Alfa Design is Timeless
Discussion
Currently working away and looking out on to the hotel car park, I noticed just how dull and boring German car design is by comparison... Numerous A3's, Passat's, Golf's etc. and sure they are well engineered cars and all that but they look proper dull and as exciting as well... a bowl of dishwater? (IMO).
My 10 year old, absolutely mint 156 Veloce stands out head and shoulders above these newer cars. True testament that Alfa are one of the few manufacturer's that make their motors look epic in every way and still continue to do so with the newer stuff: 159, Brera, GT, etc.etc. every single car produced is OMG look at that!
Back in the 80's I use to love the old 3 Series BM, it looked a proper motor with the double lamps, aggressive front grill and RWD - plus chuck in their straight 6 engine... what the Feck went wrong, as they look so Anodine these days, it's like sterile shrink wrapping???
Anyway that's my thought of the moment, now the expenses paid Bar beckons
My 10 year old, absolutely mint 156 Veloce stands out head and shoulders above these newer cars. True testament that Alfa are one of the few manufacturer's that make their motors look epic in every way and still continue to do so with the newer stuff: 159, Brera, GT, etc.etc. every single car produced is OMG look at that!
Back in the 80's I use to love the old 3 Series BM, it looked a proper motor with the double lamps, aggressive front grill and RWD - plus chuck in their straight 6 engine... what the Feck went wrong, as they look so Anodine these days, it's like sterile shrink wrapping???
Anyway that's my thought of the moment, now the expenses paid Bar beckons
^^Agree with all of that, modern Alfas really do stand out. My 159 and 156s always look(ed) like they came from another planet when parked on a company carpark full of Mercs, BMWs, and Audis.
But like every family there is a throwback ginger locked in the attic. At the same time BMW were making the timeless E30 Alfa made this
Fortunately few survive.
But like every family there is a throwback ginger locked in the attic. At the same time BMW were making the timeless E30 Alfa made this
Fortunately few survive.
EeeeeeeK ..... that was nasty! Never knew that existed, glad to hear few survived.
It looks like the old Datsun (Nissan) Cherry that was knocking around in the early 80's... now anything with that badge was a nasty piece of shizzle from the moment the pen hit the design board.
I guess that particular designer was sacked
It looks like the old Datsun (Nissan) Cherry that was knocking around in the early 80's... now anything with that badge was a nasty piece of shizzle from the moment the pen hit the design board.
I guess that particular designer was sacked
Edited by PJ3074 on Thursday 12th May 09:41
PJ3074 said:
EeeeeeeK ..... that was nasty! Never knew that existed, glad to hear few survived.
It looks like the old Datsun (Nissan) Cherry that was knocking around in the early 80's... now anything with that badge was a nasty piece of shizzle from the moment the pen hit the design board.
I guess that particular designer was sacked
- that's because that's what it was: the idea being, Alfa supply the stuff they're good at,& Nissan likewise. Kept the factory going, & gave them something to build between the Sud stopping & the 33 starting, IIRC - I imagine the design team are still about, & went on to better things; there's only so much you can achieve within the spec & budget. The idea wasn't new, but not that widespread then; these days platform sharing is very common, after all. The Arna was a classic case of "good on paper, but..." . Not all Datsuns/Nissans were incidentally: the 240Z was & is a superb bit of kit.It looks like the old Datsun (Nissan) Cherry that was knocking around in the early 80's... now anything with that badge was a nasty piece of shizzle from the moment the pen hit the design board.
I guess that particular designer was sacked
Edited by PJ3074 on Thursday 12th May 09:41
Vimto156 said:
Didn't they make these the wrong way round though? Ie nissan made the engine and alfa the bodywork... At the time neither companies strong point!
I thought it was a boxer engine in a nissan body, hence the bland styling, interior etc and s
te handling. Thought Alfa were using a nissan body due to their rust reputation.The Arna body was indeed a Nissan design and was also sold as the Nissan Cherry Europe. They were fully produced at Pomigliano D'Arco (Alfasud plant), not kits. It was a way for the then government run Alfa to replace the Sud as the 33 was positionned upmarket. Personally I had lots of experience of the Arna, my old man had a share in an Alfa dealership and the Arna was used as courtesy cars. It was universally known that the Arna was a stiffer shell than the Sud/33 and I remember my old man loving the way they drove if not the looks. There was a chap in the early 90s who won the BRSCC Alfa Owners Championship in an Arna 1.5 Ti.
To me they are more of an Alfa than the 159/Brera as at least their soul was Alfa and they drove like an Alfa.
To me they are more of an Alfa than the 159/Brera as at least their soul was Alfa and they drove like an Alfa.
I'm Still are you??, i was moving on a train earlier but.... 
or are you inferring the Giulletta in the picture you posted isn't a timeless design?. Erm, well perhaps 60 years on it isn't at the cutting edge anymore but it's still neat enough in the styling compared to it's peers, but more to the point it's absolutely light years ahead of most of them in every other respect and paved the way for cars which took things to another level entirely.
or are you inferring the Giulletta in the picture you posted isn't a timeless design?. Erm, well perhaps 60 years on it isn't at the cutting edge anymore but it's still neat enough in the styling compared to it's peers, but more to the point it's absolutely light years ahead of most of them in every other respect and paved the way for cars which took things to another level entirely.
PJ3074 said:
These two have to be the best (IMO) of Alfa's timeless designs. I thoroughly recommend Retro Cars Magazine, this Alfa article was a fantastic piece and the pictures are totally amazing.
Which two?Edited by PJ3074 on Wednesday 18th May 09:52
Sorry the image didn't load first time but I agree these 2 are definitely some of Alfa's best
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