, blown diffs can cause gearbox destruction if not a Quaife or Q2, lots of fuel, ecu failures can be expensive, and many other smaller items that can add up if neglected. Sounds like this one needs new calipers too, a front set of 330s will set you back over £600.
This sort of car would be best suited as a track toy to be honest, you could easily spend 5 figures getting this mechanically perfect. Either that or as a breaker, as some parts are difficult to get hold of or silly money new. Bumpers, front indicators, ecu etc. are always wanted and very expensive if not impossible to find at times.
Budget £1-2k a year to run a GTA and look after it by doing things when they first need doing or it could get even more expensive if left.
Find a good one, look after it and you'll never look back (other than when you walk away after parking up, you can't not).
With the right modifications (diff & suspension) these cars are sublime and that engine is a masterpiece.
A guaranteed future classic and who knows what a good one will be worth in 10 years time.
Firstly, the comment about picking up a good one for twice the price. Maybe a couple of years ago but prices have moved on and are continuing to rise now.
A good one now with reasonable miles will set you back around £10k. £15k plus for a low mileage minter is becoming a regular thing now. On two occasions this year I've been offered in excess of £15k for mine, one offer at £15750 and another at £16500 (it's got 50k on the clock and is in 8C Competizione Red). It owes me too much to sell at the moment as I've spent a lot this year (out of choice rather than necessity I might add) and besides, its too nice to sell and is only increasing in value.
Some pictures below:
Secondly, yes these cars can cost a lot to look after properly but the rewards are definitely worth it. 4/5 yearly cambelt services at £600-850 a go (as part of a major service), front tyres very quickly if you drive in a spirited manner, front suspension bushes regularly, blown diffs can cause gearbox destruction if not a Quaife or Q2, lots of fuel, ecu failures can be expensive, and many other smaller items that can add up if neglected. Sounds like this one needs new calipers too, a front set of 330s will set you back over £600.
This sort of car would be best suited as a track toy to be honest, you could easily spend 5 figures getting this mechanically perfect. Either that or as a breaker, as some parts are difficult to get hold of or silly money new. Bumpers, front indicators, ecu etc. are always wanted and very expensive if not impossible to find at times.
Budget £1-2k a year to run a GTA and look after it by doing things when they first need doing or it could get even more expensive if left.
Find a good one, look after it and you'll never look back (other than when you walk away after parking up, you can't not).
With the right modifications (diff & suspension) these cars are sublime and that engine is a masterpiece.
A guaranteed future classic and who knows what a good one will be worth in 10 years time.
Edited by Michael Woolford on Thursday 21st December 22:14
A good price if you fancy a simple project. You could always go all out and for the throttle body from an F430 and a lovely carbon Intake. https://youtu.be/ETSpaLqk-0U
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