Wednesday 2nd January 2019

Alfa Romeo 155 TI DTM: Time For Coffee?

An old car but a new video, and a timely reminder of just why the 155 is so adored

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Even more than a quarter of a century after it happened, Alfa's domination of the 1993 DTM with the 155 V6 TI remains a remarkable achievement. This was the German touring car championship, typically dominated by German cars and drivers. In the six years prior to the Alfa's win, only one non-German car took the title, and two non-German drivers. In the three years of the DTM/ITC after the 155 triumph and before the championship as it was then folded, only cars and drivers from the championship's homeland won it.

Arguably of even greater note than the 155's success, however, was the way in which it was achieved. The way the V6 TI looked and sounded (producing peak power at a wild 11,500rpm) meant it was a fan's favourite from the get-go, a point that stands to this day.

Therefore little justification was required to feature this video, a highlights reel of a TI at the Nurburgring GP track. Even amongst DTM contemporaries the Alfa makes a truly outrageous sound, the kind of high pitched V6 shriek that's both rare and yet unmistakable. And, well, it's not going to happen again, either - without wishing to usher in the New Year with too bleak a message.

So there we are, five minutes of Alfa V6 bliss to banish the festive stupor. It's probably best enjoyed with a strong espresso, too, for the full Italian-style morning rejuvenation. And finally, Alfa, how about a touring car renaissance with the Giulia? Supercars in Australia is going to twin-turbo V6s, the Quadrifoglio has a twin-turbo V6... Anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Enjoy the vid!

 

[The Prof]

Splendid

[Coldfuse]

Epic noise from an epic car!

[SmudgeQ4]

Awesome car and what an engine!

[sunbeam alpine]

Love these (although I'm biased).

Here's mine -



Snapped by another PH-er at the MB World Sunday Service a couple of years ago.

1993 Alfa 155 Q4.

[generationx]

They're awesome things - I saw them racing in the DTM at Donington Park in '95 (?), and there was one at the Oldtimer GP at the 'Ring last year. Sounded epic.

[marks148]

Lovely, I've had 4 155s a 1.8, a 2.5 and two 2.0 wideys.. All dead sadly but never had so much fun - why are cars not square enough any more

[DeltaEvo2]

Munching on those Beemers...

[Scalino]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohPEXfm7q1M

With English subtitels, so no excuse not to...

[Zajda]

Scalino said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohPEXfm7q1M

With English subtitels, so no excuse not to...

+1
Was about to link it.
I love Davide's channel, these documentaries seems to be leagues ahead of anything else, such an unique content.
EB110 development, Countach development, pure gold...

[Scalino]

Zajda said:

+1
Was about to link it.
I love Davide's channel, these documentaries seems to be leagues ahead of anything else, such an unique content.
EB110 development, Countach development, pure gold...

Couldn't agree more. The guys are legends, I've bought the book of Antonio Tomaini because the interviews were soo interesting, first must finish the one from Gian Luigi Picchi though . Also a good way to improve my Italian.

[offshoreeddy]

I ran several 155s as company cars when working as an Alfa salesman in the mid 90s. We stickered up a 2.0 TS and lowered it, white wheels, the whole nine yards, to do the DTM thing ... sure I've got a picture somewhere, will try to find it. The same car also turned on the rear screen heater when you went to put the hazards on and vice versa, fixed at PDI of course. But, the most memorable trip in a 155 was in a 2.5 V6 we ran as a demo once, and during a spirited run at an undisclosed location somewhere on a private road, at an indicated 140mph there was a hell of a noise as the A pillar on the drivers' door decided to start opening, all by itself, due to wind speed... not the best assembled cars in the world but full of "character"

[MrOrange]

Wonderful things.

I was lucky enough to be able to specify a V6 155 as a company car in ‘95. It was epic in my eyes and was the first car I had that I really loved. Happy days, indeed. Even joined the Alfa owners group.

N155 JUG, where are you now?

[soad]

Don't recall ever seeing one.

[TOMMO_AT]

we can only dream of what the stradale would of been like if they had got the V6 TI to work in it.... and produced it.

Best sounding V6 ever made !!!

[TOMMO_AT]

we can only dream of what the stradale would of been like if they had got the V6 TI to work in it.... and produced it.

Best sounding V6 ever made !!!

[Zombie]

Technically, the 155 in the vid doesn't have an Alfa v6. The early 155 dtm cars used the 60 degree busso v6 block where the later cars (like the one in the video) used a 90 degree V6 from the PSA group, justified on the basis of some form of platform sharing argument.

[marmalise]

Fond memories working on these back in the day for Team Schubel down in Nurnberg...

[woody33]

Zombie said:

Technically, the 155 in the vid doesn't have an Alfa v6. The early 155 dtm cars used the 60 degree busso v6 block where the later cars (like the one in the video) used a 90 degree V6 from the PSA group, justified on the basis of some form of platform sharing argument.

It was the Peugeot Renault Volvo (PRV) V6 that had some link to the Lancia Thema . The Montreal also had a 90 degree V6. Between those two links they were able to justify under the regs the use of the non alfa engine. I think the 90 degree engine sat lower so better handling.

[Zombie]

woody33 said:

It was the Peugeot Renault Volvo (PRV) V6 that had some link to the Lancia Thema . The Montreal also had a 90 degree V6. Between those two links they were able to justify under the regs the use of the non alfa engine. I think the 90 degree engine sat lower so better handling.

Yeah, that that's it. I had a look at wiki thinking that it may be the Pug 605 link but that says the Saab 9000/Alfa 164/Thema platform wasn't used by the 605 despite it looking the same.

[Zombie]

marmalise said:

Fond memories working on these back in the day for Team Schubel down in Nurnberg...

Where's the 'like' button?